Iodine. Properties of iodine. Application of iodine

The debate continues: to whom, when and how much? I often asked myself this question, especially when I was planning a pregnancy. What if it’s not possible, what if it does harm? These doubts prompted me to search for answers. I found them and am ready to share them with you!

The first thing I understood from all the articles and recommendations is that iodine is needed not only for the thyroid gland. Without it, the ovaries, stomach, intestines, mammary glands, and uterus do not work well. It is in these organs that more than 70% of iodine is concentrated, and not in the thyroid gland, as we used to think.

Lack of iodine leads to fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, anxiety, depression, muscle pain, fibrocystic breast disease, acne, irregular menstruation, ovarian cysts, fibroids, and severe symptoms of PMS.

Alcohol solution of iodine

Wound treatment
To treat the edges of wounds and damaged areas of skin, use an alcohol solution of iodine. When taken orally, the dosage of this drug is prescribed individually.

Iodine is used in liquid form to wash lacunae and supratonsillar spaces. They wash the nasopharynx, drop it into the ears and use it in surgery.

Can an iodine mesh be harmful?

Yes, an iodine mesh can be harmful. The application of an iodine mesh cannot be a medical procedure, and in the first place can harm the child. If you choose between giving your child cough medicine or applying iodine mesh for a cough, always choose the medicine. The therapeutic effect of an iodine mesh is questionable, and will always depend on many circumstances. While it is highly likely to cause excess iodine in the body and hyperthyroidism by absorbing iodine through the skin. In this case, the thyroid gland may become damaged, and autoimmune thyroid diseases may subsequently develop.

Iodine mesh during pregnancy can cause a sharp jump in the level of iodine in the blood, and lead to unwanted complications and even uterine bleeding. Therefore, it is better for a pregnant woman to regularly take a multivitamin preparation with minerals and trace elements, which will contain the required amount of iodine.

If you apply iodine mesh after injections to the infiltrate, you can increase swelling and inflammation. No one can predict how the inflammation zone will react to iodine.

Application of an iodine mesh to the infiltrate after vaccination is contraindicated. In this case, iodine will interact with the vaccine, and how this will affect the formation of immunity is also unknown.

Source https://www.likar.info/zdorovye-vsey-semyi/article-74990-zach…

Iodine tablets

Iodine tablets are used to prevent iodine deficiency, as well as to replenish its reserves in the body. The tablet form contains the active substance, milk powder and lactose monohydrate. One package can contain 40–200 tablets.

Iodine tablets are taken with meals. The daily dosage is 1-2 tablets once a day.

IMPORTANT: You can restore the required amount of iodine in the body without the help of tablets. To do this, it is enough to diversify your diet with foods such as walnuts, seaweed, feijoa, cod, lobster and bananas.

Sources of iodine

Despite the importance of this trace element for the life of many organisms, iodine is quite difficult to detect. The earth's crust contains less of it than the rarest elements. But it is still believed that iodine is widespread in nature, since it is present in small quantities almost everywhere. It is mainly concentrated in sea water, algae, soil, and some plant and animal organisms.

The chemical properties of iodine explain the fact that it is not found in pure form, only in the form of compounds. Most often it is extracted from seaweed ash or from sodium nitrate production waste. Thus, iodine is mined in Chile and Japan, which are leaders in the extraction of this element. In addition, it can be obtained from the waters of some salt lakes or oil waters.

Iodine enters the human body from food. It is present in soils and plants. But in our country, soils poor in iodine are common. Therefore, iodine-containing fertilizers are most often used. To prevent diseases associated with iodine deficiency, the element is added to salt and some common foods.

Indications for use

Medicine in bottles
Most often, iodine is used as an antimicrobial and antiseptic drug. Local application of iodine is carried out for:

Purulent otitis
Chronic tonsillitis
Atrophic rhinitis
Infected burns

Iodine is used to reduce the effects of poisoning from mercury and some heavy metals.

Deficiency in the body

Nutrient deficiency occurs if the amount of micronutrient intake per day is less than 10 mcg.

The vast majority of iodine is found in the ocean. Large amounts of mineral matter are washed away from the soil surface by snow, freezing, rain, wind, floods and rivers. All grain crops grown on such soils have an iodine deficiency - 10 mcg/kg instead of 1 mg/kg.

According to WHO researchers, 1 billion people in developing countries are at high risk of developing diseases caused by micronutrient deficiency.

Possible reasons for the deficiency:

Unsatisfactory amount of microelement intake from food.
Low human consumption of seafood.
Lack of iodine prophylaxis in iodine-deficient regions.
The presence in the diet of factors that interfere with the absorption and utilization of iodine (intake of excess amounts of bromine, iron, manganese, lead, calcium, chlorine, cobalt).
Taking medications that interfere with the absorption and utilization of iodine (lithium carbonate).
Iodine metabolism disorders.
Increased background radiation.
Habitat pollution.
Increasing the body's sensitivity to allergens.

1.Increasing the production of thyroid hormones.

3. The occurrence of iodine deficiency pathologies:

hypothyroidism (extreme manifestations in children - cretinism, in adults - myxedema);
loss of strength, decreased performance, drowsiness, development of edema of the limbs, torso, face;
elevated cholesterol levels;
weight gain;
bradycardia (a type of arrhythmia with a low heart rate);
constipation;
decreased intellectual level: slowed mental reaction, impaired cognitive functions, attention.
cretinism: the embryo develops physical, neurological, mental defects of cretinism due to iodine deficiency in the first 6 months of the mother's pregnancy, which can be prevented with the help of timely iodization of the mother.
deaf-mute;
various types of paralysis;
decreased fertility (the ability of a sexually mature organism to reproduce), stillbirth, congenital malformations;
increased mortality during the perinatal period.

Detailed information about risk factors, deficiency symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of the condition can be found in this article.

Iodine contraindications

You should not take medications containing this element if you are intolerant to it. And also for tuberculosis, nephritis, acne, hemorrhagic diathesis, urticaria, furunculosis and other health problems
Oral iodine is contraindicated for children under 5 years of age.
When using alcohol-containing iodine solutions, you must be careful not to get them into your eyes. Long-term external use of iodine-based preparations can lead to the activation of allergic reactions of the body manifested by acne, increased salivation, and urticaria.
An overdose of iodine when taken orally can provoke tachycardia, increased sweating, insomnia, and skin reactions.
Iodine should not be used simultaneously with ammonia solutions and essential oils.

General characteristics of iodine

This is a fairly active microelement belonging to non-metals. In the periodic table, it is in the halogen group along with chlorine, bromine and fluorine. Iodine is designated by the symbol I and has a serial number of 53. This microelement received its name in the 19th century because of the purple color of the vapor. After all, in Greek iodine is translated as “violet, violet.”

This is how iodine was discovered. Chemist Bernard Courtois, working at a saltpeter factory, discovered this substance by accident. The cat turned over the test tube with sulfuric acid, and it fell on the ash of algae, from which saltpeter was then obtained. In this case, a violet-colored gas was released. This interested Bernard Courtois, and he began to study the new element. This is how iodine became known at the beginning of the 19th century. In the mid-20th century, chemists began calling this element “iodine,” although the older designation is still more common.

How to use?

If iodine is used externally, then it is necessary to lubricate the affected part of the skin with cotton swabs soaked in a solution of this drug. If the wound is bleeding, then it is not the wound itself that needs to be treated with an alcohol solution of iodine, but the area around it. If the drug gets into the wound, it can cause a burn, which will reduce the healing rate.

This medication is used for procedures for washing the supratonsillar space. For this, 4-5 procedures are prescribed. At least 2 days must pass between each procedure. You can use this substance to treat the ears and nasopharynx. To do this, it is used for 2-2.5 weeks with the interval described above.

Iodine is also used in the treatment of burns. To do this, they are moistened with gauze bandages and applied to the affected area.

What affects the absorption of iodine?

With a lack of selenium, iodine is not absorbed, the conversion of T4 to T3 decreases, which increases the formation of free radicals in the thyroid gland.

Iron deficiency leads to low production of thyroid hormones, as this mineral is necessary for the formation of thyroid peroxidase. Bromide, chloride, fluoride, toxic substances from household chemicals and food reduce the production of thyroid hormones as they displace iodine.

An increase in estrogen levels and insulin resistance slow down the absorption of iodine, while high testosterone levels, on the contrary, accelerate it.

Use in folk medicine

Iodine is widely used in folk medicine. It can be used for sore throat. To do this, boil a glass of water and after it has cooled to 45 degrees, add 2-3 drops of an alcohol solution of iodine. Gargle the throat with this remedy.

If you have a runny nose, you can use this remedy. In 2-3 glasses of warm water you need to dissolve 1 spoon of salt and 5 drops of an alcohol solution of iodine. The resulting remedy is sucked in through the nostrils. To facilitate the process, you can use a saucer. You need to use this method of treating a runny nose 1-2 times a day until complete recovery.

For diseases of the pulmonary system, “dry” mustard plasters with iodine are indicated. To do this, a piece of fabric is moistened in a 20% alcohol solution with the addition of iodine (5 drops per 20 ml of alcohol). The fabric is applied to the suprascapular and right subclavian areas of the chest.

