natural thyroid healing · natural thyroid healing andrew powell chiropractor, ... losing weight no...

…a Guide to Getting

Your Energy Back,

Losing Weight and

Bouncing Back

Into Life!

Natural Thyroid Healing

ANDREW POWELL Chiropractor, Kinesiologist and Natural Health and Wellness Expert.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents 1

Introduction 3

Thyroid Overview 5

Lesson 1: Thyroid Gland 6

What does the thyroid do? 6

What Is Thyroid Disease? 8

Thyroid Disease, Growth, and Puberty 9

Causes of Thyroid problems 9

Thyroid Disorders 12

Lesson 1: Hyperthyroidism 13

Symptoms in adults 13

Symptoms in children 14

Hyperthyroidism Causes 15

1. Graves’ disease 15

2. Nodular thyroid disease 17

3. Less common causes of Hyperthyroidism 18

Hyperthyroidism and pregnancy 19

How serious is Hyperthyroidism? 20

Treating Hyperthyroidism 21

1. Beta blockers 21

2. Anti-thyroid drugs 22

3. Treating with Radioactive Iodine 22

4. Surgery to remove thyroid gland or nodule 23

Types of surgery 26

Surgical options for Hyperthyroidism 27

Surgery: Before and After 28

Hyperthyroid Eye Disease 29

Symptoms associated with hyperthyroid eye disease include: 29

Lesson 2: Hypothyroidism 31

Hypothyroidism - What is it? 31

Symptoms in adults 32

Symptoms in children 33

Causes of Hypothyroidism 33

Hypothyroidism and Pregnancy 38

How serious is Hypothyroidism? 39

Diagnosing Hypothyroidism 39

Treating hypothyroidism 42

Health conditions accompanying Hypothyroidism 44

Lesson 3: Goiters 47

Goiter Symptoms 48

Goiter Treatment 48

Sub-Sternal Thyroids 49

Sub-sternal Thyroid Treatment 51

Lesson 4: Thyroid Nodules 52

Thyroid Nodules Symptoms 53

Thyroid Nodule Ultrasound 56

Lesson 5: Thyroid Cancer 59

Thyroid Cancer Symptoms 59

Thyroid Cancer Treatment 60

Alternative Treatments for Thyroid Problems 62

Lesson 1: Applied Kinesiology 64

What is Applied Kinesiology? 64

Applied kinesiology for Thyroid problems 65

Is it for everyone? 66

Lesson 2: Naturopathy 67

Lesson 3: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) 70

TCM and Hyperthyroidism 70

TCM and Hypothyroidism 71

Lesson 4: Nutrition 72

Lesson 5: Homeopathy 74

Lesson 6: Aromatherapy 75

Conclusions 77

Introduction

Hi and Welcome,

Thank you for choosing my ebook for answers to your thyroid problems.

As a Chiropractor and Kinesiologist with over 10 years experience looking after patients of all

types, I would have to say that thyroid problems, especially hypothyroid (under-functioning) is one

of the most common, and most commonly undiagnosed conditions that I see, day in and day out.

In fact I would say that, at least in Australia (and I suspect, the rest of the world) this problem is

an undiagnosed epidemic.

There are many reasons for this, as you will discover when you keep reading. However, it doesn’t

have to be that way. In fact, once thyroid problems are recognized for what they really are, they

are often easily treatable, and can generally be greatly improved, if not eliminated altogether…

and usually without resorting to the traditional western medical tools of drugs and surgery.

If you find that you just don’t have the energy that you used to, that you seem to have difficulty

losing weight no matter how much you diet and exercise, and that your libido is flagging then this

ebook is for you.

My intention with this book is to give you a clear and easily understandable guide to

understanding the importance of the thyroid gland, recognizing if a thyroid problem is affecting

your health and energy and offer you some effective solutions. I will begin by explaining the

functions of the thyroid gland and how to recognize if it may be the cause of your health

challenges. I will then present the traditional medical treatments and approaches, followed by

some of the natural alternatives that have proven effective for my clients over the years.

Obviously, being a natural wellness practitioner my bias is towards these natural methods, but I

have attempted to give you all the information necessary to make some intelligent and informed

decisions about your health. My belief is that it is always wise to start with the gentlest, least

invasive treatments first, and only progress to more invasive methods if that proves to be

necessary…which I have often found it is not.

So, let’s get into what the thyroid is all about…

Thyroid Overview

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L e s s o n 1 : T h y r o i d G l a n d

What does the thyroid do?

The little, butter-fly shaped thyroid gland located in the lower, front part of the neck just below the

Adam’s apple has got a lot to do with our overall health. It is a master regulatory gland, since it

controls the metabolism of the body and regulates the growth and activity levels of many other

tissues. Although the thyroid itself weighs just about one ounce, it has a huge impact on your

weight. In men, the thyroid tissue appears larger as compared to women.

So, what exactly does the thyroid gland do and how can it affect our overall health? The primary

role of the thyroid gland is to produce thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine and thyroxine, also

called as T3 and T4.

★★★ The numbers 3 and 4 signify the number of iodine molecules that are used in the

making of these hormones.

Thyroid cells are perhaps the only cells in the body that have the ability to absorb the vital trace

mineral iodine found in food. 3 molecules of iodine combine with tyrosine to form

Triiodothyronine, or T3 while four iodine molecules combine with tyrosine to create Thyroxine or

T4. Tyrosine is a type of amino acid and there are more than twenty amino acids in the body, all

of which are essential building blocks of proteins used in our cells.

Hormones are nothing but

chemicals that convey to

various organs the job they

need to do to keep the body

working at optimum levels.

Thyroid hormones assist

the body in creating energy

and help various organs in

their function while keeping


the body temperature regulated at the same time. As such, a healthy thyroid forms around 20%

T3 and 80% T4, though some inactive T4 hormone is subjected to a process called as mono-

deiodination (also called T4 to T3 conversion) in the event more T3 is required. During this

process, one of the iodine molecules is set free to bring about this conversion. Approximately

80% of this conversion occurs outside the thyroid gland (mainly in the liver). T3 is roughly 100

times more biologically active than T4, which is why we need much less of it.

The inability of the thyroid gland to produce the right amounts of thyroid hormone can give rise to

one of two conditions- namely Hypothyroidism (under-functioning) and Hyperthyroidism (over-

functioning).

Regulation of thyroid hormone production

Hormone synthesis is a process that starts in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that releases

thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) that traverses through the venous plexus situated in the

pituitary stalk to the pituitary gland, also located in the brain. The pituitary gland responds by

releasing thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) into the blood that goes into the thyroid gland and

stimulates it to produce T3 and T4 hormones.

For this purpose, dietary iodine is required in sufficient quantities. In order to regulate thyroid

hormone production, the pituitary gland checks the amount of hormone that is already there in the

blood. Both TRH and TSH production is reduced if the pituitary gland senses the presence of

excess thyroid hormone in the blood. The rationale behind doing so is to control the amount of

TSH released from the pituitary gland.

★★★ TSH regulates the production of T3 and T4 hormones to bring the thyroid

hormone levels in the blood to normal.

Any kind of defect in these regulatory pathways may give rise to thyroid conditions,

hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.


What Is Thyroid Disease?

When the thyroid gland

fails to produce the thyroid

hormone in required

quantities, thyroid disease

occurs. An overactive

thyroid leads to excess

thyroid hormone leading to

a condition called

hyperthyroidism while an

under-active thyroid leads

to lower levels of thyroid

hormone in the

bloodstream, leading to a condition called hypothyroidism. While both the conditions are totally

opposite in nature, in both cases the size of the thyroid usually becomes larger than normal.

Typically, when the size of thyroid becomes so big that it can be seen easily and felt under the

skin at the front of the neck, it is called a goiter. This condition is quite common among people

whose regular diet does not contain iodine in required quantities.

★★★ This condition is not so common in the United States, as the foods consumed in

this country usually have at least somewhat adequate amounts of iodine.

A thyroid nodule is an enlarged area or lump in the thyroid gland that can occur in a perfectly

healthy thyroid gland too. An individual with a thyroid nodule may experience pain or tenderness

in the front of the neck and may actually feel like there is a lump in the throat. We shall discuss all

these conditions in detail in the following chapters.


T h y r o i d D i s e a s e , G r o w t h , a n d P u b e r t y

All of us are aware that with the onset of puberty, the body goes through some very obvious

changes. Since thyroid hormones play a pivotal role in this process, having a thyroid disease may

actually interfere with the physical development of a teenager. What you need to understand in

this context is that not everyone develops thyroid disease at the same age or the same rate and it

is therefore not fair to draw general conclusions.

If your brother or sister has grown 4 inches taller in just a month it does not mean that you have

an abnormal thyroid or there is something drastically wrong with you. Some individuals may

experience a growth spurt at a later age than others. Girls with thyroid problems may have

irregular periods followed by a decrease or increase in menstrual flow.

Similarly, there could be a shorter or longer time between periods than the normal gap. This does

not mean that irregular periods always signify the presence of a thyroid problem, as girls who are

just beginning to menstruate tend to have irregular periods in the first year.

★★★ Timely diagnosis and treatment can prevent the situation from aggravating and

aid in proper physical development during puberty.

Causes of Thyroid problems

Genetics - While majority of causes of thyroid problems happen to be lifestyle related, genetics

also plays a significant role in causing them. Thyroid problems can thus arise if someone in the

family has already been a victim of thyroid disease. Health experts urge people to get tested for

thyroid disease if they have a family history of thyroid problems.

Nutrition - Poor nutrition accounts for a vast number of thyroid problems, especially if there is an

iodine deficiency. In fact this is probably the most common cause of thyroid dysfunction. Iodine

unites with tyrosine to produce T3 and T4 hormones and failing to consume it in required

quantities can cause a thyroid hormone deficiency.


In many places, such as Australia, low levels of iodine in the soil are a major contributor to thyroid

disease. In a 2001 study of 94 healthy primary school students, 101 full-term pregnant women, 86

healthy adults and 85 diabetic patients it was found that all 4 study groups had average iodine

levels below the minimum criteria set by the World Health Organization.

This problem is made worse by the addition of fluoride to the drinking water. Fluoride is

antagonistic to iodine, which means that it has the chemical property of displacing iodine from the

body and blocking the iodine receptors on the outside of the cells, so that they can’t absorb it

properly. Apart from iodine, deficiency of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, cysteine, tyrosine,

magnesium, selenium, zinc, iron and other vital nutrients can also contribute to thyroid problems.

There are certain foods that must be avoided to have a healthy thyroid. These include saturated

fats like animal fat and fried foods, aspartame, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), refined salt,

sugars, alcohol, and caffeine drinks like cola and coffee.

Toxicity – Exposure to certain substances can have a huge effect on the function of the thyroid

gland, as well as reducing the ability of other tissues to utilize T3 and T4. The most common

group of these substances is the toxic metals, such as cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel and

aluminum. Although you might think you are not exposed to these substances, the truth is that in

the modern world most of us (at least in Western societies) are exposed to these on a daily

basis… for example mercury is found in vaccines and dental amalgams, nickel is found in peanut

butter and aluminum is found in almost all deodorants and anti-perspirants. Clinically I have found

aluminum to be one of the big culprits- simply changing to an aluminum-free deodorant can make

a huge difference for many people. Don’t be fooled if aluminum isn’t listed anywhere on the label-

unless it specifically says “aluminum free” then you can pretty much bet it’s in there.

There are also many other common substances, such as Bisphenol A (BPA; used in plastic

materials), which have been shown to disturb thyroid hormone function. Other examples are

pesticides, hormone and antibiotic residues in meat, food additives, cosmetics and the metabolic

by-products of unfriendly gut bacteria.

Stress - Thyroid problems can also be attributed to stress, as it creates hormone disturbances

and deficiencies. Adrenaline and cortisol (two of our major “stress hormones”) both play a role in

exacerbating thyroid dysfunction. That's not all - since stress and abnormal thyroid function

symptoms can be greatly confused, it is difficult to gauge which one came first. The truth is,

stress can cause thyroid problems and thyroid problems can lead to stress. Therefore,


decreasing stress and balancing the nervous system is important in the treatment of all thyroid

conditions.

Emotional/Energetic Imbalance – The human body contains “energy centers” or chakras, and the

clear and unobstructed flow of energy through these chakras is vital to the function of the

endocrine (hormonal) system. Each endocrine gland is related to a specific chakra, and the

thyroid gland is related to the throat chakra.

Each chakra is also related to a particular group of emotions or feelings. The throat chakra is

particularly associated with speaking our truth honestly and openly. It is also associated with

choice and strength of will; personal expression; following one’s dreams; using personal power to

create; faith and knowledge; and capacity to make decisions.

Blockages in the flow of energy in the throat chakra can lead to either under or over-functioning of

the thyroid (most commonly under-functioning).

Medications – Certain prescription drugs may also affect thyroid hormone production and

delivery. Drugs that may be implicated in thyroid insufficiency (hypothyroidism) include lithium,

certain anti-psychotics, the anti-arrhythmic amiodarone (Cordarone), somatostatin and dopamine.

Incorrect or poorly monitored dosage of thyroid medications may also cause further thyroid

problems.

Menopause - Since menopause and thyroid disease have more or less the same symptoms,

thyroid problems go unnoticed for a long time. In addition, the thyroid disease symptoms

aggravate during the onset of menopause due to hormonal shifts making things even more

difficult. It is therefore important for such women to get tested for thyroid disease.

Thyroid Disorders

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L e s s o n 1 : H y p e r t h y r o i d i s m

Hyperthyroidism is caused by an "overactive" thyroid gland that produces excess thyroid

hormones causing the level of thyroid hormone in the blood to go high. These high levels rev up

the body's metabolism resulting in various symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms in adults

An individual suffering from hyperthyroidism is likely to experience nervousness, increased

perspiration, irritability, fatigue, faster heartbeat, muscle weakness, and difficultly in sleeping

while women may also suffer from irregular menstrual periods. That's not all - those who are

eating more than usual may still lose weight when suffering from this disorder.


Hyperthyroidism in adults may also cause hand

tremors, feeling very hot in cold or normal

temperatures followed by excessive sweating,

frequent bowel movements, and joint pains. In

addition, eyes may feel irritated with tissues

around eyes becoming inflamed and swollen

and it may seem as if the eyes are bulging out.

Elderly people with heart disease may

experience worsening of angina (chest pain) due

to hyperthyroidism.

Elderly people may also suffer from muscle

weakness particularly around shoulder and thigh

area. Worsening of shortness of breath among

elderly people with heart failure is yet another

symptom that is associated with hyperthyroidism

Symptoms in children

Apart from the usual symptoms that adults experience, children suffering from hyperthyroidism

may show signs of deterioration of behavior and school performance despite having a good

academic record in the past. Deterioration in handwriting could also indicate the presence of

hyperthyroidism in children.


Hyperthyroidism Causes

There are number of causes responsible for the development of hyperthyroidism. Two main

causes however have been identified in the context of hyperthyroidism - Graves' disease and

nodular thyroid disease.

1. Graves’ disease

When the entire gland produces thyroid hormone in excess, it gives rise to Graves' disease, a

condition named after an Irish doctor who first described it. An enlarged thyroid (called as goiter)

overproduces thyroid hormone causing this condition that is classified as an autoimmune disease

owing to the fact that it is caused by the immune system of the patient turning against his or her

own thyroid gland.

In other words, Hyperthyroidism resulting from Graves' disease is caused by the antibodies

produced by the immune system of the patient. Please note that only a small percent of goiters

produce excess thyroid hormone while the rest become large due to their inability to produce

sufficient thyroid hormone.

★★★ Graves' disease can be classified into three distinct parts -

While Graves' disease can be classified into three distinct parts - over activity of the thyroid gland

or hyperthyroidism, thickening of the skin over the lower legs or pretibial myxedema, and

inflammation of the tissues surrounding the eyes leading to swelling, most patients suffering from

this condition usually do not have any obvious eye involvement.

As such, one in twenty people suffering from Graves' disease may experience severe eye

problems that can include double vision, inflammation, bulging of the eyes, or blurred vision.

Failing to recognize and treat these symptoms may cause permanent damage to the eyes and

may even lead to blindness. Often, eye problems get resolved gradually once hyperthyroidism is

brought under control.

An interesting fact about Graves' disease is that it is more common in women than men with

about an 8:1 ratio. Note that this condition is more common in the age group of thirty to forty


years and rarely occurs after the age of fifty. It is also believed that Graves' disease tends to run

in the family though the exact reason for this is not known. So, if your parents, grandparents or

anyone else in the family has got it, there is an increased chance that you will get it too.

Comparison of between

radioactive iodine thyroid

scan from a normal patient

and one with Grave’s

disease.


Diagnosing Graves’ disease

Almost ninety five percent of the people with hyperthyroidism get diagnosed with Grave's disease

that can be confirmed with laboratory testing. Blood tests would reveal increased levels of T3 and

T4, lower levels of TSH, and presence of thyroid stimulating antibodies if an individual has

Graves' disease.

2. Nodular thyroid disease

Thyroid scan

As compared to Graves' disease, nodular thyroid disease is relatively less common and the exact

cause of this condition is not known (although many of the causes discussed earlier may play a

role). It has been noticed that nodular thyroid disease develops in individuals older than those

who develop Graves' disease and no particular problems outside the thyroid such as skin or eye

disease are associated with it.

A physical examination would reveal that the thyroid is enlarged, though painless and as the

untreated disease advances, distinct nodules or lumps may be felt with the fingertips. Nodules of

abnormal thyroid cells are spotted among areas of normal cells in the thyroid gland. In the iodine

scan or thyroid scan above, you can notice a solitary "hot" nodule in the lobe in the left that is

comprised of thyroid cells that have lost their ability to determine how much hormone needs to be

produced.

Due to this loss of regulatory mechanism, the cells in this particular nodule produce hormone at

alarming rates, leading to hyperthyroidism.


Diagnosing nodular thyroid disease

When the thyroid is larger than normal but painless, and individual lumps or nodules can be felt

with the fingertips, a nodular thyroid disease is suspected. RAIU testing can be used for diagnosis

where clusters or nodules of abnormal cells are seen among areas of normal cells. Once this test

is carried out, doctors will examine for spots of overactivity. Often a biopsy will be taken from the

nodule to screen for cancerous cells.

3. Less common causes of Hyperthyroidism

Thyroiditis or the inflammation of the thyroid gland can also stimulate the release of thyroid

hormone in excess amounts. The painful inflammation of the thyroid gland in subacute thyroiditis

is usually caused by a virus and the hyperthyroidism so caused may last for a few weeks.

A relatively common and painless kind of thyroiditis called as postpartum thyroiditis develops in

one out of twenty women just a few months after delivering a baby. Although you may experience

the same symptoms like any other patient suffering from hyperthyroidism, they usually last for

only a few weeks till the time the thyroid hormone stored in the gland is used up. Pituitary

adenoma or a tumor of the pituitary gland also leads to independent TSH production that over

stimulates the thyroid gland causing hyperthyroidism.

★★★ Hyperthyroidism can also develop if you take excessive doses of thyroid hormone

in their available forms.

This is quite common among individuals who take thyroid medication containing T3, which is

normally produced in very small amounts in the body. To decide the course of the treatment, it is

important to identify the type of hyperthyroidism. It is also important to continually monitor and

review dosage levels, as a person’s requirements may change over time as other factors in the

body change.


