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Supersaturated potassium iodide, or SSKI, is a safe, effective cough expectorant routinely prescribed by doctors in the last century to open up the airways in the lungs to help clear deep coughs. It was also used for minor cases of asthma. Conventional medicine has all but forgotten about it because it is inexpensive to make with no opportunity for exclusive patenting rights. It is a natural alternative to toxic over-the-counter options for loosening deeply rooted phlegm to rapidly clear hacking coughs.
When my Dad graduated from medical school in the 1950s, the go-to cough expectorant that was prescribed by physicians at the time was SSKI, super saturated potassium iodide. Some physicians refer to it as pima syrup. This is not to be confused with regular KI solution at the health food store.
SSKI was an inexpensive and highly effective tool for deep-rooted congestion that was beyond the reach of the cilia, the tiny hairlike projections that line the upper half of the lower respiratory tract, gently sweeping debris and mucous out of the lungs.
Old-time pharmacists regularly filled prescriptions for SSKI although today, most pharmacists less than about 60 years old would likely scratch their heads should such a script be requested.
SSKI works spectacularly well for thinning and clearing mucous deep inside the lungs so that it is more easily coughed up. This function is very beneficial because when mucous is rooted deep inside the lungs, coughing is the only way to get it out.
How to Use SSKI
When I was a child, my Dad would give us 4-5 drops of SSKI in a small glass of water or juice at breakfast time. It was only used if we were coughing and had lung congestion that needed to be cleared. The result was truly magical.
Within a few minutes, he would instruct us to take a couple of deep, slow breaths. This would immediately trigger a very productive coughing spell that cleared out the trapped congestion.
SSKI works very very fast to thin the mucus and acts as a natural cough expectorant. As a child, I noticed that it would only take a few minutes and the ease of coughing up any mucous was very noticeable.
4-5 drops per day could be continued for a week or at most two with no ill effect. If a cough was severe, 4-5 drops twice a day could be used for up to a week to clear very thick, infected mucous.
Sometimes, after a few days of using SSKI, I would notice a bit of a metal taste in my mouth. This was the signal to reduce the dose a bit or taper it off if my cough had resolved sufficiently. It goes away immediately when the dosage is reduced or stopped.
Natural Cough Expectorant
For the past 3 decades since leaving my parent’s home for college, I have always kept a small bottle of SSKI in my medicine cabinet. One bottle lasts for 10 years or more. No kidding. I’m literally on only my second bottle since I graduated high school!
You can get it at a compounding pharmacy or order it online here. Use coupon code HealthyHome and get 10% off your order.
Even though I didn’t eat very well in college and throughout my 20s, I credit use of this age-old remedy for keeping me med-free during any bouts with colds or flu.
Other more expensive cough expectorants on the market which contain the drug Guaifenesin don’t work nearly as well as SSKI in my experience. Another downside: these over the counter medicines are loaded with additives and other undesirable chemicals.
SSKI, on the other hand, is just a simple compound consisting of two elements that are actually nutrients too: potassium and iodine.
Nothing else is added!
Where to Find this Old Time Remedy
Next time you need a cough expectorant, why don’t you try SSKI? You can order it online here and get 10% off with coupon code HealthyHome.
It is even more effective when you combine it with elderberry syrup, a scientifically proven remedy for reducing the symptoms and severity of coughs.
No doubt, when you ask your doctor about this simple traditional remedy, you will get a very quizzical look! He/she will likely have no idea what it is if under the age of 70.
It’s time to bring back into popularity some of these old-time remedies that work great, are very inexpensive and have no nasty additives – wouldn’t you agree?
Lugol’s or (KI) Potassium Iodide is NOT SSKI
It is important to note that Lugol’s or the potassium iodide (KI) liquid that you can order online or get at the health food store IS NOT THE SAME THING as SSKI.
It is best to get it at a compounding pharmacy or from a functional physician who can write prescriptions. If your insurance doesn’t cover visits to this type of doctor, consider switching to healthcare sharing.
Alternatively, you can order SSKI kits online here and get 10% off with coupon code HealthyHome.
