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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
What are the side effects of potassium iodide?
Most people can take potassium iodide without side effects. A small number of people could have an adverse reaction. Anyone with an existing thyroid gland condition and/or allergies to iodine or shellfish should NOT take it. Consult your physician if unsure whether you should take potassium iodide.
Side effects are unlikely because of the low dose and the short time you will take the drug. Possible side effects include skin rashes, swelling of the salivary glands, and “iodism” (metallic taste, burning mouth and throat, sore teeth and gums, symptoms of a head cold and sometimes stomach upset and diarrhea).
A few people may have an allergic reaction with more serious symptoms. Those could be fever and joint pain, or swelling of parts of the face and body and at times severe shortness of breath requiring immediate medical attention.
In rare instances taking potassium iodide may cause over activity, under activity, or enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter).
In Canada you can buy it in any health food store.
If I am understanding correctly, here in the States, one needs a prescription. I read a comment above that I must have missed about how to make it but am still unsure that this is the correct form. Also, if so, it appears that companion components might be needed to prevent Hashimoto’s and other issue’s.
I am happy for you guy’s in Canada though and sadly realize that you are more Free than “the land of the Free”.
That just don’t seem right……
Bb
I live in Canada and have NEVER seen SSKI in any of our health food stores…. Jo – do you have a link or an actual product name?
SSKI is not sold in stores … it is by prescription only. See the Rx on the bottle in the picture.
In Canada (or at least in my tiny town) the pharmacist can/will order KI from their wholesaler, then make up the super-saturated solution for you.
I didn’t need a prescription and it cost me about $20.
I understand that is pretty much how you can get it anywhere in Canada. In the US, we can only get SSKI by prescription. We can buy KI solution anywhere, which is so confusing to a lot of people who think they’re buying Saturated Solution Potassium Iodide.
I would like to know how you got your SSKI Iodide!! You can call me at 404-858-8517! Thanks Angela
Interesting that this thread is revisited so often and such a long time after the original post. I think it speaks to its importance. so sad that it has been dropped, for the most part.
Then there was this,
Author: Julie H
Comment:
“I would love to try this, but do not know where to order it from?”
Ah the fly in the ointment, this is. But I’ll do you one better,
What if,…. somebody wants to acquire it BUT has absolutely nothing to do with the medical cartel in ANY form? This is where it gets dicey UNLESS one has access to a prescribing natural-path that just MAYBE would be willing to write you a script for same, just to have it on hand……. This happens how often?……. You see these questions don’t seem to get answered, like, at all. So what are the options? Perhaps acquiring it through a black market channel? Figuring out how to make it?
Both seem unlikely but the more possible one may be to try and figure out how to make it. If you are currently making your own medicines, you might be in a better position to try and figure out how to make it. Until we could acquire some intel on how to make it ourselves we selected to look into other remedies that were more accessible and doable for us. It’s a pity that such a home-run health component is so controlled and inaccessible to us common rabble, but that is how the cartel works. Anything truly curative or health promoting is off limits. My strong suspicion is that there are other just as effective means for accomplishing the SSKI task.. As we research Schulz’s work (a student of Christopher) I strongly suspect we will find the answer. While it would be nice to have, we haven’t had SSKI for thousands of years so we will look for alternatives either in the singular or multiple approaches and disciplines.
I am left wondering if the “goo” from the black walnut would be of use as it is high in iodine. Both tinctured and dried to make powder might be of some utility to this end. Hmmmm, I see a new research avenue…….
Miss Julie, if I knew or was able to find out, I assure you that I would FREELY give this info to you or anybody else inquiring. As a matter of fact you couldn’t shut me up about it. You see, you free yourself first and then pull as many people to safety as you can or at least those willing to be free from slavery. “They” hate a free and independent people and especially if they are healthy and by their own hand. THIS one fact alone is what PROVES it the right path.
Natural medicine is hard work, start to finish, from acquiring the knowledge, right down to the proper administration of the healing modalities. But, at least you don’t have a need to be in “the race for the cure”, because multiple cures have existed for thousands of years for EVERYTHING.
