I believe Hulda answers the bowel flora issue by explaining how Lugol's is absorbed.
If taken away from chelation products on an empty stomach it will "stain" the stomach lining allowing the blood to extract what is needed, sort of an early (non chemical) time release mechanism.

Same goes for the skin, especially the sole of the feet where blood flow may allow the absorption of the stain. Now I did read a couple of days ago of people painting Lugol's over their thyroid area but can no longer find the book or article from Hulda where it was explained about the feet...

are you exhibiting any symptoms of reduced flora?

But we no longer know the absorbtion rate this way, is all of it absorbed and made available system wide since it is a stain and the skin part of the Iodine users.

Guess no money in that research...