Roy, I hope this doesn't offend you -- but I just read this article and I'm wondering what you think -- as far as what she says about iodine. Is she just a pawn of the pharmaceutical industry? Thanks for your patience.
"Okay, so maybe you're one of those people who actually have hypothyroidism and you are wondering if bladderwrack would be a natural alternative to the thyroid hormone you're currently taking?
The answer is no. Hypothyroidism today is rarely caused by iodine deficiency. All the iodine in the world won't likely correct a poorly functioning thyroid gland, the causes of which have nothing to do with iodine.
And bladderwrack isn't without risk. Prolonged ingestion can cause problems with iron absorption, leading to anemia. It is also very high in salt content which isn't safe for some people. Lastly, some bladderwrack preparations can contain high levels of toxic substances such as arsenic. And remember, herbal preparations aren't highly regulated when it comes to dosage and contaminants.
Christine Traxler MD Contributing Editor, Herbal Medicine
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/6210/47407