Lugols Iodine
Traditional Uses.
Choose options
About Lugols Iodine
Potassium and Elemental Iodine
Iodine is easily lost from the body by the presence of any of the other halogens (halogens are group chemicals that have similar properties). Some of these chemicals, common in our diets today are fluorine (floride), chlorine (city water), and bromine (spas, swimming pools and white flour). If there is any form of these chemicals present it will negate the iodine in the body and render it useless.
Elemental Iodine is a metallic mineral and is nearly impossible for your body to absorb unless found in the tissues of plants or combined properly with other nutrients. This is why we combine elemental iodine with potassium iodine, thus making it easier for our bodies to assimilate and absorb. pH in the digestive tract is important for absorption. Orange juice and Tea Honey have this balance.
Iodine is important in the bodys ability to resist disease. It is necessary for the thyroid glands proper function. All the blood in the body passes through the thyroid every 17-20 minutes. The thyroid weakens or kills any harmful germs with iodine. So every 17-20 minutes the germs that pass through the thyroid are weakened if iodine is present. If iodine is not present the thyroid cannot kill off harmful germs.
Elemental Iodine has a distinctive trait: it hangs up on anything and everything. In fact, it attaches itself so quickly we consider everything it touches stained. This is just the property we want to make it safe for use. The amount you use is immediately hung up, or attached to your mucous and can not be quickly absorbed into the blood or other organs. It stays in the stomach. And for this reason it is so useful for killing vicious bacteria like Salmonella and Shigella. Salmonella and Shigella are two stomach and digestive tract bacterial parasites. They can give you terrible bloating and gas, which is often misdiagnosed as lactose intolerance. Although in killing them off, bloating and gas could be increased for a short period of time. Younger persons often have a fever when Salmonella attacks. Summer flu or 24-hour Flu is really Salmonella getting you. It comes into you with deli food, chicken, past-dated dairy food, not to mention picnic food that has stood around for a while. Hands carry these two bacteria, so its a good practice to wash hands before eating. People can have chronic Shigella and Salmonella infections. Every new strain they eat or drink forms hybrids with the old strain they already had in their stomachs. This results in much more vicious strains that actually make you feel sick. Shigella, especially, makes you feel angry, irritable, and short-tempered as a mule. Salmonella goes to your nervous system. All cases of multiple sclerosis I have seen had rampant Shigella.
When used with Tea Honey*, Iodine also helps in weight loss by increasing absorption of nutrients thus curbing cravings and pulling fats out of the tissues into the blood stream to be burned. In supporting the immune system it helps by increasing the feeling of well-being.
In trace minerals toxic levels can occur. The symptoms of getting close to these levels with Iodine are: unexplained rashes and/or runny nose.
To remedy this stop talking it for a day or until symptoms go away. Resume with half the dosage. It will soon be apparent what your dosage is.
A therapeutic dose is generally 15 drops a day in some people as high as 60 drops a day. When finding these levels please pay attention to your body.
Iodine is generally not found in the soils of inland states unless the farmer put it there. It is not contained in commercial fertilizers. If its not contained in the soil its certainly not in the food that grows in that soil even if it has the propensity to be high in Iodine. If youre a gardener and would like to raise the level of iodine add kelp or kelp meal to your soil.
Potassium and Elemental Iodine
Clinically Developed by Dr. Michael E. James, CH, MH, NMD
Before You Begin: The Wrist Patch Test
Before taking Lugol's iodine internally, perform a simple two-minute test that tells you two important things at once.
How to do it: Place one drop of Lugol's iodine on the inside of your wrist. Let it dry completely. Do not wash it off.
Test 1 — Allergy Check: Watch the application site for 20–30 minutes. If a rash, significant redness, or notable skin irritation develops, you may have an iodine sensitivity. Do not take iodine internally and consult a health professional before proceeding.
If no reaction occurs, you are clear to begin internal use.
Test 2 — Deficiency Check: Note how long the iodine stain remains visible on your wrist. The speed of absorption tells you how iodine-hungry your body is.
| Absorption Time | What It Indicates |
|---|---|
| Disappears within 1–2 hours | Significant iodine deficiency |
| Disappears within 4–6 hours | Moderate iodine deficiency |
| Visible for 8–12 hours or longer | Iodine levels are relatively adequate |
As you supplement consistently, repeat this test weekly. You will notice the absorption rate slowing over time — that is your body telling you its reserves are rebuilding.
Daily Dosage
Standard therapeutic dose: 3 drops per day
Some individuals find their optimal personal dose is higher — up to 6 drops per day. Start at 3 drops and pay attention to how your body responds before increasing.
How to Take It
Lugol's iodine is best taken in a beverage that supports absorption. The acidic pH of the following beverages helps the body assimilate iodine properly:
- Tea Honey (see recipe below) — the preferred method
- Orange juice — a good alternative if Tea Honey is not available
Add your drops directly to your beverage and stir. Take once daily, preferably in the morning.
