Is there a cure for Gulf War Syndrome?
Lydian, my daughter, and I work as medical detectives. We look for scientifically validated, or anecdotally supported cures for diseases. And as we were working on a book about autoimmune disease cures, we stumbled across the drug Pyridostigmine in the literature. Curious about this medicine, I did a search and read a bit about it. Sometimes older medicines like Pyridostigmine turn out to be valuable and useful. But the second I saw the full name of this medicine, I gasped.Pyridostigmine Bromide.
You see, I spend a lot of time writing about the use of Lugol’s iodine as a treatment for cancer, autoimmune diseases, parasite infections that won’t go away and a wide range of other illnesses. Bromine (and its reduced form bromide) is an extremely toxic endocrine disruptor. It has been outlawed in most other developed countries of the world, but the U.S. continues to use it in and on everything from food and insecticides to spraying it on furnishings and on children’s pajamas. And it makes people sick.
Of course, people who have been exposed to oil-fire smoke may also benefit from Lugol’s iodine treatment too. Bromine is a fire retardant and there is bromine in many fire extinguishers. A lot of people who simply live near a field that is regularly sprayed with methyl bromide (an insecticide) can easily develop Gulf War Syndrome symptoms in the United States. So the material that I’m writing in this article can be beneficial to soldiers who were exposed to pyridostigmine as well as oil-smoke and other toxins. Lugol’s iodine 2% used to be the most prescribed medicine in the United States prior to the development of the American Medical Association. As a nutrient that everybody needs, it is impossible to be allergic to Lugol’s iodine, but before you order yourself a bottle of Lugol’s iodine, be sure to read the entire article from beginning to end so that you know what to expect when you start taking this medicine. Before you can really start to benefit from taking Lugol’s iodine, you have to do a bromine detox first. In fact, often Gulf War Syndrome sufferers are going through bromine detox symptoms that feel like they’re getting sicker whenever they are exposed to nutrient forms of iodine when in fact, their bodies are purging bromine. This process of removing bromide / bromine from the body can take a month or longer, but we’ll talk more about what to expect when you begin to cure Gulf War Syndrome below.
Pyridostigmine Bromide Long-Term Side Effects
Bromine and bromide are particularly toxic to Americans because Big Food has been systematically removing iodine from the food supply starting in the 1980’s. You see, bromine competes with iodine in the body. And you NEED iodine or else your general health will fail. Both bromine and iodine are in the halogen group on the periodic table of the elements. They’re in the same column on the periodic table with fluorine. And both bromine and fluorine (in their reduced forms as bromide and fluoride) compete with iodine in the body. Fluoride is nearly ubiquitous throughout the U.S. in the water supply and in toothpastes and exposure to fluoride and other sources of bromide would make Gulf War Syndrome symptoms worse.In this article, I’m going to focus on the problem of bromine / bromide toxicity and how taking a drug like Pyridostigmine Bromide can make you very sick, but also I want to talk about something as simple as Lugol’s iodine supplements that can make you better.
Is there a cure for Gulf War Syndrome?
Lydian and I have spent a lot of time studying the toxic effects of bromide and fluoride on the body as well as the curative impact of Lugol’s iodine 2% supplements on bromide toxicity specifically. But before we talk about the Gulf War Illness cure, I need to make the argument that Gulf War Syndrome is bromide toxicity.Gulf War Syndrome Symptoms vs. Bromine Toxicity Symptoms
Gulf War Syndrome Symptoms
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Memory Loss
- Indigestion and other digestive problems
- Diarrhea
- Respiratory problems
- Depression
- Infertility
Bromide Toxicity Symptoms
High levels of bromide in the body damages neurons or nerve tissues which can lead to the following symptoms:- Headache
- Fatigue
- Memory loss
- Indigestion and other digestive problems
- Diarrhea
- Respiratory problems
- Depression
- Infertility
So it isn’t hard to see that there’s a relationship between Gulf War Illness and bromide Toxicity. But now, let’s go a little deeper into this rabbit hole…
Iodine is a mineral that your body requires. You need to consume things (foods or supplements) that contain both molecular iodine (iodide) and potassium iodide in order for your thyroid gland and your reproductive organs to work properly. If you become deficient in iodide or potassium iodide, your thyroid gland will stop functioning properly and your reproductive organs will also stop functioning properly. Libido becomes an issue. People suffer a lot of sexual dysfunctions as a result of iodine deficiency. And when reproductive hormone levels and thyroid hormone levels become imbalanced, the entire body suffers.
But because iodine is a mineral that exists in many healthy foods like kelp for example, patients with Gulf War Syndrome sometimes consume it in their diets. Or they may take a multivitamin or another supplement or herb that contains iodine without realizing it. And when they consume iodine, a brand new set of “Gulf War Syndrome symptoms” emerge. This happens when iodide starts to kick bromide out of the receptor sites in the thyroid gland and in the reproductive organs. The bromide then enters the blood supply to be removed from the body but not before the bromide causes new symptoms that may make Gulf War Syndrome sufferers believe that their disease is getting worse instead of better. This is called a “Detoxification Reaction”. Getting through the detoxification reaction is the first step toward the cure for Gulf War Syndrome.
