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The Seaweed Gatherers, Paul Gaugin
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Iodine Research
Resource Network of The Iodine Movement
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Iodine and the Body
Breast pg.2 (continuation)
Derry cont
Green Tea and Fluoride
Derry D (Interview with Mary Shomon)
Although, we do have fluoride in our bodies there is no normal physiological function for it. In higher amounts it
is toxic. Iodine is the most important element in our bodies by far. But what is important is fluoride is in the
same chemical family as iodine and can replace iodine in the body if the iodine is deficient. But ideally one never
wants to do that as fluoride is a toxin and should not be used to replace normal iodine functions."
Some countries are fluoridating their water supply for the theoretical benefits of fluoride helping to prevent
cavities. What is happening is the ingested fluoride takes the place of iodine that should be there in the teeth,
especially growing teeth. Iodine and thyroid for example have complete control of tooth growth along with some
help from growth hormone. (6-8) It is only because our iodine intake has been decreasing over the years that
fluoride has been mistakenly added to our water with the idea of helping children's teeth. It would have made
more scientific sense to have added more iodine."
Fluoride has also been used against osteoporosis with beneficial results. This again is just replacing what
iodine should be doing. The minor problems of osteopenia (minor loss of calcium) seen in some patients put on
thyroid is related to the fact that the same patients are low in iodine. The low iodine causes the hypothyroidism
and also the inappropriate short term bone response. If iodine is given with the thyroid hormone this abnormal
response can be avoided. So persons taking adequate daily iodine will unlikely to ever develop osteoporosis.
Radioactive iodine injected into patients shows a full outline of the bones on a total body scan. This means one
of the places iodine goes to immediately is bones. Thyroid hormone makes bones grow, mature and remodel,
when necessary. Together thyroid hormone, iodine and growth hormone maintain a healthy bone structure. As
vertebrates (animals with backbones) are the only animals with thyroid glands it makes sense that iodine and
thyroid control bone structure and function.
Green tea is supposed to help prevent stomach cancer in China. But in fact the way to prevent stomach cancer
is to take more iodine. (9) Thus the benefits of the Green tea may be related to the fluoride in the tea substituting
for iodine. Iodine therapy would be more effective.
Dr. David Derry Answers Reader Questions
Interviews by Mary Shomon
Retired practitioner Dr. David Derry, a beloved thyroid expert in Canada for years, responds to questions regarding
thyroid disease from readers.
Biographical Information and Chronological Curriculum Vitae
for Dr. Derry
Douglas
Mammography Madness
Douglass WC
American women have been sold a bill of goods on early detection of breast cancer — the old "checkup and a
check" routine. The latest propaganda from the American Cancer Society proclaims that self-examination "could
save your breast — and save your life." The ACS is not being honest with women, as even the experts at the ACS
agree that the practice of self-examination is worthless.
Actions to Take
Flechas
Orthoiodosupplementation in a primary care practice
Flechas, J.D.
The Original Internist, 12(2):89-96, 2005.
My practice is family medicine with an integrative medicine twist. I have been using iodine supplementation in my
practice over the last four years in amounts needed for whole body sufficiency (orthoiodosupplementation).
Orthoiodosupplementation is the daily amount of iodine required for whole body sufficiency. Whole body sufficiency
for iodine is assessed by an iodine/iodide loading test.”
Following orthoiodosupplementation, serum T4 and TSH levels usually go down and free T3 stays steady. I have
seen TSH sometimes go up rather than down while T4 and free T3 did not change or may have gone up some. This
does not mean that the patient was developing hypothyroidism but that the brain was stimulating the body to make
more sodium iodide symporters (NIS)…. While taking iodide, one may see an elevated TSH but we have to
recognize that this is not a bad thing. TSH has many actions outside the thyroid that have been discovered…. Often
a check of the patient’s T4, free T3 and TSH shows the T4 to go down, free T3 going down and TSH going up. Iodide
is an essential nutrient that is absorbed by all cell lines. Its highest concentration is seen in the thyroid.”
The nutritional status of the patient will determine its response to orthoiodosupplementation. It is crucial that the
thyroid gland has plenty of antioxidants in its cells and many other nutrients.”
Breast tissue has an affinity for iodine. Iodine deficiency causes fibrocystic breast disease (FBD) with nodules, cyst
enlargement, pain and scar tissue.”
