Potassium Iodide (SSKI) ONE MINERAL CAN HELP A MYRIAD OF CONDITIONS

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http://www.endtimesreport.com/SSKI.html

 

 

Potassium Iodide (SSKI)

 

ONE MINERAL CAN HELP A MYRIAD OF CONDITIONS

FROM ATHEROSCLEROSIS TO " COPD " TO ZITS

 

http://www.tahoma-clinic.com/iodide.shtml

 

Tahoma Clinic Dispensary

Potassium Iodide (SSKI); 1 oz (600 drops) $19.00; Phone Toll-free 1

(888) 893-6878

 

(Reprinted From " Nutrition and Healing " )

 

If you've read or heard anything at all about potassium iodide, it's

probably been in association with terrorist attacks or nuclear power

plant disasters. Potassium iodide (usually taken in tablet form) is

recommended by " public health " authorities to protect the thyroid

gland against accumulation of radioactive iodine released by a

" terrorist bomb " or by nuclear power plant " meltdown " . But in reality,

potassium iodide is a very effective " home remedy " with literally

dozens of uses.

 

Older readers may remember Mother putting " iodine " on cuts and

scrapes. It kept infection away as well as any " modern " antibiotic

ointment, with the added benefit of not inducing " bacterial

resistance " . But what else is potassium iodide (usually abbreviated by

it's Latin initials " SSKI " ) good for? Read on…and then make sure to

read the separate section about keeping SSKI use safe.

 

 

Some years ago, a retired Indian physician told me about his use of

SSKI during more than 30 years traveling from village to village in

rural Africa. Most usually, the only drinking water available was from

a local stream or river, muddy and contaminated. After removing

sediment and debris by straining the dirty water through cheesecloth,

he'd add several drops of SSKI, and wait two to three minutes. He and

his team could then drink the water. In over 30 years, he never got an

infection from contaminated water. The SSKI killed any micro-organisms

present.

 

Fortunately, the water available to most of us when traveling is

considerably cleaner. Despite this, when Holly (my wife) and I travel,

we always carry a small bottle of SSKI, and put one or two drops into

any water we're not absolutely certain about. We've cut back

considerably on airline travel this year because of the thoroughly un-

American and extremely unpleasant " airport Gestapo " experience. But

when we're forced to travel by air, we drink a few ounces of water

with 10 drops of SSKI, and prevent any " airline sinusitis " or other

respiratory infection that so often follows several hours spent

breathing re-cycled, germ laden air. (SSKI rapidly accumulates in any

and all body secretions, including in the sinuses, where it inhibits

or kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi before they can cause an infection.)

 

Although Holly has never had the experience, occasionally another

woman at one of the conferences we attend has developed a bladder

infection when far away from home and her own physician. Holly gives

her our " back- up " small bottle of SSKI with instructions to take 10

to 15 drops in water or juice every 3 to 4 hours (while awake) until

the infection is gone.

 

[Although SSKI is close to 100% effective in the elimination of

bladder infections, this is a " high dose " ; make sure to read the

section " Keeping SSKI safe " . If possible, it's best to use the simple

sugar D-mannose to eliminate bladder infections. D-mannose is

effective over 90% of the time, and is very, very safe. For details,

see D- mannose and Bladder Infection by Lane Lenard Ph. D. and me,

available through the Tahoma Clinic Dispensary.]

 

When our children were teenagers, they always knew where to find the

SSKI bottle. Whenever one of them " popped a zit " , she or he would rub

SSKI into it every hour or two. The offending " zit " would be gone in

24-48 hours or less; an innumerable number of social events were

rendered " zit-free " by this approach.

 

So far, I've been telling you about SSKI's ability to " kill germs " in

one place or another. We'll return to this important " home remedy " use

for SSKI, but let's digress for now to other uses.

 

Many women develop " fibrocystic breast disease " . In the 1970s, I

learned from pioneering trace element researcher Dr. John Myers that

iodine (a close " relative " of SSKI) would eliminate even the most

severe cases of fibrocystic breast disease. [For the full details of

this treatment, see pages 169-174 of The Patient's Book of Natural

Healing by Alan Gaby M. D. and me.] In " medium " to " minor " cases, 6 to

8 drops of SSKI taken in a few ounces of water daily will frequently

reduce fibrocystic breast disease to insignificance within three to

six months. Please do not do this without monitoring your thyroid

function…see " Keeping SSKI Safe " .