Below are the Bromine DETOXICATION Symptoms that you can expect to experience whenever you accidentally consume iodine-containing foods or supplements. Note that when you begin taking Lugol’s iodine, you will likely experience these symptoms until the iodine removes all of the bromine from your body:
- Rash (bromoderma)
- Blepharospasm / Eye Twitching
- Drooping eyelids (ptosis)
- Joint Pain
- Insomnia
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Auditory hallucinations
- Visual hallucinations
- Brain Fog
- Loss of control of body movements
- Foot twitching
- Tingling in the extremities
- Neurological impairment
- Psychosis
- Seizures
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Indigestion
- Somnolence
- Delirium
- Disturbance of color perception
- Dark thoughts (e.g. “there is no reason to live”)
- Depression (e.g. “there is no reason to get out of bed”)
- Mood issues such as anxiety or mood swings
- Mouth and tongue sores and cuts, a sore mouth
- Dry mouth
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Odd swallowing sensation (also known as “swollen glottis” in the old medical literature)
- Body odor
- Bromide acne which is coniform (the use of zinc can help counteract bromide acne)
- Skin “cuts”
- Hair loss
- Brain fog
- Leg and hip ache that resembles arthritis
- Sinus pain
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Cherry angiomas
- Sedation/lethargy
- Unusual urine odor or color
- Urethral spasm and frequent urination (may be mistaken for a urinary tract infection)
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Vision changes
- Irritability
- Increased salivation
- Dream changes
- Impaired memory/concentration
- Tremor
- Hormone changes
- Kidney pain
- Breast tenderness / fibrocystic breast disease (this transient symptom typically resolves quickly with iodine treatment)
- Menstruation Issues
- Cystitis / bladder irritation
- Asthma / breathing problems
The use of Lugol’s iodine as a cure for Gulf War Syndrome and for other health issues is complex because it tends to make people much worse before they get better. Because of this dynamic in terms of the healing process, many Gulf War Syndrome sufferers never realize the direct connection between their disease and the nutrient that they need to cure it.
Get Started Treating Gulf War Syndrome
To get started treating Gulf War Syndrome, you need to first start taking the Lugol’s iodine supporting nutrients. Take the supporting nutrients first to avoid having a severe Bromine Detoxification reaction and to prime your body to receive iodine. Below are the supporting nutrients:- Vitamin C – Take 2000 - 5000 mgs/day. After you begin taking the iodine, you should take this supplement 4 to 6 hours AFTER you take the iodine.
- Selenium – 200 to 400 mcg/day – (assists with detoxification and thyroid secretion) YOU MUST TAKE SELENIUM FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE BEGINNING IODINE THERAPY. IF YOU HAVE HASHIMOTO’S DISEASE, START TAKING SELENIUM 2 MONTHS BEFORE YOU BEGIN IODINE THERAPY.
- Unrefined salt / Celtic or Himalayan sea salt – ½ tsp/day in ½ c. water followed by 12 oz. of water – the salt binds to bromine and assists in detoxification prior to and during iodine therapy.
- Magnesium – 400 - 600 mg/day
- Vitamin B2 - 400 mg per day - This nutrient dosage is absolutely essential for anyone with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. It can be extremely beneficial to those without thyroid problems.
- Vitamin B3 - 500 mg per day - This nutrient is also essential for those with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. It is also very beneficial for those without a known thyroid issue.
- Zinc / Copper - 15 mg / 2 mg
- Optional – ATP Cofactors – 1 tablet 2 times per day
- Vitamin K2 / D3 - Vitamin K2 is different than vitamin K1. If you don’t eat meats from grass-fed animals, you’re deficient in vitamin K2 and this can contribute significantly to your health problems. Be sure to read here about why you should NEVER take vitamin D without taking vitamin K2 with it. Also read this article about how to remineralize your teeth using vitamin K2 / D3 supplements and non-fluoridated toothpaste. Getting rid of constant exposures to fluoride will help you get through the detoxification process more quickly and restore health on many levels.
- Sea Water Supplement - 1 tsp. per 8 ounces of water
- Amino Acid Supplement - Your liver uses amino acids to build binding agents that will bind to toxins and escort them safely out of the body.
- Mucuna pruriens - 6000 mg per day in 4 divided doses (1500 mg four times daily) for 5 months, then on an as-needed basis.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Calcium in supplements can interfere with iodine absorption. Click here to read more about the supportive nutrients and how they support the absorption of iodine in the body.
You will need to continue taking these nutrients after you begin your Lugol’s iodine Gulf War Illness Cure. Be sure to prime your body with 200-400 mcg of selenium before you begin this Gulf War Syndrome Holistic Therapy with Lugol’s Iodine.
What is Lugol’s Iodine and How to Use It as a Gulf War Holistic Treatment
Some people have tried using nascent iodine as an alternative treatment for Gulf War Syndrome, but Lugol’s iodine is the only treatment that will cure Gulf War Syndrome rash, asthma, and other respiratory and digestive disorders. You see, Lugol’s iodine contains both molecular iodine and potassium iodide which means that it treats both the thyroid gland as well as the reproductive organs. Drugs.com lists potassium iodide as a powerful expectorant as well as an “emergency radiation treatment” medicine that can be taken in super-high doses to clear the lungs or to protect people from nuclear fall-out. But unfortunately, many people who undergo radiation therapy as a cancer treatment have no idea that potassium iodide could protect them from radiation burns (and, as it turns out, it can also help them cure cancer in the first place). And even fewer people are aware of the fact that potassium iodide heals the lungs among other things. But rather than taking super-high doses of potassium iodide over a short time period, if you have Gulf War skin rashes, asthma, digestive problems, and all of the other various symptoms that plague soldiers who are exposed to bromide, follow our Lugol’s iodine protocol and start by taking low doses of iodine at first to prevent strong bromine detoxification symptoms.Click here to read more about how to use Lugol’s iodine as a natural cure for cancer.
Also note that Lugol’s iodine is not the same stuff that you might buy at your local pharmacy or grocery store. Lugol’s iodine is generally not sold in these places for political reasons to protect Big Food and Big Pharma’s interests. But if you wish to learn more about this topic, we talk more about the politics of Lugol’s iodine in this article. The iodine that you buy at your pharmacy is called Povidone Iodine or PVP-Iodine and it can be used in some interesting ways to prevent COVID and other respiratory diseases, but you should never take it internally. Also, PVP-Iodine won’t soak into your skin the way that Lugol’s iodine will. This is because Povidone Iodine contains a petroleum-based substance that causes the iodine to not be able to be absorbed by the skin or by mucous membranes. If you wish to learn more about how Lugol’s iodine and Povidone can be used in different ways to prevent infectious disease, click here to read this article.
