Iodum: Homeopathic Medicine – Its Use, Indications And Dosage

The remedy Iodum, called Iodum Purum, is derived from an element Iodine. Iodum is inert in its crude state. When it undergoes potentization (process of preparing homeopathic medicines which arouses medicinal properties of a crude substance), it gets converted into a highly valuable homeopathic medicine Iodum. This medicine is extensively used to manage complaints of thyroid gland that mainly include hyperthyroidism, goiter and Graves’ Disease.

The ‘Iodum’ Constitution

This medicine is most suitable to persons who are thin and suffer from weight loss. Their appetite is good but inspite of that they lose weight. They have excessive weakness and may have enlarged lymphatic glands.

Drug Action

This medicine has an action on different body parts and organs. Among these the foremost and most important action is noted on glands primarily the thyroid gland. Other glands including mammary glands, mesenteric glands (lymph glands in abdomen), salivary glands, pancreas and lymphatic glands are also the seat of action of this medicine. There may either be hardness, swelling and heaviness of glands or atrophy (decrease in size) of glands. This medicine also acts well on testicles, ovaries and uterus. Other body parts where this medicine shows remarkable action include mind, throat, joints, lungs, gastric system and heart.

Clinical Indications

Hyperthyroidism, goiter, weight loss, increased appetite, breast lumps, ovary inflammation and pain, vaginal discharge, hydrocele, enlarged prostate gland, diarrhea, anxiety, laryngitis, throat pain, throat ulcers, enlarged tonsils, inflamed joints, enlarged adenoids, gas, bloating, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, pancreatitis, weakness, atrophy of testicles/ovaries/ breast, palpitations, myocarditis, pericarditis.

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1. Thyroid Gland (Hyperthyroidism, Goiter, Grave’s Disease)

Iodum is of great service in treating a number of disorders of the thyroid gland. Thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ that lies at the base in the front part of neck. It secretes thyroid hormones that regulate body metabolism and help in growth and development.

This medicine is highly recommended to manage thyroid complaints especially hyperthyroidism, goiter, exophthalmic goiter. Hyperthyroidism refers to an overactive thyroid gland, while goiter is the swelling in the front of neck due to an enlarged thyroid gland. In exophthalmic goiter, also known as Grave’s Disease, the eyes bulge out, while the rest of the symptoms are the same as that in hyperthyroidism.

Persons who need it have increased metabolic rate. They are thin and loses weight. A characteristic feature to note here is the person loses weight despite a good appetite and eating well. He/she feels hungry frequently and must have something to eat every hour. Excessive weakness is marked. The person feels excessive heat in the body and desires cold air. They also suffer from anxiety and restlessness. Sometimes they can have long term diarrhoea also. In goiter cases, the thyroid is hard and enlarged especially on the right side. Throat feels constricted, attended with rough voice. Difficulty in breathing occurs especially when lying on the back. Bulging out of eyes may be present like in exophthalmic goiter. Besides, it is an important medicine for helping cases of swollen thyroid and thyroid cysts. Swelling and pain in thyroid during menses is a peculiar symptom of this medicine.

Key Indicating Features

Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)

Weight loss even after good appetite

Excessive weakness, excessive heat in body, anxiety, restlessness

Goiter with enlargement on right side, thyroid swelling, thyroid cysts

2. Mind (Anxiety, Restlessness, Impulsiveness)

Iodum has a marked action on mind where it addresses many complaints. Here, the  foremost indication is anxiety. Persons who need it mainly have anxiety about the present. Anxiety which gets better by eating is a salient feature to use this remedy. It may also be relieved by walking in open air. Along with this, there is restlessness which increases in a warm room. They are disposed to keep moving about but it leads to weakness. Being busy offers some relief to them. They may also show an impulsive behaviour with a sudden urge to harm someone or themselves or an impulse to run away. Next it is beneficial to manage complaint of forgetfulness. Sadness, depression, fear and irritability are its other indications.

Key Indicating Features

Anxiety about present and restlessness

Anxiety better from eating and walking in open air

Impulsive behaviour with desire to run away, harm himself or others

3. Male Problems (Hydrocele, Orchitis, Prostate Issues, Testicle Hardness Or Atrophy Means Shrinkage)

This medicine also settles many male problems effectively. It is one of the best remedies for hydrocele  in which there is swelling of scrotum resulting from fluid collection around the testicle. There is swelling in the scrotum without any pain, along with excessive offensive sweat on genitals. The testicles may be hard, a pressure is felt on the testicles which may extend to the abdomen. There may occur aching, twisting, pressing pain in spermatic cord after sexual activity. Inflammation of testicles (orchitis) also indicates the use of Iodum. This medicine can also be given in cases of prostate issues. The prostate is swollen, hard, urine may pass involuntarily in elderly from an enlarged prostate. Last noteworthy feature to use it is atrophy (decrease size) of testes with loss of sexual power.