Once FBD is gone, a patient may opt to drop iodine intake to 12.5 to 25 mg per day. There is a chance that the cysts
will return. Optimum amount for most patients for FBD is 50 mg (4 tablets) per day continued indefinitely. Monitoring
the patient’s serum TSH, T4 and free T3 is done every three to six months. We did not see any major changes in
serum T4, TSH and free T3 in these patients.
In the Type 1 diabetics that we have been following we have noted that if C-peptide is measurable, this would
suggest that the individual is making their own insulin. I have been able to help this group of patients to get off
insulin or to greatly reduce the amount they need for good glucose control with Iodoral at 4 tablets/day (50 mg). If C-
peptide is absent then we feel there is no insulin being produced and we have not been able to help this particular
group of patients to get off their insulin. We have been able to help these patients lower the total amount of insulin
needed to control their glucose.
“When patients take between 12.5 to 50 mg of iodine per day, it seems that the body becomes increasingly more
responsive to thyroid hormones. T3 and steroid hormones show the same family of receptors as hydrophobic small
molecules. Clur has postulated that iodization of tyrosine residues in the hydrophobic portion of these receptors
normalize their response to the corresponding hormone. Optimal intake of iodine in amounts two orders of
magnitude greater than iodine levels needed for goiter control may be required for iodization of these receptors.
Another organ that can concentrate iodine is the liver. An enterohepatic circulation of iodine has been reported
recently. I have one patient with liver fatty infiltration who had varicosities of the esophagus with bleeding. Once she
started on iodine for FDB we noticed that her GI bleeding stopped and the varicose veins of her stomach and
esophagus disappeared.
Iodine deficiency may cause the ovaries to develop cysts, nodules and scar tissue. At its worse this ovarian
pathology is very similar to that of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). As of the writing of this article I have five
PCOS patients. The patients have successfully been brought under control with the use of 50 mg of iodine per day.
Control with these patients meaning cysts are gone, periods every 28 days and type 2 diabetes mellitus under
control.
Iodine induces apoptosis and inhibits cells from forming cancer. The absence of iodine in the thyroid causes goiter.
Goiter is associated with breast cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, ovarian cancer and endometrial
cancer. It is felt by many researchers that the absence of iodine is a promoter of cancer. I feel that those patients
with the lowest excretion rates and the highest absorption of iodine on the iodine-loading test are the ones with the
highest risk for development of cancer. From literally hundreds of phone interviews with patients over the last two
years, the levels of iodine excretion that seem to raise the highest alarm are those in which the excretion is
somewhere around 10 mg or less per 24 hours in patients age 35 and up. My observations at this point show that
there is a definite increase in the incidence of breast cancer, stomach cancer, ovarian cancer or thyroid cancer. If a
patient has the iodine loading test and has an iodine excretion of 10 mg or less in a 24-hour period, I initiate a
cancer workup.
Iodine Insufficiency FAQ
Flechas JD
How does iodine deficiency manifest itself? Research work has shown that iodine deficiency in the thyroid presents
as a thyroid goiter (enlargement of the thyroid). In those areas of the world where iodine deficiency is very high, such
as in Switzerland and in certain areas of Asia and Africa, there are also higher incidents of thyroid cancer. Iodine is
also concentrated by breast tissue, and a lack of iodine in the breasts manifests as fibrocystic breast disease
(painful breasts with nodules and cysts and often more symptomatic prior to menstrual periods). 93% of American
women have fibrocystic breast disease and the longer this disease exists, the higher the potential risk for
development of breast cancer. 20% of all iodine in the human body is stored in the skin, specifically in the sweat
glands. Lack of iodine in the sweat glands manifests as dry skin with a decreased ability to sweat. Iodine can also
be concentrated in the stomach tissue, and the lack of iodine in the stomach manifests as achlorhydria (lack of
digestive acid production). Iodine is used by the stomach cells, also known as parietal cells, to concentrate chloride
which is necessary to produce hydrochloric acid (digestive acid). With the prolonged presence of achlorhydria, there
is a much higher incidence of stomach cancer. Iodine is concentrated in the lacrymal glands of the eye, and a lack
of iodine can cause dry eyes. Iodine can also be concentrated in the parotid and submandibular glands of the
mouth, and iodine deficiency here can result in dry mouth. Iodine can be concentrated in the ovaries, and Russian
studies done some years ago showed a relationship between iodine deficiency and the presence of cysts in the
ovaries. The greater the iodine deficiency, the more ovarian cysts a woman produces. In its extreme form, this
condition is known as polycystic ovarian disease.
