IODINE IS VITAL FOR GOOD HEALTH

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IODINE IS VITAL FOR GOOD HEALTH

 

 

 

 

 

By Dr. James Howenstine, MD.

November 5, 2005

NewsWithViews.com

 

Lack of iodine is widespread in the United States today. For many

years iodine was added to bread in generous quantities which prevented

iodine deficiency. Each slice of bread contained 150 mcg. of iodine

filling the whole days RDA of iodine In 1960 the average diet consumed

about 1 mg. of iodine daily with bakery products accounting for about

75 % of the total. This quantity of iodine was enough to decrease the

thyroid glands ability to absorb radioactive iodine and it was also

sufficient to prevent excess release of thyroid hormone thus

preventing many cases of hyperthyroidism (Grave's Disease).

 

Forty years ago the food industry decided to remove iodine from baked

goods and replace the iodine with bromine. Iodine and bromine appear

similar to the thyroid gland and bromine easily binds to the thyroid

gland's receptors for iodine. Bromine, however, is of no value to the

thyroid gland unlike iodine and it inhibits the activity of iodine in

the thyroid gland. Bromine also can cause impaired thinking and

memory, drowsiness, dizziness and irritability. This substitution of

bromine for iodine has resulted in nearly universal deficiency of

iodine in the American populace. Iodine therapy helps the body

eliminate fluoride, bromine, lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum and

mercury. Could this substitution of bromine for iodine have been

carried out to increase diseases and thus create more need for

pharmaceutical drugs?

 

Among the problems caused by iodine deficiency are:

 

*

Underactivity of the thyroid gland produces fatigue. In rodents

iodine deficiency leads to abnormal pituitary-adrenal function. The

adrenal gland provides energy and stamina.

*

When iodine no longer binds to thyroid cell membranes enzymes

called peroxidases are able to damage these membranes and produce

autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Hyperthroidism

(Graves Disease). Researcher Dr. Guy Abraham has observed several

cases of thyroiditis and hyperthyroidism that have been corrected by

the simple replacement of iodine. For more than 100 years high doses

of iodine have been known to benefit both underactivity

(hypothyroidism) of the thyroid gland and overactivity of the thyroid

gland (hyperthyroidism). Iodine therapy allows the sluggish thyroid

gland to resume normal production of thyroid hormone leading to

resolution of hypothyroidism. Provision of iodine stops the peroxidase

injury to the thyroid membranes in hyperthyroidism which permits

hyperthyroidism to resolve. Thus thyroid surgery for hyperthyroidism

is no longer necessary.

*

Several human organs need iodine but can not absorb it until

blood iodine levels reach high values (stomach, salivary glands). Most

persons exhibit impaired production of stomach acid as they age. This

impaired capability to produce adequate stomach acid may be a result

of iodine deficiency as iodine promotes stomach acidity.

*

Resolution of cysts Iodine therapy resolves nearly every case of

breast cysts. This treatment also can heal ovarian cysts and works

well on skin cysts when rubbed over the cyst.

*

Iodine is found in large quantities in the brain and the ciliary

body of the eye. Lack of iodine may be involved in production of

Parkinson's disease and glaucoma.

*

Lipoprotein (a) This dangerous substance is quite important as

it produces plaques in arteries because it is very sticky and collects

platelets, calcium and fibrin from the blood circulating inside our

arteries. Excessive clotting and vascular disease resulting from high

levels of lipoprotein (a) can be reversed by iodine treatment.

*

Other Health Problems Iodine has proven value in treating

headaches, keloids, and parotid duct stones.

 

How Can Iodine Deficiency Be Detected?

 

An accurate test for diagnosing iodine deficiency exists. Dr. Jay

Abrahams has developed a loading test to settle this issue. The

patient takes 4 iodine tablets (12.5 mg each). If there is sufficient

iodine in the individual the excess iodine is excreted in the urine in

the next 24 hours. If iodine is lacking the body retains most of the

iodine with little iodine appearing in the urine. Use of this test has

shown that nearly every patient with any condition known to be

associated with iodine deficiency tested positive for iodine lack.

