The Iodine Solution

How one email saved me a a lot of misery (and a trip to the ER)

The much anticipated visit from my family was finally here. It was the first time my side of the family had all made it from Texas to visit my wife Heather and me here in Oregon. (One brought a cough.) Mom, dad, my sister and her two redheaded daughters and their redheaded dad were all there.

They landed in a nice Airbnb right around the corner from us. I knew they’d be tired from travelling, so I had salads ready for our first meal together. Mom is a real mom’s mom and was the most excited to have us all together. She lives for these kinds of family reunions. I gave her a moss agate necklace of green and yellowish beads and she put it on. That was Thursday.

My sister and I discussed what our formerly red hair should be called. I settled on “strawberry gray.” I had a nice long talk with her on the front steps in the coolness of the summer night.

A really sweet orange cat showed up to make friends with all of us. Friday we enjoyed the Olympics on TV. Saturday we had a professional photo shoot of all the family in a neighborhood park.

By Sunday morning, my brother-in-law was still drowsy on the couch at 10 a.m, his cough more pronounced. My first thought was he’s got an infection. When we’d asked him about that cough before, he’d said he’d been talking too much to customers and that the Portland air was bad (true). I stayed for a while, not wanting to be paranoid about germs and leave right away.

On Monday, everyone but me headed to Mt Hood and Trillium Lake. I was just too tired and stayed home. Lavender Valley Farm was their first stop with the picturesque backdrop of Mt Hood. Missing out was disappointing because I love the mountains and that’s why I’m so at home here in Oregon. It turned out to be a good decision.

But by Tuesday evening there was some funny gunk stuck in my throat. Lemon water wouldn’t cut it. I couldn’t seem to get rid of it. That was the evening we said goodbye to the family since their flight out was at 4 a.m. the next morning. So family got the focus of my attention. I’d taken a walk with mom an evening or two earlier and she said how glad she was things had worked out for this visit because maybe it was the last time they get to do it. (Mom and dad are in their mid-70s.)

By Thursday it was obvious I had an infection of some kind. I’d started taking Honeysuckle flower for it and eating orange peels to expel the congestion in my chest. I keep a lot of herbs for seasonal conditions, lung conditions, infections, etc. They’re the tried-and-true stuff of Chinese medicine and the old standby western herbs like Marshmallow root (lubricant/expectorant) and Fenugreek seed (lung decongestant and stimulant). The phlegm was stubborn and at times felt like it was ripping my insides as I coughed it up. At the first sign of blood in it I added Marshmallow root tea to my regimen. It felt similar to the last infection I’d had back in early 2015 — pneumonia with difficult mucus that settled deep in my chest.

By Friday some serious inflammation was taking hold in my body. The nerves in my arms really felt jagged. On those rare occasions I will take Ibuprofen to get the inflammation under control. So I started with one in the morning, one around bedtime. But my chest just kept getting more congested to the point it was getting harder to hack anything up. This was more serious than I’d thought.

I sent an email to my sister and parents titled, “I”m 90% sure this is Covd.” I felt sheepish writing it. All my talk about natural health, believing in your immune system, and taking care of yourself, and now I’ve got the ‘rona? Would I look like an idiot who didn’t really know what he was talking about? I’d tell no one but family. Was I not going to be able to kiss Heather or breathe near her until I was 100% well? We live and work in a small studio apartment. No matter what we do we’re breathing the same air.

I just focused on getting well. So I updated family by email of my symptoms and what I was taking for it, and stayed home.

But Heather got it too — head and throat congestion quickly settling into her chest. My congestion and inflammation just kept getting worse. By Sunday I had a noticeable catarrhal headache. So I added homeopathic Allium 30c to my regimen. It helped noticeably as my headache was relieved along with most of the burning around my eyes and nose, but the congestion in my chest was worsening. I ate as many orange peels as I could. Normal dose levels of herbs and natural remedies generally do not work with such an aggressive conditions. I doubled up on everything, but it was still getting worse.

Then an email response from my herbal supplier brought the thing that made the difference. I’d mentioned that the infection was getting worse and had settled deep in my chest. He gave links to some studies on iodine inhaled as an anti-viral therapy to prevent or cure Covid.

But I had something even better than the form of iodine the studies mentioned — purified iodine (aka Atomidine). I found my one spray pump top and my last 2 ounce bottle that it fit, and quickly mixed up the weak solution with purified water. I sprayed it at the back of my throat and inhaled deeply, then the same up each nostril. It was early enough in the evening that I did it again later before going to bed.

Tuesday morning there was a noticeable difference. The congestion in my chest had stopped accumulating. So I used the iodine spray five times that day. The congestive pressure in my chest and head was reducing. I got Heather to use the iodine spray too. I kept using it five times daily and each day got better. It was stopping our infections. Heather kept working and never got as sick as I did.

Wednesday I noticed my homemade CBD-dominant Cannabis tincture was a more effective anti-inflammatory than the Ibuprofen. (I rubbed in a few drops on/around each knee. The medicine gets into the whole body, but without the undesirable effects of smoking Cannabis.) Within a few days I was able to stop taking the Honeysuckle as there was no more infection inflammation left. Now each cough was immediately productive. No more coughing fits or retching on mucus.

I had assumed my herbs would be digested, absorbed, and get to my respiratory tract to get me well. I’m sure they were getting there, but sometimes you need a medicine that needs no digesting and goes directly to the place where it is most needed. Thanks to a pointer from Dave Ehrlichman of Golden Lotus Botanicals, I learned that.

Iodine is a necessary nutrient for the thyroid, which regulates the glandular system and metabolism — and it is a full spectrum anti-microbial. It is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-protozoan. If used at first sign of possible infection it can stop the bug before we really get sick.

