In the primary hyperthyreosis (primary Basedow), the goiter is colloid and iodine poor; on the other hand, the blood iodine is markedly increased and here the alcohol-insoluble organic iodine fraction is markedly increased. There exists a defective storage capacity of thyroid gland. Here through inorganic iodine the anomalous iodine metabolism can be regulated, so that the outpouring of secretion of the thyroid is prevented. On this rests the preoperative iodine treatment of Basedow’s disease (after Plummer) which naturally should not continue with the usual doses more than one to two weeks and which may be unsuccessful if operation does not follow at the correct interval.
The action is explained; Through the inorganic iodine, the organic fraction of iodine is displaced from the blood (perhaps to the thyroid). With this decrease of the alcohol-insoluble organic blood iodine the fall in basal metabolism goes parallel and the clinical symptoms of the thyrotoxicosis diminish.
Accordingly, one may well imagine that by a cautious regard for the dosage of iodine a regulation can be obtained after some time in these cases, particularly in the formes frustes, those with a partial Basedow. The therapy of Neisser with small doses of iodine is homoeopathic in principle.
Dangerous for iodine medication, however, are the secondary hyperthyreoses which arise from the colloid nodular goiter (separated by Plummer as toxic adenoma!). In these thyroids a high iodine value is found. There it is concerned with an overproduction of thyroxin. However, clinically these secondary forms cannot always clearly divided from the primary.
The second great field of employment of iodine compounds in the school is the syphilitic new formations in tertiary syphilis, the gumma. These infectious granuloma cannot be sharply separated from diffuse productive inflammations. An infectious new growths which proceed from the interstitial tissue, they cannot always be certainly separated fro the tuberculous granuloma, although in general these contain more giant cells. That iodine compounds can bring these infectious new formations of syphilis into retrogression and melting down has been demonstrated clinically in a manner free from objection. But a scientific explanation for this is entirely lacking. That iodine is enriched in such tuberculous or syphilitic altered tissue in not an explanation. A bactericidal, specific action is not considered by anyone and is not confirmed either by clinical or experimental facts. The strikingly slight sensitivity of luetics toward iodine (thyrotoxicosis in luetics is very rare) in any case offers no explanation. It can be traced back to the marked affinity in mesenchyme which tends to inflammatory reaction.
In the untoward actions of potassium iodide one finds a distinct parallel to the gumma in the iododerma tuberosum, the erythema nodosum like nodules in the skin which proceed form the subcutaneous tissue. These are in any case inflammatory new growths which grow rapidly and may be permeated with pus or ulcerated on the entire surface. Through drying of the secretion a picture may develop which formerly was designated as Rupia (Lewin). This structure, which is very akin to gumma, lessens rapidly after the cessation of the iodine just as a gumma lessens after the introduction of potassium iodide.
A further similarity with tertiary lues is a mesortitis which is observed from the subcutaneous administration of potassium iodide (just like that of adrenal injections). The similarity of the reaction according to nature and type, at one time to the spirochetal poison in the tertiary stage of lues, at the other time to potassium iodide, proves the treatment of productive inflammations and gumma with potassium iodine as homoeopathic. Thereby no explanation of the details of the healing process is gained but only a new point of departure by a new orientation: the possibility of activating syphilitic inflammatory tissue reaction through an inflammatory reaction to iodine which is similar to it, and of bringing it rapidly to resolution.
Likewise is the situation in the iodine treatment of scrofulous swelling of the lymph glands, which is common to both schools. To speak of a solvent action of iodine is merely to cover the lack of clarity by a conception. Among the untoward actions of iodine one finds (Lewin) only swelling of the salivary glands mentioned, but by older homoeopathic observers also other glandular enlargements: axillary glands, of which it is stated that they also lessen under iodine, bronchial glands with compression of the bronchi. Outside of the inflammatory reaction in the interstitial tissue of the gland there can also be drawn to explanation for the especially hard and painless glands as tertium comparationis, the alteration of the blood picture in the sense of lymphocytosis in disturbances of thyroid functions as well as of iodine metabolism. This affinity of iodine of r the lymph glands in general is used in homoeopathy by the employment of such compounds in which the basic fraction also has a relationship to the glands (cal. iod., bar. iod.). Iodine action alone is too transient. The aggravation particularly of erethistic tuberculosis by potassium iodide causing a rapid melting down of the focus and dissemination makes great caution necessary in the treatment of tuberculosis in patients with Basedow trends.
The further use of potassium iodide in the school in chronic bronchitis and asthma likewise stands unfounded there. But again we find bronchitic and asthmatic states described among the untoward actions of potassium iodide. And by proceeding from the parallel manifestations we find an easy approach to explanation of the favorable action. Iodine is also excreted in traces though the respiratory passages and as every where the liberation of molecular iodine produces inflammatory manifestations with increase of secretion.
The iodine therapy of arteriosclerosis is weakly grounded scientifically, as Romberg’s conception that potassium iodide lessens the viscosity of the blood is not confirmed and a vasodilatation by iodine is uncertain in any case. But even on the fact of favorable action of iodine therapy itself in arteriosclerosis, opinions are divided and many believe that only luetic vascular damages are favorably influenced, but that ordinary arteriosclerosis represents in unjustified field for this therapy. On the other hand, newer animal investigations are cited, which naturally give no explanation. The sclerotic vascular alterations which one can produce through the feeding of cholesterol to rabbits can be prevented by the early use of iodine. The favorable influence on cerebral and coronary sclerosis by iodine is not denied and it is exactly these in which the characteristic symptoms are found in the homoeopathic picture of iodine: headache in old people, chronic congestion, feeling of a tight band, vertigo, worse on bending and in a warm room, rush of blood. Moreover: the heart feels as if stuffed, as if surrounded by an iron band; these are followed by great weakness and fainting. The patient can scarcely breathe and speak.
On the influence, not only on the heart but also the vessels, by organically bound iodine in thyrotoxic disturbances there is no doubt. The increased acceleration thereby can be referred to the favorable occurrence of vascular narrowing.
In experimental organ perfusion with 0.002 per cent iodine there is at first contraction, later widening of the arteries and capillaries. On the isolated heart, inorganic and organic bound iodine effects widening of the coronary vessels if the concentration of iodine is at most 1:100,000. With decreasing concentration up to 1:6,000,000 the acceleration of flow still increases. In men there is also a definite optimum of dose (five milligrams per dose) for the production of vessel widening and for some time exactly these small doses of iodine in combination with chloral hydrate have been recommended in sclerosis. The importance of dose is obvious, because we have already seen that large subcutaneous doses of potassium iodide can effect a mesortitis. Likewise the marked variation of blood pressure with great amplitudes in Basedow, as in disturbed iodine metabolism, also speaks for special involvement of the vessels.
In homoeopathy and iodine compound is used mostly in sclerotic disturbances in which the metallic fraction also has a favorable affinity for the vessel, as aurum iod. or barium iod.
Finally, iodine is occasionally used in the school for chronic metal poisoning with mercury and lead and this is based on an acceleration of the metabolism, the improved solubility of the metal iodide and, through this, the accelerated excretion.
To the named iodine indications based on diagnosis, on which a completely new light falls through their homoeopathic foundation from the symptom picture of iodine, there may be added many others which like-wise give good healing results. The treatment of colds has become well known; then too acne and furunculosis, for which the mixture with sulphur is considered indicated. But also where it is concerned with the resorption of an inflammatory exudates as in a pleurisy, iodine compounds as arsenicum iod. will be employed wtih good results as in homoeopathy. In sudden iodine poisoning (intravenous injection of sodium iodide) inflammatory exudates as pleuritis are observed.
Leeser, a Consultant Physician at the Stuttgart Homeopathic Hospital and a member of the German Central Society of Homeopathic Physicians, fled Germany in 1933 after being expelled by the German Medical Association. In England Otto Leeser joined the staff of the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital. He returned to Germany in the 1950s to run the Robert Bosch Homeopathic Hospital in Stuttgart, but died shortly after.
Otto Leeser wrote Textbook of Homeopathic Materia Medica, Leesers Lehrbuch der Homöopathie, Actionsand Medicinal use of Snake Venoms, Solanaceae, The Contribution of Homeopathy to the Development of Medicine, Homeopathy and chemotherapy, and many articles submitted to The British Homeopathic Journal,