H y p e r t h y r o i d i s m a n d p r e g n a n c y

With one in 500 women developing hyperthyroidism

during pregnancy, it is important to know how pregnancy

influences this condition. Hyperthyroidism can be a

preexisting condition in case of certain pregnant women

that may surface during pregnancy, while others may

develop it during the course of pregnancy.

The biggest challenge in diagnosing it during this critical

phase is that pregnancy often 'masks' it. As such, many

symptoms of hyperthyroidism coincide with those associated with pregnancy and hence go

unnoticed. Hyperthyroidism may affect a woman's ability to conceive and is often caused in

pregnancy due to previously undetected Grave's disease.

Symptoms may be severe during the first half of the pregnancy after which they will reduce only

to resurface once the baby is born. If you have been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism before or

during your pregnancy, you may need to continue anti-thyroid medication during pregnancy as

prescribed by the doctor.

★★★ In the event of mild to moderate hyperthyroidism, pregnant women and their

babies may not experience any kind of problems arising from this condition.

As such, it can be concluded that with proper treatment pregnancy can be expected to progress

normally. However, women with severe hyperthyroidism may suffer from anemia (iron deficiency),

high blood pressure, along with a potentially dangerous condition called as pre-eclampsia caused

due to presence of too much protein in the urine.

In addition, there is quite a possibility that the baby may also develop hyperthyroidism. The risk of

having a small baby or premature birth cannot be ruled out in the case of a woman who has

severe hyperthyroidism.

Fortunately, hyperthyroidism does not have any impact on labor and delivery, though the situation

can become life threatening if “thyroid storm” develops. This is a condition that is caused due to


the body's inability to endure hyperthyroidism in response to something stressful- in this case

giving birth. The symptoms experienced are often the usual ones that others suffering from

hyperthyroidism experience.

The baby needs to be examined thoroughly after delivery to ensure that there is no evidence of

thyroid problems. It has been observed that babies of hyperthyroid mothers whose condition was

well under control during pregnancy with proper medication are usually normal and healthy.

How serious is Hyperthyroidism?

The severity of the condition causing hyperthyroidism determines how serious it is and what

measures should be taken to combat it. For instance, someone with only slightly elevated thyroid

hormone levels will have relative few and less severe symptoms.

Another factor that determines the severity of the hyperthyroidism is how well the body deals with

the changes brought on by high thyroid hormone levels. So, if an individual is already suffering

from heart disease, rise in heart rate may lead to further stress and cause heart failure. In severe

cases of hyperthyroidism, eye complications may also arise. While these cases are very rare, it is

important to treat the condition early, or permanent damage may occur.

Diagnosing Hyperthyroidism

Doctors usually suspect the possibility of hyperthyroidism when patients complain of rapid heart

rate, inability to tolerate hot environments or temperature changes, irritability, nervousness, or

jitteriness. These symptoms are especially likely to be hyperthyroid-related if there are physical

signs like slight tremors of the hands, excessive sweating, or weight loss. These signs and

symptoms call for diagnostic testing.

Doctors usually recommend blood tests to detect the presence of hyperthyroidism. If levels of T3

and T4 are very high or if the level of TSH hormone is abnormally low, hyperthyroidism exists.

Low level of TSH can be attributed to an abnormality in the thyroid gland. Certain cases of

hyperthyroidism may also require a special diagnostic scan called radioactive iodine uptake

(RAIU) testing.


This test needs to be carried out on an outpatient basis and is useful in detecting whether the

entire thyroid gland is overactive or only a portion of it is. This is how it works - if the entire gland

is overactive, the whole thyroid will take in large amounts of radioactive iodine. If only part of the

gland is overactive (often a nodule or tumor) then significant amounts of radioactive iodine will be

taken up by only that portion of the gland. .

Treating Hyperthyroidism

At this stage we will discuss the standard medical approaches to treating hyperthyroidism. In later

chapters we will look “alternative” approaches which have shown to be effective, often eliminating

the need for any further medical intervention. The weakness of the standard medical tools of

drugs and surgery is that they are often addressing the symptoms but not the real cause,

however, they are included here for the sake of completeness.

While no particular medical treatment exists for Graves' disease, hyperthyroidism can be treated

effectively using anti-thyroid drugs, and radioactive iodine (also known as radioiodine or 131I).

Before deciding the course of the treatment, it is important to discuss details with the doctor

regarding personal or family medical history. Surgery can also be an option for treating

hyperthyroidism that involves removal of almost the entire thyroid gland.

The remaining portion of the gland is not capable of producing thyroid hormone in excess

amounts. This surgical procedure, which is called a near-total thyroidectomy, can be used to

control hyperthyroidism immediately. The downside of this method is that virtually everyone

develops hypothyroidism following surgery. The usual risks like bleeding, nerve damage, and

infections commonly associated with surgical procedures are other concerns that need to be

addressed.

Let us look at each of the medical treatment options in detail.

1. Beta blockers

Majority of the common types

of hyperthyroidism can be


effectively treated immediately using medications called beta-blockers like propranolol and

Inderal. Using these beta blockers, certain hyperthyroidism symptoms such as tremor and

palpitations that are caused by the effect of excess thyroid hormone on the cardiac and nervous

system can be treated in just a few hours.

However, these medications do not really cure the hyperthyroidism or curtail the production of

excess thyroid hormone, but in fact just block the effects caused by the excess hormone to

alleviate certain symptoms. Beta blockers could well be the answer for treating temporary

hyperthyroidism such as thyroiditis, but like most drugs, they are not really a long-term solution.

2. Anti-thyroid drugs

Patients with prolonged hyperthyroidism due to conditions like Graves' disease or toxic nodular

goiter may be treated with anti-thyroid drugs. These drugs inhibit the production of thyroid

hormones. The most popular drugs used in this drug therapy to prevent the thyroid from

producing hormones include methimazole and propylthiouracil (PTU).

If taken regularly, the drug therapy can efficiently control hormone production and subsequently

the hyperthyroidism in just a few weeks. Although people have experienced certain side effects

like itching, rash, or fever after taking these drugs, these instances are less common.

Patients may, in some cases, develop liver inflammation or white blood cell deficiency after

beginning the drug therapy. It is important that they stop the medicines and consult their doctor

immediately if they notice yellowing of the skin, severe sore throat, or high fever after taking the

medication. The downside of anti-thyroid drugs is that the hyperthyroidism often returns once the

drug therapy is stopped- indicating that the real cause has not been dealt with, therefore

necessitating further measures for permanent treatment.

3. Treating with

Radioactive Iodine

Radioactive iodine is usually regarded

as a permanent solution for


hyperthyroidism. The rationale behind using radioactive iodine is that only thyroid cells in the

body have the ability to absorb iodine. So when radioactive iodine is provided to the thyroid cells,

the ones that absorb it will be destroyed.

Since other cells in the body are not capable of absorbing iodine, there is almost no threat of

radiation exposure and subsequent side effects for the rest of the body. The best part of this

treatment is that iodine can be administered orally without requiring the patient to be hospitalized.

While the whole therapy takes about a month or two before the thyroid has been killed, the

radioactive iodine goes away from the body completely in just a few days. It has been observed

that a single dose of radioactive iodine is sufficient for majority of hyperthyroidism cases. The

resulting underactivity of the thyroid gland, however, becomes a concern after taking radioactive

iodine treatment.

Since the radioactive iodine destroys too many thyroid cells, the ones that are left behind do not

produce sufficient hormone thus leading to hypothyroidism. Please note that there has been no

evidence that establishes any connection between radioactive iodine treatment and a woman's

ability to conceive or cancer of thyroid gland or any other organ of the body. There are several

types of radioactive iodine (isotopes) and the ones used for iodine scans or thyroid scans involve

only mild radioactivity that do not kill thyroid cells.

Again this form of treatment does nothing to answer why the thyroid is over-producing hormones,

but simply kills the gland. This, of course, is permanent and irreversible, so it would be wise to

consider trying less radical forms of treatment first.

4. Surgery to remove thyroid gland or nodule

Surgical removal is usually recommended for patients suffering from severe symptoms of

hyperthyroidism. Of course, surgery is often considered as a treatment of last resort since most

patients get results with the treatment options mentioned above, or the natural options discussed

in later chapters. This is because majority of the patients develop hyperthyroidism due to

overproduction by the entire gland (Graves' disease) and to a large extent this condition is

resolved using natural methods, drugs or radioactive iodine.


However, there are certain patients suffering from Graves' disease who cannot tolerate

medications due to another health condition, allergy responses, or other reasons.

★★★ For such patients, surgery is seen as the only practical option to get rid of

hyperthyroidism at the earliest…at least from a medical perspective.

Let us look at an example where the patient has developed hyperthyroidism due to a hot nodule

in the lower part of the right thyroid lobe.

Depending on the location of the hot nodule, the surgeon may decide to remove the entire lobe

(as illustrated in the first image) or remove a part of the lobe (as seen in the second image) to

treat hyperthyroidism permanently.

A major concern about surgery among most patients was the long hospitalization they would

have to go through. However, this scenario has changed now and doctors send their patients

home the very next day. Of course, a small percent of patients may not be so lucky since the stay

in hospital is often decided by considering the age and the underlying health of the patient.

What's more; some patients can be treated with partial thyroidectomy as an out-patient procedure

where they get to go home in just a few hours following their surgery.

A potential risk of getting operated for hyperthyroidism is injury to structures near the thyroid

gland in the neck, including the nerve that connects to voice box (the recurrent laryngeal nerve),

which can permanently damage or alter the voice. The incidence of this happening is about one

percent. Another concern pertaining to surgery is that it ends up in hypothyroidism for most

patients.


Such patients can be treated with levothyroxine (artificial hormone) that makes up for the thyroid

hormones deficiency caused by surgery. This medication must then be taken for life. If the dose is

taken in exactly the right amount, the patient can rely on it for the rest of his or her life, however

recent studies have shown that up to 25% of people in this situation still have hormonal

imbalances, indicating that constant monitoring and more frequent dosage reviews would be a

good idea.