What about iodine and aging? As most of us know, hypertension (high blood pressure) often becomes an issue as
we age. Because of this, many are being told that they need to decrease the total amount of salt in their diet.
However, we must realize that most people over age 60 are becoming depleted of iodine due to the lack of iodine in
the diet and that this particular group of individuals is also the group with the highest occurrence of thyroid nodules
and goiters. Also of interest is that 25% of the people in this age category will become senile as a result of low
thyroid (hypothyroidism). Iodine supplementation may alleviate these iodine-related maladies, but iodine testing
and thyroid studies such as a thyroid ultrasound and thyroid lab tests should be conducted prior to beginning iodine
supplementation therapy.
Can Iodine be used while a woman is pregnant? In Japan, the average Japanese woman is eating 13.8 mg of
iodine per day while the average American woman consumes 100 times less iodine per day (approximately 0.138
mg per day). For iodine supplementation, I have been prescribing Iodoral, a product made by the Optimox
Corporation. Iodoral contains a 12.5 mg combination of iodine/iodide per tablet. Iodine is very crucial in the first
three years of life from the development of the fetus inside the womb until two years after birth. In the development of
a child's IQ, I feel that it would be very advantageous for the mother to supplement her diet during pregnancy and, if
she is nursing the child, for the first two years after pregnancy.
What happens to thyroid hormone production in the presence of iodine supplementation? Iodine
supplementations should be prescribed only when iodine testing indicates iodine deficiency. Iodine testing kits can
be ordered from my office (828 684 3233) by individuals or by medical practitioners. Traditional medical literature
indicates that patients who have thyroid nodules or thyroid goiter may have the potential to develop hyperthyroidism
when supplementing with iodine. Hence, before commencing iodine supplementation, it would be advantageous
for a person to have their primary care doctor order a thyroid ultrasound to rule out the possibility of pre-existing
goiter or thyroid nodules. The primary care doctor should also order thyroid lab work (to be used as a baseline)
before prescribing iodine therapy and this lab work should be repeated and followed at regular intervals during the
patient's iodine therapy. For iodine therapy patients not also on thyroid hormone replacement therapy, adjustments
to the iodine therapy should be made if signs of hyperthyroidism should occur. Should signs of hyperthyroidism
occur in patients who are taking thyroid hormone replacement therapy as well as taking iodine supplementation, the
physician should first recommend an adjustment in the thyroid hormone therapy rather than in the iodine
supplementation. This adjustment in therapy is recommended because iodine is required not only by the thyroid but
is required for the proper functioning of many other tissues. The presence of pre-existing thyroid nodules or goiter
does not preclude the patient from iodine supplementation therapy. In fact, in the extensive research with iodine
therapy done in my office, I have seen many case of pre-existing thyroid nodules and goiter shrink in the presence of
iodine therapy.
Flechas Website
Radio Interviews by Flechas
Iodine
Flechas JD
MP3 audio -- 50 minutes (takes a while to download)
RadioLiberty.com January 26, 2007.
In this 50-minute radio presentation (mp3 audio), Flechas covers roughly the same issues as in the earlier 2-hour
presentation (see below). There are a few additional ideas, however, that I would like to mention.
Iodine Deficiency
Flechas JD
MP3 audio -- 2 hours (takes a while to download)
RadioLiberty.com January 5, 2007.
In this two-hour radio presentation (mp3 audio), Flechas considers a range of iodine related issues: fibrocystic
breasts, hypothyroidism, ovarian cysts, attention-deficit disorder, pregnancy, IQ, senility, iodine history, bromide,
fluoride, obesity, depression, constipation, detoxing (from bromide, fluoride, arsenic, mercury, lead, aluminum),
cancer (prostate, thyroid, breast), diabetes (blood sugar control), receptors (hormones, neurotransmitters),
testosterone, itching, sweating, histidine and histamine, functions of iodine, heart disease (especially arrhythmias,
abnormal heart beats), iodine doses.
Here are a few of the ideas Flechas presents.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL DOUGLASS, JR., MD
Mammography Madness
Douglass WC
American women have been sold a bill of goods on early detection of breast cancer — the old "checkup and a
check" routine. The latest propaganda from the American Cancer Society proclaims that self-examination "could
save your breast — and save your life." The ACS is not being honest with women, as even the experts at the ACS
agree that the practice of self-examination is worthless.