Lugol’s Iodine Dosage: Gulf War Syndrome Holistic Treatment
Two weeks to two months after you begin taking selenium and the other supportive nutrients noted above, you’ll begin to administer Lugol’s iodine according to the following schedule. If you develop severe symptoms of bromine detoxification as you go through this process of healing, halve the dose, but continue taking the iodine until your bromine detoxification symptoms go away. Then resume the process of increasing the dose of the Lugol’s iodine 2% until you reach 20 drops daily.Administer the Lugol’s Iodine 2% to your skin or you can drink it in water (whatever you prefer). Start by administering 1 drop of Lugol’s iodine on the first day. Increase by 1 drop per day until you reach 20 drops daily. Continue to take the iodine daily for the rest of your life! If you have cancer, you can apply the Lugol’s above the skin in the area of the body with the cancer. It can be applied directly to the genitals. It can even be administered as a douche for women with uterine or breast cancer.
A Word about Gulf War Syndrome Cancer
Many people who suffer from reproductive organ cancers and thyroid cancer (as well as other types of cancer, but these types are particularly responsive to reproductive organ cancers) are able to cure cancer using Lugol’s iodine 2%. Be sure to read this article about using Lugol’s iodine to cure cancer. In this article, we talk at length about the politics behind Lugol’s iodine including why iodized salt does not help reduce any of the symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome. But this article also talks in depth about the use of Lugol’s iodine to cure prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer, and even brain tumors.If you suffer from Gulf Syndrome cancer then you need to start taking high doses of vitamin B17 / amygdalin right away. Consider downloading our catalog of cancer cures (a 4-volume series– the first volume is free) to learn about scientifically proven cures for cancer that will also help you heal from Gulf War Syndrome cancer. Also consider reading Root Cause: Common Environmental Toxins and How to Protect Yourself from Them, a book about organophosphate and bromide exposure in the environment and how to use nutrients, herbs, probiotics and more to protect yourself from them.
The Gulf War Syndrome Rash: What You Need to Know
If you’ve suffered from Gulf War skin rashes, then you need to know that the rash is actually a sign of healing. If your rash is caused by bromide toxicity and you consume or are exposed to iodine (which is the nutrient your body actually needs, your thyroid gland and your reproductive organs will hungrily soak up that iodine and kick out the bromide), the bromide, when it enters your blood supply, will then cause a rash along with the other symptoms listed above.Understanding Gulf War Syndrome Asthma and Respiratory Issues
Asthma is an interesting disorder. When kids are younger, males are more likely to have asthma. But at puberty, females suddenly are more likely to have asthma. Why the switch? It’s because reproductive hormone changes have an impact on how the respiratory system functions and in asthma specifically, iodine can cure this problem. So if you suffer from Gulf War Syndrome Asthma, consider using Lugol’s iodine to overcome the problem. And if you suffer from a range of different respiratory symptoms, download our book about alternative treatments for respiratory disease to learn more about the scientifically tested alternative treatments for curing serious lung issues including emphysema.Be sure to follow the protocol for removing toxic halides from the body if you suffer from Gulf War Syndrome lung nodules, asthma, or other Gulf War Syndrome respiratory disorders. And consider purchasing a molecular hydrogen generator that you can use for inhalation to reduce symptoms of asthma naturally and also work toward healing lung tissues at the same time.
Gulf War Syndrome lung nodules may go away as you do iodine therapy, but if you suffer from any of the various Gulf War Syndrome respiratory disease like this, you should also be taking the anti-cancer vitamin known as vitamin B17/ amygdalin (which has an 80-90% cancer cure rate as a stand-alone treatment-- vitamin B17 is found in high concentrations in apricot kernels) along with pancreatic enzymes (which have a 13% cancer cure rate as a stand-alone treatment). Use vitamin B17 and pancreatic enzymes together and if you happen to suffer from a Gulf War lung disease, you need to make sure that you’re taking trypsin and chymotrypsin as well as the other pancreatic enzymes. In this article, we provide a basic overview of how to cure chronic lung disease including Gulf War lung problems using these and several other important tools.
The Bromide Detoxification Protocol: Get Rid of Gulf War Syndrome Symptoms Faster
One way to deal with the Gulf War Syndrome rash and other symptoms of bromide detoxification during the bromide detox period is to add 1 teaspoon of sea water supplement to every 8 ounces of drinking water that you consume throughout the day. Additionally, if bromide detoxification symptoms are overwhelming, take ½ teaspoon of Celtic or Himalayan sea salt in 12 ounces of water. Switch from regular salt to Himalayan salt to season your food too. The other minerals in the sea water and Himalayan sea salt bind to the bromide and assist in detoxification. Begin using the sea water supplement and Himalayan sea salt 2 weeks prior to beginning the Lugol’s iodine protocol that we’ll discuss below. Click here to read how to do salt loading and salt flushing to diminish symptoms of halide detoxification.PANAKOS DEEP SEAWATER HYPERTONIC Original Rene Quinton Formula 5.28 Gallon
Gulf War Syndrome Depression Cures
Gulf War Syndrome Depression can be alleviated significantly by daily administration of Lugol’s iodine, but there are some other Gulf War Syndrome depression cures that can do wonders not just for depression, but also anxiety and PTSD. Mucuna pruriens is a harmless bean that has been demonized by Big Pharma because of its ability to alleviate most mental illnesses. Mucuna contains high amounts of a dopamine precursor that can heal the brain. It works as a cure for Gulf War Syndrome depression by giving the brain the fuel it needs to creatively rework painful memories. But please read this article about how to cure depression if you have Gulf War Syndrome because there are some other valuable herbal treatments that will support your progress in overcoming Gulf War Syndrome depression naturally.Gulf War Syndrome PTSD Cures
Gulf War Syndrome PTSD can be alleviated to a great extent using Mucuna pruriens although there are some other important treatments that can help with this painful mental illness. Mucuna works by giving the brain the fuel that it needs to be able to rework painful memories in a creative way. But if you suffer from Gulf War Syndrome PTSD, you might also consider taking Lithium Orotate (which is a safe and natural alternative to the toxic bipolar drugs known as Lithium Carbonate or Lithium Chloride). In this article, we discuss the use of Lithium Orotate as a treatment for Lyme Disease, but in fact, Lithium Orotate was the stuff that used to be the “active ingredient” in the bottled soda known as 7-Up. That’s right! 7-Up used to contain lithium orotate because lithium orotate is relatively harmless as a natural salt and it had the ability to lift people’s spirits (thus the name 7-Up). And it’s a scientific fact that in cities where drinking water contains trace amounts of lithium, there are fewer suicides, fewer homicides, and less violence overall.PTSD is a complex disease, but treatments for post-traumatic stress are often gentle and surprisingly simple. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a treatment that can be done online at home.
