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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
How do we get this?
I’m 74, have COPD, and have looked all of my life for a med like SSKI. I’ve tried everything on the market including cough expectorants that contained codeine, which did work. However, my lungs would take about a quart of codeine to break up and constantly remove my phlegm. So, that was no good. I asked my young internist for a prescription of SSKI. He faxed it in to my pharmacist, and here I am, lungs finally free of phlegm, even while I was beginning a flare-up. I used it for 2 1/2 days and it cleared everything up and works fast.
I am so grateful for SSKI. Having COPD is not fun. I highly recommend it, but please consult your physician first.
Having trouble finding this online. Went to Amazon as you suggest and it seems they only sell the kind you DON’T recommend. Can you be more specific about what kind we should be ordering? Thank you
Hi, Neat post. There is an issue along with your web site in web explorer, would check this?
IE still is the market leader and a huge portion of other folks will pass over your magnificent writing because of this
problem.
Janet,
Laurie posted this link to an article that is VERY informative: http://tahomaclinicblog.com/iodide/
Super Saturated Potassium Iodide is different in the amount of elemental iodide. You should just ask your doc to rx it and ask a compounding pharmacy to fill the rx. Actually, probably even a regular pharmacy would have no problem filling it.
Help
when I google SSKI I get potatisum iodide which Sarah says is not the same as SSKI
No luck on her website which had all books for sale??
Does anyone know where to get the SSKI she is referring to and what is the mcg?
If on line where and what exactly is is called?
I emailed the compounding pharmacist that I use regularly to get LDN and he wrote me back that a doc’s script IS needed.
Sarah,
I tried to read through most of the comments…but may have missed the answer to this question. I got a script today from my DO. First of all he wrote it and potassium iodide, (he’d never heard of it and had to look it up) second I went to 2 pharmacies and neither had it. Do you think this could be because it wasn’t written for SSKI? Or could it be something that pharm’s just don’t offer it anymore?
I called and ordered it today from my local compounding pharmacy (chances are a compounding pharmacist will know what it is)! He did have to order it though. So it does not look like it is an easily accessible item – but you can buy or make it yourself from several websites!
I was fascinated by this article and did more reading. It does appear that you can buy SSKI without a prescription at a compounding pharmacy. This article was the best I found at other uses and safety precautions for using SSKI – http://tahomaclinicblog.com/iodide/. I am no affiliated in any way – just though it was great info.
While I think using it as an expectorant is a good idea in some populations, I think everyone needs to use it with caution. Excessive iodide can result in thyroid dysfunction, some of which can be permanent. Pregnant and breastfeeding moms most definitely should NOT take it since it can pass to the fetus/infant and impact their thyroid function; abnormal function at such an early time in development can truly be devastating. (Congenital hypothyroidsim is one of the conditions that’s screened for with newborn screens because it is so easily treated and early treatment can avoid horrible outcomes.) Children’s intake should be closely monitored to ensure that it does not become excessive. Anyone can have problems with too much so intake must be monitored and balanced.