Therefore, it often is sensible to assume iodine lack and proceed to

treat with iodine.

 

However, when a patient takes iodine for several months and has shown

no improvement this test can be used to exclude a problem with

absorption of iodine. Iodine lack is known to be a factor in the

development of breast and prostate cancer. Sixty patients with a

variety of cancers were studied. All sixty patients were found to have

serious iodine deficiency.

 

To correct iodine deficiency by taking iodized salt is not feasible.

You would need 20 teaspoons of iodized salt daily to get adequate

quantities of iodine. Dr. Abrahams has developed an iodine preparation

named Iodoral to treat iodine deficiency. This is composed of dried

Lugol's solution containing 12.5 mg of iodine per tablet. A person

with adequate iodine stores who takes 4 of these tablets (50 mg.) will

excrete 90 % of the iodine in their urine.

 

Dr. Abrahams thinks that the correct quantity of iodine needed to

maintain sufficient amounts of iodine in the body is 13 mg. daily.

This is 100 times more than the government recognized RDA for iodine.

This quantity of daily iodine would be distributed as follows –six mg.

to thyroid gland, five mg. for the breasts in females and two mg. for

the remainder of the body. Males appear to usually, but not always,

need slightly less than females.

 

Prominent thyroid researcher, Dr. Benjamin Eskin, has shown that the

thyroid gland and skin prefer to concentrate the iodide form of iodine

while the breasts concentrate iodine. His research suggested that the

body needs both the iodide and iodine form of iodine. This is easy to

accomplish with Lugol's solution developed by French physician Dr.

Jean Lugol in the 1820s. His solution mixed iodine (5 %) with

potassium iodide (10 %) and 85 % water. Dr. Lugol's solution killed

germs and was used with success in treating infections and many other

conditions. This solution in the recommended 2 drop dosage contains 5

mg. of iodine and 7.5 mg. of iodine which is exactly the quantity of

iodine recommended for daily intake by Dr. Abraham. Lugol's solution

tastes metallic unless greatly diluted and stains clothing and skin.

 

A third solution that works well in correcting iodine deficiency is

Triodide made by Scientific Botanicals of Seattle, Washington. This

has the same dosage of iodine and iodide combined with a sea vegetable

called bladderwrack. This can be obtained from natural food stores,

Tahoma Clinic Dispensary and compounding pharmacies. This contains

12.5 mg of iodine in the same 2 drop dosage.

 

Dr. Abrahams recommends taking 50 mg of Iodoral (four 12.5 mg.

tablets), Lugol's solution (8 drops)or Triodide (8 drops) daily for 3

months as a loading dose. Then this dose should be gradually reduced

to the 12.5 mg. maintenance dosage under the supervision of a

knowledgeable health care professional. Dr.Abraham feels that 14 to 15

mg. of iodine/iodide daily is the upper maximum of safety. This is

close to the recommended dose of 12.5 mg daily so caution is necessary

in managing iodine repletion. Japanese researchers have discovered

patients with hypothyroidism who were taking 20 mg. of iodine or more

daily.

 

Another valuable iodine preparation is saturated solution of potassium

iodide. This does not have the correct ratio of iodine iodide

recommended by Dr.Abrahams for correcting iodine deficiency but it

does have a multitude of valuable healing properties. It can help open

up blocked arteries, disinfect water, cure bladder infections, reduce

or eliminate ovarian cysts, diminish unsightly keloids, loosen thick

bronchial secretions, reduce or eliminate Peyronie's Disease and

Dupuytron's contracture.

 

Endocrine Cancers And Iodine Stores

 

Iodine deficiency is a recognized risk factor in the development of

cancer of the breast, prostate, and probably the ovary and

endometrium. Breast cancer is twice as common (12.1 %) in women taking

natural thyroid hormone or synthetic thyroid hormone as in women not

taking thyroid hormones (6.2 %). The risk for breast cancer in women

taking thyroid hormones increases with time. Women who had taken

thyroid hormone for 15 years had a 19.5 % incidence of breast cancer

while women who had been on thyroid hormone therapy for five years had

only a 10 % incidence of breast cancer. This increase in breast cancer

with time suggests that correction of a iodine deficiency might well

eliminate the need for thyroid hormone and would also lower the

incidence of breast cancer.