 

One of our daughters and at least thirty other women I've worked with

in nearly 30 years have helped ovarian cysts disappear within two to

three months with the same quantity of SSKI. Again, make sure to

monitor your thyroid function!

 

It's very likely that SSKI helps eliminate fibrocystic breast disease

and ovarian cysts at least partly through it's interaction with

estrogens….which brings us to another important use for SSKI (and

other forms of iodine such as " Lugol's solution " and " di-atomic

iodine " ). All of these forms of iodine help your body to metabolize

estrone (a slightly carcinogenic human estrogen) and

16-alpha-hydroxyestrone (a much more dangerous metabolite of human

estrogen) into estriol, an " anti-carcinogenic " or at worst " neutral "

form of human estrogen. I've reviewed literally hundreds of hormone

tests in over 26 years which have proven this point. This testing and

treatment usually requires the help of a physician skilled and

knowledgeable in nutritional and natural medicine, who can also help

with monitoring thyroid function. (See " Resources " , page 8).

 

" Dupuytren's contracture " and " Peyronie's disease " are two " fibrotic "

conditions that can be helped considerably by SSKI. In Dupuytren's

contracture, thickening (fibrosis) occurs along one of the tendons in

the palm in the hand, pulling the related finger down towards the

palm. As the problem progresses, the finger often can't be

straightened any more.

 

In Peyronie's disease, a very similar thickening occurs along the

shaft of the penis, making erections increasing " curved " and painful.

In both cases, rubbing SSKI into the thickened tissue at least twice

daily softens and lessens the fibrotic area over a period of several

months, allowing for more normal function.

 

For these conditions, it's additionally helpful to take

para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) 2 grams, three times daily, and to rub a

mixture of Vitamin E and DMSO into the thickened areas, also. However,

if " caught early " , SSKI alone will often " do the job " . (It's also

advisable to have glucose-insulin tolerance test done, as there's an

unusually high incidence of " insulin resistance " in people with

Dupuytren's contracture or Peyronie's disease.

 

" Keloids " are abnormally thick scars, sometimes as much as an inch

thick, that can form after injury. Although anyone can get a keloid,

they're more common among blacks than other ethnic groups. Rubbing

SSKI into a keloid at least twice daily will ultimately flatten them

down to a " normal scar " , but it can take many months to a year for

particularly bad ones. The treatment goes faster if SSKI is mixed

" 50-50 " with DMSO.

 

" Fistulas " are literally abnormal tunnels through tissues, " tunnels "

prevented from healing by chronic infection. Two not-unusual types are

" peri-anal fistulas " (a " tunnel " from outside the anus to the inside

of the rectum) and " recto-vaginal " fistulas. Although these fistulas

can be treated successfully by surgery, they can often be healed by

frequent swabbing inside and out with an SSKI-soaked " Q-tip " . Patience

is required: Complete healing often takes several months. The

treatment appears to work better if the SSKI is mixed with DMSO, which

enhances " penetrance " . My colleague Richard Kunin, M. D. of San

Francisco, is a " world class " expert on the use of SSKI and other

forms of iodine. He has found that hemorrhoids will sometimes

disappear literally overnight, when SSKI (20 drops) mixed with

flaxseed oil (1 ounce) is rubbed in them at bedtime. He's also found

that SSKI alone will do the same job, although it " really stings " when

applied to a hemorrhoid by itself.

 

When I was a pre-med student at Harvard University, the famous

chemistry professor Louis Feiser made a point of demonstrating to all

the pre-medical students that iodine and iodide would make oils, fats,

and waxes (cholesterol is actually a wax) more soluble in water. He

urged us to remember this in our medical practices, as he was sure it

wouldn't be taught in medical school (he was right!). This known

action of iodide likely explains why SSKI can be useful in the next

two applications.

 

Over 30 years ago, two ophthalmologists observed that a combination

tablet called " Iodo-niacin " (iodide 120 milligrams, niacin 15

milligrams) taken for several months could actually reverse

atherosclerotic clogging of arteries. They proved this effect by

taking pictures of clogged arteries in the backs of the eyes ( " retinal

photomicrographs " ) before and after treatment. The published

photographs showed a significant lessening of the cholesterol-laden

artery clogging in the " after " pictures.

 

Amazingly enough, no follow-up study has ever been published (probably

because niacin and iodide aren't patentable). Despite this, the

published pictures speak clearly for themselves. I recommend 4 to 6

drops of SSKI and niacin-containing B-complex daily (along with many

other things) for anyone with significant cholesterol- related

atherosclerotic clogging. Thyroid function must be monitored!

