The ABCs of Hypothyroidism :: Holistic Healing :: Acupressure and Acupuncture

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The ABCs of Hypothyroidism
by author Karen Jensen, ND

Thyroid hormones affect every cell in the body. In hypothyroidism, the amount of hormone secreted by the thyroid gland does not meet the body’s demands.

Some causes of hypothyroidism include lack of iodine, autoimmune disease, viral or bacterial infections, radioactive iodine, neck injury or surgery, problems with the pituitary in the production of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), or radiation therapy. Additional causes of hypothyroidism, seen more by naturopathic physicians, include low DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) levels or tyrosine or selenium deficiencies. Many women develop thyroid problems after stressful physiological conditions such as pregnancy or traumas that increase the production of adrenal stress hormones.

Get it Diagnosed

If you are experiencing any symptoms of hypothyroidism (see sidebar) have your thyroid checked. The conventional approach to diagnosing and treating hypothyroidism has benefited millions of patients; however, there are people whose condition may be undetected by conventional laboratory thyroid-function tests.

Laboratory tests measure the level of TSH. The pituitary gland releases TSH to stimulate the thyroid, which, in turn, produces the thyroid hormones T4 (free thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). The accepted normal range for TSH is 0.38 to 5.5IU/mL (International Units per millilitre). Hypothyroidism is not suspected unless the lab values are greater than 5.5 IU/mL. However, some labs are now indicating that numbers within the range of 3.0 to 5.5 IU/mL indicate what’s known as “preclinical hypothyroidism.”

Is it Forever?

People who take thyroid hormone are led to believe that once on thyroid hormone, always on thyroid hormone. However, this is not always the case. There is a delicate balance between the adrenal and thyroid glands. Studies show that elevated levels of adrenocorticotrophic hormone, an adrenal hormone that stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete cortisol (stress hormone), causes a decreased response of TSH. Studies also show that plasma concentrations of DHEA, an adrenal hormone, are significantly decreased in women with primary hypothyroidism.

If the adrenal and thyroid glands are treated with herbal or nutritional support at the same time as the thyroid hormone is taken, it is possible to restore balance to these organs and eventually wean off the thyroid medication.

Do not attempt to go off of your prescription thyroid medication on your own. Seek the expertise of an alternative health practitioner who can implement a nutritional program to restore balance to the adrenal and thyroid glands.

Treating Hypothyroidism

Severe clinical hypothyroidism usually requires the use of thyroid hormone available only by prescription. Most patients are treated with T4 (Synthroid®), while many patients respond more favourably to desiccated thyroid hormone containing both T4 and T3. Other patients, who do not respond to these therapies, are helped with T3 (Cytomel®).

For those people who have preclinical hypothyroidism with TSH values lower than 3.5 IU/mL, I would suggest treating your thyroid with natural remedies first. Those with TSH levels over 3.5 may require thyroid hormone treatment.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

fatigue/lethargy
constipation
weight gain
edema (water retention)
headaches
decreased libido
depression
memory loss and poor concentration
dry skin
thinning hair or loss of hair
hoarseness/feeling of lump in the throat
sensitivity to cold
insomnia
infertility
severe menopausal symptoms

Natural Treatments for Hypothyroidism

Iodine is required to make thyroid hormones. Bladderwrack, kelp, and dulse are rich natural sources of iodine. Dosage: 300 to 400 mcg of iodine/day.

L-Tyrosine is an amino acid required to make thyroid hormones. Dosage: 500 mg/day.

Ashwagandha (Withania sominifera) has been proven helpful for low thyroid conditions. Dosage: (standardized to contain 1.5% withanolides) 150 mg/day.

Selenium works as a cofactor for the enzyme that converts T4 to T3. Dosage: 100 to 200 mcg/day.

Homeopathic remedies Fucus vesiculosus or thyroidinum. Dosage: 6X to 30X, 3 pellets, two to three times/day.

Make sure to avoid soy products as they may block the absorption of thyroid hormone.