Click here to do a free trial of EMDR online.
Neurofeedback is another gentle, but effective cure for PTSD that works by delivering tiny doses of electricity to areas of the brain that have shut down in response to trauma. Neurofeedback is gentle and it does not require those with PTSD to relive their traumatic memories to overcome the physical and psychological effects of trauma. Neurofeedback can be done at home using a device such as the Sens.ai.
Additionally, brain entrainment, hypnotherapy, and guided meditations are also powerful treatments for trauma. The DreamLight.app is a tool that allows people to do online hypnotherapy and guided meditations using brain entraining lights and sound.
Click here to learn more about the DreamLight.app, a guided meditation and brain-entrainment tool.
Gulf War Syndrome Autoimmune Disease Cures
Lithium Orotate can cure Gulf War Syndrome PTSD, but that’s not all that lithium can do. If you suffer from Gulf War Syndrome cancer (any type of cancer) or a Gulf War Syndrome autoimmune disease, you can use high pH therapy to cure these diseases. Though cesium is the medicine that Dr. Keith Brewer studied years ago as a 48-hour cure for cancer, lithium and rubidium are in the same family as cesium and both can be used as alternatives to cesium. Lithium Orotate can treat fibromyalgia symptoms and muscle pain and it works just as well to treat Gulf War Syndrome autoimmune disease. Lithium Orotate at about 80-100 mg per day works especially well as an alternative to cesium as a cure for autoimmune disease and cancer if it is combined with a reactive oxygen species medicine like Chlorine Dioxide Solution / Miracle Mineral Supplement. The higher pH of human tissues that happens when you take Lithium Orotate (as an alternative to Cesium) strengthens the antimicrobial effects of the Reactive Oxygen Species medicines. To better understand how to cure autoimmune diseases caused by Gulf War Syndrome consider downloading the gallbladder book and psoriasis book bundle, which deals with the relationships between the liver and the skin and how and why simple cures like sunlight and seawater have high cure rates for psoriasis (and other serious illnesses like Gulf War Syndrome) even though few people recognize this fact.Herbal Remedy for Gulf War Syndrome
If you suffer from any of the symptoms we’ve talked about in this article, you should also be aware that a group of scientists have found that Andrographis paniculata is an herbal remedy for Gulf War Syndrome. Pay attention to the concentration of andrographolides in the product that you choose as your Gulf War Syndrome treatment though. Note that Andrographis paniculata heals the liver, which is something we mentioned above in our section on Gulf War Syndrome Autoimmune Disease cures. The liver and gallbladder are typically the most important organs at the core of symptoms that won’t go away. In our section on autoimmune disease and Gulf War Syndrome, we talked about downloading the gallbladder book and psoriasis book bundle to better understand how to heal the liver. Many of the cures for psoriasis are relevant to any autoimmune disease that involves skin rashes and/or other autoimmune disease symptoms.Choose an Andrographis paniculata product that contains at least 10% andrographolides for best results. Read more about the the use of Andrographis paniculata as an herbal cure for Gulf War Syndrome here.
Nutricost Andrographis Extract 450mg, 180 Vegetarian Capsules - Non-GMO & Gluten Free
Final Words on These Gulf War Syndrome Alternatives
According to the book Gulf War and Health: Volume 1:"[Pyridostigmine Bromide] was used as an investigational product during the Gulf War (Rettig, 1999) and was not recommended for routine use. The FDA, under a then newly enacted interim rule, had granted DoD [Department of Defense] a waiver from the requirement to obtain informed consent from service members taking this drug, but the rule did not address the record keeping that would ordinarily accompany the use of an investigational drug (FDA, 1990; Rettig, 1999). PB was manufactured for Duphar and Roche; it was produced by two different facilities outside the United States, specifically in the Netherlands for Duphar and in the United Kingdom for Roche."
In other words, soldiers were given pyridostigmine bromide as an experiment.
Note that studies that look at the effects of Pyridostigmine Bromide on Gulf War veterans focus on the so-called "active" ingredient---the pyridostigmine, which functions similarly in the body to organophosphate insecticides. And despite lots of research (likely government funded), there is still no evidence that the pyridostigmine hurts anyone. Scientists today never study the effects of bromide on the body though bromide is an endocrine disruptor that is bioaccumulative (it builds up in the body over time). There is no need to study bromide as bromide is well-studied and quite famous as an endocrine disruptor that causes severe psychiatric illness and nervous system disease.
Iodine is a heavy metal chelator that also regulates the immune system. Iodine deficiency makes the body susceptible to bromine toxicity as well as heavy metal toxicity and toxicity due to exposure to organophosphates.
Toxins build up and concentrate in the liver and in the gallbladder. Pathogens often take up residence in the liver/gallbladder too to cause autoimmune disease symptoms. Luckily there are many ways to get rid of gallstones without surgery and detoxify the liver. Our gallbladder-psoriasis book bundle offers other leads into other herbs and holistic therapies that can be used as alternative Gulf War Syndrome treatments and both are relevant.
Click here to buy The Iodine Bible.