 

" Sebaceous cysts " are cysts which contain oily, fatty material. They

usually appear rather suddenly on the face or in the groin or labia.

Rubbing in SSKI mixed 50-50 with DMSO will almost always persuade

these cysts to go away in a week or two; it appears that the iodide

" dissolves " the fatty, oily material contained in the cysts, allowing

your body to slowly re-absorb and dispose of it.

 

Although it's not a common condition, from time to time someone will

come to my office at Tahoma Clinic inquiring about alternatives to

surgery for " parotid duct stone " . These are " stones " which can form in

the saliva-carrying duct(s) from the major salivary glands ( " parotid "

glands, located at the " angle of the jaw " ). 3 to 4 drops of SSKI taken

in water daily will almost always dissolve parotid duct stones within

four to eight months.

 

If you have chronic bronchitis and or emphysema ( " COPD " , " COLD " ) SSKI

is an invaluable tool. SSKI " gets into " all body secretions, including

often thick and hard to cough up bronchial secretions, which get

infected very easily. SSKI takes care of both of these problems. It

" loosens " secretions remarkably, making them much easier to " clear " ,

and it prevents micro-organisms from growing easily. With regular SSKI

use, bronchial infection is a much less frequent happening. Depending

on the severity of COPD, I recommend 3 to 6 drops of SSKI taken in

water once daily. As COPD is usually a chronic condition, SSKI use

will usually be indefinite, so make sure to monitor your thyroid

function! (See the August 2002 Nutrition & Healing for a more complete

discussion of natural COPD treatment.)

 

Now, back to other infections. For this group, using SSKI mixed

" 50-50 " with DMSO works better, as the DMSO enables SSKI to penetrate

much more deeply into the tissues and kill germs.

 

Infected " hangnails " are perhaps the easiest to clear up this way, as

are nagging bacterial infections around the edges of the toenails. Rub

in the mixture several times daily, and the problem's usually gone in

a few days. Herpes simplex ( " herpes " ) ourbreaks can be " stopped cold "

in the same way, but it often takes longer for the " sore " to heal

itself over.

 

If you have persistent " swollen glands " in the throat or groin areas,

see a doctor first! These can very rarely be signs of leukemia,

lymphoma, or another cancer, especially in older people. But if all

tests and studies are negative, and the doctor says " it's just swollen

glands " , rub in the SSKI with DMSO. In a large majority of cases, the

" just swollen glands " will gradually fade away.

 

Fungus under the toenails ( " onychomycosis " ) is a difficult problem to

treat. Even " conventional " anti-fungal drug treatment takes months to

work, and (for safety) monthly liver function tests are necessary.

SSKI and DMSO rubbed on, around, and under the affected toenails

doesn't work any faster, but it's just as effective, and definitely

safer. Make sure to wear old socks, because SSKI and other forms of

iodine leave an orange-brown stain. (Other safe and effective

alternatives include geranium oil, oregano oil, and tea tree oil.

These and other anti-fungal oils also require " help " from DMSO to

penetrate the toenail and soak the fungus underneath.)

 

SSKI can also help clear up vaginal infections. 20 to 30 drops in

water, used in a small " douche " once daily for five to ten days will

usually do the job. (There's actually a prescription-only iodine

preparation of available for vaginal infections, too.) However, iodine

preparations of any sort for vaginal infections are often not popular

because of the inevitable orange-brown stains they leave on clothing.

 

What about SSKI to help a " weak " thyroid (hypothyroidism)? Even though

iodine and iodide are absolutely essential to thyroid hormone

formation, in most " developed " countries, hypothyroid conditions are

not usually due to an outright lack of iodine or iodide. Still,

hypothyroidism is occasionally helped by 1 drop of SSKI daily. Make

sure to work with your doctor on this one!

 

Lastly, there's a gastronomic use for SSKI: reducing the gas we all

get from eating beans! If you're soaking beans before cooking them,

add 1 or 2 drops of SSKI, and let them soak for an hour or more. (Pour

offf that water before cooking, and add fresh water.) You'll be

surprised at the reduction in resulting intestinal gas! (For those who

want a technical explanation: There's a naturally occurring enzyme

inhibitor in beans which interferes with starch digestion, producing

gas. SSKI inactivates this enzyme inhibitor.)

