My wife and I have been sober for over ten months. She uses an alcohol-based, topical, homeopathic pain remedy. She has tried a water-based lotion, but she says it doesn't work. In fact, I believe that the alcohol in the gel is what gives her pain relief. This is one of the conundrums of homeopathic medicine--is it the herbal tincture that is active or the alcohol? But as far as I know, alcohol is not an essential ingredient of iodine therapy.
Yes, maybe she is addicted to the stuff (it is not cheap). But does it change her behavior? No. Does it make life unmanageable? No. Do we fight about it? No.