Bb
someone on your facebook post…. posted a link to this http://www.ebay.com/itm/121118317704 would this be the SSKI???
Yes, that seems to be it .. but I would not get it anywhere except from a pharmacist personally.
I have been using SSKI for the past 8 months or so.
It breaks up mucous as stated. it also can be mixed with water and used in the nostrils to allow easier breathing for me. I have small nasal passages and they swell up enough from irritation that it makes it difficult to sleep. SSKI shrinks these membranes (I think it kills the bacteria that may be causing the swelling. I used a solution I normally drink to swab some in each nostril last night and my nose is still wide open and I can breath GREAT! (I has lasted for more than 12 hours!
If you all aren’t taking 1,000iu per 25 lbs of body weight of vitamin D3 you just don’t have an INTACT immune system. Everything from Asthma to Cancer, Heart Disease, Obesity, Epilepsy, ADHD (and the list goes ON) is related to “D” deficiency. Just type into a search box “vitamin D xxxxx, where xxxx is a disease or concern. You will be amazed!
Sounds much better than what I got when I was a kid prone to asthmatic bronchitis: syrup of terpin hydrate with alcohol and codeine (tasted like liquid fire – but allowed me to sleep for a while), and a steam tent with tincture of benzoin.
Hey there… just a comment… if you had a “Share” button for Facebook above this blog post (and all of your blog posts) instead of the “like” button, I bet you would get even more exposure. I never click that “like” button (as it goes to my personal timeline) but if it were a “share” button I would share it with my pages and groups, etc. with thousands of members/fans.
Super interesting! I need to find out if this is available in Australia – I’d love to give it a try! We get fairly frequent colds these days, but we’re not giving up playgroup!!!
If you get the flu your vitamin D level AND your immune system is in the dump!.
Vitamin D levels should be above 50ng/mL in a 25(OH)D blood test to have a fully functioning immune system.
I used to get colds, flu and bronchitis a couple times a winter, since 2007, none of that has happened. The only thing that has changed in my supplements or meds is vitamin D3, which is now take 12,000 iu a day to keep my 25(OH)D level between 70-80 ng/mL.
SSKI used to be in a purple colored cough liquid (I don’t remember the name of it) when our kids were young. Our doctor used to prescribe that cough medicine and it cleared up the worst coughs in no time. My husband and I used it as well. Then one day when we refilled our prescription and gave it to one of our kids, the cough didn’t let up. We asked the doctor about that and he told us the pharmaceutical company had removed the SSKI and replaced it with quaifenesin and said something about new research showing that potassium iodide was causing serious health problems for some people. He began to prescribe it for us in the form of drops (10 per day) and it worked wonders. I’ve had a chronic cough for decades due to a thick phlegm forming in my throat. Our present doctor has no problems with SSKI, so we are able to get the solution but our insurance won’t pay for it. Since it goes through our insurance company, they determine the cost and I know it is much higher than it would normally be without them as the middleman. My ENT has me on 2,400MG of guaifenesin per day that doesn’t do any good at all. My cough is so severe at times, my husband thinks I am chocking to death. Also I believe I acquired a rash on my face after taking it for several weeks, but my doctor says that can’t be. At this point they have me so frightened about using SSKI.
Elsie – have you tried Manuka honey? I, too, had a chronic cough for many years (eventually a naturopath told me he thought i had H-Pylori in my lungs). Nothing really helped at all. About 3 years ago i aspirated a seed and had a horrible cough. They scoped it, but the cough continued. I won’t use antibiotics anymore, however, after a severe (and life-changing) reaction to Cipro. So i began taking about 1/2 tsp of the Manuka honey every time i began to cough. The cough cleared in a few days (as opposed to 6 weeks which had been my history) and i’ve only had it once since (used to be 3-4 times a year). I have the SSKI, too, and will use it if necessary (and right now i’m on a zero sugar diet, not even fruit, so i couldn’t use the honey now), but i was so thankful for the long-term healing the Manuka honey brought. You want to buy at least 12+, i use 15 or 16+. Best wishes.