Treatment

External use of this solution is most often used. In some cases, rinses are used; for this, a few drops of iodine are dissolved in a glass of water. Such solutions are effective for the treatment of periodontal disease, sore throat or pharyngitis.

They also have a good effect for the treatment of heel spurs, arthritis of the ankle and interphalangeal joints. 10-15 minutes are enough to complete the procedure. If there is no improvement within several days, then drug treatment is necessary.

The use of iodine mesh has long been known. Sometimes, after intramuscular injections, a dense, painful lump forms on the buttocks. This method is used to quickly resolve bumps from injections, but this is not useful in all cases. This method should not be used if there is an increase in body temperature, redness or suppuration of the infiltrate. In this case, other methods are used for treatment.

Iodine is used as an additional treatment for many skin diseases. It is recommended to wipe the skin with a weak solution (iodinol) before applying medicinal ointments. With its help, you can effectively treat psoriasis and its complications, eczema, dermatitis, and lichen. This remedy has a wound-healing, immunomodulatory effect. Its use will speed up the healing process.

Iodine has a good warming and absorbing effect. Warm baths with the addition of medicinal herbs and 2-3 drops of solution are useful for corns and dry calluses.

How to make an iodine grid correctly

Iodine mesh at the injection site
Iodine mesh is very widely used to treat various problems. Its effect lies in the irritating functions of iodine. After applying such a mesh, blood flows to the treated area. Using this mesh you can treat:

Bronchitis and tracheitis
Colds and sore throats
Sprains and bruises
Neuralgic diseases
Arthritis and sciatica
Muscle pain
Bruises and bruises

When using an iodine grid, you must ensure that there are no allergic reactions to iodine. For the described procedure, you can use an iodine solution with a concentration of no more than 5%.

The iodine grid is applied using vertical and horizontal lines. There should be 1-1.5 cm between them. The mesh is applied to the area that is bothering you. If it is used to treat a cough, it is applied to the back between the shoulder blades.

Iodine in food:

seafood - red and brown algae (kelp), halibut, cod, herring, shrimp, haddock, sea salt, shellfish, sardines;
iodized salt;
beef liver, eggs, milk;
onions, sorrel, white cabbage, carrots (if grown in soil rich in iodine).

Some iodine comes from water.

The average daily
iodine intake is 120 - 150 mcg, the maximum allowable amount of consumption is 300 mcg. During pregnancy and lactation, the norm increases to 175 - 200 mcg.

Iodine or brilliant green

Zelenka

Both drugs contain alcohol. Therefore, when they treat open wounds, painful sensations appear. It is especially difficult to treat wounds with brilliant green and iodine in young children. Zelenka, unlike iodine, contains less alcohol, which means the sensations when using it will be less painful. This is why brilliant green can be used on open wounds, but iodine is not recommended
Iodine, unlike brilliant green, can dry out the skin and has a warming effect. By increasing blood flow to the damaged area, iodine accelerates tissue regeneration processes. That is why after bruises and contusions they “draw” an iodine grid
If the wound is too deep, then iodine and brilliant green cannot be applied. Firstly, there are special preparations for treating such wounds. And, secondly, before treating such wounds, a specialist must examine them. If you fill them with iodine, and especially with brilliant green, he will not be able to fully see the nature of the wound
Experts believe that brilliant green is best used for bleeding wounds, and iodine for bruises. A good alternative to alcohol-based wound treatments is hydrogen peroxide. When using it, tissue necrosis around the wound does not develop. This means that the healing process will be faster.

Iodine and the female body

For the female body, iodine is an indispensable assistant, as it promotes ovulation, prevents the development of ovarian cysts, and increases progesterone levels. Progesterone, in turn, enhances iodine absorption. Iodine helps the liver break down estrogen, which makes cells less sensitive to estrogen, which reduces chest pain, ovarian cysts, and symptoms of PMS. Iodine modifies gene expression in the mammary gland. This reduces the negative effects of estrogen on breast cancer.

Iodine deficiency leads to increased sensitivity of the breasts, ovaries, and uterus to estrogen, so iodine protects the woman’s reproductive system as a whole.

When I added iodine-rich foods to my diet, I noticed a decrease in symptoms of fatigue, improved hair structure, and a decrease in hair loss. Molecular iodine (from algae) is more powerful than ascorbic acid in its anti-inflammatory effect.