 

Japanese women, who are eating lots of seaweed, have the highest

iodine intake (13.8 mg. daily) of women anywhere in the world. They

also have the lowest incidence of breast cancer in the world. Japan

has one of the lowest worldwide rates of every type of cancer with the

exception of stomach cancer. In addition Japan has one of the lowest

incidences of iodine deficiency, goiter (enlarged thyroid gland), and

hypothyroidism. Iceland, another high iodine intake country, has low

rates of goiter and breast cancer. Two countries with low iodine

intakes (Thailand, Mexico) have high rates of breast cancer and goiter.

 

Patient Studies.With Iodine Therapy

 

A patient of Dr. Rowen named Betty had severely painful breast cysts.

She took 5 mg. of iodine daily with complete disappearance of painful

breast cysts.

 

Veronica, another patient of Dr. Rowen, had advanced breast cancer

with severe hip pain from a bone metastasis. Iodine loading test

showed severe deficiency of iodine. After three months of Iodoral she

still has not restored her iodine levels but her excretion of bromine

has increased 10 fold. Her cancer therapy with IPT and artemisin has

been stable with only an occasional IPT and she continues with 25 mg.

of Iodoral three times daily. Dr. Abrahams relates that he has seen

two remissions of breast cancer in persons taking 75 mg of Iodorol

daily. Iodine deficiency plays a role in allowing breast cancer and

prostate cancer to develop.

 

Another physician has seen a case of prostate cancer go into remission

after taking Iodoral and supplements.

 

George Flechas MD relates that many of his diabetic patients need

lowering of insulin dosage and diabetic drugs after repletion of

iodine deficiency. Dr. Rowen has observed the same thing.

 

Food Sources Of Iodine

 

Iodine from fish must be limited because of mercury problems. However,

sardines have such a short life span they do not get contaminated with

mercury. My suggestion would be to buy tins of sardines packed in

tomato sauce so you can avoid the transfats used in oil packed sardines.

 

Brown and red seaweeds contain the most iodine (kombu, focus, etc.).of

sea vegetables. You may still need supplemental iodine to get an

adequate quantity for repletion of iodine deficiency. unless you are

eating lots of seaweeds.

 

Iodoral can be purchased from Optimox 310-618-9870 if you are willing

to buy a case. Otherwise you can probably find this in health food

stores. Lugol's solution is a satisfactory way to obtain iodine but

you will need a prescription. The dose is 2 drops daily. Be careful in

measuring as 3 drops daily can lead to toxic symptoms.

 

The evidence presented here proves that iodine is vital to human

health. Many persons will experience improved health when their iodine

deficiency is corrected.

 

Index Words in order

 

Iodine, hyperthyroidism, bromine, thyroid gland, Hashimoto's

thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, breast cysts, ovarian cysts, skin cyst,

Parkinson's Disease, glaucoma, lipoprotein (a), keloids, bladder

infections, arteries, bronchial secretions, Peyronie's Disease,

Duputron's contracture, cancer breast, cancer ovary, cancer

endometrium, cancer prostate, goiter, diabetes

 

© 2005 Dr. James Howenstine -

 

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Dr. James A. Howenstine is a board certified specialist in internal

medicine who spent 34 years caring for office and hospital patients.

After 4 years of personal study he became convinced that natural

products are safer, more effective, and less expensive than

pharmaceutical drugs. This research led to the publication of his book

A Physicians Guide To Natural Health Products That Work. Information

about these products and his book can be obtained from amazon.com and

at www.naturalhealthteam.com and phone 1-800-416-2806 U.S. Dr.

Howenstine can be reached by mail at Dr. James Howenstine, C/O Remarsa

USA SB 37, P.O. Box 25292, Miami, Fl. 33102-5292.

 

E-Mail: jimhow