I vaguely remember (gen. anesthesia messed up my memory) something about iodine having many uses that “modern medicine” forgot or discarded.
My father-in-law (may he rest in peace), used a very long cu-tip dipped with iodine to coat the back of my husband’s throat when he had a sore throat. Many years ago, I came down with a cold/sore throat and he did the same for me. Although I gagged, it worked!
Iodine is a particularly effective element to kill pathogens. Think betadine.