I am so sorry I haven’t been writing, but I have a valid excuse. For the last three weeks, I have been busy lecturing and travelling through Australia and New Zealand. Today, I am in Nelson, NZ. Allison and I are having a wonderful time. The people of Australia and New Zealand could not be more accommodating. We are truly having a vacation of a lifetime.
In my travels, I have lectured to both practitioners and the public. It is interesting that the Australia and New Zealand patients/practitioners are suffering with the same frustrations that U.S. patients/practitioners are having. The patients are frustrated with their medical doctors because the doctors are busy prescribing too many drugs that only address the symptoms of an illness and not the underlying cause. The doctors are frustrated because they feel constrained by the medical boards who do not like when they deviate from the standard of care.
Sound familiar? It sure does to me.
My message to the Kiwis (yes, they call the New Zealanders Kiwis) and Australians was to educate themselves about any drug therapy they are prescribed and to educate themselves about any natural therapy they are contemplating. I lectured to both groups about iodine and how to use it properly. I provided both the doctors and the patients the research behind iodine.
I have been writing books, articles and newsletters as well as lecturing about natural therapies and the dangers of common drug therapies since 1997. My sole purpose in doing these activities is to teach others about what I have found truly works and what does not.
Allison and I are staying at a Bed and Breakfast in Nelson, NZ, today. At breakfast today, the owner of the establishment asked me why I was carrying around salt with me. I told her that I use unrefined salt. She said that her doctor had told her not to use any salt as it is bad for your health. I responded that salt is the second major nutrient in the body next to water. I further explained that the body needs and requires adequate amounts of salt in the diet. Furthermore, I told her that over 95% of my patients were salt deficient.
She was astounded. I told her that the mantra of restricting salt intake—unless you have kidney failure—was simply a fairy tale. I said that there was no good research to support limiting salt in one’s diet.
I have come to the conclusion that the same fairy tales about the benefits of restricting salt—as well as lowering cholesterol levels with statin drugs—have been stated in both Australia and New Zealand. Only through educating yourself about how a drug works and what natural alternatives are available can you make the best health care decisions. Sadly, many conventional doctors simply do not have the proper knowledge to guide you on making the best health care decisions. It is up to you to make the appropriate health care decisions for you and your family.
So, what can you do? As I told the people in both Australia and New Zealand—the only solution to our health care woes is through education. Learn about whatever therapy is prescribed for you. Make sure the therapy is appropriate and use the safest therapy available. Sadly, many conventional therapies are toxic and do not treat the underlying cause of an illness. One way to start educating yourself is by reading my book, Drugs That Don’t Work and Natural Therapies That Do.
HI DrB, I attended the Melbourne seminar and have been following your protocol personally and with patients. I’m very excited about the outcomes. I’m having trouble with the concept of Iodine resistance though, and so are a few from the seminar. With Urinary Iodine results (for some who have NOT done the 24hr loading, just had standard Iodine and Creatinine tests) who show 598 ug/L (outside ref range as high)… but are clearly Hypothyroid (High TSH, Low T3, T4 and low titrate TPO)… my question is are they Iodine resistant is they have that much iodine excretion and not obvious dietary reasons why? No one from our facebook group set up from the conference can explain it either.
Cathy,
There is no such thing as iodine resistance. (Perhaps you are referring to thyroid hormone resistance that I mentioned in the talks.) A spot iodine test can often read high when someone is supplementing with iodine–keep in mind that there are no reference ranges for people taking mg doses of iodine and doing a spot test.
That being said, many things can cause hypothyroidism, including iodine deficiency. A thorough search for why someone has hypothyroidism can often identify the cause–including heavy metal toxicity and/or nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin A and/or selenium.
DrB
What do you think about moderating salt intake for someone who has had kidney stones? I use unrefined salt.
Is the iodine loading test safe for those who have silver fillings or mercury accumulation in their body? As I understand it , the iodine loading test involves taking 50 mg of Iodoral and seeing how much is excreted. But wouldn’t the Iodoral cause issues (for those with dental amalgams) by kicking up mercury and circulating it in the body? I became concerned about this when reading some info from Andy Cutler.
Meow,
I have not seen problems in those that do the loading test who also have mercury fillings.
DrB
If prescribing is the only thing being taught in medical school to the exclusion of the patient’s actual and physical needs, then we should quit calling it med school, and doctors should be called salesmen. Your candor and degree of human interest never ceases to stun me.
You really can’t stress enough, the difficulty a patient encounters when confronting their doctor about what (as a patient) you’ve discovered and researched. Right down to any scholarly you’ve been fortunate enough to have access to. Because we realize we aren’t ‘professionals’, there is much insecurity when it is time to make any changes to ourselves and loved ones. Find the doctors, Dr. Brownstein! I fear the truth is, only the very best doctors are willing to help at this level. The rest of the doctors probably got ‘C’s’ through school, and don’t want to test the system.
Lisa,
I know it is stressful.
However, I want to make the point that it is not enough to blindly trust any doctor’s opinion–mine included. Doctors are taught one thing in medical school: How to prescribe a drug to treat a pathology. That is what they know. They have no or little knowledge on natural therapies. And, many drug therapies are useless as they fail to treat the underlying cause of a disorder.
Insecurity is ok, just keep pushing forward with education!!
DrB
Dr. David, I attended your morning session in Melbourne, Australia, and thoroughly enjoyed your informative presentation. I have most of your books, and often use them in educating others on many topics, particularly regarding iodine and thyroid dysfunction. I often think of the Bible quotation “My people are destroyed through lack of knowledge” and I thank you for all your endeavours to share your knowledge and experiences, for God has blessed us with knowledge, not just for ourselves, but that we may be a blessing to others. Again, thank you, and may God bless and protect you and your family.
Keith,
Thank you for the nice comments.
DrB
On the subject of iodine . I take a supplement called kelp which gives me 225 mcg per day . I am wondering if this is enough iodine intake per day or should I be taking more ?
Roger,
In our toxic world, that amount may not be enough. It is best to have your levels checked and work with someone who is iodine literate.
DrB
I am very sorry I missed you. Did you lecture in Queensland.?
Dave,
I did not, but I LOVED Queensland. I can’t wait to see it again.
DrB
Hi Dr. Brownstein,
I am in Melbourne and was not aware that you were coming to Australia. I have read your book and wanted to find out if there are any labs that perform the 24hr Iodine loading test in Australia, and preferably Melbourne?
Thanks,
Bill
Bill,
Go to: http://thelucyroseclinic.com.au/. They have set up iodine testing for Aussies (If I am perjuring Australians with the ‘Aussies” comment, let me know. I found out qukickly that it is not wise to pronounce Brisbane with a long ‘a’.
DrB
Your lecture was a long awaited event by myself
Thanks you for taking the time to come to Australia and share your knowledge
Listening to your lecture has given me a whole new spin when viewing blood results
Keep up the fantastic work and most of all Thank you for sharing and educating