Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
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
My significant other (with asthma) and I have used SSKI when we had sticky phlegm or blocked Eustachian tubes to my ears OR her COPD or asthma flair up. It works in minutes!
It has beaten all the other OTC and rx drugs by miles!
NOTHING WORKED for my low grade sinus infection until I tried SSKI. In just minutes my ears unblocked. I don;t understand WHY it works so fast, but I am glad it does.
I haven’t needed to use ANY OTC or RX allergy meds in this ferocious, early, long allergy season, just SSKI. 10 drops at night every few days does the trick. Usually go 5-7 days between doses and let my symptoms dictate when I use it.
SSKI frees my finance’s respiratory tract during an asthma attack in allergy season almost immediately!
Our pharmacist wanted info on it after I told him SSKI worked where nothing else did work for more than 40 years for sleepless nights and not being able to breath though my nose.
In that it kills bacterial, viral, mold and fungus WITHOUT creating an antibiotic resistance why would anyone try something else, is my question.
( We live in a little humid, moist, fertile valley – mold and fungus is on everything, year round. God bless the email from Health and Nutrition that informed me enough to check the research, which was accurate 🙂
Guys “super saturated” just means the aqueous solution cannot dissolve any more. So if you add enough KI to water, it will be “super saturated.” It’s not like a different compound or anything (remember chemistry class?).
I just asked my physician’s assistant for this today. She had never heard of it, but was more than willing to accommodate me. Unfortunately, no pharmacy in Camden County, Ga, has this in stock, so it had to be ordered. I can pick it up tommorrow afternoon, and I’m looking forward to using it. I’ve been taking 2400 mg of Guaifenesen for the past 5 days with no relief of congestion. Thanks Sarah!
How many drops would you give per day to a two year old with a cough, needing help to bring the junk up?
Sarah, can you tell me what this is supposed to taste like? I tasted a drop and yowza! It’s bitter and sharp! Is this right, or do I have a bum batch?
Hi Sarah,
I have seen some others say Tri-Quench is the same as SSKI, is that true? I asked my pharmacist and she had never heard of it, same for our pediatrician 🙁
Sarah,
After reading this web-site, I called pharmacy and doctor for prescription. The doctor ordered the liquid. Pharmacy said the dosage is the same for drops and for liquid so should have the same effect. I will be picking up the SSKI shortly.
What is your opinion?
Where can we get SSKI?
Ebay. Search for SSKI and check out a two ounce bottle offered by purehealthsolutions. Each drop equals 13 mg, so 23drops equal a 299 mg dose. It comes in a blue bottle. It is $28.99 per bottle with $3.46 for shipping. I am just starting to try it this evening. Check the Ebay source out.I hope this is helpful.
Stephen
Other than online … best places to purchase?
As an asthmatic child in the 60’s & early 70’s I used this when I got cheat congestion – we just called it potassium iodine. Worked great!