Again, it would be better to find and correct the real cause of the hyperthyroidism, rather than

simply trying to eliminate the symptomatic tissue with surgery. In later chapters we will be dealing

with several natural methods to achieve this, such as nutritional therapy, Applied Kinesiology and

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).


T y p e s o f s u r g e r y

Once the doctor makes the decision of going for

surgery to treat hyperthyroidism, he or she will

decide which surgical option would be right for that

particular patient. For this purpose, the doctor has

to look into various details such as the thyroid

disease present that necessitates the operation

and the medical history of the patient. The doctor

may choose to remove the lobe if a dominant solitary nodule is present in a single lobe.

On the other hand, if a big goiter is compressing

the trachea and esophagus, the doctor may

consider removing the mass using a sub-total or a

total thyroidectomy. If the hyperthyroidism is due

to a hot nodule, then the lobe containing the

nodule may be removed as illustrated in the

example above.

In cases of thyroid carcinoma, doctors and endocrinologists usually recommend total or near total

thyroidectomy.

★★★ Patients with small sized papillary carcinomas can be treated with lobectomy by

removing the isthmus.

For patients with well differentiated (papillary or follicular) thyroid cancer, doctors recommend an

extensive surgery involving lymph node dissection. Total thyroidectomy and aggressive lymph

node dissection is recommended for medullary carcinoma patients.


Surgical options for Hyperthyroidism

Let us look at the various surgical options used for treating hyperthyroidism.

1. Partial Thyroid Lobectomy - This operation due to its

limited approach is not suitable for many conditions and

hence not performed very often. Besides, this operation is

appropriate for treating hyperthyroidism only if a benign

lesion is located in the upper or lower part of a lobe.

2. Thyroid Lobectomy - This is perhaps the smallest operation of

the thyroid gland typically performed for solitary dominant

nodules. This surgical option can also be considered for

follicular adenomas, goiters that are isolated to one lobe, and

solitary hot or cold nodules to seek immediate relief from

hyperthyroidism symptoms.

3. Thyroid Lobectomy with Isthmusectomy - This surgical option

refers to the removal of a thyroid lobe along with the isthmus

when a greater portion of the tissue is required to be removed to

resolve the condition. This method is also a good option in case

of non-aggressive thyroid cancers.

4. Subtotal Thyroidectomy - As the name suggests, this surgical

option removes the problematic part of the thyroid gland along

with the isthmus and a large portion of the other lobe to treat

small, non-aggressive type of thyroid cancers and goiters.

5. Total Thyroidectomy - This option is used to remove the entire thyroid gland to treat all types of

thyroid cancers.


Surgery: Before and After

Thyroid surgery calls for certain amount of preparation. Thyroid hormone levels need to be

brought under control before surgery so as to avoid the risk of a "thyroid storm" or hyperthyroid

crisis. This is a condition that is caused due to the body's inability to endure hyperthyroidism in

response to something stressful such as a surgery.

An anti-thyroid drug is used to gain control over the hormones before an operation. The drug

blocks release of thyroid hormones that have been earlier produced by the overactive gland.

Iodine drops are also often used. The role of these drops is to reduce the number as well as the

size of blood vessels in the gland so as to minimize the risk of bleeding and subsequent

complications that may arise due to it.

★★★ A few drops of iodine solution are also recommended on a daily basis for a period

of ten to fifteen days prior to operation.

After the surgery, the patient needs to keep a track of his or her condition with regular follow-ups

with their doctor to ensure that the operation was successful and that the recovery is complete.

Similarly, an appointment with the endocrinologist should also be made to ensure that thyroid

hormone levels return to normal and remain that way. In case the levels drop to such an extent

that hypothyroidism develops, medical follow-up would be crucial to normalize thyroid hormone

level with suitable thyroid hormone supplementation.


Hyperthyroid Eye Disease

Hyperthyroidism can affect your eyes too. Actually, Graves' disease causes certain eye changes

that are known as hyperthyroid eye disease. The disease is found in about thirty percent of the

people suffering from Graves' disease. In these people, the eye changes are visible as protruding

eyes that may cause visual problems and increased risk of infection if the condition is severe.

These changes can occur despite the fact that the severity of the hyperthyroidism has absolutely

no impact on the appearance of these eye changes. Hyperthyroid eye disease may progress in

people whose hyperthyroidism is not controlled or treated, or in those who smoke cigarettes,

although it may affect anyone whose thyroid hormone levels are not within the required limits.

Hyperthyroid eye disease

While sufficient information regarding the autoimmune process

responsible for hyperthyroid eye disease is lacking, what is

known is that the tissues behind the eyeball are swollen. In

addition, there is decreased range of motion of the muscles

surrounding the eyeball as well as retraction of the eyelids,

leading to the classic “bug-eyed” look.

Symptoms associated with hyperthyroid eye disease include:

+ Pain

+ Excessive tearing

+ blurred vision

+ double vision

+ protrusion of the eyes

+ increased sensitivity to light


For most patients, special eyes drops are sufficient to alleviate the symptoms. However, severe

cases may require extensive care in order to reduce the pressure exerted on the eyeball caused

by tissue swelling. Sometimes doctors may have to involve other methods as well to improve the

range of motion or ROM of the eyes or to enhance the eye appearance.

These methods include:

+ Steroids or immunosuppressive drugs - to reduce swelling, improve eye muscle function

and enhance range of eye muscle movements

+ External radiation therapy - to reduce swelling

+ Surgery - to get rid of a very small section of bone from the eye socket

+ Plastic surgery - to improve appearance of eyes


L e s s o n 2 : H y p o t h y r o i d i s m

Hypothyroidism - What is it?

Too little thyroid hormone in the bloodstream leads to a condition called Hypothyroidism, which is

generally caused by an "underactive" thyroid. Due to the inability of the thyroid gland to produce

sufficient thyroid hormones, the cells and organs in the body do not get adequately stimulated,

thereby causing a general "slowing down" of various processes and leading to hypothyroidism

symptoms.

Hypothyroidism is much more common than hyperthyroidism…and that is just the cases that are

diagnosed. Since the symptoms are quite subtle in the initial stages, hypothyroidism often goes

undiagnosed for a long time and the symptoms are often confused with those of stress,

depression, and aging. As per a recent study, almost 9 million people in the United States of

America have undiagnosed hypothyroidism. While both men and women are susceptible to this

thyroid disorder, women are generally found to develop it more often than men.


Hypothyroidism has been found in cats as well.

Symptoms in adults

An individual suffering from Hypothyroidism is likely to experience

easy fatigue, exhaustion, constipation, carpal tunnel syndrome (a

condition that causes pain at the wrists along with numbness of

the hands), joint or muscle pain (especially in the shoulders), thin

brittle fingernails, thin and brittle hair, paleness, dry skin and poor

tolerance to cold temperatures in the early stages.

In the later stage, these symptoms can culminate into more

serious ones that include extreme tiredness, poor appetite, hair

loss, decreased taste and smell, weight gain, increased blood lipid

and cholesterol levels, a deeper and hoarser voice, depression,

decline in intellectual ability, puffiness around the eyes, thinning of

eyebrows, and abnormal menstrual periods. Sometimes, there

could be additional symptoms too that may tag along with

Hypothyroidism. These include ankle and leg swelling, short

stature, separated sutures, drowsiness, muscle atrophy, overall

swelling, uncoordinated movement, dry hair, and muscle spasms.


Hypothyroidism is associated with many cardiovascular risk factors, leading to a 300% increased

risk of heart attack. Thyroid hormones are also responsible for controlling the metabolism of

sugars and fats in the body, as well as affecting gut and kidney function and promoting optimal

absorption and reabsorption of nutrients.

Symptoms in children

Children may suffer from symptoms that are similar to those suffered by adults along with other

symptoms such as poor growth, excessive fatigue, and poor school performance. Some infants

may also develop hypothyroidism that is evident from symptoms like constipation, poor feeding,

jaundice, excessive tiredness, and poor growth.

Causes of Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism can develop due to a number of factors though the vast majority of

hypothyroidism cases stem from a problem within the thyroid gland. On the other hand, a very

small number of hypothyroidism cases (five percent or less) result from a problem in the brain or

the pituitary gland. Read on to know all these factors in detail, to understand how hypothyroidism

develops and how it can be countered.

Nutritional Deficiencies

This is probably the number one cause of hypothyroidism. There are several important nutrients

required for proper thyroid function. The key nutrient is iodine, which forms an essential part of

the thyroid hormones. Iodine deficiency is a global problem, with more than 2 billion people

worldwide having an insufficient intake. An estimated 266 million of these are school children.

Selenium deficiency is also a major contributor to hypothyroidism around the globe. Selenium,

along with zinc, is necessary for the activation of the weaker thyroid hormone T4 to its more

potent form T3. Studies have shown that improving selenium intake over a 3 month period

reduces the level of thyroid antibodies in Hashimoto’s Disease (a key cause of hypothyroidism,

discussed later) by an average of 36%. The most beneficial form of selenium for boosting thyroid


function is selenium-cysteine (follow the link on page 68 to find where you can get this key

nutrient).

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

This condition arises due to a problem in the immune system of the body. It is the immune system

that protects our body from foreign substances and all kinds of 'invading' organisms by producing

antibodies to combat them. These antibodies also have the ability to identify these invaders when

they encounter them the next time.

★★★ This complex network itself becomes a problem when it mistakenly directs an

immune attack against its own healthy cells causing a condition called

Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

In this condition, antibodies are created and misdirected towards the thyroid gland leading to

inflammation and continuing loss of thyroid cells. It is thought that the immune system up-

regulates the apoptotic (natural programmed cell death) pathways of the thyroid follicular cells.