Actions to Take
Breast pg.2 (continuation)
Derry cont
Green Tea and Fluoride
Derry D (Interview with Mary Shomon)
Although, we do have fluoride in our bodies there is no normal physiological function for it. In higher amounts it
is toxic. Iodine is the most important element in our bodies by far. But what is important is fluoride is in the
same chemical family as iodine and can replace iodine in the body if the iodine is deficient. But ideally one never
wants to do that as fluoride is a toxin and should not be used to replace normal iodine functions."
Some countries are fluoridating their water supply for the theoretical benefits of fluoride helping to prevent
cavities. What is happening is the ingested fluoride takes the place of iodine that should be there in the teeth,
especially growing teeth. Iodine and thyroid for example have complete control of tooth growth along with some
help from growth hormone. (6-8) It is only because our iodine intake has been decreasing over the years that
fluoride has been mistakenly added to our water with the idea of helping children's teeth. It would have made
more scientific sense to have added more iodine."
Fluoride has also been used against osteoporosis with beneficial results. This again is just replacing what
iodine should be doing. The minor problems of osteopenia (minor loss of calcium) seen in some patients put on
thyroid is related to the fact that the same patients are low in iodine. The low iodine causes the hypothyroidism
and also the inappropriate short term bone response. If iodine is given with the thyroid hormone this abnormal
response can be avoided. So persons taking adequate daily iodine will unlikely to ever develop osteoporosis.
Radioactive iodine injected into patients shows a full outline of the bones on a total body scan. This means one
of the places iodine goes to immediately is bones. Thyroid hormone makes bones grow, mature and remodel,
when necessary. Together thyroid hormone, iodine and growth hormone maintain a healthy bone structure. As
vertebrates (animals with backbones) are the only animals with thyroid glands it makes sense that iodine and
thyroid control bone structure and function.
Green tea is supposed to help prevent stomach cancer in China. But in fact the way to prevent stomach cancer
is to take more iodine. (9) Thus the benefits of the Green tea may be related to the fluoride in the tea substituting
for iodine. Iodine therapy would be more effective.
Dr. David Derry Answers Reader Questions
Interviews by Mary Shomon
Retired practitioner Dr. David Derry, a beloved thyroid expert in Canada for years, responds to questions regarding
thyroid disease from readers.
Biographical Information and Chronological Curriculum Vitae
for Dr. Derry
Douglas
Mammography Madness
Douglass WC
American women have been sold a bill of goods on early detection of breast cancer — the old "checkup and a
check" routine. The latest propaganda from the American Cancer Society proclaims that self-examination "could
save your breast — and save your life." The ACS is not being honest with women, as even the experts at the ACS
agree that the practice of self-examination is worthless.
Actions to Take
- Don't get a mammogram and don't bother with self-examination.
- Be serious about your diet.
- Take 500 mg of thiamin (B1) twice daily. It does wonders for lumpy breasts and may help prevent breast
cancer (I have no proof of that), unnecessary visits to the doctor, and unnecessary surgery. - Take one drop of Lugol's solution (iodine) daily in a glass of water. Iodine is excellent for breast health. A few
people are allergic to iodine—observe closely for rash after the first dose. An even more effective treatment
with Lugol's solution is to paint the cervix with it. Often the lumps will disappear before the patient leaves the
doctor's office! - Take flaxseed oil, two capsules twice a day.
- Avoid trans fatty acids in margarine and vegetable shortenings, used in most processed foods.
- If you are a potential mother, remember to breast-feed your babies. Women who breast-feed are much less
likely to get breast cancer. - Get plenty of sunshine. Breast cancer is less frequent in areas where there is ample sunlight unobscured by
smog or fog. As added insurance, eat oily fish and take cod liver oil as sources of vitamin D. - Drink water free of chlorine and fluorine.
- Get plenty of calcium from raw milk and bone broths.
- If you develop a large lump in the breast, do not submit to more surgery than a simple lump removal and do
not allow them to cut into the lymph nodes in your arm pit. - Pass on the radiation and chemotherapy. Radiation is highly destructive of not only tissues, but the immune
system, which then makes you more susceptible to all diseases. It is usually a terrible price to pay for a
temporary shrinkage of a tumor."
Flechas
Orthoiodosupplementation in a primary care practice
Flechas, J.D.
The Original Internist, 12(2):89-96, 2005.
