Iodine deficiency is a widespread problem in the US, and I grew up in the "goiter belt" which includes Michigan as Michigan along with a large swath of territory does not have iodine in the soil. As a result, the lack of iodine in this area makes locals particularly prone to getting goiters, a result of thyroid nutrition deficiency. And especially since I've had Graves Disease, I'm particularly susceptible to iodine insufficiency even now with the disease in "remission". So here's an alternative and natural treatment to help keep more thyroid problems at bay.
TEST
Apply two (2) drops of tinctured Thy-Well (brand used at Hippocrates Health Institute) iodine to the inside of the upper arm. After 24 hours, if the spot is no longer visible (or even if only slightly visible), it is an indication that the body is iodine deficient.
TREATMENT
Mix four (4) drops of castor oil and one (1) drop of non-tinctured iodine in the palm of your hand and apply to thyroid (mid-line of the neck) each night for ten (10) days then retest on upper arm.
If gone in 24 hours or still slightly visible, in addition to the application to the thyroid, start drinking one (1) drop of iodine in 4-8-oz of water three (3) times a day. (Do not use metal utensils to stir.) Do these treatments for ten (10) days, then retest again.
Iodine Supplements: The Three Best Kinds to Use offers more info on the practical use, purpose and efficacy of the treatment.
It needs to be said that some people have very acute reactions to iodine. Just an FYI.
In 2009 Systemic Candida struck, and who was to know? The doctors were clueless, I was clueless. In the ensuing months, I only had confusion and dismay at not being treated medically when my body was screaming for help and no one could find the problem ... so of course it was psychiatric! This is my journey - chaotic encounters on the well-trod road of biomedicine but answers and improvement on the trails of dietary healing. I hope others may benefit from what I have discovered.