Iodine Supplements and Dosages
Published on March 27, 2017 / Dr.
Mark Sircus
http://drsircus.com/iodine/iodine-supplements-and-dosages/
Iodine is necessary for the proper function of many
of the body’s tissues including the breasts,
pancreas, brain, stomach, adrenal glands, skin, salivary glands, and cerebral
spinal fluid. Iodine deficiency can lead to a dysfunction of these tissues and
cause symptoms such as dry mouth, dry skin, reduced alertness, brain fog,
fibromyalgia, fibrocystic breasts, and many others. Some studies have shown
that iodine deficiency leads to a higher risk of developing various cancers,
especially of the breast, prostate, and ovaries. Do not wait for any of these
symptoms to arrive, everyone today will benefit from higher iodine intake.
Humans tolerate large doses of iodine. The ultra-high doses
that were used a century ago are helpful in medical emergencies—specifically
when facing antibiotic resistant infections, viruses and stubborn fungal and
yeast infections. Iodine’s true role—making up more than 1/2 of the body’s
Immune System—is not well understood. Deficiencies in iodine have a great
effect on the immune system and its response to infectious diseases including
cancer, which in many cases, up to 40 percent, are caused by infections.
The National Health and Nutrition Survey undertaken by the
CDC showed iodine levels falling over 50% in the last 30 years. In 1940, the
average American got 800 micrograms of iodine in their diet. In 1995 we
averaged 135 micrograms, an 83% decline! The Japanese consume 89 times more
iodine then Americans, due to their daily consumption of sea vegetables, and
they have reduced rates of many chronic diseases, including the lowest rates of cancer in the world.
Even at low dosages, iodine is a powerhouse. So effective is
iodine that aerosols can be effective in sterilizing a room at levels not even
detectable by humans. However, Dr. David Derry says, “Dietary iodine found in
iodized salt is below the amounts needed to fill mucus defense roles. To
protect themselves, people wishing to boost their defense against infections
should use Iodine supplement in their diets. Why would people need the larger
doses of iodine? Why have iodine levels fallen 50% in the last 30 years? As I
pondered these questions, I came to the conclusion that the toxicity of modern
life must be impacting iodine levels. It is well known that the toxic halides,
fluoride and bromide, having a similar structure as iodine, can competitively
inhibit iodine absorption and binding in the body. Because of the elevated
levels of toxic halides in the environment and in the food supply, iodine
levels have not only fallen but larger amounts of iodine are necessary to
correct iodine deficiency as well as to promote a detoxifying effect of heavy
metals.”
The anti-microbial process of iodine quickly kills bacteria,
viruses, fungi, and various other microorganisms if a high enough dosage is
used. We need to dial up iodine levels quickly when we use it to fight
infections. Iodine can be taken internally in large quantities and will have
the same effect internally as it does on external surfaces. In addition, as in
breast cancer, we often need to get it concentrated to certain tissues or
organs and we do that by painting the breasts with iodine.
“Extremely high doses of iodine can have serious side
effects, but only a small fraction of such extreme doses are necessary to kill
influenza viruses,” continues Derry who tells us, “In 1945, a breakthrough
occurred when J.D. Stone and Sir McFarland Burnet (who later went on to win a
Nobel Prize for his Clonal Selection Theory) exposed mice to lethal effects of
influenza viral mists. The lethal disease was prevented by putting iodine
solution on mice snouts just prior to placing them in chambers containing
influenza viruses.”
Dr. David Brownstein says, “Of all the elements known so far
to be essential for human health, iodine is the most misunderstood and the most
feared. Yet, iodine is the safest of all the essential trace elements, being
the only one that can be administered safely for long periods of time to large
numbers of patients in daily amounts as high as 100,000 times the RDA.” The
current US daily recommended allowance (RDA) for iodine is set at 150 mcg for
non-pregnant adults.
Dr. Michael B. Schachter says, “The treatment dose when a
person is iodine insufficient is generally between 12.5 mg and 50 mg daily.
Preliminary research indicates that if a person is iodine insufficient, it
takes about three months to become iodine sufficient while ingesting a dosage
of 50 mg of iodine daily and a year to achieve that while ingesting a dosage of
12.5 mg of iodine daily.
For those who are interested in maintained dosages after
disease and deficiencies have been dealt with understand that your thyroid
gland alone needs about 6 mg of iodine per day for optimal function; the
breasts of a woman will need approximately 5 mg/day (women with larger breasts
need more); and other body tissues such as your adrenal glands, thymus,
ovaries, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland need about 2 mg/day. Thus for
optimal wellness adults should consider approximately10 to 12 mg/day.
Dr. Gabriel Cousens wrote, “Recently Dr. Mercola surprisingly stated that the
highest amount of daily iodine intake should be no more than 400 micrograms.
This is only slightly higher than the FDA recommendation, which is 150-290
micrograms daily, dependent upon age, gender and life cycle. However, it is
dramatically less than what some of the leading iodine medical experts suggest,
as closer to, at least, 12-18 milligrams daily, approximately 45 times higher.
Why this discrepancy?”
Cousens states, “Historically, as early as 1911, (11th
edition of the 1910-1911 Encyclopedia Britannica) people normally took between
300,000-900,000 micrograms daily without incident. This is over 2,000 times
more than Dr. Mercola’s recommendation. How is it that now only 1/5,000th of
this dose is now considered safe? In 1948, there was a poorly performed and,
since then, never replicated study alleging what is known as the Wolff-Chaikoff
effect. The Wolff-Chaikoff effect suggested that theoretically hypothyroidism
could occur as a result of excess iodine. This study indicated a decreased
dosage to 2 milligrams daily would be safer. Even the Food and Nutritional
Board at the Institute of Medicine has set the tolerable upper limit of 1,100
micrograms of iodine daily. Other researchers have used between 3,000 and 6,000
micrograms/day to prevent goiter. Iodine is found in every single one of our
body’s hundred trillion cells. Without adequate iodine levels life is
impossible. Iodine is the universal health nutrient and brings health on many
levels.”
One of my neighbors, who had cancer, visited the Gerson
Clinic in Mexico and came back with a protocol suggesting one drop of Lugol’s a
day. Easier and more efficient to just use a dropper or two though there are
iodine sensitive people who need to be extremely cautious about dosages
especially when just starting iodine supplementation.
Dr. David Brownstein said, “After testing individuals and
finding low iodine levels, I began to use smaller milligram amounts of
iodine/iodide (6.25 mg/day). Upon retesting these individuals 1-2 months later,
little progress was made. I therefore began using higher milligram doses
(6.25-50 mg) to increase the serum levels of iodine.” Brownstein has sometimes
used between 200 and 300 milligrams of iodine daily, with higher doses for more
serious and difficult diseases.
“At 6 grams daily (which is 6 million micrograms/day or 6,000
milligrams/day!), a much higher dose, iodine has been used to cure syphilis,
skin lesions, and chronic lung disease,” says Cousens. “From a larger
physiological perspective, it is important to realize that the thyroid is only
one gland of many glands and tissues that needs iodine. Other
glands/organs/systems with high iodine uptake are the breasts, ovaries, cervix,
blood, lymph, bones, gastric mucosal, salivary, adrenal, prostate, colon,
thymus, lungs, bladder, kidney, and skin. Iodine is found and used in every
hormonal receptor in the body.”
Dr. George Flechas has found that iodine can reduce the need
for insulin in diabetic patients, using 50 to 100 mg of iodine per day. Of 12
patients, 6 were able to completely come off their medications with random
glucose readings below 100 mg/dl and a HbA1c less than 5.8 (normal), and the
other 6 were able to reduce the amount and/or number of medications needed to
control their diabetes.
Dr. Hulda Clark said, “Six drops of Lugol’s solution can end
it all for Salmonella. If you have gas and bloating, pour yourself 1/2 glass of
water. Add 6 drops of Lugol’s (not more, not less), stir with wood or plastic,
and drink all at once. The action is noticeable in an hour. Take this dose 4
times a day, after meals and at bedtime, for 3 days in a row, then as needed.
This eradicates even a stubborn case of Salmonella. Notice how calming 6 drops
of Lugol’s can be, soothing a manic stage and bringing a peaceful state where
anxiety ruled before.”
Retired biochemist and toxicologist Walter Last has this to
say about Lugol’s:
“Lugol’s solution is an internal iodine solution designed to
eliminate Candida and possibly viruses and other microbes from the bloodstream.
If the blood was contaminated, then you may initially experience a die-off
reaction of the Candida, causing weakness and possibly headache or nausea. If
this happens cut temporarily back on the amount of Lugol’s solution and drink
plenty of water and diluted teas or juices. Continue for 3 weeks, but interrupt
if you develop a serious reaction. Do not take the iodine for more than 3 weeks
at high dosages as that interferes with thyroid activity. If necessary repeat
the course after several months.”
Gradual Dose Buildup
Many people will find that it is important to build up
gradually in order to experience the least amount of detoxification reaction
from taking iodine. It is best when using strong chelators, which iodine is, to
moderate the amount of detoxification symptoms or what is called the Herxemeirs
reaction, which is the experience of poisons being dumped into the blood stream
from the cells or from large-scale yeast die offs. This is most readily
controlled with iodine in the Nascent atomic form simply because it is so easy
to control and regulate low dosages.
Iodine sensitive and thyroid compromised patients should read
Dr. David Brownstein’s works on iodine and thyroid conditions.
Many people are already severely thyroid compromised and are on drugs that
complicate things.
Supplementing with iodine can replenish your iodine stores
while flushing out poisons. People usually do not experience the negative
effects of some type of detoxification when using iodine unless they are
removing unusually high levels of bromide and fluoride. Most people actually
notice increased energy, better sleep, and mental clarity. Over the last 30
years, our iodine intake has declined 50%, while the ingestion of toxic
competing halogens (bromine, fluorine, chlorine, and perchlorate) has dramatically
increased.