My practice is family medicine with an integrative medicine twist. I have been using iodine supplementation in my
practice over the last four years in amounts needed for whole body sufficiency (orthoiodosupplementation).
Orthoiodosupplementation is the daily amount of iodine required for whole body sufficiency. Whole body sufficiency
for iodine is assessed by an iodine/iodide loading test.”
Following orthoiodosupplementation, serum T4 and TSH levels usually go down and free T3 stays steady. I have
seen TSH sometimes go up rather than down while T4 and free T3 did not change or may have gone up some. This
does not mean that the patient was developing hypothyroidism but that the brain was stimulating the body to make
more sodium iodide symporters (NIS)…. While taking iodide, one may see an elevated TSH but we have to
recognize that this is not a bad thing. TSH has many actions outside the thyroid that have been discovered…. Often
a check of the patient’s T4, free T3 and TSH shows the T4 to go down, free T3 going down and TSH going up. Iodide
is an essential nutrient that is absorbed by all cell lines. Its highest concentration is seen in the thyroid.”
The nutritional status of the patient will determine its response to orthoiodosupplementation. It is crucial that the
thyroid gland has plenty of antioxidants in its cells and many other nutrients.”
Breast tissue has an affinity for iodine. Iodine deficiency causes fibrocystic breast disease (FBD) with nodules, cyst
enlargement, pain and scar tissue.”
Once FBD is gone, a patient may opt to drop iodine intake to 12.5 to 25 mg per day. There is a chance that the cysts
will return. Optimum amount for most patients for FBD is 50 mg (4 tablets) per day continued indefinitely. Monitoring
the patient’s serum TSH, T4 and free T3 is done every three to six months. We did not see any major changes in
serum T4, TSH and free T3 in these patients.
In the Type 1 diabetics that we have been following we have noted that if C-peptide is measurable, this would
suggest that the individual is making their own insulin. I have been able to help this group of patients to get off
insulin or to greatly reduce the amount they need for good glucose control with Iodoral at 4 tablets/day (50 mg). If C-
peptide is absent then we feel there is no insulin being produced and we have not been able to help this particular
group of patients to get off their insulin. We have been able to help these patients lower the total amount of insulin
needed to control their glucose.
“When patients take between 12.5 to 50 mg of iodine per day, it seems that the body becomes increasingly more
responsive to thyroid hormones. T3 and steroid hormones show the same family of receptors as hydrophobic small
molecules. Clur has postulated that iodization of tyrosine residues in the hydrophobic portion of these receptors
normalize their response to the corresponding hormone. Optimal intake of iodine in amounts two orders of
magnitude greater than iodine levels needed for goiter control may be required for iodization of these receptors.
Another organ that can concentrate iodine is the liver. An enterohepatic circulation of iodine has been reported
recently. I have one patient with liver fatty infiltration who had varicosities of the esophagus with bleeding. Once she
started on iodine for FDB we noticed that her GI bleeding stopped and the varicose veins of her stomach and
esophagus disappeared.
Iodine deficiency may cause the ovaries to develop cysts, nodules and scar tissue. At its worse this ovarian
pathology is very similar to that of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). As of the writing of this article I have five
PCOS patients. The patients have successfully been brought under control with the use of 50 mg of iodine per day.
Control with these patients meaning cysts are gone, periods every 28 days and type 2 diabetes mellitus under
control.
Iodine induces apoptosis and inhibits cells from forming cancer. The absence of iodine in the thyroid causes goiter.
Goiter is associated with breast cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, ovarian cancer and endometrial
cancer. It is felt by many researchers that the absence of iodine is a promoter of cancer. I feel that those patients
with the lowest excretion rates and the highest absorption of iodine on the iodine-loading test are the ones with the
highest risk for development of cancer. From literally hundreds of phone interviews with patients over the last two
years, the levels of iodine excretion that seem to raise the highest alarm are those in which the excretion is
somewhere around 10 mg or less per 24 hours in patients age 35 and up. My observations at this point show that
there is a definite increase in the incidence of breast cancer, stomach cancer, ovarian cancer or thyroid cancer. If a
patient has the iodine loading test and has an iodine excretion of 10 mg or less in a 24-hour period, I initiate a
cancer workup.