Resources:
Be sure to take a look at a few of our e-Books titles below that might pertain to your health search:
Is there a cure for Gulf War Syndrome?
Lydian, my daughter, and I work as medical detectives. We look for scientifically validated, or anecdotally supported cures for diseases. And as we were working on a book about autoimmune disease cures, we stumbled across the drug Pyridostigmine in the literature. Curious about this medicine, I did a search and read a bit about it. Sometimes older medicines like Pyridostigmine turn out to be valuable and useful. But the second I saw the full name of this medicine, I gasped.Pyridostigmine Bromide.
You see, I spend a lot of time writing about the use of Lugol’s iodine as a treatment for cancer, autoimmune diseases, parasite infections that won’t go away and a wide range of other illnesses. Bromine (and its reduced form bromide) is an extremely toxic endocrine disruptor. It has been outlawed in most other developed countries of the world, but the U.S. continues to use it in and on everything from food and insecticides to spraying it on furnishings and on children’s pajamas. And it makes people sick.
Of course, people who have been exposed to oil-fire smoke may also benefit from Lugol’s iodine treatment too. Bromine is a fire retardant and there is bromine in many fire extinguishers. A lot of people who simply live near a field that is regularly sprayed with methyl bromide (an insecticide) can easily develop Gulf War Syndrome symptoms in the United States. So the material that I’m writing in this article can be beneficial to soldiers who were exposed to pyridostigmine as well as oil-smoke and other toxins. Lugol’s iodine 2% used to be the most prescribed medicine in the United States prior to the development of the American Medical Association. As a nutrient that everybody needs, it is impossible to be allergic to Lugol’s iodine, but before you order yourself a bottle of Lugol’s iodine, be sure to read the entire article from beginning to end so that you know what to expect when you start taking this medicine. Before you can really start to benefit from taking Lugol’s iodine, you have to do a bromine detox first. In fact, often Gulf War Syndrome sufferers are going through bromine detox symptoms that feel like they’re getting sicker whenever they are exposed to nutrient forms of iodine when in fact, their bodies are purging bromine. This process of removing bromide / bromine from the body can take a month or longer, but we’ll talk more about what to expect when you begin to cure Gulf War Syndrome below.
Pyridostigmine Bromide Long-Term Side Effects
Bromine and bromide are particularly toxic to Americans because Big Food has been systematically removing iodine from the food supply starting in the 1980’s. You see, bromine competes with iodine in the body. And you NEED iodine or else your general health will fail. Both bromine and iodine are in the halogen group on the periodic table of the elements. They’re in the same column on the periodic table with fluorine. And both bromine and fluorine (in their reduced forms as bromide and fluoride) compete with iodine in the body. Fluoride is nearly ubiquitous throughout the U.S. in the water supply and in toothpastes and exposure to fluoride and other sources of bromide would make Gulf War Syndrome symptoms worse.In this article, I’m going to focus on the problem of bromine / bromide toxicity and how taking a drug like Pyridostigmine Bromide can make you very sick, but also I want to talk about something as simple as Lugol’s iodine supplements that can make you better.
Is there a cure for Gulf War Syndrome?
Lydian and I have spent a lot of time studying the toxic effects of bromide and fluoride on the body as well as the curative impact of Lugol’s iodine 2% supplements on bromide toxicity specifically. But before we talk about the Gulf War Illness cure, I need to make the argument that Gulf War Syndrome is bromide toxicity.Gulf War Syndrome Symptoms vs. Bromine Toxicity Symptoms
Gulf War Syndrome Symptoms
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Memory Loss
- Indigestion and other digestive problems
- Diarrhea
- Respiratory problems
- Depression
- Infertility
Bromide Toxicity Symptoms
High levels of bromide in the body damages neurons or nerve tissues which can lead to the following symptoms:- Headache
- Fatigue
- Memory loss
- Indigestion and other digestive problems
- Diarrhea
- Respiratory problems
- Depression
- Infertility
So it isn’t hard to see that there’s a relationship between Gulf War Illness and bromide Toxicity. But now, let’s go a little deeper into this rabbit hole…
Iodine is a mineral that your body requires. You need to consume things (foods or supplements) that contain both molecular iodine (iodide) and potassium iodide in order for your thyroid gland and your reproductive organs to work properly. If you become deficient in iodide or potassium iodide, your thyroid gland will stop functioning properly and your reproductive organs will also stop functioning properly. Libido becomes an issue. People suffer a lot of sexual dysfunctions as a result of iodine deficiency. And when reproductive hormone levels and thyroid hormone levels become imbalanced, the entire body suffers.
But because iodine is a mineral that exists in many healthy foods like kelp for example, patients with Gulf War Syndrome sometimes consume it in their diets. Or they may take a multivitamin or another supplement or herb that contains iodine without realizing it. And when they consume iodine, a brand new set of “Gulf War Syndrome symptoms” emerge. This happens when iodide starts to kick bromide out of the receptor sites in the thyroid gland and in the reproductive organs. The bromide then enters the blood supply to be removed from the body but not before the bromide causes new symptoms that may make Gulf War Syndrome sufferers believe that their disease is getting worse instead of better. This is called a “Detoxification Reaction”. Getting through the detoxification reaction is the first step toward the cure for Gulf War Syndrome.