References
How to Make and Use an Onion Poultice for Congestion
Natural and Effective Sinus Infection Remedy
Doctor Prescribed Treatment for Healing Croup Naturally
Pottenger’s Remedy for Respiratory Illness
Fast Tip to Prevent Sinus Infections
Power Shot: Best Green Juice for Nasal Congestion
http://www.westonaprice.org/metabolic-disorders/the-great-iodine-debate
Sarah, you might have to put that info directly into the heading : SSKI is NOT the same as Lugols, etc. 🙂
Thanks for this article. Very interesting.
Thank you for that up-date Miss Nancy.
I guess its to be expected. Anything that could could be truly helpful and lead to independence in health-care must be controlled by the medical mafia.
This is one of the most noble reasons for “black markets”.
Can I take this while breastfeeding?
No, defnitely don’t take it while you’re breastfeeding. It should also not be taken while pregnant or given to infants/toddlers. The iodide interferes with proper thyroid function, and this can have HUGE negative impact on the developing fetus or infant. Ensuring that you are euthyroid while pregnant and that you are in no way manipulating thyroid while your infant is developing is extremely important. Congenital hypothyroidsim can be devastating.
Thank you. Do you know of any good expEctorant that I can take while breastfeeding? I’ve been congested for the last few months and I haven’t been able to get rid of all the mucous built up in my body.
I’ve called a few drugstores in Wesley Chapel and they don’t carry it. How bout Nutrition Smart?
Publix can order it for you.
I am so fortunate to seldom have a respiratory infection. I have never had congestion that would require this technique. I have had a ‘dry’ cough perhaps 10 times in my 65yrs and I make my own cough medicine for that so I can get sleep. It isn’t measured. I simply put honey, fresh squeezed lemon juice and whiskey in a container and take a couple teas. whenever I start coughing. (like I said, this has only happened a few times) But! That stuff works better than anything I tried from the pharmacy. (which, admittedly, hasn’t been much) I guess I just fall back on this every 8yrs or so since I know it works so well. I don’t take any medications and I don’t buy the over the counter stuff.
Im pretty sure this is what I took daily throughout childhood for asthma. Ultimately i developed a goiter which cleared up when we stopped the drops so its defintely not good for daily use. But it kept me off steroids and for the years i took it i had a blessedly symptom free and active childhood. I think it’s worth trying for short periods for persistant colds and I may ask for this again next time I have one. It’s a good alternative to steroids for asthmatics who get symptomatic from colds.
Yes, SSKI is an old remedy for asthma also. I never used it for that myself so can’t personally vouch for how well it worked for that or not.
Hi , i want to buy that SSKI for my son.. I cant let him take meds., he will just throw it out. Please help me.
Can I just email you. And do me a favor? Let me buy from you and send it here to philippines?. dont want to take risk buying it on ebay. Some people may take advantage and sell product that is fraud.
Thank you very much.
Hoping to get a reply from you.
-girlie
http://us.ebid.net/for-sale/fl-oz-true-sski-truly-saturated-solution-potassium-iodide-in-a-dropper-bott-62500716.htm?from=googleshop_us
Does distilled water have anything to do with it? This site provides both.
Sarah, does the SSKI bottle say how many mg of potassium iodide it contains? It looks like there are a few bottles on ebay that you can purchase that have 30 mg of KI. that seems pretty saturated to me. I have used the Biotics Research Liquid Iodine Forte for years to help break up mucous and it has worked really well for my kids especially when dealing with coughs. That only has 150mcg which is equal to .15mg. I’m just curious what your bottle says in terms of mg levels. A former chiropractor of mine turned us on to using the iodine for mucous break-up.
Bizarre timing of this post…I bought some a while ago (on amazon) and started using it this weekend!
I am wondering how well this would work for children and adults who have cystic fibrosis? CF is a condition that you are born with and it is the thickning of mucous in the lungs. Over a period of time children and adults can get VERY sick because of the bacteria that the mucous holds in their lungs. They get lung infections and can die. The reason I am bringing this up is because I am a mentor for a 8 year old boy who suffers from CF and he at the moment is very ill.