Tincture of Iodine

Quinny · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jul 03, 2008 Posts: 571

Been looking at getting some tincture of iodine for medical and water purification.

The price on water purification sites is about £3.50 for 25ml

My local chemist sells 25 ml for 86p.

I can't see any difference? Am I missing something?

Ludi · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: Tincture of Iodine

As far as I know, it is the same thing. When on a wilderness course years ago, it's what we used to purify the stream water for drinking.
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patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1664

The internet seems to be full of outfits that put some impelling name on their site, then charge 2x to 20x the going rate for common stuff. Sorta like the generic stop leak sold at car dealerships with their brand on it for $6.95, when the same stuff is available at a discount house for $.69.

This became a pet peeve of mine years ago when I found out that the "Dri-Gas" brand of fuel additive (to deal with water condensation in your gas tank) was denatured acohol (methyl alcohol). Shellac thinner is the same thing, sold at the time for $2 a gallon, and a half pint of Dri gas was 98 cents, or almost $16 a gallon. I began to call it a "stupid tax", for those willing to pay the price without doing due diligence. All you had to do was READ THE LABEL!
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jbrovont · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jun 16, 2006 Posts: 700

I'm with you 100% on this! Along the same lines, there's a casino that advertises around here "160+ million paid out every month." I look at it like "that means you take in HOW MUCH?" lol

Imo - lotto = stupid tax.

smallpoxgirl · Moderator Joined: Nov 08, 2004 Posts: 6278

I'm not sure I can think of a legitimate medical use for tincture of iodine. It should NEVER be put in an open wound. I personally wouldn't be using it for water purification either. Iodine based water purifier are one of the foulest tastes I've ever encountered.
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I hear leaders quit their lying
I hear babies quit their crying.
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Quinny · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jul 03, 2008 Posts: 571

What do you recommend then?
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smallpoxgirl · Moderator Joined: Nov 08, 2004 Posts: 6278

Recommend for?

For water, I'd go with bleach. Another option worth investigating would be calcium hypochlorite. It's basically the same thing, but can be stored dry. It's used to chlorinate hot tubs and pools, so it's quite cheap.

For irrigating open wounds, either sterile saline or chlorinated tap water are appropriate choices. For a wilderness setting, you can use a very small amount of iodine or chlorine in water, just to kill any bugs that might be in the water. I'd have to look up the proportions. I've always tried to remember what a wound nurse told me once about wound care "Never put anything on an open wound that you wouldn't be willing to put in your eye."
_________________
"So while you sit and whistle Dixie with your money and your power.
I can hear the flowers a-growin in the rubble of the towers.
I hear leaders quit their lying
I hear babies quit their crying.
I hear soldiers quit their dying, one and all." - OCMS

Quinny · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jul 03, 2008 Posts: 571

So can you drink bleach in the concentration needed to purify?

And doesn't that taste disgusting too?
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alokin · Intermediate Crude Joined: Aug 24, 2007 Posts: 872

smallpoxgirl · Moderator Joined: Nov 08, 2004 Posts: 6278

Quinny · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jul 03, 2008 Posts: 571

Thanks for that - I'm trying it now.

Eugh - AArrrghh !!!

Couth splutter

Silence!
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green_achers · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 10:43 pm Post subject: Re: Tincture of Iodine

I've used iodine tablets for water purification and didn't find it all that distasteful. They were old military surplus, so maybe had lost their strength, but I didn't die.

The only way I would use either is for emergency situations. Actually, a good pump-type water filter is much better for either.
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Quinny · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jul 03, 2008 Posts: 571

Where I hope to be eventually, we will have a good well, I was thinking more for if something happens that is relatively short term where we currently are. Last night we had a power cut, it only lasted a couple of hours, but who knows.

We have a couple of water butts collecting rainwater run-off from roof, and in our weather they tend to be quite regularly supplied, but the butts are full of insects and leaves etc. I was looking fro the best for emergencies, not a long term supply solution.

Any advice would be welcome.

Also on testing whether the water is safe.
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Ludi · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:03 am Post subject: Re: Tincture of Iodine

Rainwater out of a tank/butt isn't really safe to drink without treatment. It may have protozoans and other parasites from bird and rodent poop. You can boil it for drinking, that will kill most organisms. You can pasteurize water in a solar oven or purpose-built solar water distiller. PeakOiler has posted about his (not sure which thread). Heating to at least 160 degrees F kills most pathogens. Most solar cookers easily reach 200 degrees F.
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da23 · Heavy Crude Joined: Jun 06, 2006 Posts: 134

These are good for both short and long term usage, not that pricey if you consider that water is a must Smile