Iodine Test.......interesting...question, do you get iodine at the pharmacy?

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Iodine Test

This simple test is almost too simple, it cost next to nothing and will help you to know when your body is in need of Iodine.

Instructions:

Get a 1 ounce bottle of tincture of 2% Iodine.

Paint a spot using the tincture about the size of a silver dollar. Paint the spot in an inconspicuous place such as your belly, thigh, or the inside of the arm. Be sure it is dry before putting on clothes to prevent staining the clothing. Do this when you know you will not be taking a shower or bath, since it may wash off.

If you body level of Iodine is normal, then the spot will remain on the skin for 24 hours.

If the spot disappears in less than 24 hours, this means your body needed Iodine and took it in. (I find it awesome that our body will take in what it needs and leave on the skin what it doesn't need!) This works transdermally much like the now popular Nicoderm and Estrogen Patches, by soaking into the blood stream via the skin.

*** Important...if you are presently on thyroid medicine you may need to cut back on your dose, or ultimately stop it all together, now that your body has the iodine to manufacture the thyroid hormones it needs.

Keep applying the Tincture of Iodine every 24 hours, at different places on your body, until the spot stays there for the full 24 hours.

Purpose:

Iodine is needed by the thyroid to produce thyroxin. This test will let you know if you need more iodine, and it will also supply the iodine your body needs. Once iodine levels are normal in your body (meaning the spot lasts 24 hours) then you can stop applying it for a while and re-check periodically.

Iodine is one of America’s most common deficiencies, even though the salt most of us consume has been iodized, this form of iodine seems to not function efficiently in the body. According to a study by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) the number of Americans with low iodine has quadrupled in the last 25 years.

Iodine deficiencies may show up as weight gain, lethargy, fatigue, enlarged thyroid, hair loss, and mental retardation. In fact, experts say that iodine deficiencies are the world’s leading cause of preventable mental retardation.

In conclusion, replacing the missing iodine in you body may restore normal thyroid function, however if you find that your spot never seems to last 24 hours you need to alert your doctor and he can determine what you need to do from there. Many times when this happens, the hypothalamus and adrenal glands are fatigued and need support before the iodine will be efficiently used.

Dietary Sources of Iodine: Dulse, Kelp. AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.