 

OBTAINING SSKI

 

In the past, SSKI and other forms of iodine and iodide were available

only on prescription, or through chemical supply sources. Since the

mid-1990s passage of the Federal DSHEA law, we've regained the basic

American freedom to buy and sell natural substances (narcotics

exempted) without prescription. You haven't read or heard much about

SSKI because (despite Federal Appeals Court decisions) FDA still

maintains it's First Amendment violating policy of complete

suppression of truthful product use information on package labels or

in advertisements….unless of course FDA is paid an enormous amount of

money ($250 million minimum, according to Congressional testimony) for

" approval " . Since SSKI can't be patented…well, you know the rest.

 

SSKI can be obtained without prescription in some compounding

pharmacies, some health food stores, through " on-line " sources, and at

the Tahoma Clinic Dispensary (with which I am of course affiliated) in

a convenient travel-size dropper bottle.

 

USE SSKI SAFELY!!

 

There are three " hazards " to using SSKI: staining, allergy, and a very

small possibility of thyroid suppression with longer-term use of " too

much " .

 

Staining can be a big nuisance, but it's not a health hazard. When

SSKI is applied to skin, it can impart a faint to moderate

orange-brown color, which fades away once SSKI is no longer being

applied. SSKI and other iodine stains in clothing can be

semi-permanent or permanent, so don't plan to wear anything " nice " in

the vicinity of recently-applied SSKI.

 

Iodine allergy is a possibility, although in nearly 30 years of

medical practice I've seen it only a few times. Usually, it causes a

red, bumpy skin rash, which goes away after SSKI or other iodine is

discontinued. Topical (applied to the skin surface) iodine allergy is

almost never a serious emergency.

 

SSKI or iodine can very occasionally cause acne, which also goes away

once the source of iodine is dicontinued.

 

The type of so-called " iodine allergy " that can interfere with

breathing and occasionally sends us to the emergency room is usually

not allergy to iodine or iodine molecules, but instead to much larger,

possibly iodine- containing molecules found in lobster, crab, clams

and other " shellfish " . These molecules are not present in SSKI or

iodine. However, if there's any suspicion at all of iodine allergy,

it's best not to swallow any without testing for allergy or sensitivity.

 

Too much iodine for too long can suppress thyroid function. Many of

the uses described for SSKI in the accompanying article are

short-term, from a few days or less to a week or two. If SSKI is then

stopped, there's almost no chance of significant thyroid suppression.

However, if SSKI is to be used for two to three weeks or longer, and

especially if it's to be used continuously (for example, COPD or

cholesterol-related atherosclerosis) monitoring thyroid function is

very important. To find a physician near you who can help order and

interpret thyroid function tests, consult the Resources section on page 8.

 

Fortunately, in my experience with over a thousand individuals,

internal use of than nine drops or less of SSKI daily has very rarely

resulted in thyroid suppression. On those very few occasions,

discontinuance has resulted in prompt recovery. So far, I've never

seen thyroid suppression result from " topical " (skin surface) use of SSKI.

 

A final " safety " note: Dr. Kunin cautions (and I agree) that if you

use SSKI or other iodine " long-term " , make sure your diet contains

plenty of essential fatty acids (both omega-3 and omega-6) as well as

the sulfur- containing amino acids methionine and cysteine. If you eat

animal protein daily, that's usually sufficient as a source of these

two amino acids, but if you're vegetarian (or close) and using " long

term " SSKI or other iodine, then take 300-500 milligrams of each daily.

 

IODINE, IODIDE, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

 

Iodine is a basic element, as are calcium, zinc, oxygen and other

elements. The word " iodine " usually refers to two iodine molecules

chemically " stuck together " (I2), just as the word " oxygen " usually

refers to two oxygen molecules " stuck together " (O2). Since iodine is

more reactive, and therefore more likely to cause problems, iodine is

usually used as " iodide " , a word which refers to one iodine molecule

combined with another molecule such as potassium (KI) or sodium (NaI).

In chemical terms, such molecules are called " salts " ; the best known

salt is sodium chloride (NaCl), a " salt " of chlorine (Cl2).

 

The " SS " in " SSKI " refers to " Saturated Solution Potassium Iodide " .

Other medically useful forms of iodine include " Lugol's solution " ,

invented by Dr. Lugol of Paris in the 1840s, which contains a mixture

of types of iodine and iodide, and " di-atomic iodine " , which is

another name for iodine, but usually prepared as a solid in a capsule

instead of a liquid.