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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
Would this work for someone with COPD
Thanks again for your insight and knowledge…Much appreciated
I have spoken with a compounding pharmacist who can order the right ingredients. She needs to know the strength. I find that no where in this article. Just how many drops to take. Please elaborate. Thank You
Are you in the United States? If so, click through to the SSKI mixing kit I linked to in the article … it provides a chart with the strength for SSKI.
I ordered the kit, came in 2 days, made the solution, and took it all in 5 minutes.
I’ve never get sick, but I finally got a good cough and breathing issue, when I sat for my sick granddaughter. Been sick for 5 weeks and can’t kick it, (even with all the supplements I take) so this was timely for me.
Thank you, Sarah
SSKI is all about thinning the mucous so it can more easily get coughed up quickly and eliminated. It’s not a miracle remedy, but something that will likely keep you off drugs if you use it as directed.
I took this last year. It took me forever to find it – didn’t know you could buy it on line. I thought it was prescription. I was so excited to get it because I couldn’t get rid of a cough. It didn’t work and it didn’t work for my daughter either.
Did you take it as directed? I just used it for my daughter and it worked like a charm like it always does. Took about 3 days.
Hi Sara
You have a link in your blog to oreder fron Amazon. Why do you say that SSKI is with prescription only?
Please let me know.
Some places in the world cannot get it online.
I am wondering if this would work for whooping cough? Has anyone have experience using it for this?
Is this safe to give children? What age is ok and what is the dosage?
My bottle which is from a compounding pharmacy says Adult dosage is .3 mL or .6 mL diluted in a glass of juice, water or milk 3-4 times per day. There are no instructions on the bottle for children, but my Dad would give us (school age and older) half the adult dose as described in the article above. This is not an appropriate remedy for babies or toddlers unless under the supervision of a physician.
Cut out starches, cut out homogenized, cut out low grade milk products (which can be some cheeses and some yogurts, even Brown Cow non-homogenized, surprisingly, perhaps due to excessive grains or other unique chemistry of the yogurt),… and you’ll likely cut out excessive phlegm,.. it won’t happen, at least not excessively.
Arnold Ehret gave the low down on this,.. though he was too extreme.
Omnivore for the win.
Let your body reveal. Your body reveals.
I’m confused. You link to the SSKI product on amazon inferring that you can buy it there. But later in the article you say it’s by prescription only. Can you explain?
When I originally wrote this article, the product was not available on Amazon. I updated the post later when it became available there 🙂 I need to update that wording, so thanks for the heads up!