Knowing Your Upper Limit
Iodine is a trace mineral. As with all trace minerals, there is a range where the body thrives — and signals when you have reached your personal ceiling.
Watch for these two signs:
- Unexplained skin rash
- Persistent runny nose (not associated with illness)
Either of these signals means you are approaching your personal upper limit. Do not continue at the same dose. Stop for one full day or until the symptom resolves, then resume at half your previous dose. Your correct personal dose will become clear within a few days. Most people settle comfortably at 3 drops; a smaller number find 6 drops is their optimal level.
Tea Honey Recipe
The Ideal Delivery Beverage for Lugol's Iodine
Tea Honey is a centuries-old remedy from the James family that serves as far more than just a carrier for iodine. On its own it supports hydration, electrolyte balance, digestive health, pH regulation, and immune function. Combined with Lugol's iodine, it creates the ideal digestive pH environment for maximum iodine absorption — and amplifies the weight management, energy, and immune benefits of both.
Single Serving
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Raw apple cider vinegar (with the mother) | 1 tsp |
| Raw honey | 2 tsp |
| Good water | 7 oz |
Instructions: Add vinegar and honey to water. Stir well until honey is fully dissolved. Add your Lugol's iodine drops. Drink at room temperature for best results, first thing in the morning.
Take 2 to 3 times per day.
Concentrate (Make-Ahead Batch)
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Raw apple cider vinegar (with the mother) | 2 cups |
| Raw honey | 4 cups |
Instructions:
- If your honey is firm rather than runny, soften it first. Place the honey jar in a saucepan with a few inches of water. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer until the honey softens, stirring occasionally. Do not boil the honey directly.
- Combine softened honey and apple cider vinegar and mix thoroughly.
- Store in a dry, airtight container. Keep containers completely dry before use — water shortens shelf life significantly.
Tip: The concentrate will last a long time when stored in a dry container. Once diluted with water, refrigerate and use within one week.
To serve from concentrate:
- For a quart: mix ½ cup concentrate with 4 cups water
- For a gallon: mix 1½ cups concentrate in a gallon pitcher or jug
- Adjust to your taste
Add Lugol's iodine drops to your prepared serving just before drinking.
For Stomach Bugs, Food Poisoning, and Vomiting: The Capsule Method
When you are dealing with a stomach bug, food poisoning, nausea, or vomiting, swallowing a beverage is often the last thing your stomach will tolerate. This is exactly when the capsule method becomes your best tool.
The goal here is not to bypass the stomach — it is the opposite. You want the iodine delivered directly to the stomach as quickly and efficiently as possible, so the elemental iodine can go straight to work on the bacteria causing the problem right where they live.
As Dr. James explains, elemental iodine attaches itself immediately to the mucous lining of the stomach. This is precisely what makes it so effective against vicious gut pathogens like Salmonella and Shigella — the two bacteria responsible for most cases of food poisoning and what people commonly call the "stomach flu" or "24-hour bug." A capsule gets the iodine there fast, in a concentrated form, without requiring the stomach to process a full beverage.
Encapsulating your iodine dose is a simple, effective solution that delivers the iodine directly to the stomach where it is needed most.
What You Need
- Empty gelatin or vegetable capsules — size 0 or size 00 (available at health food stores or online)
- Your bottle of Lugol's iodine
- A small dropper or the dropper that comes with the bottle
How to Fill a Capsule
Step 1: Separate the capsule into its two halves (the longer body and the shorter cap).
Step 2: Hold the longer body of the capsule upright between your fingers.
Step 3: Using the dropper, carefully place your measured drops of Lugol's iodine into the body of the capsule. Fill the longer body with iodine. Work over a surface that can be wiped easily — iodine stains.
Step 4: Immediately slide the shorter cap end down over the body and press firmly until you feel and hear it click or snap closed. This seals the capsule.
Step 5: Swallow with a full glass of water. Follow with your Tea Honey or orange juice to support absorption.
Practical Tips
- Work quickly once the capsule is open — iodine can begin to dissolve the capsule material if left open too long.
- Do not pre-fill multiple capsules and store them. Fill each capsule immediately before use.
- If the capsule feels slippery going down, a small amount of water on the outside helps it swallow more easily.
- Size 00 capsules are slightly larger and easier to fill for most people. Either size 0 or 00 works well for this purpose.
- Keep your iodine bottle and capsules stored separately in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight.
Quick Reference Summary
| Starting dose | 5 drops per day |
| Maximum dose | 15 drops per day (find your level gradually) |
| Best delivery | Tea Honey or orange juice |
| When to take | Morning, once daily |
| Allergy sign | Rash or redness on wrist patch test |
| Toxicity signs | Unexplained rash or runny nose — reduce dose |
| Capsule size | Size 0 or 00 gelatin or vegetable capsules |
| Deficiency check | Wrist patch absorbed in under 2 hrs = deficient |
This guide is for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. It reflects the clinical experience and educational framework of Dr. Michael E. James, CH, MH, NMD. Consult a qualified health professional for personal guidance.