This leads to thyroid cell destruction and resultant underactivity. It may take months or even years

before the time that loss in function reaches a stage where there is obviously less than adequate

thyroid hormone in the body. This thyroid hormone deficit causes hypothyroidism in the body.

An interesting fact about Hashimoto's thyroiditis is that it is found more often in women, especially

over forty years of age, as compared to men with a 7:1 ratio. In addition, studies reveal that

almost fifteen percent of women over sixty years of age develop mild hypothyroidism due to this

condition.

Since it is believed that genetic factors also play a significant role in contracting autoimmune

diseases (those caused when the immune system attacks its own cells), many individuals

suffering from Hashimoto's thyroiditis, are also vulnerable to other autoimmune disorders,

including Grave's disease, pernicious anemia, vitiligo, and juvenile diabetes mellitus. This genetic

vulnerability also implies that more than one member in a family is at risk of getting autoimmune

disorders including Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

During the early stages of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the thyroid tends to become large and rubbery

due to constant inflammation and over time this often reaches a point where it becomes

noticeable.


Hyperthyroidism treatment

When you seek the usual medical treatments for hyperthyroidism (the condition caused due to an

overactive thyroid), there is a good chance that you will end up developing hypothyroidism. The

chances of developing hypothyroidism in this case are more if radioactive iodine was used for

treatment. As per studies, fifty percent of patients whose hyperthyroidism caused due to Grave's

disease was treated using radioactive iodine tend to develop hypothyroidism in less than a year

while about sixty five percent are likely to get it in less than five years. That’s not all -

Hypothyroidism may also develop if a large part of the thyroid gland was surgically removed to

treat hyperthyroidism.

Treatment of thyroid tumors

Hypothyroidism may also develop due to surgery for a malignant (cancerous) or benign

(noncancerous) thyroid tumor, however this may happen only if the entire thyroid gland or most of

the gland was removed. In such a case, hypothyroidism may develop immediately at the time of

treatment or may take several years.

Treatment of head or neck cancers with radiation

Sixty five percent of individuals who receive radiation in high doses for treatment of head and

neck cancer are at risk of developing hypothyroidism within a period of ten years.

Heavy metal toxicity

This is a common cause of hypothyroidism, as toxic metals can inhibit the function of the thyroid

gland, as well as affecting the ability of the liver to convert T4 into the more biologically active

form, T3.

The term “heavy” metals can actually be a bit misleading, as one of the major metals that has

been implicated is aluminum, which is not heavy at all. Often these metals have their effect by

blocking the body from using the “good” metals needed for proper thyroid metabolism, such as

selenium and zinc.


Drugs administered for nonthyroid conditions

Sometimes drugs taken for treating non-thyroid conditions also interfere with the production of

thyroid hormone, causing a deficit. In the event that such drugs are taken in large quantities for a

prolonged period, hypothyroidism may develop. A good example of such drugs would be lithium

that is used to treat certain psychiatric conditions.

★★★ While fifty percent of people taking this drug may develop an enlarged thyroid,

almost twenty five percent may experience symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Propylthiouracil, which is used in hyperthyroidism treatment, can also impact thyroid hormone

production leading to hypothyroidism.

Subacute Thyroiditis

This inflammatory thyroid condition can occur in men as well as women and causes temporary

and mild hypothyroidism that usually goes away on its own after a while. It is a relatively

uncommon disorder that is often detected due to the visible and painful enlargement of the

thyroid gland.

Postpartum Thyroiditis

Post means 'after' and partum means 'birth' which means inflammation of the thyroid soon after

delivery, usually in the first six months. The symptoms coincide with those experienced in the

initial phase of hyperthyroidism (such as nervousness, increased sweating, and rapid heart rate)

and the later stage of hypothyroidism (such as depression, feeling cold, fatigue, and dry skin).

Studies indicate that among the affected women, eighty to ninety percent had detectable levels of

antibodies directed against the thyroid gland before or during their pregnancies, while twenty to

thirty-three percent of the women who develop postpartum thyroiditis continue to have ongoing

hypothyroidism.


Pituitary gland problems

Hypothyroidism can also develop if the problem lies in other areas pertaining to thyroid hormone

production, such as the brain or pituitary gland instead of the thyroid gland itself though such

cases are very rare. When the pituitary gland fails to produce or release the hormone TSH that

stimulates the production of thyroid hormone, hypothyroidism is likely to occur.

Chronic Stress and Inflammation

High cortisol levels resulting from chronic stress and elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines

(the chemicals which create sustained inflammation in the body) may interfere with the regulation

of the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands, leading to hypothyroidism. This also

intensifies the associated symptoms of fatigue and depression.

Reducing stress and anxiety is therefore very important in overcoming hypothyroidism.


Hypothyroidism and Pregnancy

Like hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism can develop during or after pregnancy and as such can

also impact on a woman's ability to bear a child. What's worse is that a woman with diabetes or

an autoimmune disorder has 25% higher risk of getting hypothyroidism after delivery. Similarly, a

miscarriage indicates the possibility of presence of anti-thyroid antibodies before pregnancy.

While these antibodies play no role in the miscarriage, their presence certainly indicates the

possibility of other immune system disorders that may cause pregnancy loss. So how does

hypothyroidism affect pregnancy and are there any measures to be taken that can protect the

mother as well as the newborn?

Hypothyroidism affects pregnancy in more ways than one. It not only causes infertility in women

due to its interference in the production of eggs, but also puts the pregnant woman at a greater

risk of having a miscarriage.

Failing to treat hypothyroidism during

pregnancy may make the pregnant

woman vulnerable to high blood

pressure and premature delivery.

Besides, babies born to such women

may not attain their full intellectual

potential as compared to those born to

healthy women.

Untreated hypothyroidism therefore is not just a threat for the mother but for the unborn child as

well, making it imperative for all pregnant women to be tested for thyroid function during

pregnancy to avoid further complications.

So if a woman anticipating to be pregnant or already pregnant is being treated with thyroid

hormone, she should make it a point to get her thyroid hormone levels monitored closely to

ensure the safety of herself and that of her child. There are times when the dosage of medication

needs to be increased by as much as fifty percent during the pregnancy. Fortunately, thyroid


medication can usually be safely taken during pregnancy without having to worry about side

effects.

One in every twenty women are bound to get hypothyroidism after pregnancy because of the

antibodies they develop against their own thyroid before getting pregnant causing inflammation

of the thyroid after delivery. Usually, this condition may arise within a period of four months to one

year after the day of delivery and in most cases goes away on its own.

How serious is Hypothyroidism?

While the symptoms and the extent of hypothyroidism may vary from one person to another, most

symptoms cause immense distress and should therefore be treated immediately. Proper

diagnosis is particularly challenging in case of elderly people, as most symptoms are considered

as that of aging.

Ignoring them as a part of getting old, individuals tend to leave them untreated until they

culminate into serious problems that take a toll on their fitness, memory, and other areas that are

critical for daily living. Untreated hypothyroidism is dangerous, as it may lead to depression

followed by mental and behavioral impairment in the long run.

★★★ Myxedema, a severe form of hypothyroidism characterized by swelling of the face,

hands, feet, and tissue around the eyes, may develop if the condition is left

untreated for a long time.

Untreated hypothyroidism in its advanced stage may lead to a severe drop in body temperature,

seizures, and even coma and death. The good news about hypothyroidism is that it is a treatable

disorder! So, why wait for it to ruin our mind and body when we can usually get rid of it

permanently and resume a normal life?

Diagnosing Hypothyroidism

In order to diagnose hypothyroidism, the physician will need to know the medical history of the

patient, a physical examination, and blood tests. If the physician suspects the presence of

hypothyroidism, he/she will check the skin, eyes, reflexes, body temperature, and hair. An

enlarged thyroid, called as goiter, is often noticed in the physical examination itself. If it’s a case


of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the goiter will not be tender and have a rubbery feel while it would be

tender if it’s a case of subacute thyroiditis.

A blood test would be required to check the levels of thyroid hormones T3, T4, and TSH as well

as other substances that contribute to hypothyroidism. If the levels of T4 and T3 hormones are

abnormally low, the presence of hypothyroidism can be concluded. On the other hand, it is the

TSH level that helps the physician to decide whether hypothyroidism is due to a problem in the

thyroid gland itself or in the part of the brain that stimulates thyroid function.

High TSH level in the bloodstream would indicate an abnormality in the Thyroid gland, which

means that the gland is not responding positively to the stimulating effect of the hormone on the

thyroid gland. However, a low TSH level would imply that the abnormality lies within the brain or

the pituitary gland in the brain and that the pituitary gland has failed to release sufficient amount

of TSH required to stimulate the thyroid gland.

It has been observed that in 95% cases of adults with hypothyroidism, the problem has always

been in the thyroid gland. However, if blood tests establish that the abnormality is in fact in the

glands in the brain, imaging tests of the brain including CT scans and MRI scans would also be

required. In addition, another blood test, an antibody test, would also be recommended to detect

the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies that may indicate Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

The American Thyroid Association urges women over age 35 to get screened for hypothyroidism

once in every five years.

Although this is good advice, the problem is that many people are found to be within the “normal”

range on their blood tests, yet they still exhibit the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism. There

are several possible reasons for this. One is that the normal range is quite wide, which means

that you may be in the bottom end of the range and therefore still considered normal, yet your

metabolism may require T3 and T4 levels in the top end of the range for optimal function.

Another reason is that the normal range is based on statistical data, rather than on physiological

norms. This means that if hypothyroidism is very wide-spread in a population (as we have seen is

the case) then the whole normal range may be skewed downwards. The high incidence of iodine

deficiency recorded around the globe contributes to this effect.