Key Indicating Features

Hydrocele with painless swelling of scrotum and Orchitis

Prostate issues – swollen, enlarged, hard prostate gland

Atrophy of testes with loss of sexual power

4. Female Problems (Ovary Complaints, Vaginal Discharge, Irregular Menses, Breast Complaints)

This medicine is It is beneficial for ovary inflammation, swelling and pain in ovaries, ovarian cyst, vaginal discharge, irregular menses, suppressed menses (amenorrhea), breast lumps, galactorrhea (nipple discharge not related to milk production during breastfeeding), atrophy of breast and ovaries. There is inflammation in the ovary along with vaginal discharge. Ovary pain and sensitivity occur during menses. Pain is of pressing type mostly in the right ovary and may extend to the uterus. The vaginal discharge is thin, yellow, with burning in vagina which get worse during periods. The discharge causes soreness of thighs.  There may be atrophy (decreased size) of ovaries with sterility. Ovaries may become hard in some cases. Irregular menses are there which is painful with scanty flow. During menses, there is pain in the back and ovaries. There may be suppressed periods from long time. Iodum can be given for bluish red lumps in breast. For galactorrhea, it is given when there is thin watery milky nipple discharge along with weakness. Its use is also recommended for relaxed atrophied breasts. This medicine can also be considered in managing cases of cancer of uterus, cervix and ovaries as per symptoms.

Key Indicating Features

Ovary inflammation, cyst, pain

Vaginal discharge which is thin, yellow with vaginal burning

Bluish red breast lumps

Ggalactorrhea with thin watery milky discharge from nipples

Atrophy (shrinkage) of breast or ovaries

5. Gastric system (Gas, Bloating, Diarrhoea, Splenomegaly, Hepatomegaly, Pancreatitis)

With its action on gastric system, it helps relieve gas trapped in stomach and bloating. There can be burping that can be sour or empty. It seems as if each food particle is converted into gas. After eating, bitter taste is felt in the mouth. Vomiting may consist of oily substance, water, tastes like salt and is attended with stomach pain. Another complaint where it is very useful is chronic diarrhea which occurs in morning. The stool is watery, whitish or brownish, frothy, fetid, accompanied with pinching pain around navel. There is increased appetite with desire to eat every hour. Its use is also preferred in cases of enlarged spleen (splenomegaly), enlarged liver (hepatomegaly). Lastly, its use is recommended for chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas).

Key Indicating Features

Abdominal gas, bloating with sour or empty burping

Increased appetite, must eat every hour

Diarrhea, watery, whitish/ brownish, frothy, fetid stool with pinching pain around navel and weakness

Splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, pancreatitis

6. Throat (Throat Pain, Ulcers, Laryngitis, Goiter)

Use of Iodum is highly recommended for throat pain and throat ulcers. Burning type of pain is felt in throat. Tonsils are enlarged and hard. Rawness and tickling occurs in the throat that causes dry cough. Other than this, it can be given for enlargement of glands of neck, thyroid gland enlargement (goiter) and swelling of submaxillary glands. Cases of inflamed larynx can be well managed with it. Such cases have rough, hoarse or deep voice. Lastly, it is an important medicine for ulcers of food pipe (esophagus) when the person has difficulty in swallowing.

Key Indicating Features

Goiter, hard with throat constriction

Ulcers in throat and food pipe

Enlarged, hard tonsils

Laryngitis with rough, deep, hoarse voice

Enlarged neck glands

7. Lungs (Cough, Difficulty In Breathing, Asthma, Pneumonia)

It has shown great clinical improvement in many complaints related to lungs including cough, asthma and pneumonia (inflammation and infection of air sacs). Iodum may administered for cough that is dry, short, and irritating which gets worse at night. Cough arises from tickling in the larynx. Sometimes yellow, tough mucus is expectorated. It can be blood streaked too. Cough can be attended with wheezing and difficulty in breathing from talking and slightest exertion. It is indicated for right sided pneumonia.

Key Indicating Features

Dry, short, irritating cough worsening at night

Asthma with shortness of breath that worsen from slightest exertion and talking

Right sided pneumonia

8. Limbs (Joint Pains, Trembling Of Limbs)

This medicine is mainly indicated for inflamed joints. There is stiffness in joints and pain which increases at night. There is pain in knee joint, and the slightest movement and pressure worsen the pain. Knee is also swollen with pricking and burning sensation. There is pain in hip joint which aggravates from movement. It can also be given for trembling of limbs attended with weakness. Hands and feet are cold. Palms of hands are sweaty. Feet can be swollen. Iodum can also be used for painful corns.

Key Indicating Features

Joint pain at night

Trembling of limbs with weakness

9. Heart Complaints (Palpitations, Myocarditis, Pericarditis, Anxiety)

This medicine is also prominent for managing many heart issues. Firstly, it is effective in managing palpitations. They get worse from the slightest exertion, bathing with warm water, etc. Cold bathing offers relief. The pulse can be small, weak, irregular or hard and rapid. Iodum is indicated for cases of myocarditis (inflammation of heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of thin sac-like tissues that surround the heart). There is anxiety with desire to change position constantly and sensation as if heart is being squeezed by an iron hand.

Key Indicating Features

Palpitations from bathing with warm water and exertion

Myocarditis and Pericarditis

Modalities

Worsening factors: Complaints worsen from warmth, fasting, talking and wrapping up

Relieving factors: Complaints get better in cold air, eating, walking in open air

Dosage

Iodum can be used in both low and high potencies. It can be repeated frequently in low potency, but high potencies should not be taken frequently. The potency varies as per the nature of complaint and duration of the complaint. For using high potency, one must take physician’s advice regarding the duration and repetition of this medicine.

Relationship with Other Remedies

Antidoted by: Apis Mellifica, Camphor, Coffea Cruda, Graphites, Opium, Spongia, Thuja and Sulphur

It antidotes: Merc Sol

Follows well: Arsenic Album, Hepar Sulph and Merc Sol

Followed well by Argentum Nitricum, Calcarea Carb, Kali Bichrome, Lycopodium, Merc Sol, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla