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Thyroid Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism

Thyroid Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism 1

Thyroid Management Using Herbs and Nutrition

(Notes from a lecture on Thyroid Disease)

Statistics and Facts for Thyroid Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism :

What does the thyroid gland do?

The thyroid gland converts food into energy and heat by modulating carbohydrates, proteins, fat metabolism, vitamin utilization, mitochondrial function, digestive process, muscle and nerve activity, blood flow, oxygen utilization hormone secretion, sexual and reproductive health, and more.

The pituitary, hypothalamus in the brain are responsible for the regulation of how much thyroid hormone should be produced for the body. Heavy metals can attach to the hypothalamus and pituitary and cause a communication problem as to how much thyroid hormone should be available.

Thyroid hormones are produced exclusively by the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland produces mostly T4 (Levothyroxine). This is a molecule with 4 iodine molecules on it. It is converted to the active T3 (Triiodothyronine) form when it is exposed to the enzyme iodothyronine deiodinase. T3 is eight times more active than T4. Nutrition is a key requirement to supply tyrosine and iodine to the thyroid gland so it can produce adequate amounts of T4.

T4 is converted to the active form T3 mostly in the liver (80%), brain and bloodstream. So if your liver is not working well and you trash it out with alcohol, drugs, or you just have a weak liver, the thyroid hormone can’t do it’s job correctly and this starts a cascade of challenges.

We need to have lots of zinc, selenium and iodine in our diets to produce the enzymes that convert T4 to T3.

Sugar leads to binding of the thyroid hormone making it unavailable to the body (hypothyroidism results).

Copper, mercury, and lead will block zinc absorption. This is why it’s important to detect and get rid of any heavy metals in the body.

Low thyroid and hypothyroidism mimics many different diseases.

Symptoms of Thyroid Hypothyroidism:

Symptoms of Thyroid Hyperthyroidism:

Things That Adversely Affect the Thyroid Function:

Notes on things that affect the Thyroid Gland Function:

So when you smoke and drink, you are really doing a double-whammy on your thyroid gland. It’s so hard to quit because of the hormonal imbalances that these products cause. Some think that this is why smoking and alcohol are so addictive.

Note: Cooking does not breakdown cyanogenic glycoside in corn syrup and corn syrup seems to be hidden in everything these days. Also, sugar of any kind is also known to suppress the immune system for several hours after it has been consumed.

Note: Children are very susceptible to these things as their bodies are smaller and they can’t handle as much as a human. They are getting the same amount of PCB’s from drinking out of Styrofoam cups and water bottles as an adult, only it hurts them more.

Other Factors Affecting Thyroid Function:

So, What Tests are Used to Determine A Thyroid Condition?

The Barne’s Basal Body Temperature Test:

Take your basal underarm temperature. The Basal Temperature is your temperature when you first wake up in the morning. Most basal thermometers come with a temperature-plotting chart.  A basal thermometer (obtained at the drugstore) shows the tiny incremental degree changes that a regular thermometer does not.

How to do the Barnes Basal Body Temperature Test:

If your temperature is less than 96 degrees, this indicates low thyroid. Do not test when you have an infection or any other condition that would raise your body temperature.

The Iodine Patch Test:

This is another test you can do at home to test whether or not you are low in iodine, which leads to hypothyroidism.

Step 1: Go to the pharmacy and purchase Tincture of Iodine–the original, orange-colored solution, not the clear solution. You may have to ask for it because they stock it behind the counter (apparently you can make some kind of drug with it so they monitor who purchases it).

Step 2: Before going to bed, use the painting stick in the bottle of iodine to paint a 3 inch by 3 inch square patch of iodine onto the underside of the forearm or on the inner thigh or abdomen.

Step 3: In the morning, upon rising, note the color and check off a follows:

If there is NO color remaining on your skin, the test is complete. You are iodine deficient.

Check with your naturopath to get the proper supplement for you. This is a process. You may need to start out with a higher dose and a stronger product and slowly work down to a maintenance type of product over a period of several months. This is pretty difficult to do yourself unless you listen to your body and what it is telling you carefully, have lots of schooling, and know your physiology and biochemistry well. You should work with someone so that you won’t cause damage to your body. This is a hormonal thing and it can be rather tricky, especially if you are taking other medications and supplements.

If there is ANY color remaining on your skin, go to step 4:

Step 4: For the remainder of the day; check the patch every few hours. Note the time that all the color disappears. If the color still is remaining at bedtime, you may consider the test completed (you are not deficient in iodine). The color will slowly fade over the next few days and you can scrub it during your next shower. Check the appropriate box:

Symptom Survey:

This form lists most every symptom you may have experienced or are experiencing at present. It groups them into body systems. The client fills out the form and rates the symptoms accordingly. They then take the symptom survey to their doctor to have it evaluated. If you make an appointment with me to be evaluated, I’d like you to fill out the survey and mail it to me before your appointment. It’s a great memory jogger and it’s fun for the both of us to track your progress.  Here’s that link: https://naturalhealthtechniques.com/symptom-survey-form/

Thyroid Function Blood Panel:

This is a blood test and needs to be prescribed by a doctor to have the blood drawn and the tests run. You will want to have several thyroid factors evaluated including:

Hair Analysis:

Hair Analysis may also be in order if you suspect heavy metal toxicity. The hair is 120 times more biologically active than other tissues in the body so can be a good indicator of what is going on in the body.

The Zinc Test:

Zinc is needed for Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH) and is an essential co-factor in the production of the enzyme 5-deiodanase enzyme that converts T4 to T3.

Salivary Thyroid Panel:

The best labs to use are Diagnostics Lab in Seattle or Great Smokies (more expensive).

Herbs used for Thyroid Imbalances:

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): Note this is a Nightshade so most people do not utilize it very well.