Iodine Insufficiency FAQ
Flechas JD
How does iodine deficiency manifest itself? Research work has shown that iodine deficiency in the thyroid presents
as a thyroid goiter (enlargement of the thyroid). In those areas of the world where iodine deficiency is very high, such
as in Switzerland and in certain areas of Asia and Africa, there are also higher incidents of thyroid cancer. Iodine is
also concentrated by breast tissue, and a lack of iodine in the breasts manifests as fibrocystic breast disease
(painful breasts with nodules and cysts and often more symptomatic prior to menstrual periods). 93% of American
women have fibrocystic breast disease and the longer this disease exists, the higher the potential risk for
development of breast cancer. 20% of all iodine in the human body is stored in the skin, specifically in the sweat
glands. Lack of iodine in the sweat glands manifests as dry skin with a decreased ability to sweat. Iodine can also
be concentrated in the stomach tissue, and the lack of iodine in the stomach manifests as achlorhydria (lack of
digestive acid production). Iodine is used by the stomach cells, also known as parietal cells, to concentrate chloride
which is necessary to produce hydrochloric acid (digestive acid). With the prolonged presence of achlorhydria, there
is a much higher incidence of stomach cancer. Iodine is concentrated in the lacrymal glands of the eye, and a lack
of iodine can cause dry eyes. Iodine can also be concentrated in the parotid and submandibular glands of the
mouth, and iodine deficiency here can result in dry mouth. Iodine can be concentrated in the ovaries, and Russian
studies done some years ago showed a relationship between iodine deficiency and the presence of cysts in the
ovaries. The greater the iodine deficiency, the more ovarian cysts a woman produces. In its extreme form, this
condition is known as polycystic ovarian disease.
What about iodine and aging? As most of us know, hypertension (high blood pressure) often becomes an issue as
we age. Because of this, many are being told that they need to decrease the total amount of salt in their diet.
However, we must realize that most people over age 60 are becoming depleted of iodine due to the lack of iodine in
the diet and that this particular group of individuals is also the group with the highest occurrence of thyroid nodules
and goiters. Also of interest is that 25% of the people in this age category will become senile as a result of low
thyroid (hypothyroidism). Iodine supplementation may alleviate these iodine-related maladies, but iodine testing
and thyroid studies such as a thyroid ultrasound and thyroid lab tests should be conducted prior to beginning iodine
supplementation therapy.
Can Iodine be used while a woman is pregnant? In Japan, the average Japanese woman is eating 13.8 mg of
iodine per day while the average American woman consumes 100 times less iodine per day (approximately 0.138
mg per day). For iodine supplementation, I have been prescribing Iodoral, a product made by the Optimox
Corporation. Iodoral contains a 12.5 mg combination of iodine/iodide per tablet. Iodine is very crucial in the first
three years of life from the development of the fetus inside the womb until two years after birth. In the development of
a child's IQ, I feel that it would be very advantageous for the mother to supplement her diet during pregnancy and, if
she is nursing the child, for the first two years after pregnancy.
What happens to thyroid hormone production in the presence of iodine supplementation? Iodine
supplementations should be prescribed only when iodine testing indicates iodine deficiency. Iodine testing kits can
be ordered from my office (828 684 3233) by individuals or by medical practitioners. Traditional medical literature
indicates that patients who have thyroid nodules or thyroid goiter may have the potential to develop hyperthyroidism
when supplementing with iodine. Hence, before commencing iodine supplementation, it would be advantageous
for a person to have their primary care doctor order a thyroid ultrasound to rule out the possibility of pre-existing
goiter or thyroid nodules. The primary care doctor should also order thyroid lab work (to be used as a baseline)
before prescribing iodine therapy and this lab work should be repeated and followed at regular intervals during the
patient's iodine therapy. For iodine therapy patients not also on thyroid hormone replacement therapy, adjustments
to the iodine therapy should be made if signs of hyperthyroidism should occur. Should signs of hyperthyroidism
occur in patients who are taking thyroid hormone replacement therapy as well as taking iodine supplementation, the
physician should first recommend an adjustment in the thyroid hormone therapy rather than in the iodine
supplementation. This adjustment in therapy is recommended because iodine is required not only by the thyroid but
is required for the proper functioning of many other tissues. The presence of pre-existing thyroid nodules or goiter
does not preclude the patient from iodine supplementation therapy. In fact, in the extensive research with iodine
therapy done in my office, I have seen many case of pre-existing thyroid nodules and goiter shrink in the presence of
iodine therapy.
Flechas Website
Radio Interviews by Flechas
Iodine
Flechas JD
MP3 audio -- 50 minutes (takes a while to download)
RadioLiberty.com January 26, 2007.
