Making Iodine Just Another Poisonous Medicine: Choosing The Right Iodine and Avoiding The Povidone Iodine Found In Most U.S. Retailers

Written by Thomas Corriher Thursday, 16 July 2009 00:53

Iodine is a mineral that we recommend for everyone.  Very few people have the amount of iodine that they need, due to our depleted soils and modified foods.  However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to know what sort of iodine to use.  For instance, oral consumption of it has been popularized by some misguided alternative medicine enthusiasts, and a new form of iodine is being sold in stores.  It is called Povidone Iodine, which is a mix of polyvinylpyrrolidone (P.V.P.) and elemental iodine.  It is yet another substance that we shall only know its consequences after a couple of decades have past.

There is no need to add another chemical to iodine as a preservative.  The classic formula (water or alcohol, potassium iodide, and iodine) is highly effective, and comes with less side effects.  Pure iodine is itself a disinfectant, so the addition of toxins to supposedly preserve it is merely another instance of useless chemical poisoning.

PVP (the "povidone") is believed to simply pass through the body when taken orally, but is admitted to cause problems when injected.  It is reported to cause pulmonary vascular injury in the latter case.  Using iodine transdermally is the equivalent of injecting it into the blood, for it bypasses digestive filtration and decomposition.

The most observant readers will notice that polyvinylpyrrolidone contains 'vinyl'.  That's not some strange coincidence.  After all of the controversy surrounding such plastics as PVC, can you imagine the effects of chronic exposure direct to the bloodstream?

PVP does, however, have some technical applications:

• An adhesive in glue stick and hot melts
• A special additive for batteries, ceramics, fiberglass, inks, inkjet paper and in the chemical-mechanical planarization process
• An emulsifier and disintegrant for solution polymerization

There have been a disturbing number of cases in which people have gone into anaphylactic shock due to an allergy to the "povidone" in iodine.  It is considered hazardous by O.S.H.A. (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration), due to it causing breathing difficulty, and eye irritation.  For the same reason, fire-fighters wear self-contained breathing apparatuses before they enter buildings containing this substance.  There is also evidence to indicate that there is a cancer link.

For information about proper iodine supplementation, you may read our original iodine report, or read about why iodine should usually be taken transdermally (not orally).  For people who feel that they must supplement with iodine orally, then supplementation with red marine algae is a safe option.  Other underwater vegetation is prone to having toxic impurities, such as heavy metals and P.C.B..

Related Articles:

Iodine Deficiencies

The Dark Side of The Alternative Health Movement: Promoting Ingested Iodine

How To Cure Hypothyroidism Naturally

Audio Report: Calling Poison Control Verifying the Foolishness of Drinking Iodine

Mail Bag #12: Dr. Brownstein's Carnage and Drinking Iodine

The Mail Bag #4: Ingesting Iodine