Iodine takes part in the functioning of mitochondria, increases the release of heat and energy, which is why, with a lack of iodine and decreased thyroid function, patients often complain that they cannot warm up. Iodine improves the synthesis of thyroid hormones, and therefore the performance of its functions. Iodine is an antioxidant; it is involved in detoxification, immune function, and the death of abnormal cells in the thyroid and mammary glands, which means it protects against tumor formation.

Iodine analogues

Lugol's solution
"Antistrumin". Tablets containing potassium iodite. Used for the treatment and prevention of endemic goiter.

Dosage: 1-2 tablets 2-3 times a day. Course: 2-3 times a week for 20-30 days

"Yox." Spray based on allantoin and polyvidone-iodine. Used for diseases of the oral cavity and in ENT practice.

Dosage: 2-4 times a day

"Iodinol." A preparation based on iodine diluted in polyvinyl alcohol. Used to treat wounds, burns and varicose ulcers. It is taken orally for atherosclerosis.

Dosage: Depending on the disease. Course: determined by the attending physician

"Lugol's solution." A medicinal product that is used externally for infections with yeast fungi and for the treatment of diffuse forms of endemic goiter.

Dosage: 1-6 drops depending on the disease. Course: Depends on the disease

"Betadine." Antiseptic solution for external use. Active substance: Povidone-iodine.

Dosage: used as a lubricant

Physical properties

Of all the microelements, iodine is considered the most controversial. Most people are not aware of its features. The physical and chemical properties of iodine are briefly studied in school. This element is mainly distributed in the form of an isotope with a mass of 127. This is the heaviest of all halogens. There is also radioactive iodine 125, which is obtained from the decay of uranium. In medicine, artificial isotopes of this element with masses of 131 and 133 are more often used.

Of all the halogens, iodine is the only one that is naturally solid. It can be represented by dark purple or black crystals or plates with a metallic sheen. They have a slight characteristic odor, conduct electricity well, and are a bit like graphite. In this state, this trace element is poorly soluble in water, but very easily passes into a gaseous state. It can turn into purple vapor at room temperature. These physicochemical properties of iodine are used to obtain it. By heating the microelement under pressure and then cooling it, it is cleaned of impurities. Dissolve iodine in alcohol, glycerin, benzene, chloroform or carbon disulfides, obtaining brown or purple liquids.

Iodine: Tips and reviews

Irina. I use iodine to check the quality of cottage cheese. The thing is that if you drop this product on the cottage cheese and the area turns blue, it means starch has been added to it. And it is added only to low-quality fermented milk products. I won’t name the brands of this product, but even some expensive varieties of cottage cheese add starch. I found a brand that doesn’t contain starch.

Maria. Of course, I also use iodine. I make nets out of it after injections. And not so long ago I learned that it can be used to strengthen nails. Now I periodically do nail baths with iodine.

Chemical properties of iodine

Equations showing the activity of chemical reactions of this element do not tell the average person anything. Only those who understand chemistry understand that they are used to describe its chemical properties. It is the most active element of all non-metals. Iodine can react with many other substances to form acids, liquids, and volatile compounds. Although among the halogens it is the least active.

Briefly, the chemical properties of iodine can be considered using the example of its reactions. Iodine reacts with various metals even with slight heating, and iodides are formed. The best known are potassium and sodium iodides. It reacts only partially with hydrogen, and does not combine with some other elements at all. It is not compatible with nitrogen, oxygen, ammonia or essential oils. But the most famous chemical property of iodine is its reaction with starch. When added to substances containing starch, they turn blue.

How to wash iodine from skin

There are several options:

Olive oil or fatty cream is applied to the skin to absorb iodine. After an hour, the iodine is washed off with a body sponge and soap.
Take a bath with sea salt, and at the end use a washcloth and baby soap (laundry soap as a last resort).
For delicate skin, you can use a scrub instead of a washcloth, and massage the area with the stain. After this, you can lubricate the skin with nourishing cream or milk.
You can apply cotton wool with alcohol, moonshine or vodka to the stain for 5 minutes, and then rub. The procedure can be repeated several times.
Removes iodine stains by hand washing items or a regular bath with powder or lemon juice.

What foods contain iodine?

In seafood: fish (cod and halibut) and fish oil, crustaceans and shellfish (scallops, crabs, shrimp, squid, oysters, mussels), seaweed. This is followed by dairy products and chicken eggs, feijoa and persimmons, sweet peppers, peels and kernels of walnuts, black grapes, grain crops (buckwheat, corn, wheat, millet), river fish and red beans. Iodine is found in orange and red colored juices.

There is even less iodine in soy products (milk, sauce, tofu), onions, garlic, beets, potatoes, carrots, beans, strawberries (about 40-100 times less than in seaweed), but it is there.