There is another possibility why your blood test may appear normal, yet you may still suffer the

symptoms of hypothyroidism- a sneaky little enzyme called reverse T3 (rT3). This is an enzyme in


the liver that converts T3 back into T4- the reverse of the normal process that occurs in the body.

If you have higher than normal levels of this enzyme then you may appear to have sufficient T3

levels, however, it is being converted back into the much less active form, T4, before it is used by

the body.

If you suspect that you may have some degree of hypothyroidism, even though your blood test is

within the normal range, a more effective (though less convenient) method of testing is to

measure basal (resting) body temperature. As this is controlled by the thyroid it can give a more

accurate indicator of how much T3 is active inside the cells, rather than simply measuring T4

levels in the blood. A low basal body temperature indicates an under-active thyroid.

Procedure for measuring basal body temperature

1. Shake down a thermometer to below 35 degrees celcius and place it by the bed before

going to sleep.

2. Immediately upon waking, place the thermometer under the armpit for a full 10 minutes.

3. Remain as still as possible, resting with the eyes closed. Any activity will affect the results

of the test.

4. Record the temperature for at least 3 consecutive mornings, preferably at the same time

of day. Menstruating women should check basal body temperature on the second, third

and fourth days of menstruation. Men and post menopausal women can check on any

three consecutive days.


Treating hypothyroidism

Fortunately, the treatment of hypothyroidism is less

complicated than hyperthyroidism. In most cases, a daily

thyroid hormone replacement medication is all it takes to

normalize your thyroid function. As such, the medication

replaces the hormone that is not being produced by the

thyroid gland. As with other previously mentioned treatments,

however, this is really just treating the symptoms rather than

addressing the underlying cause.

This artificially produced replacement thyroid hormone is

similar in structure to the thyroid hormone that the body produces naturally. The hormone is

called as levothyroxine, a synthetic derivative of T4 hormone.

Popular brand names include Levoxyl, Levo-T, Synthroid, and Levothroid and a host of other

generic preparations are also available readily in the market. The synthetic hormone is produced

in a vast range of strengths so that individual needs of all patients can be efficiently addressed.

After all, people differ in their response towards medication. Some may feel the change in just a

few days while others may take several weeks before they feel a marked improvement. Once the

medicine starts working, patients will find their heart rate increasing to normal range, lose weight

they had started gaining due to hypothyroidism, and the skin and hair texture will return to their

original condition.

It may however take some time for the enlarged thyroid to reduce and the bad cholesterol to get

back to normal levels. If hypothyroidism symptoms persist for six months or more, it is possible

that the dosage is inadequate to normalize the level of thyroid hormone.

It is important for patients to strictly follow doctor's instructions and not forget to take the

medicines or else improvement would be unlikely. If symptoms continue to be there despite

increase in dosage, there is a good chance that the symptoms are not due to deficiency of thyroid

hormone.


★★★ In this case, doctors may consider increasing the dosage or trying a combination

of drugs with T4 and T3 to improve the condition.

The prescribed dose for adults is usually 0.1-0.15 milligrams per day in the beginning and is

adjusted over time. Starting with a smaller dose is particularly important for elderly people with

heart disease to ensure that the increase in metabolic activity due to hormone replacement

therapy does not cause any kind of stress to the heart.

Since T4 is converted to T3 within the body, most doctors prefer to rely solely on T4 therapy.

However, some patients may show favorable results if a combination of T3 and T4 therapy is

used. These are usually the cases where the problem is an inability to convert T4 to T3, rather

than a problem with hormone production.

Once the hormone therapy begins, patients should ideally list the most distressing symptoms they

experienced at the onset of hypothyroidism and track changes in them over time. Doctors may

increase medication dosage every year or two so that thyroid hormones remain in the normal

range. This step is critical, as the inflammation of the thyroid gland may affect more hormone

producing cells resulting in a further drop in hormone production.

It is crucial that the medication is

administered in the right quantities since

taking too much thyroid hormone may

lead to hyperthyroidism. When individuals

are diagnosed with subclinical

hypothyroidism, a condition in which

thyroid hormone levels are normal but the

TSH levels are high and there are no

symptoms, whether or not to use

replacement thyroid hormone will depend

entirely on the physician and the patient.

However, fifty percent of these individuals

see significant improvement in their

condition with thyroid medication while

others will find improvement in the cholesterol levels.


Health conditions accompanying Hypothyroidism

Often, other health problems such as goiter, heart disease, anemia, infertility, and high

cholesterol are also seen in hypothyroidism patients.

Goiters

Goiter refers to an enlarged thyroid gland that looks like a

swelling or fullness in the neck. In fact, a lot of people suffering

from Hashimoto's thyroiditis tend to have a goiter that may be

usually painless but can cause great discomfort. Large goiters

can make simple tasks like breathing and/or swallowing

extremely difficult.

Once a patient starts with thyroid hormone replacement therapy,

the size of the goiter normally reduces considerably, thus

eliminating the need for surgery in most cases.

Before the relation between iodine and thyroid function was

established, people observed that goiters were more common in

areas where iodine consumed through the average diet was less

than necessary.

Goiters found in people residing in such areas were not due to

thyroid problems like Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but simply due to

insufficient iodine.


Heart disease

The heart is affected to a large extent by thyroid problems. People with hypothyroidism

experience a slowing down in heart rate while those with untreated hyperthyroidism suffer from

increased heart rate and palpitations. Patients who have heart disease as well as hypothyroidism

should make it a point to discuss their cardiac symptoms with their doctors before starting

hormone replacement therapy.

High cholesterol

The decrease in metabolic activity due to hypothyroidism results in increase in blood levels of

cholesterol, adding to the distress. This is particularly the case with LDL, the so-called “bad”

cholesterol. Patients who do not have a previous history of high cholesterol but have suddenly

noted high blood cholesterol levels should immediately get their thyroid hormone level checked. If

hypothyroidism is responsible for this hike in blood cholesterol levels, individuals will get a lot of

relief after starting the hormone treatment. In addition, a low-fat low-cholesterol diet is also

recommended to bring blood cholesterol levels under control.

Anemia

A low red blood cell count is referred to as anemia. This makes a person feel tired with little

exertion. And if such a person suffers from hypothyroidism and heart disease as well, the fatigue

experienced is much more and the risk of developing angina or worsening of their angina is

greater.

Hypothyroidism leads to lack of sufficient stimulation of red blood cell development in the bone

marrow causing anemia that goes away soon after the hormone treatment is started. In such

cases, over-the-counter iron supplements or similar preparations do not offer any respite. On the

other hand, iron supplements prove to be useful for a premenopausal woman with untreated

hypothyroidism who has had heavy menstrual periods that have caused the iron deficiency.


Infertility

Some women whose thyroid levels are relatively low may not be able to conceive a child.

However, their condition improves once the thyroid hormone treatment starts. An important thing

that needs to be noted here is that thyroid hormone crosses the placenta in small amounts and

the hormone taken by the pregnant woman can have some impact on the developing fetus.

Since an increase in dose may be required once the woman has conceived, baseline (pre-

pregnancy) thyroid tests (including TSH) should be conducted and regular monitoring should be

done during the pregnancy.


L e s s o n 3 : G o i t e r s

When we talk about a non-toxic goiter, we are actually referring to an enlargement of the thyroid

that has nothing to do with overproduction of the thyroid hormone or malignancy. The enlarged

thyroid becomes so large that it can be noticed as a mass in the neck as seen in the image

below.

Goiter in a middle-aged woman

(The mass compresses the trachea and esophagus leading to goiter symptoms)

Thyroid can become large due to a number of reasons that include a diet low in iodine and

increase in TSH levels. In America however, high TSH levels owing to a defect in normal

hormone synthesis within the thyroid gland may be held responsible for people developing goiter

since iodine is readily available in our diets (although studies show that iodine deficiency does still

occur). The thyroid stimulating hormone that causes the thyroid to enlarge is released by the

pituitary gland. It may take several years for the enlargement to manifest to a point where it is

visually obvious, however some people experience symptoms like difficulty swallowing and

pressure in the throat before this stage.


G o i t e r S y m p t o m s

Coughing, waking up in the middle of sleep due to a feeling of breathlessness, and sensation as if

food is stuck in the upper throat, are some of the symptoms that patients having a goiter

experience. Other symptoms include:

+ Wheezing

+ Neck Swelling

+ Neck Lump

+ Neck Vein Distention

+ Swallowing Problem

+ Dizziness

+ Hoarseness

+ Shortness of Breath

+ Gagging

+ High-Pitched Breath Sounds

Goiter Treatment

Small to moderate sized goiters can be

successfully treated in most cases using

thyroid hormone pills. These pills ensure

that the pituitary makes less TSH so that

the size of the gland reduces

subsequently.

While the pill fails to decrease the size of

the goiter most of the times, it certainly

manages to stop it from getting bigger. If the hormone therapy does not render desired results,

surgery is considered as the next option. In fact for bigger goiters, surgery is the only medical way

to alleviate goiter symptoms.


Surgery is also crucial if the enlarged glands compress other structures like trachea and

esophagus. The image below is that of an X-ray showing the patient's trachea that has moved

towards the left side due to an enlarged right lobe of the thyroid. The trachea is outlined in yellow.

Trachea has moved towards left instead of going straight from the mouth down to the lungs the

way it normally does

Doctors may also recommend surgery to remove the thyroid if the goiter is suspected to be

malignant. Although incidence of malignancy within a multinodular goiter is about five percent, in

most cases people need not consider surgical removal of goiter simply because of fear of cancer.

Many people consider removing a goiter for cosmetic reasons too.

Sub-Sternal Thyroids

Enlarged thyroids can grow in different directions instead of growing just within the neck. At times,

it grows downwards towards the trachea into the chest causing serious complications..