In this 50-minute radio presentation (mp3 audio), Flechas covers roughly the same issues as in the earlier 2-hour
presentation (see below). There are a few additional ideas, however, that I would like to mention.
- Sweating and Breast Cancer. In the earlier tape, he mentions that iodine is necessary to sweat. Here he
mentions that lack of sweating may precede breast cancer.
- Bromide and Cancer. Increased levels of bromide contribute to cancer.
- Cancer and Iodine. The following cancers are associated with goiter and iodine deficiency: breast, thyroid,
endometrium, esophageal, ovarian, stomach.
- Hormone Receptors. The receptors for almost every major hormone and neurotransmitter need iodine in
order to function efficiently -- thyroid hormones, testosterone, cortisol, insulin, and more. The single iodide
that is removed in transforming T4 to T3 can join receptors and increase their sensitivity.
- Thyroid Hormones and Breast Cancer. Supplemental Thyroid Hormones are not benign. They double the
risk of breast cancer, and that risk increases over time.
- Thyroid Hormones and Iodine Absorption. Supplemental Thyroid Hormones inhibit the ability of the body to
absorb iodine, thus increasing breast cancer risk.
- Iodine and Lipids. Iodine keeps the fats and lipids in the body from getting oxidized. This is one of Iodine's
most important functions. 70% of the body iodine is found in muscles and fat (vs. 3% in the thyroid).
Iodine Deficiency
Flechas JD
MP3 audio -- 2 hours (takes a while to download)
RadioLiberty.com January 5, 2007.
In this two-hour radio presentation (mp3 audio), Flechas considers a range of iodine related issues: fibrocystic
breasts, hypothyroidism, ovarian cysts, attention-deficit disorder, pregnancy, IQ, senility, iodine history, bromide,
fluoride, obesity, depression, constipation, detoxing (from bromide, fluoride, arsenic, mercury, lead, aluminum),
cancer (prostate, thyroid, breast), diabetes (blood sugar control), receptors (hormones, neurotransmitters),
testosterone, itching, sweating, histidine and histamine, functions of iodine, heart disease (especially arrhythmias,
abnormal heart beats), iodine doses.
Here are a few of the ideas Flechas presents.
- Recommended Iodine Protocol. 50 mg/day of iodine in the form of Lugol’s or Iodoral. Plus 1500 mg, twice a
day, of Vitamin C (ester C or buffered C). If high bromide, add one teaspoon per day of Celtic sea salt or
Potassium chloride (KCl).
- Getting Off Thyroid Hormones. First, start the iodine supplementation. Then, if there are symptoms of
HYPERthyroidism (nervousness, insomnia, sweating in palms, oily skin), you can reduce the thyroid
hormones in half. Do not reduce the thyroid hormones until symptoms of hyperthyroidism occur. They may
occur 3 or 4 weeks after starting iodine supplementation, or 3 or 4 months later, or a year later. Or it may not
occur at all.
- Why may the iodine enable you to reduce your thyroid hormones? Iodine will increase the sensitivity of the
thyroid RECEPTORS to the hormone. Thus, less thyroid hormone is needed.
- Hormone Receptors and Iodine. All hormone receptors are dependent on iodine, which increases the
sensitivity of the receptor to the hormone it is designed for. For example, it can increase the sensitivity of
insulin receptors and thus help with diabetes. Similarly, it can increase the sensitivity of the receptors for
neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin, dopamine, GABA) in the brain. Thus, depression may lift after taking
iodine. It can also increase the sensitivity of receptors for testosterone and FSH/LH.
- Thyroid Hormones and Iodine. If you take supplemental thyroid hormones, you inhibit the ability of the body
to absorb iodine. That is why they recommend to patients about to received radioactive-iodine scans that
they go off all thyroid hormones for two to three weeks prior to the scan. Women who take thyroid hormones
have a much higher risk of breast cancer than other women.
- Histidine and Histamine. Histidine is the precursor for histamine. Anti-histamines are used to control runny
noses, hives, and itching. Iodine inhibits the conversion of histidine to histamine, thus reducing itching,
hives, etc.
- Iodine and Heavy Metals. When taking iodine, there is GREATLY increased excretion in the urine of arsenic,
mercury, lead, aluminum, and other toxic metals. Iodine is selective in that it leaves the essential metals (e.
g., iron) and removes the toxic ones.