Advantages

To produce iodine water, environmentally friendly raw materials with a balanced chemical composition are used. Thanks to special modern technology, stable iodine ions are added to it. This technique has a positive effect on the absorption of microelements. Among the advantages are:

Possibility of daily use. A stable concentration of iodine ions in each liter of water avoids the risk of oversaturation of the body with such a microelement. At the same time, water consumption in recommended quantities is suitable for the prevention of iodine deficiency.
Balanced chemical composition. In addition to iodine, water contains useful minerals that improve the general condition of the body.
Industrial enterprises producing such products have implemented modern safety and quality systems. They provide high standards of the finished product.
There are no contraindications. Water goes well with other iodine-containing foods. Even regular use does not carry the risk of overdose.
Organoleptics. The absence of foreign odor and taste in water makes it suitable for drinking and preparing various dishes.
Long shelf life. Due to the stability of the ions, iodine is not destroyed, so the water retains the declared concentration of this substance throughout the entire storage period.

Effects of iodine water

Eliminating iodine deficiency has a beneficial effect on the body as a whole, since this trace element is involved in many chemical and biological reactions. The positive effects of regular consumption of water with iodine include:

proper functioning of the thyroid gland;
normalization of immune processes;
restoration of optimal hormone levels;
prevention of manifestations of dysbacteriosis, improvement of the functioning of the digestive tract;
improved absorption of vitamins and minerals;
increased removal of metabolic products from the body;
reducing fatigue, increasing energy reserves;
improvement of hair and skin;
beneficial effect on a person’s psycho-emotional state.

The recommended daily volume of iodine water is determined by each manufacturer. Typically, the amount a healthy person should drink is 1.5–2 liters per day.

When and by whom was iodine discovered?

The chemical element “Iodine” was added to the periodic table in 1871.
Like many chemical elements, iodine was discovered by accident in 1811 by the Frenchman Bernard Courtois while preparing saltpeter from seaweed. As a chemical element, the substance received the name “iodine” two years later, and was officially included in the periodic table in 1871.

Iodine, water and our health

We continue the topic of iodine deficiency in Kazakhstan and this time we are puzzled by the question: if the consumption of even iodized salt needs to be limited, not everyone uses flour, even if enriched with this important substance (see “This useful harmful iodine”, “Time” from 10.3 .2018), then perhaps water treated with it - centralized or bottled - will help solve the problem of shortage in the country of an element so necessary for health? Everyone drinks water!

The other day, the chairman of the public health committee of the Ministry of Health, the chief sanitary doctor of the country, Zhandarbek BEKSHIN, told reporters: “We do not live on the shore of any (sea or ocean - E.T.) coast, we do not have algae containing potassium iodate . Therefore, we must use iodization of salt and yeast. Fluoridation and iodization of bottled water have very correctly found support among the population. And these are very necessary things for health! Therefore, food additives and food fortification are very justified, scientifically proven, and we will do this and pursue such a policy. The need for such a policy is long overdue; let us recall only the main problems: the incidence of diseases from iodine deficiency, which causes goiter, congenital mental retardation, cretinism and reduces intellectual development, is growing in all regions of Kazakhstan by an average of 10 percent per year. According to experts, iodized salt only partially copes with this situation, because an overdose of “white gold” leads to other dangerous consequences: hypertension, heart attack and stroke, and pregnant women and children, who are already at risk of iodine deficiency, are generally recommended to consume as much as possible less salt. Another way to solve the problem of iodine deficiency among the population at a mass level is to use iodized flour and yeast in cooking, the Ministry of Health told us. But again, not everyone eats baked goods, especially those who are on a diet. Meanwhile, water enriched with iodine is not only good for drinking, but is also a good disinfectant and helps rapid skin regeneration. It turns out that using iodized water is the safest mass method of preventing and treating iodine deficiency! By the way, experts from the World Health Organization, as you know, have developed a general formula for calculating the required amount of water that a person should drink per day: 30 milligrams for every kilogram of body weight. That is, for example, a 60-kilogram body requires 1.8 liters of water. According to Bekshin, now in the republic five companies producing drinking and mineral bottled waters are enriching their products with iodine. But will most pensioners, low-income families and large families buy this bottled water? After all, iodized water is an order of magnitude more expensive than regular water: at the pharmacy I took 0.5 liters of enriched liquid, which is approximately the daily dose for one person, for 150 tenge. “Approximately” - because it is inaccurate: unfortunately, on many bottles, manufacturers do not indicate how much of their iodized water you should drink per day. It is extremely difficult to find out the real price range - in a rare pharmacy you will find such water to compare. And for some reason prices are not indicated on the websites of wholesalers and online portals of companies - you need to call the numbers provided, but they are not always active or do not work. In addition, consumers should be careful. For example, on wholesalers’ resources, the products of one company are listed as “iodized water,” and on the label of its bottle there is a not entirely clear word, although it has a telling root: “iodophilic.” Meanwhile, on the website of this company itself, the manufacturer explains: “Biostructured water “Aquamira iodine” does not contain iodine ions, but, being incorporated as a component of the membrane of the follicular cells of the thyroid gland, it ensures much more effective penetration of iodine ions into the cells.” So understand... In general, it is still quite problematic to provide the population with vital bottled water. And yet, for those who consider that using bottled iodized water is a completely acceptable option for them, we asked the question: if you boil such water, will the iodine remain in it? After all, then you can not only drink tea with it, but also prepare hot dishes. “Iodine, which is used to enrich water, is in it in the form of compounds - iodides or iodates, and after boiling they do not disintegrate and are preserved in it,” Gulnara RYSMENDIEVA, a specialist at the Institute of Hydrogeology and Geoecology, explained to Vremya. Agree, it’s already warmer! Why not then enrich the water that flows from the tap with iodine? By the way, this practice is used in private water treatment systems in small cities in Canada, the USA, Malaysia, Sicily and even Central Africa! Is this possible in Kazakhstan? The director of the Kazakh Academy of Nutrition, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Toregeldy SHARMANOV, believes: it is, in principle, possible to enrich the water centrally supplied to high-rise buildings, but not necessary. And the point is not in the side effects or the harm of excess iodine, but in the fact that it is a very expensive pleasure. — In fact, only five percent of the population dare to use tap water as drinking water. Therefore, it is simply not economically profitable to iodize tap water,” endocrinologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Mikhail ZELTSER shared his opinion with us. The Almaty Su holding confirms that preparing water from underground sources is indeed an energy-consuming process. Water is drawn for the population from the lower layers of the aquifer - there it does not come into contact with surface groundwater. That is, underground water is raised to the surface by pumps, then collected in tanks and disinfected. From there, the treated water is sent through pipes to consumers. But enriching water with iodine does not mean just pouring a couple of ready-made bubbles of the substance into it and stirring. This is a whole chemical process with filtration, purification and storage conditions that will require millions of dollars in investment and new labor resources. Will these costs be worth it? “Iodization of tap water, which they tried to put forward as a countermeasure to the development of Graves’ disease and delays in physical and mental development in children with a lack of iodine, turned out to be ineffective, as was the iodization of salt,” an official representative of the State Enterprise “Holding Almaty” said in response to our request Su” of the Department of Energy and Public Utilities of the southern capital Serik SHAGIROV. — It should be noted that both foreign and domestic regulatory documents on the quality of drinking water do not contain hygienic regulations for the content of iodine in drinking water and there is insufficient data on the biological effect of drinking water conditioned with iodine on the body. Enrichment of water with iodine or any other microelements is not provided in Kazakhstan, as this can lead to a dual effect. Where there is an increased concentration of iodine, other problems arise: drinking such water causes weakness and headache, vomiting and rapid heartbeat, allergic reactions. In addition, iodine changes the organoleptic properties of water*.”

*Organoleptic properties of water are those parameters that are perceived by human senses and assessed by the intensity of their perception. These include taste, aftertaste, smell, color, turbidity, presence of sediment and others.

Ekaterina TIKHONOVA, photo by Vladimir ZAIKIN, Almaty

Instead of PS What did I understand from these ambiguous opinions of our experts? I probably won’t drink tap water so often anymore; I’ll somehow get over the fact that I’m losing its special taste due to sodium hypochlorite. All you have to do is drink boiled water; if you have the money, buy iodized water. Well, continue to take iodine medications medicinally. And you, the reader, decide for yourself what is healthier for you.

Take note

Properties of life-giving moisture

From the tap... According to Serik SHAGIROV, a representative of the Almaty Su Holding State Enterprise, the southern capital is supplied with water from two sources: surface rivers (40%) and underground sources at a depth of up to 500 meters (60%). Groundwater, the expert says, has a unique composition and does not require additional purification, so it is only disinfected with sodium hypochlorite. But isn't it harmful? The expert assures: it is absolutely safe and even... improves the taste of water! “The main advantage of chlorination is the ability to maintain the normal sanitary condition of the water supply network. There are other methods - water ozonation and ultraviolet irradiation, but they do not have such a long-term effect; they can only be effectively used to disinfect water supplied to an individual home or to settlements with a short water supply network. There are standards around the world that set the chlorine content in drinking water at the exit from a water treatment plant. They are designed in such a way as to ensure complete disinfection of water without affecting human health. At the same time, in Kazakhstan the standard is several times lower than the maximum content specified in WHO recommendations! Unlike chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, which is used in Almaty, is non-flammable and non-explosive, it is a low-toxic substance. At the same time, the taste of water treated with sodium hypochlorite improves.” Meanwhile, the head of the testing sector of the laboratory of the Institute of Hydrogeology and Geoecology, Gulnara RYSMENDIEVA, does not entirely agree with Shagirov: sodium hypochlorite, to some extent, still has an undesirable effect on the body if it is used constantly and for a long time. — In principle, centralized water in Almaty is of excellent quality, I sometimes drink it myself. But in the lower areas of the city it is harder and muddier, and its organoleptic properties are somewhat different there. For those who are concerned about eating disorders, I still recommend boiling the water. It cannot be said that boiled water is dead: the basic composition in it changes little, but at high temperatures magnesium and calcium salts precipitate. This is evidenced by a white coating in the kettle. And if iron also falls out of the water during boiling, then a coating of rust appears in the kettle. ...and from the bottle The usefulness of bottled water for the body is tested in the testing sector of the laboratory of the Institute of Hydrogeology and Geoecology. According to studies, water called iodized most often actually contains iodine, but recently some manufacturers of ordinary drinking water have begun to write “silver” or “enriched with silver ions” on their labels, which is very attractive to buyers. — Probably, such notes are a tribute to fashion. Honestly, how many times have we looked for silver in such water, but we have never found it! — Gulnara Rysmendieva shared with us. - Silver salts are mostly insoluble, and it is very difficult to produce such water where the silver will not precipitate and remain on the walls of the bottle. We have not yet come across bottled water with heavy metals or organically harmful substances, but we have come across one that does not have any physiological value for the human body. Very often, through purification and measures to eliminate water hardness, manufacturers make it unfit for drinking and absolutely useless. In such cases, we only draw up an analysis protocol. It is not our competence to give an opinion or permission. — What happens to the water when it passes through the filter? — Filters are different and sometimes they purify to such an extent that the output is distilled water, it no longer contains not only iodine, but also calcium, magnesium - there is nothing left! This is truly dead water.

Cool

This dangerous beneficial iodine

An excess of iodine in the body is no less dangerous than its deficiency.

Today, the benefits of iodine for the thyroid gland seem to be talked about on every corner. And many of the patients begin to be treated with iodine-containing drugs on their own, fortunately there are now plenty of them in pharmacies. In fact, such self-medication is very dangerous.

It is well known that iodine is vital. It ensures uninterrupted production of thyroid hormones - thyroxine and triiodothyronine. It is also needed for the nervous system, strengthens the immune system, lowers cholesterol levels in the blood, and protects against atherosclerosis. In a word, useful in all respects. But according to statistics, almost every sixth inhabitant of the Earth experiences iodine deficiency. And over the past decades, Russia has become a zone of almost complete, total iodine deficiency. The economic crisis has led to a deterioration in the nutritional structure; the diet of many people lacks complete proteins (primarily meat) and vitamins C and A, which increases iodine deficiency and contributes to the development of endemic goiter - a disease of the thyroid gland, in which all metabolic processes in the body are disrupted. processes.

How to describe the signs of this disease? A person either suddenly gains weight or loses weight significantly. His memory deteriorates, his immunity weakens, his head often hurts, and his mouth gets dry. He becomes nervous, irritable, and gets tired quickly. No matter how much he sleeps, he complains of drowsiness. Or, conversely, at night he cannot fall asleep, and, having fallen asleep, he immediately wakes up and does not close his eyes until the morning. Sweating increases, sometimes suddenly a feeling of causeless fear and melancholy overwhelms, and depression occurs.

An imbalance of iodine also leads to other dysfunctions of the thyroid gland. For example, she can reduce the production of her hormones, and this is also fraught with many ailments. This is what iodine means for a person!

A drop of iodine turned out to be superfluous

Having realized for himself how important iodine is for the body, a person tries to make up for the “deficiency” by taking drops of the iodine that is sold in pharmacies in the form of an alcohol solution. But in the digestive tract, such iodine and drugs containing it irritate the mucous membranes. And one extra drop can be enough to cause swelling of the throat and glottis, and even pulmonary edema with fatal consequences from suffocation. After absorbing toxic doses of iodine, which is no more than 2 g, such “horror stories” happen to a person that would not even be imagined in a nightmare or in a horror film. The functioning of the central nervous system is often disrupted. The patient suffers from hallucinations, delirium, and insomnia. Blood vessels, heart, liver and kidneys are affected. In case of acute poisoning, the smell of iodine, a metallic taste, burning and pain in the throat are felt in the mouth. Thirst, severe runny nose and difficulty breathing. The tongue and mouth turn brown. Nausea and bloody vomiting of yellow or blue masses occur. The condition can be complicated by allergic reactions, the most dangerous of which is anaphylactic shock.

In case of iodine poisoning, immediately rinse the stomach with a 5% solution of sodium thiosulfate. Then drink 1-2 glasses of the same solution. Rinse your mouth with it. To reduce the burn, drink starch broth, raw eggs, milk, butter. A 2–3% solution of baking soda and activated carbon – 20–30 g – helps.

The rest of the treatment is carried out by the doctor in accordance with the patient’s condition. But even after recovery, bronchitis, pneumonia, nephritis often develop, and the function of the thyroid gland is impaired.

How to prepare blue iodine

Medicine with iodine can be prepared in two different ways. The first recipe is mentioned in V. Mokhnach’s monograph “Iodine and the Problems of Life.”

First recipe

» Pour a quarter of the volume of warm water (about 50 ml) into a glass and dilute in it one teaspoon of potato starch, one teaspoon of sugar and several crystals of citric acid and mix everything again. Get ready to cook jelly. Boil three quarters of a glass of water (up to 150 ml) and pour the prepared starch solution into the resulting boiling water in a thin stream. Cool the starch jelly to room temperature. Add one teaspoon of pharmaceutical 5% iodine solution to the cooled jelly and mix. The solution will immediately turn blue. Blue jelly prepared in this way retains its medicinal properties as long as it is intensely colored.”

Citric acid is a preservative and promotes long-term storage, more than a month, but the finished product must be kept in the refrigerator.
Second recipe

It is less common, but still, this method of preparation has its advantages. It is suitable for people with increased stomach sensitivity. In this recipe, iodine is added to hot water, which partially causes it to evaporate.

“50 ml of water is brought to a boil, a teaspoon of starch is immediately diluted, then a teaspoon of iodine (5%) is added, then about 200 ml of boiling water is poured into this solution and everything is mixed until smooth. The solution must be viscous."

Blue jelly prepared according to the second recipe is stored in the refrigerator for up to 20 days; as soon as the color begins to change, it must be replaced with a new one.

Application

How should iodine monochloride be used? The instructions for use state that disinfection with this product is carried out by fine-droplet irrigation using spray equipment.

To treat animals that are sick with ringworm, the affected areas of the skin are treated with a 10% aqueous solution. The drug is applied in small portions using a cotton-gauze swab or brush, and then rubbed in thoroughly. It is advisable to carry out this procedure outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.

To treat (antiseptic) the udder of cows after milking, use a 0.5% solution of iodine monochloride, which is applied by spray.

Using the drug "DOCTOR IODINE"

Povidone-iodine is actively used in medical institutions: it is recommended for treating the hands of medical personnel, including surgeons, obstetricians and laboratory workers; for preparing equipment and patient skin before operations and invasive diagnostic procedures. Its use extends beyond hospitals and clinics: antiseptics are required by employees in kindergartens (kindergartens and schools), sanatorium-resort institutions, nursing homes, hospices, etc.

The drug is used to treat the elbows of donors at blood transfusion stations, and to treat the skin of patients before injections.

Household use of povidone-iodine preparations is even wider. At home, it is used for antiseptic treatment of wounds, abrasions, and cuts in adults and children. “DOCTOR IODINE” can be used as a means of preventing fungal diseases of the feet and nails after visiting public places such as swimming pools, saunas, baths, etc. This is especially true for small users who are not so attentive to personal hygiene.

How is medical iodine produced?

Today, a well-known antiseptic, alcoholic 5% iodine, is being used less and less. It has been replaced by drugs where iodine is used in combination with starch.

If we consider the question of whether there is a difference in the production of technical iodine and medical iodine, then we should pay attention to the following.

When producing raw material on an industrial scale, it is produced in the form of a crystalline mineral with a certain content of pure iodine (according to the periodic table).
Medical iodine becomes such after combining raw crystals with other substances: water, alcohols, ethers.

Hence the conclusion: initially, iodine crystals are not divided into medical and technical - they receive this status in the process of further processing.

The price of iodine preparations in pharmacies depends not on the main component, but on those additional components that will be included in the medicine. The well-known bottle of antiseptic contains only iodine and ethyl alcohol, while, for example, drugs for the treatment of hyperthyroidism will be 2 orders of magnitude more expensive. They contain many other components.