Lugols Solution - The Universal Medicine

Lugols Solution was created in 1823 by French physician, J.G. Lugol and given to the open market in 1829. It was developed shortly after the discovery of iodine in 1811 by Barnard Courtois, Napolean’s gunpowder manufacturer. For hundreds of years, practicing physicians prescribed Lugols Solution or potassium-iodide(SSKI) to treat a myriad of disease including: bacterial & viral infection, nerve pain, pneumonia, hyper-thyroidism (goitre), hypo-thyroidism, depression, obesity, slow metabolism, hormone disorders, menstrual problems, breast and uterine fibroids, cysts, tumours, cancers & more. Lugols Solution is comprised of 5% elemental iodine and 10% potassium iodide, mixed in distilled water. Many physicians today would be surprised to learn that more than a hundred years ago, iodine was called ‘The Universal Medicine’, and was used to treat many clinical conditions very successfully. Nobel Laureate, Albert Szent Gyorgyi, the physician who discovered Vitamin C in 1928 commented:
“When I was a medical student, iodine in the form of KI (potassium-iodide) was the universal medicine. Nobody knew what it did, but it did something and did something good. We students used to sum up the situation in the little rhyme:” “If ye don’t know where, what and why prescribe ye then K and I.”
For over 100 years, the geographical area surrounding the Great Lakes has been known as the Goitre Belt, due to it’s high rates of thyroidism including goiter in the population. Soil conditions due to de-mineralization brought about by its far proximity to the ocean and modern farming practices which fail to re-mineralize the soils. Iodine-deficiency & thyroidism are still very common health problems in the area today and throughout the US & Canada. According to Dr. David Brownstein founder of the Center for Holistic Medicine, over 95% of the over 6000 patients tested fall below optimal levels for the essential mineral iodine. Remember, iodine was the first mineral ever classified as ‘essential for life’ because iodine is important for the normal functions of the whole human body & immune system, not just the thyroid gland. Iodine also induces apoptosis in cancer cells while strengthening the immune system with it’s anti-viral, anti-bacterial approach. It is stored for our health & optimal immunity strength in our brain, our thyroid gland, womens breasts & ovaries, mens prostate gland, our eyes, our spinal fluid, all muscles and our skin. It is depleted & replaced by other halogens known as fluoride, chlorine & bromine, which are commonly used in municipal drinking waters, flame retardants, Scotchguard, swimming pools, hot tubs, food & drink products including, Gator Aid, Mountain Dew and in the U.S., bread. In 1998, Dr. Guy Abraham formed the Iodine Group of Physicians in the US after the successful studies on Fibrocystic Breast Disease, completed in the late 1980’s & early 90’s by Dr. William Ghent, former Professor Emeritus of Surgery at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario. It is still very common today to use iodine in the form of Lugol’s Solution for emergency disinfection of drinking water and for use in protection from radioactive iodine I-131 in the event of nuclear fallout. Dr Guy Abraham comments,"Our medical predecessors were keen observers and the universal application of iodide might have been not without foundation."
For supplemental use: start slowly with 1-2 drops/day ramping up to 8-10 drops orally or transdermally. As an external application (transdermally) use an animal hair paint brush. A 3” square is approximately equal to 1 drop, which is about 6.25mg. In a drink (apple cider vinegar in 8oz of water, hides the taste well. Always add the Lugols to the apple cider before you add the water).
Iodine Patch Test: This is a ‘rule of thumb’ test that you can do yourself to test for iodine sufficiency. If the iodine stain fades within 24 hours (or less), it indicates that iodine is likely to be insufficient for the whole body. Painting a patch on your hand or forearm is a good place. Prescription drugs may interfere with the absorption into the skin & then the ‘rule of thumb’, wouldn’t apply. If you are taking a prescribed synthetic thyroid hormone, Dr. Brownstein has observed a reduction in thyroid hormone with his patients over a period of several weeks to months, or eventually stop taking it altogether. If the body is saturated with iodine, you will find that within 0.5 to 1.5 hours of taking the iodine containing drink, there will be a release of moisture from the nose.
Transdermal Application: Caution- Lugols Solution is caustic when applied to the skin, so dissipate with your finger to avoid burning or irritation. Do not allow the iodine solution to pool on the skin, or within a few minutes it will begin to warm & burn. Change your spot of application regularly as Lugols can burn the protective acid mantle of the skin with repeated use in the same area. The cells regenerate quickly underneath from the stem-cell forward so no need to worry, just temporarily stop application in that area. Rule of thumb is to start dosages small (1-2 drops daily) & increase weekly to therapeutic levels. (approx 50mg is 8-10 drops or 16-18 drops is 100mg for treating auto-immune & other conditions – See, ‘Iodine, Why You Need it, Why You Can’t Live Without It’ by Dr. Brownstein. Iodine is utilized by the body in the bloodstream as an anti-bacterial & anti-viral agent that is unmatched, so it works well when treating a cold or flu as iodine is also an anti-mucilagent. The re-absorption of iodine into the body’s organs can take up to a year or more to accomplish & only when supplemented sufficiently with the required vitamin & mineral co-factors and when utilizing the Salt Loading Protocol. Dosage for internal supplementation of Lugols Solution is generally dependant on your body weight. As a guideline, if you weigh 60kg or less, the recommended amount is 1 drop taken daily with a meal to start. Lugols Solution is safe & recommended for children. If you weigh more than 60kg, the recommended dose is 2 drops instead of one to start.

Salt Loading Protocol - Iodine users often use the salt-loading protocol to clear the bromide that can cause detox symptoms to occur with use. ¼- ½ tsp of sea-salt, Celtic, Himalayan or other unrefined salt in 8 oz of room temperature water. Follow with a glass or 2 of clean drinking water to flush your system. Repeat until urination begins. The seasalt contains chloride which binds to the bromide in the blood stream and in organ receptor cells in the body, it then releases the bromide toxin through the kidneys.