Iodine and homeopathic Iodum
A personal proving story
Going back about 15 years or so, I was talking with a friend and mentioning how tired I was feeling. Keep in mind I was a single Mum, looking after a homestead block and a herd of dairy goats on my own – anyone would be tired doing this! She told me that she used Lugol’s iodine and took a few drops now and then when she felt tired and it really lifted her up and suggested I do the same. I did know about Lugol’s and had used it 10 or 15 years before without ill effect.
There are many articles on the internet about using Lugol’s iodine to help with many ailments, including thyroid issues. Lugol’s iodine is an aqueous preparation of potassium iodide, usually sold as a 2% or a 5% solution and then you dilute this further for use. There are many articles and YouTube videos showing how to do this. This article is not about how to prepare Lugol’s or what to use it for. It is about my personal experience.
So I made myself up a dosing bottle and took one drop a day in a full glass of water, with some apple cider vinegar like is suggested.
Metallic taste: By day three, I noticed my appetite had dropped as everything I ate or drank tasted like metal. It was so strong, I struggled to finish a meal.
Headache: Then I developed a severe headache, I had to hold my head with both hands and turn my whole body to look to the left or right it was so bad.
Drenching night sweats: Then on the night of the sixth day, I woke up in a drenching night sweat. I mean drenching! I was soaking. I had the presence of mind to get a bucket and wrung my t-shirt into the bucket – I collected 2 litres of fluid from my t-shirt! After having a shower, changing my clothes and bed sheets – at 2 in the morning! I manged to sleep again.
I checked the materia medica for Iodum and sure enough, I was experiencing every symptom listed there. A full proving of iodine. Suffice to say the picture of this remedy is clear in my mind as if it is etched on the back of my hand. I was given a dose of Iodum in potency by my homeopathic mentor and it took a full 2 weeks for all the symptoms to leave me and I could enjoy eating again. Thankfully I only had the one night of sweating. I’ve never taken Lugol’s again.
As a result of this inadvertant proving, I have confidently prescribed this remedy to menopausal women experiencing drenching night sweats and the remedy works like a charm to remove this most distressing symptom.
I learnt after this experience that you cannot supplement iodine unless the body is replete with Selenium. I much prefer to recommend food sources for nutrients these days. One of the richest sources of selenium is Brazil nuts with only 1-3 nuts a day required to meet the body’s needs. Iodine can be sourced through seaweed products (but some people will even be sensitive to this) or simply use iodised salt for a short time. Iodised salt products unfortunately contain aluminium free flow agents which need to be taken into consideration.
Disclaimer: This information is supplied for educational purposes only. Sources include published literature and anecdotal experiences of myself and other men, women and animals. The information is not intended for the treatment of any particular individual person or disease. If you are suffering any particular complaint please consult professional help.
I've personally taken "high dosage" iodine for almost twenty years now. No ill effects at all. But I think you mentioned a very, very critical point: you also have to have all the other proper nutrients (like selenium and Vitamin D).
Thank you so much for this information!! 🙏🏻