Iodine is an essential trace element for life. Iodine's main role in human biology is as constituents of the thyroid hormones, which control the processes of development and functioning of the brain and nervous system, maintain normal body temperature. Low levels of these hormones may negatively affect physical and mental development of man. Lack of iodine in the diet leads to mastopathy and breast cysts, as well as to pneumonia.
Iodine plays a decisive role in the immune system. It is believed that lack of iodine causes mononucleosis, as well as swollen lymph nodes. The use of iodine leads to a rapid reduction of edema of lymph nodes. Iodine is also needed for normal mental development, especially in early childhood.
These problems can be sold by kelp. Because of its high concentration of iodine, brown kelp (Laminaria) has been used to treat thyroiditis and goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland caused by a lack of iodine, since medieval times.
In Japan, where iodine is present in almost all food (25%), diseases of the thyroid gland are rare. Excellent results were obtained after administration of iodine supplementation for reducing muscle spasms.