Karen Jensen, ND, co-author of No More HRT: Menopause, Treat the Cause (Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 2002) and author of The Complete Athlete (alive Books, 1998), practises in Vancouver.

Source: alive #265, November 2004

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The natural cycle of life for women includes the inevitable journey through menopause. Neither a curse nor a disease, menopause may feel like a major health issue for some women.

Feverfew
Feverfew is an attractive multiflowered daisy lookalike that may seem gentle and insignificant but has the potential to relieve excruciating migraine headaches.

The Wonders of Maca
What is maca (Lepidium meyenii) and why has it suddenly become popular in North America? Maca is an energy booster that relieves insomnia, stress, and depression while increasing libido.

Worrying Ourselves to Death
Have you ever tried counting your worries? While drafting this article I managed to squeeze in worries about my gobbled-down breakfast, my half-baked plans for the rest of the day, and what I can do to ease pain in various aching body parts-to name but a few ever-nagging worries.

Packrats and Clutterbugs
You walk through the front door and immediately encounter the clutter-a stack of unopened mail sitting on the hall table, along with a tangled heap of gloves, scarves, hats, keys, maps, umbrellas, and shopping bags.

The Migraine Prevention Diet
If you've suffered through a migraine or a tension headache, you know there's little you can do to relieve the excruciating pain. Stop migraines and headaches before they happen by avoiding specific foods and incorporating these simple lifestyle changes.

A Story of Survival Love
Deeply in love, Sara and I married 17 years ago. Three years later, Sara was diagnosed with mild depression, and over the next few years she was re-diagnosed several times with ever more serious conditions.

Coenzyme Q₁₀
Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) is an energetic little nutrient considered crucial for cellular energy production. Concentrated in microscopic cellular organs called mitochondria, it is one of a select number of nutrients that has been the subject of intense study over the last 20 years.

Remember Rhodiola
A herb that was widely used by ancient Nordic seafarers is still being used by monks of the Himalayas. The therapeutic properties of this Arctic herb, rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea), have also been impressing modern researchers.

Mud is Not a Four-letter Word
Mud has a dirty reputation. Soil, mud, dirt-they're words associated with the unpleasant side of life. We say someone has a soiled reputation. When someone is in trouble, his name is mud. When people are speaking unfavourably of each other, they're dishing dirt.

St. John's Wort
After suffering from depression for years, Kelly Martin finally decided enough was enough. He dragged himself to his doctor's office, and 10 minutes later the Calgary business manager walked away with a prescription for antidepressants.

Hormonal Harmony
Irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, and nutritional deficiencies leading to heart issues and bone loss are only a few of the health concerns associated with hormonal imbalances due to menopause.

Caregiver's Thrive Guide
Relieving stress helps you stay healthy as a caregiver—because if you’re not taking good care of yourself, you can’t take good care of others.

Oil of Oregano
When you see or feel the first signs of an infection or the flu coming on, what do you reach for? If oil of oregano isn’t on your list, you may want to consider it.

Common Sun Sense
Somewhere between tanning with pure baby oil and slathering on the SPF 50+, appreciating sunshine got pretty complicated. With all the conflicting reports on sun benefits and risks and sunscreen confusion, what’s a sun worshipper to do?

Amino Acids Revealed
As the building blocks of the body, amino acids help maintain optimal health and vitality. When protein is broken down through digestion, the result is 22 known amino acids.

I remember when... I could remember
Have you ever forgotten someone’s name right after she introduced herself to you? It’s frustrating and embarrassing, but minor memory loss happens to many people over the age of 40. Luckily, research indicates you can easily improve your memory.

Beat Winter Blues
SAD is characterized by fall and winter depression, excessive sleep (hypersomnia), increased appetite with carbohydrate cravings, and weight gain, which alternates with normal moods and behaviour in the spring and summer.

10 Happy Foods
If the long, bleak winter has you feeling blue, cheer up—a sunnier disposition could be as close as your refrigerator.