★★★ When thyroid grows in to the rigid bone structure or the chest cavity, it tends to

compress more delicate structures such as trachea, lungs, and the blood vessels

This type of enlarged thyroid is called as sub-sternal thyroid. Look at the image below - it is of the

same patient whose X-ray indicating curved trachea was shown earlier. The image is of a CT

scan or CAT scan that allows us to look inside as if the patient was cut into half.


Lungs of the patient are represented by the two large black areas labeled as 'L', the breast bone

or the sternum is the white curved structure seen on top, the trachea that should be midline but is

now towards the left is outlined in red, and the large portion of thyroid tissue extending down into

the chest is outlined in yellow. When looking at the image, do not forget that x-rays usually show

the patient's right on the left of the image, just the way it would be if we were looking at the

patient.

CT scan

Sub-sternal thyroid Symptoms

+ Persistent Coughing

+ Swallowing problem especially in case of bread and meat giving a feeling as if food is

getting stuck in the upper esophagus.

+ Waking up suddenly at night due to a feeling of breathlessness

+ Inability to sleep on the back due to the above symptoms


Sub-sternal Thyroid Treatment

Contrary to common belief, all sub-sternal thyroids do not necessitate splitting of the sternum in

order to remove them. Sub-sternal thyroids can easily be taken out by means of a thyroid neck

incision without having to worry about intra-operative bleeding. This is because thyroid receives

blood from two different sources that arise in the neck. In other words, blood supply can be cut off

from above so that there is no concern of intra-operative bleeding.

Once the patient falls asleep due to anesthesia, the surgeon can extend the patient's neck fairly

far backward to pull out the thyroid from the chest. A sternal splitting operation therefore is usually

not required to remove sub-sternal thyroids.


L e s s o n 4 : T h y r o i d N o d u l e s

Lumps that are formed in an otherwise normal thyroid gland are called thyroid nodules, which are

usually situated at the edge of the thyroid gland. These abnormal growths of thyroid tissue can be

felt as a lump in the throat or as a lump in the front of the neck if they are large or occur in thin

people.

The incidence of having a thyroid nodule is pretty high - one in 12 to 15 young women have a

thyroid nodule, while one in forty young men have it.

★★★ Over ninety five percent of thyroid nodules are non-cancerous or benign while

some are actually cysts that are filled with fluid instead of thyroid tissue.


Many people are likely to develop one by the time they hit their fifties. Since their incidence

increases with age, fifty percent of fifty year olds, sixty percent of sixty year olds and seventy

percent of seventy years are likely to have at least one thyroid nodule.

Thyroid Nodules Symptoms

As such, there are no symptoms associated with this condition and are usually discovered by

patients who notice a lump in their throat when they stand in front of the mirror. Some patients

discover their presence during a routine annual health check up. Some patients, though very

rarely, may feel pain or have difficulty in swallowing if they have a large nodule that gets in the

way of normal passage of food through the esophagus.

A thyroid nodule can also be detected when the patient gets a CT scan or MRI scan or an

ultrasound scan of the neck done for a different health problem they may be suffering.

Thyroid Nodules Treatment

Doctors usually look for answers for the following questions while evaluating a patient's condition

- is the nodule producing too much of thyroid hormone, is it pressing on other structures in the

neck, and is it cancerous. If the answer to all these questions is NO, it is possible that there is a

small or medium sized nodule that is nothing but an overgrowth of normal thyroid tissue.

★★★ An ultrasound would also be required to know the characteristics of such a

nodule.

The doctor may also be interested in knowing if you have ever received radiation treatments in

your childhood. In order to decide whether the nodule is benign or cancerous, a fine needle

aspiration biopsy or FNA is done.

For thyroid nodules causing hyperthyroidism, treatment options considered are the same as

those used for treating hyperthyroidism.


Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNA)

Only 5% of thyroid nodules are malignant while the other 95% of benign thyroid nodules are

adenomas, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and thyroid cysts. Other forms of thyroid nodules, which are

non-cancerous and not so common, can be attributed to conditions such as painless thyroiditis,

Riedel's struma, unilateral lobe agenesis, or subacute thyroiditis.

The small percentage of malignant nodules is caused due to thyroid cancers - Papillary

carcinoma (accounts for 60%), follicular carcinoma (accounts for 12%), follicular variant of

papillary carcinoma (accounts for 6%). Although most of the times these cancers are curable, it is

important that they are detected in their early stages. An important, safe, and effective way of

finding out whether a thyroid nodule is cancerous or not is the fine needle biopsy.

In most cases, thyroid cancers are present in the form of a dormant solitary nodule (shown in the

image below) that can be felt by the patient or even as lump in the neck by his family members.

Thyroid scan

Doctors consider various factors like medical history, laboratory tests, ultrasound, and thyroid

scans, none of them really help in determining if the solitary thyroid nodule is cancerous. The only

way to know if it is cancerous is to conduct a biopsy. Simply put, biopsy refers to the process of

obtaining a sample of tissue to study it under the microscope and examine if the cells have

assumed the characteristics of cancer cells.

Thankfully, there is no need for using a knife to operate and remove a chunk of the thyroid tissue.

Instead, a small needle can be stuck into it to remove the required cells for microscopic study.

This method of biopsy using a needle is called fine needle aspiration biopsy or FNA and is now

being used extensively for studying thyroid cancer cells.


★★★ Thyroid nodules generally fall into three categories - warm, hot or cold.

Thyroid nodules generally fall into three categories - warm, hot or cold. Thyroid cells have the

ability to absorb iodine to produce thyroid hormone and when radioactive iodine is used, a butter

fly image outlining the thyroid is formed on the x-ray film. The cells that do not absorb iodine and

hence do not make thyroid hormone will be seen as "cold" on the x-ray film, while the ones that

absorb iodine to produce excess hormones will appear darker on the film and would be called

"hot" nodules.

As such, there would be about 85% cold nodules, 10% warm nodules, and 5% hot nodules, but

85% of these cold nodules are benign, 90% of warm nodules are benign, and 95% of hot nodules

are benign. The results obtained using fine needle aspiration biopsy are pretty accurate. But it is

not fair to rely on this method alone to differentiate between benign or malignant nodules while

deciding the treatment option or for conducting a thyroid surgery.

Along with the biopsy, a physical examination and medical history of the patient should also be

considered to evaluate a solitary thyroid nodule. Some of the features that may suggest the

possibility of a nodule being benign are:

+ Family history of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, or goiter, or benign thyroid nodule

+ Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism symptoms

+ Pain or tenderness associated with a nodule or a soft, smooth, mobile nodule

+ Multi-nodular goiter that does not have one predominant nodule

+ Thyroid scan showing warm nodule

+ Ultrasound indicates simple cyst

Some of the features that may suggest the possibility of a nodule being malignant are:

+ Less than twenty years of age

+ Age over seventy

+ Male gender

+ Swallowing difficulty that has just begun

+ Recent onset of hoarseness

+ Medical History indicating an external neck irradiation in the childhood

+ Firm, irregular, and fixed nodule

+ Evidence of cervical lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph glands in the neck)

+ Previous history of thyroid cancer or other malignant cancers


+ Thyroid scan shows cold nodule

+ Solid or complex nodule on an ultrasound

For the biopsy, the needle is stuck into the nodule quite a few times and cells are aspirated into a

syringe and then studied under the microscope by a pathologist. Based on his/her observations,

the nodule is classified as non-diagnostic, benign, malignant, or suspicious. Non-diagnostic would

mean that diagnosis was not possible due to insufficient number of thyroid cells in the aspirate.

Almost five to ten percent of biopsies end up as non-diagnostic requiring the patient to further get

a thyroid scan or an ultrasound done for accurate evaluation.

★★★ Benign thyroid aspirations that comprise of benign follicular epithelium and thyroid

hormone protein happen to be the most common among all, since most nodules

fall into this category.

Malignant thyroid aspirations can detect cancers like papillary, medullary, anaplastic, follicular

variant of papillary, thyroid lymphoma, and metastases to the thyroid, though follicular carcinoma

and hurthle cell carcinoma cannot be diagnosed using this method. Suspicious cytologies, which

account for about ten percent of the FNAs, imply that the thyroid cells on these aspirates are

unclear making it difficult to label them as malignant or benign.

In order to effectively assess thyroid function, it is important to obtain the TSH value as well.

Since FNA is sufficient in most cases to evaluate a solitary thyroid nodule, the cost of evaluation

and treatment of thyroid nodules has considerably reduced. No doubt, FNA is being looked upon

as a modern, safe and effective diagnostic method of differentiating a cancerous nodule from a

non-cancerous one.

Thyroid Nodule Ultrasound

When a doctor suspects or detects a thyroid nodule, he/she would want to confirm whether there

are any worrisome nodules that may be malignant. This step is critical to choose the right

treatment option for thyroid nodules. The first and the most important diagnostic test used by

most doctors is the fine needle aspiration biopsy or FNA.


This test usually helps in detecting a malignant nodule and is usually the only test that is required

for precise diagnosis. There is another test too that is used very often to study and analyze

thyroid nodules - Thyroid Nodule Ultrasound. This test is simple and involves sound waves to get

an image the thyroid.

These waves, which come from a small hand-held transducer that is passed over the thyroid,

transmit easily through the skin and into the thyroid and surrounding structures due to the

lubricant jelly that is applied on the skin. In less than ten minutes, results can be obtained for

diagnosis. While some nodules may not require this test, it has become an initial diagnostic step

for most doctors.

Thyroid Nodule Ultrasound

The probe detects the reflections caused by the sound waves when they bounce back almost like

an echo after hitting the structure and produces images. In the above image of the ultrasound, the

nodule is marked in red and the thyroid tissue is outlined in yellow.

Ultrasound cannot usually be used as a sole method to diagnose cancer. The test will only help in

determining if the nodule has a low chance of being benign or if its shows certain characteristics

of a cancerous nodule and hence calls for a biopsy for a more accurate diagnosis.

