Not Iodine! Potassium Iodide!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

VivaDad just got back from the GNC store.. they were out of kelp because people were buying it to hedge against radiation. I've seen several headlines today referring to Iodine, and they are all misleading or just wrong.

You take Potassium Iodide, not Iodine. Kelp will do nothing for you, except keep your thyroid healthy.


http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm072265.htm

6. What dosages of potassium iodide (KI) should be taken for specific exposure levels?

Exposures greater than 5 cGy:
Birth through 1 mo. - 16 mg.
1 mo. through 3 yrs. - 32 mg.
3 yrs through 18 yrs. - 65 mg. (Adolescents>150 pounds should take adult dose.)

Exposures greater than 10 cGy:
18 yrs through 40 yrs. - 130 mg

Exposures greater than 500 cGy:
Adults over 40 yrs - 130 mg.

[snagglepuss]

1. Excellent info. Thanks for posting.

:kick:


Bookmarked

[hlthe2b]

2. I know this isn't at all funny...

but, it only underscores how many people will trust some untrained staffer at the health food store for advice, while they would not listen or even necessarily ask a pharmacist or other trained health professional.

:eyes:

[tabatha]

6. really?

"In Chernobyl, for instance, spirulina was used to help save many children from radiation poisoning. By taking 5 grams of spirulina a day for 45 days, the Institute of Radiation Medicine in Minsk even proved that children on this protocol experienced enhanced immune systems, T-cell counts and reduced radioactivity. Israeli scientists have since treated Chernobyl children with doses of natural beta carotene from Dunaliella algae and proved that it helped normalize their blood chemistry. Chlorella algae, a known immune system builder and heavy metal detoxifier, has also shown radioprotective effects. Because they bind heavy metals, algae should therefore be consumed after exposure to any type of radioactive contamination."

[hlthe2b]

11. Tabatha, my point was only that one should get information

from someone knowledgeable about radiation exposure and its prevention/treatment. I was not arguing the possibility of alternatives to KI at all. As an epidemiologist, I am aware of these alternatives, but I don't think the sweet gal at Whole Foods is. That is my point.

[tabatha]

15. I understand your point.

But "someone knowledgeable" is also not a panacea.

I was overdosed by "someone knowledgeable" with two 6 week doses of antibiotics for a tick bite that lasted less than 5 minutes, after which the entire tick head and all were removed. Later I had another tick bite discovered the next morning after a late walk, and another doctor said no treatment was necessary if it was less than 24 hours, and that the first Dr had badly overdosed.

The two 6 week doses of antibiotics threw my system for a loop.

Another person I know is being treated by one of top cancer experts in the country and was only recently put on large doses of Vitamin C after the dosing with poisons have not helped. Personally, I would have started that myself much earlier.

I tend to go natural whenever I can, and do not dismiss "sweet gals" (how sexist could you be) at Whole Foods or other health stores.

[hlthe2b]

19. I am distressed at your response to me...

I happen to be female and very staunchly feminist. It just so happens that I know the two employees at my local WF, that is a neighborhood store. They are actually young neigbors and friends of mine and happen to be among my own "gal pals." So, yes, in my local health food stores, it applies.

I have NEVER given you reason to lash out at me and to make the kind of inappropriate assumptions towards me that you have here. NEVER. I hope you have simply had a bad day because I have to date thought much better of you. If the former is true, I hope the day gets better for you.

BTW, your example of poor understanding of treating Lyme Disease or potential exposure to Borrelia is not uncommon. Like all fields, there are good practitioners and not so good. Medicine is no different and when it comes to vector borne infectious disease, there are problems with level of knowledge and understanding. I can attest to that. One needs to ask questions and get second opinions when you have concerns.

As to alternatives to potassium iodide, KI is stable and thus the only recommended preventive treatment. Does that mean other sources of iodine could not be helpful? No, but the goal is to provide information on uniform dosing to deliver the intended effect. There is a reason that it is stockpiled in the National Strategic stockpile, the source of emergency response vaccines, medications and related available in emergencies to any US locale within hours of an incident. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/stockpile/

[tabatha]

24. I did not mean to distress you.

My apologies. I just found your description troubling. I should have handled it better. I have learned.

[hlthe2b]

26. re:

thanks...;)

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Who are you quoting there?

As far as I can tell, that comes from www.radiationdetox.com/depleted-uranium-detox.htm, whose bandwidth is currently overloaded, but whose homepage is cached as saying:

"Full Documentation on the Medical, Homeopathic,
Nutritional and Naturopathic Ways to Help Yourself "

So, yes, really. That page goes on to say:

Another thing you can do is use homeopathics for radiation exposure.

So clearly the person who wrote is is an irresponsible idiot who should not be listened to at all. Claiming homeopathy can help against radiation exposure is criminally stupid.

[hlthe2b]

20. The problem is these forms are not stable and thus benefit is

questionable. KI is the only medically recommended preventive measure.

[tabatha]

25. There are many sites with that text.

However, I found these:

"Petaluma, CA January 2, 1995: A Russian patent was awarded for the use of spirulina as a medical food for improving immunity of the Children of Chernobyl. Studies showed that 270 children, living in highly radioactive areas, had chronic radiation sickness and elevated levels of Immunoglobulin E (IgE), a marker for high allergy sensitivity. Thirty five pre school children were prescribed 20 Spirulina tablets per day (about 5 grams) for 45 days. Consuming Spirulina lowered the levels of IgE in the blood, which in turn, normalized allergic sensitivities in the body."