Below are the Bromine DETOXICATION Symptoms that you can expect to experience whenever you accidentally consume iodine-containing foods or supplements. Note that when you begin taking Lugol’s iodine, you will likely experience these symptoms until the iodine removes all of the bromine from your body:
- Rash (bromoderma)
- Blepharospasm / Eye Twitching
- Drooping eyelids (ptosis)
- Joint Pain
- Insomnia
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Auditory hallucinations
- Visual hallucinations
- Brain Fog
- Loss of control of body movements
- Foot twitching
- Tingling in the extremities
- Neurological impairment
- Psychosis
- Seizures
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Indigestion
- Somnolence
- Delirium
- Disturbance of color perception
- Dark thoughts (e.g. “there is no reason to live”)
- Depression (e.g. “there is no reason to get out of bed”)
- Mood issues such as anxiety or mood swings
- Mouth and tongue sores and cuts, a sore mouth
- Dry mouth
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Odd swallowing sensation (also known as “swollen glottis” in the old medical literature)
- Body odor
- Bromide acne which is coniform (the use of zinc can help counteract bromide acne)
- Skin “cuts”
- Hair loss
- Brain fog
- Leg and hip ache that resembles arthritis
- Sinus pain
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Cherry angiomas
- Sedation/lethargy
- Unusual urine odor or color
- Urethral spasm and frequent urination (may be mistaken for a urinary tract infection)
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Vision changes
- Irritability
- Increased salivation
- Dream changes
- Impaired memory/concentration
- Tremor
- Hormone changes
- Kidney pain
- Breast tenderness / fibrocystic breast disease (this transient symptom typically resolves quickly with iodine treatment)
- Menstruation Issues
- Cystitis / bladder irritation
- Asthma / breathing problems
The use of Lugol’s iodine as a cure for Gulf War Syndrome and for other health issues is complex because it tends to make people much worse before they get better. Because of this dynamic in terms of the healing process, many Gulf War Syndrome sufferers never realize the direct connection between their disease and the nutrient that they need to cure it.
Get Started Treating Gulf War Syndrome
To get started treating Gulf War Syndrome, you need to first start taking the Lugol’s iodine supporting nutrients. Take the supporting nutrients first to avoid having a severe Bromine Detoxification reaction and to prime your body to receive iodine. Below are the supporting nutrients:- Vitamin C – Take 2000 - 5000 mgs/day. After you begin taking the iodine, you should take this supplement 4 to 6 hours AFTER you take the iodine.
- Selenium – 200 to 400 mcg/day – (assists with detoxification and thyroid secretion) YOU MUST TAKE SELENIUM FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE BEGINNING IODINE THERAPY. IF YOU HAVE HASHIMOTO’S DISEASE, START TAKING SELENIUM 2 MONTHS BEFORE YOU BEGIN IODINE THERAPY.
- Unrefined salt / Celtic or Himalayan sea salt – ½ tsp/day in ½ c. water followed by 12 oz. of water – the salt binds to bromine and assists in detoxification prior to and during iodine therapy.
- Magnesium – 400 - 600 mg/day
- Vitamin B2 - 400 mg per day - This nutrient dosage is absolutely essential for anyone with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. It can be extremely beneficial to those without thyroid problems.
- Vitamin B3 - 500 mg per day - This nutrient is also essential for those with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. It is also very beneficial for those without a known thyroid issue.
- Zinc / Copper - 15 mg / 2 mg
- Optional – ATP Cofactors – 1 tablet 2 times per day
- Vitamin K2 / D3 - Vitamin K2 is different than vitamin K1. If you don’t eat meats from grass-fed animals, you’re deficient in vitamin K2 and this can contribute significantly to your health problems. Be sure to read here about why you should NEVER take vitamin D without taking vitamin K2 with it. Also read this article about how to remineralize your teeth using vitamin K2 / D3 supplements and non-fluoridated toothpaste. Getting rid of constant exposures to fluoride will help you get through the detoxification process more quickly and restore health on many levels.
- Sea Water Supplement - 1 tsp. per 8 ounces of water
- Amino Acid Supplement - Your liver uses amino acids to build binding agents that will bind to toxins and escort them safely out of the body.
- Mucuna pruriens - 6000 mg per day in 4 divided doses (1500 mg four times daily) for 5 months, then on an as-needed basis.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Calcium in supplements can interfere with iodine absorption. Click here to read more about the supportive nutrients and how they support the absorption of iodine in the body.
You will need to continue taking these nutrients after you begin your Lugol’s iodine Gulf War Illness Cure. Be sure to prime your body with 200-400 mcg of selenium before you begin this Gulf War Syndrome Holistic Therapy with Lugol’s Iodine.
What is Lugol’s Iodine and How to Use It as a Gulf War Holistic Treatment
Some people have tried using nascent iodine as an alternative treatment for Gulf War Syndrome, but Lugol’s iodine is the only treatment that will cure Gulf War Syndrome rash, asthma, and other respiratory and digestive disorders. You see, Lugol’s iodine contains both molecular iodine and potassium iodide which means that it treats both the thyroid gland as well as the reproductive organs. Drugs.com lists potassium iodide as a powerful expectorant as well as an “emergency radiation treatment” medicine that can be taken in super-high doses to clear the lungs or to protect people from nuclear fall-out. But unfortunately, many people who undergo radiation therapy as a cancer treatment have no idea that potassium iodide could protect them from radiation burns (and, as it turns out, it can also help them cure cancer in the first place). And even fewer people are aware of the fact that potassium iodide heals the lungs among other things. But rather than taking super-high doses of potassium iodide over a short time period, if you have Gulf War skin rashes, asthma, digestive problems, and all of the other various symptoms that plague soldiers who are exposed to bromide, follow our Lugol’s iodine protocol and start by taking low doses of iodine at first to prevent strong bromine detoxification symptoms.Click here to read more about how to use Lugol’s iodine as a natural cure for cancer.
Also note that Lugol’s iodine is not the same stuff that you might buy at your local pharmacy or grocery store. Lugol’s iodine is generally not sold in these places for political reasons to protect Big Food and Big Pharma’s interests. But if you wish to learn more about this topic, we talk more about the politics of Lugol’s iodine in this article. The iodine that you buy at your pharmacy is called Povidone Iodine or PVP-Iodine and it can be used in some interesting ways to prevent COVID and other respiratory diseases, but you should never take it internally. Also, PVP-Iodine won’t soak into your skin the way that Lugol’s iodine will. This is because Povidone Iodine contains a petroleum-based substance that causes the iodine to not be able to be absorbed by the skin or by mucous membranes. If you wish to learn more about how Lugol’s iodine and Povidone can be used in different ways to prevent infectious disease, click here to read this article.
