thanks for your feedback! I am going with my gut on this one - I went so far as to order the pickling lime, but I haven't cracked it open. I just can't get my head around ingesting that.

My homeopath/naturopath wants to test me on her form of iodine, I think it's some sort of an herbal extract rather than an elemental form, I'm not sure. I know I've taken it before, but I probably at a much lower dose. I've only made modest progress on her protocols, though progress is progress, so I'll see what she says first. Usually she'll put me on herbals for a month or two, test me again, and most of the time afer that I'm "full up" for the time being, at least. Probably what I'll do is try the more scientific loading test, regardless of what she tells me and see how that compares, I guess that'll be my proof, assuming it's accurate. Though it sounds like it might be a waste of money if 90% of people are deficient. I started reading about fluoride detoxing and got all freaked about that, now... geez, what a poisoned place we're all in. Fortunately, I avoid most or all of the things on that list, with the exception of green tea, but I use good quality tea, so not sure about the fluoride factor in it. I guess I'd better find out.

I have found, too, that slow and steady works better for me, I'm too delicate to go balls-out with cleansing and big changes all at once. The heaviest thing I've done is the liver flushing, but I needed it, and I don't care what anyone says, I definitely got out stuff that was blocking bile flow and felt a million times better for doing it. By about the 8th flush, I think I'd done enough, but went to 10 or 12 and realized I needed to change course, so now doing herbals for liver/GB and that seems to be what I need now vs. flushing.

I've found that most of the green drinks give me a ton of gas, but maybe haven't found the right one. Right now I'm doing Unicity's "chloroplasma" capsules (spirulina) and eating a lot of greens. Do you know if the Norwegian kelp is contaminated? I thought that was supposed to be the purest. I do eat a lot of sea veggies in spurts - when I remember. I get the Maine Coast brand, and they claim their products are rigorously and regularly tested for contaminants. Have you heard anything bad about that? I think I read that the same source supplies Maine Cost and a few other brands.

The other thing is I started a product called "super PH minerals," I think it's a colloidal from fulvic/humic, i.e. from broken down ancient plant material vs. "rocks," though I don't really understand the technology of extracting from ancient decomposed plants (like wouldn't they be fossilized and essentially "rocks?") In any case, I tested strong on it, and I think I feel better since taking it for the last 2 months. That and cod liver oil, plus I started the blackstrap molasses because I do think that's a good source of minerals. I don't think it's a coincidence that I feel less inclined toward inflammation, my headaches seem better, and my nails are growing really fast and hard - not the norm for me. Must be the minerals, and probably the cod liver oil helping inflammation. I'm on 2 tsp a day of that. I was getting a great lemon flavored one from Wilderness Family Naturals, but it's been out of stock indefinitely for close to a year, they're looking for a new supplier, so I'm trying Carlson's next because it's supposed to be "clean."

Sorry if I went off topic.... ! Thanks again for the input. Looking forward to hearing others...

there is good mixed with bad there. a little leaven puffs up the whole loaf, to paraphrase the good book.

ML's MO is to stir up trouble to get hits on his forum. everyone knows it. the true believers there ignore it. i ignore it altogether.

the worse reactions to non-organic Iodine have been from people who have been on fluoridated drugs for any length of time. unfortunately that covers a large segment of the population. fortunately, only a few of those have bad reactions. what that stuff dos to the brain is a crime.

btw, most(maybe all) of the toxic forms of Iodine are organic forms. the ingredients in Lugols have an almost 200 year track record of safe and effective use.

I trust you on that!

I don't want to open a can of worms or create an off-topic debate. However, I do want to let those who are interested know that the +- protocol is not universally effective nor is it safe for everyone. I am dealing with some very serious consequences of that particular protocol.

More than anything I want to encourage people to do their own research and learn, first of all, how their body works; and then the best ways to solve their unique needs. If we would all take responsibility for our education and actions, then those who are out to deceive us would have a much harder time.

Its true there are no magic pills, including Iodine and pickling lime. However, an intelligent and aware person can learn to safely experiment on themselves without risking their health and possibly their lives. Iodine is an important piece of a much larger picture, but without adequate iodine, the picture (of good health) will never be complete. Trapper is a good testimony to that.