Iodine patch test?

[Guest guest]

Hi - A holistic doctor recommended to my wife to use an iodine patch

test to see if she is deficient in iodine. I can't find anything on

the Web that confirms the validity of this test. I would be curious if

anybody has been found to be deficient in iodine by using this test,

and then took iodine and then later repeated the test, and whether the

results of the second test actually confirmed that the person at that

point was less deficient. Thanks. - Mark

[Guest guest]

Hi,you put iodine on your stomach about the size of a quarter and if you are

defience the

iodine will be absorbed in 24hrs.if not it will still be there.

pjbittner

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

, pjbittner@a... wrote:

>

> Hi,you put iodine on your stomach about the size of a quarter and if

you are defience the

> iodine will be absorbed in 24hrs.if not it will still be there.

 

Hi - See here for a surprising answer about this, which someone else

pointed me to:

 

http://thyroid.about.com/library/derry/bl2a.htm

 

 

Topic: Disappearing Iodine Test

 

A Reader Writes:

 

A friend of mine was just diagnosed with a possible thyroid disorder (her test

was in the form of a drop of iodine on her arm and watching how fast it

disappeared). Her chiropractor suggested she start off by taking something

called Thyroid Helper which can be found at ..... Have you ever heard of this

and do you know how effective it might be?

 

David Derry Responds:

 

The " test " of putting iodine on the skin to watch how fast it disappears is not

an indicator of anything. The iodine disappearance rate is unrelated to thyroid

disease or even iodine content of the body.(1-2) Meticulous research by Nyiri

and Jannitti in 1932 showed clearly when iodine is applied to the skin in almost

any form, 50% evaporates into the air within 2 hours and between 75 and 80

percent evaporates into the air within 24 hours. (1) A total of 88 percent

evaporates within 3 days and it is at this point that the evaporation stops. The

remaining 12 percent that is absorbed into the skin has several fates. Only 1-4%

of the total iodine applied to the skin is absorbed into the blood stream within

the first few hours. The rest of the iodine within the skin (8-11%) is slowly

released from the skin into the blood stream.

 

However Nyiri and Jannitti's findings that “The percentage of iodine penetration

through the skin is the same, irrespective of whether the cells have a high or

low vitality, or are dead, and irrespective of the direction of penetration "

have important implications for iodine functions in the body, skin, pregnancy

and fetus and also for the therapeutic use of topical and oral iodine. Iodine

would be the only compound of significance during early pregnancy which can pass

rapidly through all tissues of the fetus without the aid of any blood vessel or

lymphatic transport. It could be that not only does iodine control natural cell

death (apoptosis) (5) in the fetus but may also influences stem cell

development.

 

Nyiri and Jannetti also mentioned iodine applied on the skin can be used to

shrink swelling of the thyroid gland (goiters). So even small amounts of iodine

absorbed through the skin can have good effects on body organs. From my own

clinical experience, repeated application of iodine (Lugol’s) to the skin

appears to cause regeneration of the skin from the bottom up (Quiescent, stable

or stem cell) (3) eventually sloughing the old version of the skin off like a

snake molting. If there was a pre-cancerous lesion on the old skin, it is

replaced with new skin minus the lesion. There does not seem to be any skin

lesions which are not helped or cured by this procedure. In some cases I found

clinically obvious low thyroid conditions also needed to be treated to be more

effective. Minor lacerations and healing of surgical wounds respond well. If

skin regeneration is from the bottom, then there is little or no scar formation.

 

My parents’ generation tended to put tincture of iodine onto a fresh wound to

prevent infection. This turns out to be helpful but not the best way to use it.

Besides it stung badly when applied. It is much more effective (and doesn't

hurt) to apply iodine repeatedly after a scab has been formed. The iodine put

onto the scab helps to organize total repair of the tissue. It is implied a

similar approach could be taken to burns of all depths but at the same time the

physiology of burns suggest there is an acute lack of thyroid hormone. (3)

 

All pre-malignant lesions and many other oddities of the skin appear to respond

to this regeneration process triggered by topical iodine. I have mentioned

previously a patient with a biopsy-proven breast cancer lesion (she refused

surgery because of previous cancer treatment) that was strongly fixed to the

skin responding well to topical iodine and ended up being a dimple on the breast

three year later. (6)

 

It is my belief a water solution of iodine (like Lugol's) is an important

therapeutic agent for skin. Because of its effectiveness and the results,

perhaps many skin diseases are related to local tissue areas of relative iodine

deficiency. Perhaps the most graphic lesions are the " keloid " (worm) incision

scars formed after surgical procedures. If the iodine intake and tissue levels

are adequate, such as in Japan, keloid formation doesn't happen (7). In

addition, iodine's ability to trigger natural cell death (apoptosis) (5) makes

it effective against all pre-cancerous skin lesions and likely many cancerous

lesions. The local site is replaced with normal skin. However, even lesser doses

of topical iodine seem to reverse the ominous appearance of skin lesions.

Because my older brother died of metastatic melanoma, my chances of getting a

malignant melanoma are increased by 400 times. (8-9) Having grown up in

Venezuela near the equator my sun exposure at a young age was far above normal.

So all suspicious lesions I notice are returned to normal with topical Lugol's.

 

One of the most famous of documentations of iodine skin therapy to a famous

person occurred in the American Civil War.

 

" On September 29, 1862, Colonel John B. Gordon held the center of General Lee's

army at the battle of Antietam, or Sharpsburg. The first volley from the

northern lines sent a ball through the calf of Gordon's right leg; soon after,

another went through the muscles of his thigh; a third pierced his left arm,

tearing asunder the tendons and mangling the flesh; a forth ripped through his

shoulder leaving a wad of clothing embedded in its track. Still, no bones were

broken; but, while Gordon lingered in the firing line, " with " , as he says

himself, " but little of my usual strength " , a fifth ball struck him squarely in

the face.

 

Dr. Weatherly of the 6th Alabama Regiment, in charge of medical arrangements,

had the Colonel removed to a base hospital, and prescribed tincture of iodine to

be painted on the wounds three or four times a day. The case was unpromising.

Gordon's eyelids were greatly swollen; one eye was completely closed, the other

almost so; his jaw was immovably clenched, and, to make matters worse,

erysipelas (staphylococcus infection of skin) had set in on the left arm.

 

Mrs. Gordon, his wife, who nursed him - her name was Fanny, and she was then a

beautiful girl of 25 - put a liberal interpretation on her instructions and

painted the wounds, not three or four times a day, but, as Gordon himself says:

" I think three to four hundred time a day. " Fanny's diligence and devotion were

rewarded. Her husband survived, outlived the war, became the Governor of

Georgia, a General, and Commander-in-Chief of the United Confederate Veterans.

He died in 1904. " (10)

 

I think Fanny knew iodine applied often was a more effective way to deliver

iodine to the body especially applied on multiple sites. Likely Gordon's iodine

blood levels and tissue levels rose throughout his body. As iodine is by far the

best antibiotic, antiviral and antiseptic of all time, the colonel's body

defenses were able to gain control of the infections. At the same time local

repeated application to the wound sites caused the skin to grow up from its

bottom where all the cells (Stem cells) that make normal skin are residing.

Likely this minimized or eliminated scar formation. Thus Nyiri’s and Jannetti’s

studies confirm why Fanny’s method of treatment worked so brilliantly. Some of

our recent serious skin diseases such a " flesh-eating disease " should respond

quickly to topical iodine treatment practiced by Fanny. Or, for another example,

iodine put onto a mosquito bite would kill all bacteria and viruses at the site

of the bite within 10-30 seconds making it impossible for any virus or bacteria

to multiply and get started --such as in West Nile Fever. Naturally, this

applies to tic bites (Lyme's disease) as well. For many decades in the 1800s

people carried around little bottles of iodine around their necks to use on all

occasions. People in mosquito and tic infested areas should think of doing this

again. (8) In addition, it has been forgotten vaporized iodine rapidly kills air

borne viruses such as polio and SARS viruses.. Used extensively in the forties

and fifties it may be of use to explore this approach again.

 

There has been no significant clinical research on iodine therapy or use for 40

years. (11-15) I feel it is important for research to be directed at this

potentially significant area of medical treatment. It is worth noting the

greatest part of significant research with iodine was done before the Medline

search facilities were available. Of course, since large doses of iodine are

tolerated intravenously without side effects, it has yet to be explored what

help this may have for many cancer patients or even other diseases.

 

I hope these concepts help.

 

David

 

References

 

1. Nyiri,W., Jannitti,M.. About the fate of free iodine upon application to the

unbroken animal skin. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 45:85-107, 1932.

2. Biskind,M.S. Penetration through tissue of iodine in different solvents. Proc

Soc Exp Biol Med 30:35-37, 1932.

3. Robbins pathologic basis of disease. Eds Cotran,R.S., Kumar,V., Collins,T.

Sixth Edition W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia. 1999. Page 91. and page 434.

4. Gershenfeld,L. Iodine Editor Reddish.G.F. Antiseptics, disinfectants

fungicides and chemical and physical sterilization, Philadelphia:Lea &

FebigerHa, 1957. pages 223 277.

5. Derry,D.M. One hour lecture: Iodine, thyroid hormone and breast cancer. How

to prevent and survive breast cancer. World Breast Cancer Conference, Victoria

BC June 4-6, 2002..

6. Derry, DM. Breast cancer and iodine How to prevent and survive it. Trafford

Publishing Victoria, Canada. 2001 page 89.

7. Updegraff,H.L. Reconstructive surgery and old facial burns. JAMA

101:1138-1140, 1933. page 1139

8. Clark WH. The nature of cancer: morphogenesis and progressive (self )

disorganization in neoplastic development and progression. Acta Oncol 1995;

34:3-21.

9. Clark WH. Tumour progression and the nature of cancer. J Cancer 1991;

64:631-644. 10. Kelly,F.C.. Iodine in medicine and pharmacy since its

discovery--1811-1961. Proc R Soc Med 54:831-836, 1961.

11. Wayne,E.J,. Koutras,D.A.. Alexander,W.D.. Clinical aspects of iodine

metabolism, Philadelphia:F.A. Davis Company, 1964.

12. Braverman,L.E.. Iodine and the thyroid: 33 years of study. Thyroid 4

(3):351-356, 1994.

13. Vagenakis,A.G.. Effects of iodides: clinical studies. Thyroid 1 (1):59-63,

1990.

14. Paul,T., Meyers,B., Witorsch,R.J., Pino,S., Chipkin,S., Ingbar,S.H.

Braverman,L.E.. The effect of small increases in dietary iodine on thyroid

function in euthyroid subjects. Metabolism. 37:121-124, 1988.

15. Zaichick,V. Zaichick.S.. Normal human intrathyroidal iodine. Science of the

Total Environment 206 (1):39-56, 1997.

 

 

 

 

About Dr. Derry:

 

These answers are personal opinions. Please discuss any ideas you get with your

physician.