Lugol’s Iodine Dosage: Gulf War Syndrome Holistic Treatment
Two weeks to two months after you begin taking selenium and the other supportive nutrients noted above, you’ll begin to administer Lugol’s iodine according to the following schedule. If you develop severe symptoms of bromine detoxification as you go through this process of healing, halve the dose, but continue taking the iodine until your bromine detoxification symptoms go away. Then resume the process of increasing the dose of the Lugol’s iodine 2% until you reach 20 drops daily.Administer the Lugol’s Iodine 2% to your skin or you can drink it in water (whatever you prefer). Start by administering 1 drop of Lugol’s iodine on the first day. Increase by 1 drop per day until you reach 20 drops daily. Continue to take the iodine daily for the rest of your life! If you have cancer, you can apply the Lugol’s above the skin in the area of the body with the cancer. It can be applied directly to the genitals. It can even be administered as a douche for women with uterine or breast cancer.
A Word about Gulf War Syndrome Cancer
Many people who suffer from reproductive organ cancers and thyroid cancer (as well as other types of cancer, but these types are particularly responsive to reproductive organ cancers) are able to cure cancer using Lugol’s iodine 2%. Be sure to read this article about using Lugol’s iodine to cure cancer. In this article, we talk at length about the politics behind Lugol’s iodine including why iodized salt does not help reduce any of the symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome. But this article also talks in depth about the use of Lugol’s iodine to cure prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer, and even brain tumors.If you suffer from Gulf Syndrome cancer then you need to start taking high doses of vitamin B17 / amygdalin right away. Consider downloading our catalog of cancer cures (a 4-volume series– the first volume is free) to learn about scientifically proven cures for cancer that will also help you heal from Gulf War Syndrome cancer. Also consider reading Root Cause: Common Environmental Toxins and How to Protect Yourself from Them, a book about organophosphate and bromide exposure in the environment and how to use nutrients, herbs, probiotics and more to protect yourself from them.
The Gulf War Syndrome Rash: What You Need to Know
If you’ve suffered from Gulf War skin rashes, then you need to know that the rash is actually a sign of healing. If your rash is caused by bromide toxicity and you consume or are exposed to iodine (which is the nutrient your body actually needs, your thyroid gland and your reproductive organs will hungrily soak up that iodine and kick out the bromide), the bromide, when it enters your blood supply, will then cause a rash along with the other symptoms listed above.Understanding Gulf War Syndrome Asthma and Respiratory Issues
Asthma is an interesting disorder. When kids are younger, males are more likely to have asthma. But at puberty, females suddenly are more likely to have asthma. Why the switch? It’s because reproductive hormone changes have an impact on how the respiratory system functions and in asthma specifically, iodine can cure this problem. So if you suffer from Gulf War Syndrome Asthma, consider using Lugol’s iodine to overcome the problem. And if you suffer from a range of different respiratory symptoms, download our book about alternative treatments for respiratory disease to learn more about the scientifically tested alternative treatments for curing serious lung issues including emphysema.Be sure to follow the protocol for removing toxic halides from the body if you suffer from Gulf War Syndrome lung nodules, asthma, or other Gulf War Syndrome respiratory disorders. And consider purchasing a molecular hydrogen generator that you can use for inhalation to reduce symptoms of asthma naturally and also work toward healing lung tissues at the same time.
Gulf War Syndrome lung nodules may go away as you do iodine therapy, but if you suffer from any of the various Gulf War Syndrome respiratory disease like this, you should also be taking the anti-cancer vitamin known as vitamin B17/ amygdalin (which has an 80-90% cancer cure rate as a stand-alone treatment-- vitamin B17 is found in high concentrations in apricot kernels) along with pancreatic enzymes (which have a 13% cancer cure rate as a stand-alone treatment). Use vitamin B17 and pancreatic enzymes together and if you happen to suffer from a Gulf War lung disease, you need to make sure that you’re taking trypsin and chymotrypsin as well as the other pancreatic enzymes. In this article, we provide a basic overview of how to cure chronic lung disease including Gulf War lung problems using these and several other important tools.
The Bromide Detoxification Protocol: Get Rid of Gulf War Syndrome Symptoms Faster
One way to deal with the Gulf War Syndrome rash and other symptoms of bromide detoxification during the bromide detox period is to add 1 teaspoon of sea water supplement to every 8 ounces of drinking water that you consume throughout the day. Additionally, if bromide detoxification symptoms are overwhelming, take ½ teaspoon of Celtic or Himalayan sea salt in 12 ounces of water. Switch from regular salt to Himalayan salt to season your food too. The other minerals in the sea water and Himalayan sea salt bind to the bromide and assist in detoxification. Begin using the sea water supplement and Himalayan sea salt 2 weeks prior to beginning the Lugol’s iodine protocol that we’ll discuss below. Click here to read how to do salt loading and salt flushing to diminish symptoms of halide detoxification.PANAKOS DEEP SEAWATER HYPERTONIC Original Rene Quinton Formula 5.28 Gallon
Gulf War Syndrome Depression Cures
Gulf War Syndrome Depression can be alleviated significantly by daily administration of Lugol’s iodine, but there are some other Gulf War Syndrome depression cures that can do wonders not just for depression, but also anxiety and PTSD. Mucuna pruriens is a harmless bean that has been demonized by Big Pharma because of its ability to alleviate most mental illnesses. Mucuna contains high amounts of a dopamine precursor that can heal the brain. It works as a cure for Gulf War Syndrome depression by giving the brain the fuel it needs to creatively rework painful memories. But please read this article about how to cure depression if you have Gulf War Syndrome because there are some other valuable herbal treatments that will support your progress in overcoming Gulf War Syndrome depression naturally.Gulf War Syndrome PTSD Cures
Gulf War Syndrome PTSD can be alleviated to a great extent using Mucuna pruriens although there are some other important treatments that can help with this painful mental illness. Mucuna works by giving the brain the fuel that it needs to be able to rework painful memories in a creative way. But if you suffer from Gulf War Syndrome PTSD, you might also consider taking Lithium Orotate (which is a safe and natural alternative to the toxic bipolar drugs known as Lithium Carbonate or Lithium Chloride). In this article, we discuss the use of Lithium Orotate as a treatment for Lyme Disease, but in fact, Lithium Orotate was the stuff that used to be the “active ingredient” in the bottled soda known as 7-Up. That’s right! 7-Up used to contain lithium orotate because lithium orotate is relatively harmless as a natural salt and it had the ability to lift people’s spirits (thus the name 7-Up). And it’s a scientific fact that in cities where drinking water contains trace amounts of lithium, there are fewer suicides, fewer homicides, and less violence overall.PTSD is a complex disease, but treatments for post-traumatic stress are often gentle and surprisingly simple. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a treatment that can be done online at home.