- Iodine and Cancer. In many cancers, the mechanism for getting iodine into the cells (the NIS symporter) is
not working. The cells can’t absorb Iodine. Absence of iodine is a promoter of thyroid cancer, breast cancer,
and ovarian cancer.
- Bromide. Bromide builds up in the Central Nervous System and results in many problems. In the 1920s
Bromo-Seltzer was a bromide-based medicine that used to be used for hangovers, calming the stomach,
and headaches. It often resulted in acute paranoid psychosis with large doses. Today, beverages
(Mountain Dew, Fresca, and citric Gatorade) contain bromide in the form of “brominated vegetable oil”. It is
used as an emulsifier in citrus-flavored soft drinks. The bromide functions as a CNS depressant and
triggers a number of symptoms like paranoia. Bromide is also found in flour and bread. Brazil recently
outlawed bromide in flour products.
- When iodine gets into the cells, it kicks the bromide out. Bromide then increases in the blood stream and
goes to the kidneys. Chloride pushes bromide into the urine, thus getting rid of it. That’s why taking salt is
helpful in moving bromide out of the body
- Iodine in the Skin. 20% of the body iodine is in the skin. Iodine in the skin helps your body be able to sweat.
- Iodine and Pregnancy. IQ is mostly set by the age of two. Adequate iodine during pregnancy and the first two
years of life can increase IQ by 15 points. If there is low iodine but high fluoride, it can result in cretinism
(severe mental retardation).
- Iodine and Salt. 50% of American households are now using salt without iodine. Moreover, the AMA is going
to recommend reducing salt consumption by 50% over the next 10 years. Iodine has been removed from
bread and greatly reduced in milk. Fewer and fewer Americans are getting sufficient iodine. 25-30% of
people over 60 who become senile are hypothyroid due to low iodine, often because of low salt prescribed
for hypertension.
- Iodine and the Breast. Iodine is very important to the breast. Iodine deficiency results in fibrocystic breasts,
which can be cured with adequate iodine. If left without iodine, the fibrocystic breasts can develop breast
cancer.
- Iodine Sensitivity. If you can take iodized salt, you can take Lugol's or Iodoral. If iodized salt gives you hives,
avoid iodine. Less than 1/2% of the population is iodine sensitive.
- Iodine Loading Test. It is a good idea to take the Iodine Loading Test before supplementing with iodine.
Then, repeat the test in about 3 or 4 months to be sure your body is absorbing the iodine appropriately. If it is
not, your practitioner can help you make changes so that your body will absorb it.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL DOUGLASS, JR., MD
Mammography Madness
Douglass WC
American women have been sold a bill of goods on early detection of breast cancer — the old "checkup and a
check" routine. The latest propaganda from the American Cancer Society proclaims that self-examination "could
save your breast — and save your life." The ACS is not being honest with women, as even the experts at the ACS
agree that the practice of self-examination is worthless.
Actions to Take
- Don't get a mammogram and don't bother with self-examination.
- Be serious about your diet.
- Take 500 mg of thiamin (B1) twice daily. It does wonders for lumpy breasts and may help prevent breast
cancer (I have no proof of that), unnecessary visits to the doctor, and unnecessary surgery. - Take one drop of Lugol's solution (iodine) daily in a glass of water. Iodine is excellent for breast health. A few
people are allergic to iodine—observe closely for rash after the first dose. An even more effective treatment
with Lugol's solution is to paint the cervix with it. Often the lumps will disappear before the patient leaves the
doctor's office! - Take flaxseed oil, two capsules twice a day.
- Avoid trans fatty acids in margarine and vegetable shortenings, used in most processed foods.
- If you are a potential mother, remember to breast-feed your babies. Women who breast-feed are much less
likely to get breast cancer. - Get plenty of sunshine. Breast cancer is less frequent in areas where there is ample sunlight unobscured by
smog or fog. As added insurance, eat oily fish and take cod liver oil as sources of vitamin D. - Drink water free of chlorine and fluorine.
- Get plenty of calcium from raw milk and bone broths.
- If you develop a large lump in the breast, do not submit to more surgery than a simple lump removal and do
not allow them to cut into the lymph nodes in your arm pit. - Pass on the radiation and chemotherapy. Radiation is highly destructive of not only tissues, but the immune
system, which then makes you more susceptible to all diseases. It is usually a terrible price to pay for a
temporary shrinkage of a tumor.