Notes on Dr. Flecha's radio interview on iodine

[Guest guest]

Zoe on the iodine group posted these excellent notes from the radio interview I posted earlier. Very useful!LynnHere are my comments on the Flechas radio interview. I definitely recommend listening to the whole thing. Zoe Iodine Deficiency MP3 audio -- 2 hours (takes a while to download) RadioLiberty.com January 5, 2007.In this two-hour radio presentation (mp3 audio), Flechas considers a range of iodine related issues: fibrocystic breasts, hypothyroidism, ovarian cysts, attention-deficit disorder, pregnancy, IQ, senility, iodine history, bromide, fluoride, obesity, depression, constipation, detoxing (from bromide, fluoride, arsenic, mercury, lead, aluminum), cancer (prostate, thyroid, breast), diabetes (blood sugar control), receptors (hormones, neurotransmitters), testosterone, itching, sweating, histidine and histamine, functions of iodine, heart disease (especially arrhythmias, abnormal heart beats), iodine doses.I will mention here just a few of the ideas he presents.Recommended Iodine Protocol. 50 mg/day of iodine in the form of Lugol's or Iodoral. Plus 1500 mg, twice a day, of Vitamin C (ester C or buffered C). If high bromide, add one teaspoon per day of Celtic sea salt or Potassium chloride (KCl).Getting Off Thyroid Hormones. First, start the iodine supplementation. Then, if there are symptoms of HYPERthyroidism (nervousness, insomnia, sweating in palms, oily skin), you can reduce the thyroid hormones in half. Do not reduce the thyroid hormones until symptoms of hyperthyroidism occur. They may occur 3 or 4 weeks after starting iodine supplementation, or 3 or 4 months later, or a year later. Or it may not occur at all. Why may the iodine enable you to reduce your thyroid hormones? Iodine will increase the sensitivity of the thyroid RECEPTORS to the hormone. Thus, less thyroid hormone is needed.Hormone Receptors and Iodine. All hormone receptors are dependent on iodine, which increases the sensitivity of the receptor to the hormone it is designed for. For example, it can increase the sensitivity of insulin receptors and thus help with diabetes. Similarly, it can increase the sensitivity of the receptors for neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin, dopamine, GABA) in the brain. Thus, depression may lift after taking iodine. It can also increase the sensitivity of receptors for testosterone and FSH/LH.Thyroid Hormones and Iodine. If you take supplemental thyroid hormones, you inhibit the ability of the body to absorb iodine. That is why they recommend to patients about to received radioactive-iodine scans that they go off all thyroid hormones for two to three weeks prior to the scan. Women who take thyroid hormones have a much higher risk of breast cancer than other women.Histidine and Histamine. Histidine is the precursor for histamine. Anti-histamines are used to control runny noses, hives, and itching. Iodine inhibits the conversion of histidine to histamine, thus reducing itching, hives, etc.Iodine and Heavy Metals. When taking iodine, there is GREATLY increased excretion in the urine of arsenic, mercury, lead, aluminum, and other toxic metals. Iodine is selective in that it leaves the essential metals (e.g., iron) and removes the toxic ones.Iodine and Cancer. In many cancers, the mechanism for getting iodine into the cells (the NIS symporter) is not working. The cells can't absorb Iodine. Absence of iodine is a promoter of thyroid cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer.Bromide. Bromide builds up in the Central Nervous System and results in many problems. In the 1920s Bromo-Seltzer was a bromide-based medicine that used to be used for hangovers, calming the stomach, and headaches. It often resulted in acute paranoid psychosis with large doses. Today, beverages (Mountain Dew, Fresca, and citric Gatorade) contain bromide in the form of "brominated vegetable oil". It is used as an emulsifier in citrus-flavored soft drinks. The bromide functions as a CNS depressant and triggers a number of symptoms like paranoia. Bromide is also found in flour and bread. Brazil recently outlawed bromide in flour products.When iodine gets into the cells, it kicks the bromide out. Bromide then increases in the blood stream and goes to the kidneys. Chloride pushes bromide into the urine, thus getting rid of it. That's why taking salt is helpful in moving bromide out of the bodyIodine in the Skin. 20% of the body iodine is in the skin. Iodine in the skin helps your body be able to sweat.Iodine and Pregnancy. IQ is mostly set by the age of two. Adequate iodine during pregnancy and the first two years of life can increase IQ by 15 points. If there is low iodine but high fluoride, it can result in cretinism (severe mental retardation).Iodine and Salt. 50% of American households are now using salt without iodine. Moreover, the AMA is going to recommend reducing salt consumption by 50% over the next 10 years. Iodine has been removed from bread and greatly reduced in milk. Fewer and fewer Americans are getting sufficient iodine. 25-30% of people over 60 who become senile are hypothyroid due to low iodine, often because of low salt prescribed for hypertension.Iodine and the Breast. Iodine is very important to the breast. Iodine deficiency results in fibrocystic breasts, which can be cured with adequate iodine. If left without iodine, the fibrocystic breasts can develop breast cancer.Iodine Sensitivity. If you can take iodized salt, you can take Lugol's or Iodoral. If iodized salt gives you hives, avoid iodine. Less than 1/2% of the population is iodine sensitive.Iodine Loading Test. It is a good idea to take the Iodine Loading Test before supplementing with iodine. Then, repeat the test in about 3 or 4 months to be sure your body is absorbing the iodine appropriately. If it is not, your practitioner can help you make changes so that your body will absorb it. http://iodine4health.com/overviews/clinicians/flechas_clinician.htm