Click here to do a free trial of EMDR online.
Neurofeedback is another gentle, but effective cure for PTSD that works by delivering tiny doses of electricity to areas of the brain that have shut down in response to trauma. Neurofeedback is gentle and it does not require those with PTSD to relive their traumatic memories to overcome the physical and psychological effects of trauma. Neurofeedback can be done at home using a device such as the Sens.ai.
Additionally, brain entrainment, hypnotherapy, and guided meditations are also powerful treatments for trauma. The DreamLight.app is a tool that allows people to do online hypnotherapy and guided meditations using brain entraining lights and sound.
Click here to learn more about the DreamLight.app, a guided meditation and brain-entrainment tool.
Gulf War Syndrome Autoimmune Disease Cures
Lithium Orotate can cure Gulf War Syndrome PTSD, but that’s not all that lithium can do. If you suffer from Gulf War Syndrome cancer (any type of cancer) or a Gulf War Syndrome autoimmune disease, you can use high pH therapy to cure these diseases. Though cesium is the medicine that Dr. Keith Brewer studied years ago as a 48-hour cure for cancer, lithium and rubidium are in the same family as cesium and both can be used as alternatives to cesium. Lithium Orotate can treat fibromyalgia symptoms and muscle pain and it works just as well to treat Gulf War Syndrome autoimmune disease. Lithium Orotate at about 80-100 mg per day works especially well as an alternative to cesium as a cure for autoimmune disease and cancer if it is combined with a reactive oxygen species medicine like Chlorine Dioxide Solution / Miracle Mineral Supplement. The higher pH of human tissues that happens when you take Lithium Orotate (as an alternative to Cesium) strengthens the antimicrobial effects of the Reactive Oxygen Species medicines. To better understand how to cure autoimmune diseases caused by Gulf War Syndrome consider downloading the gallbladder book and psoriasis book bundle, which deals with the relationships between the liver and the skin and how and why simple cures like sunlight and seawater have high cure rates for psoriasis (and other serious illnesses like Gulf War Syndrome) even though few people recognize this fact.Herbal Remedy for Gulf War Syndrome
If you suffer from any of the symptoms we’ve talked about in this article, you should also be aware that a group of scientists have found that Andrographis paniculata is an herbal remedy for Gulf War Syndrome. Pay attention to the concentration of andrographolides in the product that you choose as your Gulf War Syndrome treatment though. Note that Andrographis paniculata heals the liver, which is something we mentioned above in our section on Gulf War Syndrome Autoimmune Disease cures. The liver and gallbladder are typically the most important organs at the core of symptoms that won’t go away. In our section on autoimmune disease and Gulf War Syndrome, we talked about downloading the gallbladder book and psoriasis book bundle to better understand how to heal the liver. Many of the cures for psoriasis are relevant to any autoimmune disease that involves skin rashes and/or other autoimmune disease symptoms.Choose an Andrographis paniculata product that contains at least 10% andrographolides for best results. Read more about the the use of Andrographis paniculata as an herbal cure for Gulf War Syndrome here.
Nutricost Andrographis Extract 450mg, 180 Vegetarian Capsules - Non-GMO & Gluten Free
Final Words on These Gulf War Syndrome Alternatives
According to the book Gulf War and Health: Volume 1:"[Pyridostigmine Bromide] was used as an investigational product during the Gulf War (Rettig, 1999) and was not recommended for routine use. The FDA, under a then newly enacted interim rule, had granted DoD [Department of Defense] a waiver from the requirement to obtain informed consent from service members taking this drug, but the rule did not address the record keeping that would ordinarily accompany the use of an investigational drug (FDA, 1990; Rettig, 1999). PB was manufactured for Duphar and Roche; it was produced by two different facilities outside the United States, specifically in the Netherlands for Duphar and in the United Kingdom for Roche."
In other words, soldiers were given pyridostigmine bromide as an experiment.
Note that studies that look at the effects of Pyridostigmine Bromide on Gulf War veterans focus on the so-called "active" ingredient---the pyridostigmine, which functions similarly in the body to organophosphate insecticides. And despite lots of research (likely government funded), there is still no evidence that the pyridostigmine hurts anyone. Scientists today never study the effects of bromide on the body though bromide is an endocrine disruptor that is bioaccumulative (it builds up in the body over time). There is no need to study bromide as bromide is well-studied and quite famous as an endocrine disruptor that causes severe psychiatric illness and nervous system disease.
Iodine is a heavy metal chelator that also regulates the immune system. Iodine deficiency makes the body susceptible to bromine toxicity as well as heavy metal toxicity and toxicity due to exposure to organophosphates.
Toxins build up and concentrate in the liver and in the gallbladder. Pathogens often take up residence in the liver/gallbladder too to cause autoimmune disease symptoms. Luckily there are many ways to get rid of gallstones without surgery and detoxify the liver. Our gallbladder-psoriasis book bundle offers other leads into other herbs and holistic therapies that can be used as alternative Gulf War Syndrome treatments and both are relevant.
Click here to buy The Iodine Bible.
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