"In 1994, a Russian Patent was awarded for spirulina as a medical food to reduce allergic reactions from radiation sickness. 270 Children of Chernobyl consuming 5 grams a day for 45 days (donated by Earthrise Farms), lowered radionucleides by 50%, and normalized allergic sensitivities."

"Spirulina is Food for the Future"
(U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1988)
"Spirulina is a Medicine Food"
(Russian Patent 19 RU 11200-5486,1994)

[pokerfan]

10. doctor... pharmacist... doctor... pharmacist...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_WgTqfLnf4

[hlthe2b]

12. Slow connection prevents watching many videos ...

Slow connection requires preloads and often sort of a time drain. If it is funny, please let me know. I do enjoy those. ;)

[pokerfan]

14. It's hysterical

Curb Your Enthusiasm. Larry gets caught between a doctor and a pharmacist who suggested an alternative to the doctor's prescription.

[hlthe2b]

23. Ohhh... LOLOL... I love Larry David and missed that episode

:rofl: (thanks for coming back and letting me know what I was missing ;) )

[texastoast]

3. Kelp is a good deep green with lots of trace minerals

Of course, I posting from a site with the Gaia word in it so I'm risking getting flamed.

I take it every day and eat it when I can find it. I wonder if that will keep me from getting further zapped.

http://www.gaiaresearch.co.za/kelp.html

[tabatha]

4. I don't understand the difference.

Taking iodine/iodide to make sure that the body has enough that it will be less likely to abosrb radioactive iodine.

If either iodine or iodide is used by the body for this purpose, then what is the difference?

I have been taking algae tablets, but read a caution somewhere to not overdo it because excess iodine in the body is not a good idea. Btw, i started before the earthquake.

I will research this a bit - but at first glance, it does not seem to make a difference.

On edit:

"In Chernobyl, for instance, spirulina was used to help save many children from radiation poisoning. By taking 5 grams of spirulina a day for 45 days, the Institute of Radiation Medicine in Minsk even proved that children on this protocol experienced enhanced immune systems, T-cell counts and reduced radioactivity. Israeli scientists have since treated Chernobyl children with doses of natural beta carotene from Dunaliella algae and proved that it helped normalize their blood chemistry. Chlorella algae, a known immune system builder and heavy metal detoxifier, has also shown radioprotective effects. Because they bind heavy metals, algae should therefore be consumed after exposure to any type of radioactive contamination."

[Warpy]

5. Thank you for posting that. There are too many people getting panicky

over what will be a negligible risk here in the US due to the air mixing that will occur over the Pacific. The only exception might be in parts of Alaska. Even Hawaii is low risk at this point.

I have to think the thyroid cancer risk in Japan will also be small, given that their diet is already rich in seafood and seaweeds, both excellent sources of iodine.

[EFerrari]

13. Given that our government sucks at protecting us from anything

a little personal panic seems like a reasonable response to me. If people are activated, they're more likely to reach out for information.

[hlthe2b]

22. Actually KI is in the Strategic National Stockpile

that can be delivered to any location within the US within hours, if testing or findings suggested the necessity.

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/stockpile/

[tabatha]

7. Do some research ----

"In Chernobyl, for instance, spirulina was used to help save many children from radiation poisoning. By taking 5 grams of spirulina a day for 45 days, the Institute of Radiation Medicine in Minsk even proved that children on this protocol experienced enhanced immune systems, T-cell counts and reduced radioactivity. Israeli scientists have since treated Chernobyl children with doses of natural beta carotene from Dunaliella algae and proved that it helped normalize their blood chemistry. Chlorella algae, a known immune system builder and heavy metal detoxifier, has also shown radioprotective effects. Because they bind heavy metals, algae should therefore be consumed after exposure to any type of radioactive contamination."

[EFerrari]

8. I made that mistake over the weekend and I HAVE some

in a bottle here in my emergency kit. :blush:

[flamingdem]

9. Try the homeopathy stores

at least they are on the ball and have information. The one I called was sold out. A health food store said they are getting tons of calls and are trying to order it.

I learned that the companies that sell it are reluctant to say too much, make too many claims.

Pharmacies don't seem to carry it.

Happy to hear there might be alternatives.

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. Don't joke about it

There are homeopaths who think they know what to do with radiation, and following their useless advice could kill someone, sometime.

[fascisthunter]

18. thank you!

[Igel]

21. This post makes no sense.

Kelp does not contain elemental iodine. It contains iodine in various compounds. Mostly in the form of iodides. Elemental iodine's hard to keep "elemental". It's fairly reactive.

We still speak of the "iodine" in potassium iodine. The ion is iodide. The element is iodine. When you take potassium iodide you're consuming iodine in the form of iodide.

The problem with kelp isn't that it contains some unavailable element when we need the ion. Your assertion that kelp's good for the thyroid belies that; we take KI during radiation events in order to prevent uptake of radioactive iodine by the thyroid. Kelp, KI pills, or even iodine-containing stuff that settles in drinking water and food all get thrown in the mix. I- ions are I- ions. Even that povidone-iodine (aka Betadyne) has some iodine leach into your body.

The problem with kelp *is* that the concentration of iodine is usually far too low to make consuming enough of it in one or two days to provide protection against RAI even remotely feasible. If you take a fairly large helping of kelp every day for a month or two, sure, it'll work unless your kelp has low iodine concentrations. (Of course, too much iodine's also bad for you.)

Moreover, a lot of the iodine in kelp won't be taken up in the gut, making the effective, biologically available iodine concentration even lower.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

27. Everyone else seemed to understand it

but thanks for playing!
:hi: