How To Avoid Thyroid Related Ailments

By Thomas Roberts


The capacity to think, reason and emote separates humans from beasts. The gray matter inside the skull is more than an advanced processor. It certainly is capable of creativity, innovation, and its capacity for scientific inquiry has caused technology to advance in leaps and bounds. One such inquiry led to the discovery of a new element heretofore unknown. This was iodide and its iodine derivatives.

Its identity as a novel element was in eighteen eleven and succeeding experiments were made to know its properties, preparation, applications, and derivatives. Combine with potash, it was used in the treatment of physical disorders like goiter effectively. Its antiseptic properties were also very effective through alcohol dissolution. Besides its clinical applications, this was also utilized in photography.

In modern times it certainly is being used in several fields of human endeavor, especially in industrial and chemical industries. This element is found in sanitizers, animal feed, medicines, inks, fuel, and oil. Its first real industrial application was in photography. It was the preparation of photographic silver plates using its vapors.

This substance is used in food factories as disinfectants. In combination with some of its compounds, it was found to be a very good catalyst for various chemical reactions. It certainly is the main component of antiseptic production in pharmaceutical plants. Goiter, prophylaxis, and other illnesses can be effectively treated with this. It definitely is a very valuable element.

As a pest control catalyst, it excels in the substance called methyl iodide. This was experimented on by the department of agriculture which found out its outstanding effectiveness against one species of nematodes, four species of fungi, and seven species of weeds. Its footprint on the ozone layer is very minimal compared to the other chemicals used in pest control.

Its deficiency is becoming more and more common these days. This is because the soil nutrients lose more of it in the air that it receives in the form of rain. Since all living creatures depend on food coming from agriculture, it naturally follows that the content in agricultural products is decreasing every year. Today most salts have iodine additives to counter the incidence of diseases.

The thyroid gland in humans produces hormone thyroxin through the synthesis of which iodine is a catalyst. The lack of this substance in early childhood can cause physical and mental development impairment. This can lead to myxedema and goiter and the simpler enlargement of the thyroid gland. This disease was known to be cured by burnt seaweed in earlier times and seaweed contain lots of iodine.

Iodine is around us always. It is present in almost all natural elements, in rocks, soil, plants, animals, and in the oceans. It is a very unique element as it cannot be seen or perceived in its natural state. Its presence can only be detected when it is combined with other elements. But this comes out as very tiny in volume. Only marine life forms like seaweeds contain large volumes of this.

It is also present in deep wells and mineral springs. The biggest source, however, is found in Chile where vast natural deposits of sodium nitrate, otherwise known as caliche ore are located. The unique character of these fields is that it contains several types of unusual salts, the reason why sometimes these are called Chilean saltpeter. Iodine seems to thrive in salty environments.




About the Author:



No comments: