Radiation Exposure: Potassium Iodide is Not the Answer

[Prodigal Son]

Following the devastation in Japan and the resulting nuclear facility compromises many people have begun to turn their attention toward preparedness in the event of exposure to radioactive material. Generally where the medical profession provides "protection" for populations who have been exposed to radiation, potassium iodide is distributed. Since fears of radiation exposure have increased, even in this country, the supplies of potassium iodide have begun to be bought up rapidly from any and every source it is sold.

Whether or not there is any real, present threat of an event which would cause fallout as far as the US west coast, there are multitudes of people worried enough to begin taking potassium iodide. Before you decide this is good preventative medicine, or even a wise choice when exposure is certain, there are some facts that should be known about potassium iodide, what it can and can not do to help you and what it could do to harm you.

Potassium iodide is not a natural, organically acquired compound. This means it is not natural to the human body and the body will treat it as a poison. In industrial uses it is found in disinfectants. Though the body naturally processes both potassium and iodine as necessary nutrients, understand that potassium iodide will behave in the body as neither of these. It is used as a measure against radiation sickness with the intent that it will uptake in the thyroid thus not allowing radioactive iodine to infiltrate it. It is given to patients who undergo therapies which involve radioiodinated compounds containing iodine. The only effective measure it has is to block only radioactive iodine and only from the thyroid.

In the event of exposure to radiation, neither is it the case that only your thyroid is in danger, nor that you would only be exposed to radioactive iodine. Taking potassium iodide for such a situation is nearly useless, and worse, can be quite harmful. The side effects of Potassium iodide are:

thyroid damage that may lead to cancer

fetal deformities

hyper immune responses/ severe allergic reactions

heart arrhythmia

decreased mental function

numbness/ weakness in limbs


Being neither effective nor safe, potassium iodide should never be the medicine of choice for those who have been or may be exposed to radiation. It is only reasonable that what is effective and safe is a natural substance to the body and one which combats the molecular level damage to DNA which radiation exposure can cause. The following are safe and effective supplements which the body can use to blockade itself from radiation damage, those marked with (*) are the most helpful :

Rosemary**

Garlic

Alfalfa

Dandelion Root

Spirulina (blue-green algae)

Chlorella (blue-green algae)

Modifilan* (brown seaweed extract)

Red Clover

organically acquired iodine supplements*


What you don't consume can also make a big difference. Artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners (including Splenda) and preservatives are enemies of the immune system and a healthy immune system is necessary to combat exposure to carcinogens.

[Bean]

Thanks for posting this.. despite what the answer-in-a-pill community tells people - the Creator has given us simple solutions to serious issues and it's good to see an example of that simplicity and accessibility stated here like you have.