Iodine Herbal Remedy

Iodine Thyroid Gland

Iodine assists with maintaining and regulating the vital operation of the thyroid gland. It is a significant element in supporting good health, and is used to treat goitre. Insufficient iodine during pregnancy, and early childhood, can lead to the severe mental and physical condition known as cretinism.

Iodine Hypothyroidism

Too much, or too little iodine can cause hypothyroidism, which develops slowly, without people being aware of the problem initially. This condition is characterized by a lack of energy, anaemia, depression, weight gain, dry, scaly, or yellowish skin, and numbness and tingling in the extremities. Women are far more prone than men to this affliction, and may suffer from extended and heavy periods, with resultant consequences.

 Hypothyroidism may also cause severe nerve disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, and Raynauds phenomenon. Homocysteine is said to increase, and whenever high cholesterol levels are diagnosed a significant percentage are said to have hypothyroidism, which seemingly drops with treatment, showing the link between high cholesterol levels and thyroid problems.

Elderly people may suffer from hypothyroidism because it has crept up on them, so to speak. When it becomes more apparent it may manifest itself in many health problems, including palpitations, and other heart rate conditions, enlarged thyroid (goitre), sweating, nervousness and eye conditions.

Iodine Intake

Knowing how much our iodine intake should be is difficult to gauge, because too much can be as bad as too little. Generally 20 micrograms or less per day is considered severely deficient, whereas 20 – 50 micrograms is considered a moderate deficiency, with 50 – 100 grams being only mildly deficient. The optimum intake is reckoned to be 150 micrograms per day.

Iodine Seaweed

Courtois discovered iodine in 1811. He found that it occurs in iodides in sea water, and that these iodides are taken up by sea weeds. There are other sources of iodine but if you use seaweeds, for your intake, you should use those with consistent iodine content. Kelp and hijiki fall into this category, but it is unwise to take too much kelp to bring about weight loss through over stimulation of the thyroid.