Iodine was discovered in 1811 by French chemist Bernard Courtois while processing ingredients for gunpowder. In extracting sodium salts from seaweed by treating it with sulfuric acid, he observed a purple vapor rising from the seaweed. This substance was eventually named iodine, from the Greek word for the color violet, ioeides.
Iodine is an essential trace element necessary for the production of all hormones in the body and proper function in the immune system. It plays a vital role in several aspects of health, including:
- Aiding hormone production, particularly in the thyroid gland
- Promoting and regulating physical and mental growth
- Promoting healthy hair, nails, skin, and teeth
- Regulating functions in the nervous and muscular systems
- Regulating circulation
- Metabolizing nutrients
- Neutralizing carcinogens and toxins
- Removing abnormal cells
- Killing viruses