Back in Texas, the two family members who were tested for Covid got negative results. But the symptomatic one was RSV positive. So that’s why it had reminded me of the pneumonia I’d had several years previous.

But what about mom? She’s in her mid-70s with a history of upper respiratory issues. I had to keep calling to check up on everyone. Mom started getting symptoms of possible early infection. So she and dad started using the iodine spray. They never got as sick as I did.

I’ve often said I have a body made for herbs, but even my very well chosen herbs couldn’t stop this infection. The congestion in my chest had built up a tremendous pressure. The first several nights I slept with my mouth open because my sinuses were so congested.

But the iodine spray got it under control. I am grateful for this very simple remedy straight from nature and I am grateful for Dave at Golden Lotus for pointing me to it. Sometimes when your head is a fog of phlegm you need a little help.

Iodine, an element of Earth necessary for human health, is already here and capable of preventing infections, capable of eliminating the fear of any virus, capable of keeping us healthy if we only keep it around and utilize it wisely.

There are at least 90 articles on the nih/pubmed network citing the anti-viral or other antimicrobial benefits of iodine. Hospitals already use iodine to decontaminate surgery teams before surgery — and rely on it to kill every contagion we may carry around on our skin.

So why aren’t public health agencies promoting the virus and broad spectrum germ killing benefits of Iodine?

Why have all these studies on Iodine as stopper of ‘the virus’ not been utilized in our hospitals and entire medical system?

Maybe it’s because Iodine is not a pharmaceutical, because there’s no patent or profit in it for big pharma.

The purified iodine spray solution:

A solution of 0.23% povidone iodine, used in most studies, contains only about 10% iodine. So that’s 0.023%. But a solution of around 1/4% (0.25%) iodine is dilute enough to be quite safe, yet still very anti-viral. So that’s what I used. But povidone (polyvinyl) iodine is not something I want in my body. Its normal use is topical, surgical scrub-ups, disinfecting skin, etc. So I don’t recommend it as the iodine in an inhaled spray.

You want the purified, electrified form of iodine (aka Atomidine).

Please buy it from James Knochel. He is an honest person of high integrity who goes about his work humbly but sincerely, and deserves your business and support. If he’s out of stock you can use Atomidine like the Heritage Store brand.

For 1 ounce solution (using distilled or purified water as the base), 1 – 1.5 drops pure iodine is sufficient.
For 2 oz, 2 – 2.5 drops iodine is enough.
For 3 oz, 3 – 3.5 drops iodine.
For 4 oz, 4 – 4.5 drops iodine.

For maximum benefit, I recommend exhaling completely, then spraying it at the back of the throat as you inhale deeply. Repeat the process as you spray it up each nostril.

And please — share this article with all your friends and loved ones. Let’s prepare as many as we can for the autumn season when flu and similar respiratory illnesses start going around again.

#iodine #antiviral #covid

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Footnotes & links:

Povidone Iodine (PVP-I) Oro-Nasal Spray: An Effective Shield for COVID-19 Protection for Health Care Worker (HCW), for all: //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8026810/

Index of 91+ articles documenting anti-microbial studies on Iodine:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?cmd=link&linkname=pubmed_pubmed&log%24=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pmc&from_uid=33846691

You can get glass bottles and pump spray tops from many herb suppliers. I got mine from Monterey Bay Spice Co. I’ve always gotten great, quick service from them and their prices are very good. https://www.herbco.com/c-8-bulk-glassware.aspx

Golden Lotus Botanicals is an excellent supplier of all kinds of herbal medicines. Dave Ehrlichman is owner/president. I’ve been doing business with them for several years (closer to ten now?) and am entirely satisfied with not only their products, but also Dave’s knowledge and helpful tips. https://www.goldenlotusherbs.com/

Honeysuckle flower: Lonicera japonica: https://tcmwiki.com/wiki/honeysuckle-flower

Orange peels: in Chinese medicine Citrus reticulata is used and is referred to as tangerine, but the oranges found the united states have peels that work very well. The fresher ones seem to be more potent for cutting tough phlegm in the respiratory tract causing lingering spasmic or ticklish coughs. You don’t have to eat them raw like I do. You can simmer them gently in a tightly covered pot for at least 45 minutes before drinking. Then keep simmering them by adding more water. link https://tcmwiki.com/wiki/tangerine-peel

Marshmallow root tea is made by either simmering the root pieces gently in plenty of water, or pouring boiling water over the root powder, stirring and mashing the powder with a spoon to ensure it all gets saturated. Then cover tightly and steep for at least 20 minutes: https://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mallow07.html

I know Cannabis or Cannabis that contains THC is not still legal or obtainable for many people. However, it is better to know than not know what this valuable medicine can do. Unless you have an allergy to THC, there’s no reason to be afraid of it.

CBD Cannabis: ‘Pennywise’ and ‘CBD Shark Shock’ strains. The one I most recommend is the indica dominant phenotype of ‘Pennywise’, the strain that is the very best pain reliever and anti-inflammatory of any kind that I’ve ever used.
https://www.leafly.com/strains/pennywise
’CBD Shark Shock’ is good too as a second choice.
https://www.leafly.com/strains/cbd-shark

Homeopathic Allium cepa (red onion): a remedy especially suited for common allergies where there is watering of eyes/nose, burning catarrh, redness/inflammation of eyes/nose, headache from phlegm buildup in the head. The common 6c and 30c potencies should work. Take the higher potency if your symptoms are more severe or stubborn. http://homeoint.org/books/boericmm/a/all-c.htm
If you don’t have a natural health store nearby that sells it, I recommend buying it from Washington Homeopathic: https://www.homeopathyworks.com/