I used the VCO/castor oil long before I started with iodine. My hair had already started growing back in on my head and arms. I don't put it on my legs. That hair started growing back after I started taking iodine. So the VCO/castor oil works without the iodine, but the Iodine helps. I feel like the borax killed some fungus maybe on my scalp or some parasites. Don't know. I just know it works.