Astragalus: is the Eastern herb used like Echinacea in the West. It is utilized for autoimmune diseases.

Bacopa acts as a brain tonic and is taken for helping the brain to learn and memorize new material. It helps to lock information into your brain. It boosts T4 levels a little bit, but you still need to add in some of the other herbs to help the conversion of T4 to the active T3 form. Note: Use Ginkgo to download the information you crammed into your head using Bacopa when test time comes. This product is found in the MediHerb Thyroid Complex Formula.

Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus)

Bugleweed (Lycopus europaeus)

Coleus (Coleus forskohlii)

Note: Coleus also seems to be a magic remedy for psoriasis. In psoriasis cGMP is overproduced causing the cells turnover rate to increase. Coleus increases cAMP which helps the cells to keratinize (dry up and flake off normally). Take tincture in cranberry or grape juice to cover up the flavor.

Ginger– Acts to increase circulation so the nutrition can circulate well in the body and do its job.

Hawthorne: Supports the cardiovascular system for hyperthyroidism.

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca):

Note: It takes about 2 years for a mother to nutritionally recover after having a baby.

Nettles leaf: https://naturalhealthtechniques.com/herb-nettles-stinging-nettles/

Rehmannia– Nourishes the adrenal glands and is good with autoimmune diseases.

Skullcap: Acts to calm the nerves in hyperthyroid patients

Valerian: Helps to calm the nerves.

Nutritional Support Used for Thyroid Imbalances:

Overview:

Cardio Plus: Used in the support of hyperthyroidism and when the need for selenium or zinc is necessary. This product was made specifically for cardiac support. It supports nerve and muscles and overall cardiovascular maintenance. It is a great source of natural Co-Q 10. Great product to repair heart murmurs and for congestive heart failure–especially in dogs!

Cataplex E: Used to support the heart function. A natural, very bio-available form of Vitamin E. Promotes cellular repair, increases tissue resistance to stress and is also high in manganese and selenium. Aids pituitary function which is important in thyroid health.

Chezyn is a good zinc maintenance formula. The great part is that it is also balanced in copper and a very absorbable bio-available form of iron. Note: My favorite use for Chezyn is for macular degeneration. I’ve reversed many cases of that with this one product alone.

Flavanoids act to reduce serum T4 and inhibit 5-deiodanase enzyme needed to convert T4 to T3, so adding natural forms of Vitamin C to the hyperthyroid program is good to do (Cataplex C, Acerola, Rose Hips and Rutin)

Nevaton, a MediHerb product, helps support the nervous system and acts as a tonic. Helps with stress loads and autoimmune thyroid diseases.

Paraplex: A wonderful protomorphogen for the thyroid gland is Paraplex because it contains extracts of pituitary, thyroid, adrenal and pancreas–all organs affected negatively by and imbalance of thyroid hormones. You then add in Hypothalamus PMG to complete the nutritional components.

Selenium is also necessary for the conversion of T4 to T3 conversion. Products high in bioavailable selenium are Cardio Plus and Cataplex E.  For natural food sources of selenium,  go to:  /Diet_Nutrition/selenium.htm.

Thyroid Complex (MediHerb) tablets contains Bladderwrack, Iodine, Ashwaganda and Bacopa. Thyroid Complex is OK to take with Synthroid or Armor brand thyroid pills and it won’t hurt anyone who has normal thyroid function.

What I like about these is that they are in tablet form. Compliance with tablets is so much better. Tablets are cheaper and the tinctures taste awful. Humans, more so than animals accept yucky flavors, but even then they will not take tinctures for any long period of time unless they really believe in it. And giving tinctures to cats? Forget it. The pill form is much easier to take.

The other benefit of the Thyroid Complex is that it acts to nourish, rebuild and normalize. It won’t stimulate the system so it can be taken before bedtime with no ill affects.

For those people who have had their thyroid glands removed or irradiated, focus on a nutritional program instead which includes selenium and zinc supplements in natural, bio-available organic forms.

Vasculin helps to build up the strength of the blood vessels. Sometimes used before using Cardio Plus.

Zinc Liver Chelate is Standard Processes’ strongest form of natural zinc. If you can taste the zinc in the zinc test liquid, you will do well with this.

Treatments for Hypothyroidism:

Herbs:

Nutritional Supplements/Foods for Thyroid Disorders:

Why use Brand Name supplements like Standard Process and Medi-Herb? They are standardized and pure. Much like taking a prescription drug. You know the dose. Playing around with nutritional supplements can hurt you. If you have thyroid problems, you don’t want to be experimenting with doses each time you purchase a different brand of supplement.

Lifestyle Changes to Support Thyroid Disorders:

Miscellaneous notes not coinciding to the seminar:

Turmeric can turn off the cystic fibrosis gene when taken in the preconception and first trimester of pregnancy.

A new breed of cow, the Friesian, produces a better-assimilated milk for humans. It is called Alpha 5 milk. May not be available in the United States yet, but it is becoming common in Australia.

Use Gymnema (and herb) to support the pancreas. It is a sugar-buster herb making the excess sugar unavailable to the body (kind of like what Chitosan does for fat). Gymnema also repairs damaged beta cells and works to overcome insulin resistance.

Diabetic Study with Gymnema: There was a two-year study done on Type 1 diabetics who were on an average of 55-60 units of insulin per day. After two years, those patients taking Gymnema cut their insulin needs by half. Also, they had positive results in decreasing their c-peptides, triglycerides, and glycolated hemoglobin levels. https://naturalhealthtechniques.com/gymnema-for-blood-sugar/

Recommended dose: Medi-herb 4/day.  Note: It only takes 7-10 days for those sugar cravings to go away on that dose.

Helpful Links and References for Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism and Thyroid diseases:

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