A nodule is likely to be benign if:

+ Sharp edges are noticed around the thyroid nodule

+ Nodule comprises of fluid instead of live tissue or cyst

+ Several nodules within the thyroid indicating a multi-nodular goiter

+ Blood is not flowing through it


The image below is of the same ultrasound though the focus is on blood flow this time. The image

clearly indicates a complex type of nodule which means that a part of it is cystic while the

remaining part contains live tissues with a good blood supply. This also means that if it was just a

plain cyst comprising of serous fluid, it would not have had red (artery) or blue (vein) blood flow.

The patient (whose ultrasound images are shown here) was found to be having a dominant

complex nodule of the right thyroid lobe due to the absence of any other nodules. In addition,

FNA is also recommended to this patient due to the presence of certain worrisome

characteristics.

Ultrasound to detect blood flow

Thyroid nodule ultrasound is fast, painless, precise, and inexpensive and gives doctors a certain

starting point for treating patients with thyroid nodules.


L e s s o n 5 : T h y r o i d C a n c e r

As per the National Cancer Institute,

there are about 37,000 new cases of

thyroid cancer each year in the United

States and the ratio of females

developing this cancer as compared to

men is 3:1. While thyroid cancer is more

common after the age of thirty, its

severity increases radically in older

patients. 99% of thyroid nodules are not

cancerous, though whenever thyroid

cancer is detected; it usually grows

within a discrete nodule in the thyroid.

Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid Cancer Symptoms

Some of the symptoms associated with thyroid cancer include:

+ Hoarseness

+ Neck pain

+ Enlarged lymph nodes

However, these symptoms are not very common.


A thyroid nodule, which is detected as cold on scan as shown in the image below, can turn out to

be malignant despite the fact that most of them are benign.

Cold nodule outlined in red and yellow

There are four types of thyroid cancer namely:

+ Papillary and/or mixed papillary/follicular (78% incidence)

+ Follicular and/or Hurthle cell(17% incidence)

+ Medullary (4% incidence)

+ Anaplastic ( 1% incidence)

Thyroid Cancer Treatment

The good thing about thyroid cancers is that most of them are treatable. In fact, papillary and

follicular cancers have more than 97% cure rate when found in younger patients. They are

treated by removing the lobe of the thyroid that has become malignant along with a large portion

of the other side. It has been observed that most thyroid cancers are papillary thyroid cancer that

happens to be the most curable type if treated appropriately.

Medullary cancer on the other hand is the less common one but does not have a good prognosis.

This is because it spreads to a large number of lymph nodes in the early stages itself

necessitating a more aggressive operation as compared to papillary and follicular cancer. The

thyroid is completely removed and a dissection is also done to take out the lymph nodes located

on the sides and front of the neck.

★★★ Anaplastic thyroid cancer happens to be the least common of all but comes with

the worst prognosis too


What makes its treatment most challenging is that it is detected only after it has spread

extensively. As a result, it becomes impossible to remove the entire tumor, making chances of

survival statistically almost nil. Being an aggressive type of cancer, the treatment is aggressive

too and involves a tracheostomy in most cases.

The cancer is diagnosed after sticking a needle into the nodule or after examining the nodule

under a microscope once it is removed. The pathologist then determines the type of cancer and

also checks the lymph nodes in the neck to see if they too need to be removed. The doctors then

will surgically remove the whole thyroid, sometimes during the same operation where the biopsy

is conducted.

★★★ After a period of four to six weeks following a surgery, the patient is subjected to

radioactive iodine treatment that involves just taking a single pill.

The dose differs for different patients depending on their individual condition. The patient is then

asked to go home and avoid contact with other people for two days to protect them from

exposure to radioactive materials.

Once this treatment is complete, the patient is then asked to take a thyroid hormone pill that

usually continues for the rest of their life if the thyroid is completely removed. The patient is also

required to see his or her endocrinologist once every six months or year to ensure that the daily

dose of hormone is as required and that the tumor is not developing again. The frequency of this

follow up typically varies from one patient to another.

Alternative Treatments for

Thyroid Problems

Up to this point we have discussed the traditional western medical approaches to thyroid

problems. I have included this information in order to give you a balanced and complete picture of

the thyroid gland, its functions and possible problems and treatments.

However, in my clinical practice I have found that thyroid problems can most often be resolved

using safe, natural, non-invasive methods, such as the ones described in the following chapters.

Although certain situations, such as malignant thyroid cancers warrant immediate medical

intervention, in less urgent cases I believe it is always wise to explore less radical, non-invasive

methods first…if these do not provide a solution, then more invasive interventions such as

surgery and/or drugs can always be tried later. However, this is a decision that must be taken by

each individual.

The real problem with many of the medical approaches discussed above is that they attempt

simply to block or remove the symptoms. While this is important, I believe it is always essential to

ask the question- “Why did this condition develop?”

Simply removing the thyroid, or suppressing its function with drugs does nothing to answer this

question, and often leaves the underlying imbalance in the body untreated, allowing it to manifest

as further health problems down the track. Sadly this is very common in our society, as this basic

paradigm of treating symptoms rather than real causes exists at many levels within our medical

system.

The remaining chapters describe several natural approaches to treating thyroid problems. Each

individual should explore the options that resonate most for them. Often the most effective

solution is a combination of several approaches.

L e s s o n 1 : A p p l i e d K i n e s i o l o g y ( A K )

What is Applied Kinesiology?

It is a chiropractic diagnostic method that employs muscle testing as a feedback mechanism to

determine the real cause of health problems. This is possible because of the fact that everything

in our bodies, including our muscles, is under the control of the nervous system. Anything which

causes stress to the nervous system therefore causes the muscles to test as “weak” momentarily.

This stress may take many forms- the usual categories considered are mechanical/structural,

biochemical and emotional.

Mechanical / Structural – an example of this would be if one of the vertebrae in the neck was

misaligned and creating pressure on the nerve that supplies the thyroid gland. In this situation the

brain can no longer properly monitor and regulate the function of the gland, leading to imbalance

and eventually disease.

Biochemical – there are two basic possibilities in this category- excess/toxicity and deficiency. If

the body does not have enough of the substances it needs (for example iodine or selenium) for

health then disease can result. Likewise, if the body has too much of something, or contains toxic

or poisonous substances, then again imbalance and disease will result.

Emotional – Just like physical or chemical stress, emotional stress can have a huge negative

impact on our health. Simply holding in mind a traumatic thought or memory will cause a muscle

to test as weak.

Once a weakness has been discovered the practitioner can then search for what returns the

muscle to strength, indicating that this is what is needed to eliminate the stress from the body and

return to health.

If applied correctly, Applied Kinesiology can be an incredibly useful tool to determine the exact

health problem and an appropriate form of therapy to treat it. Health experts regard Applied

Kinesiology as an interdisciplinary approach to health care since it combines the core elements of

several other therapies like acupuncture, nutrition, and chiropractic… in fact the treatments used

in AK are drawn from many other therapeutic modalities, making it a very complete and holistic

approach.

Simply put, it believes that weakness or inhibition in a muscle indicates a problem somewhere

else in the body. Since all muscles are linked with specific glands and organs, by testing which

muscles are functioning properly and which are not it is possible to determine exactly which

organs and systems are involved in any health challenge. Often this reveals hidden underlying

factors that otherwise would have been missed.

For instance, thyroid problems often involve the adrenal glands, the hypothalamus, the liver,

structural distortion in the cranial bones that make up the skull, nutritional deficiencies and

emotional stresses. If one or more of these elements is overlooked then the problem will often

return, or manifest in a new way in the body.

Thus the mantra of the AK practitioner is “find and eliminate the real cause”. Practitioners

however believe that the techniques of applied kinesiology should be used in conjunction with

other conventional diagnostic methods to eradicate the problem permanently.

Applied kinesiology for Thyroid problems

In AK the thyroid gland is associated with the Teres Minor muscle, which is a part of the rotator

cuff of the shoulder. This is one reason why people with thyroid problems often have slumped

shoulders and shoulder problems. By determining what returns this muscle to strength a skilled

practitioner can uncover many hidden problems.

These commonly include heavy metal toxicity, deficiencies of iodine, selenium (especially

selenium-cysteine, a particular form with high affinity for the thyroid gland), zinc and other

nutrients, physical misalignments in the neck and skull and also digestion problems which are

causing the body to become toxic. This is by no means an exhaustive list- if you consult a

qualified AK practitioner they are likely to test you for these and many other factors.

The use of applied kinesiology along with other standard forms of treatments used for treating

thyroid problems can help in removing the barriers that stop the body from healing quickly.

Is it for everyone?

Yes, since there are no such medical conditions that prohibit the use of applied kinesiology.

However, make sure that you consult a reputable health care professional such as a bona fide

applied kinesiologist, doctor, or chiropractor licensed to diagnose medical problems for taking this

therapy. Applied Kinesiology is a post-graduate course of study that can only be undertaken after

completing a Master Degree in Chiropractic or an equivalent discipline.

For more information on Applied Kinesiology, or to find a qualified practitioner in your area, try the

following resources:

http://www.icak.com - The International College of Applied Kinesiology

http://www.hillsspinal.com - A leading AK clinic in Sydney, Australia

http://www.icak-australasia.com - The Australian chapter of the International College of

Applied Kinesiology

http://www.icak.com/

http://www.hillsspinal.com/

http://www.icak-australasia.com/

L e s s o n 2 : N a t u r o p a t h y

Naturopathy is a wide-ranging healing discipline that incorporates many other areas, which may

include nutrition, herbalism, homeopathy, TCM and many others. Many naturopaths have studied

the various forms of thyroid problems and the factors that cause them. Naturopaths believe that if

you give your body what it requires, all the organs will gradually normalize and function to their

optimum levels. When taking up naturopathy as a treatment for thyroid problems, patients should

remember that it took years of abuse to get a disease, and just a few good meals are not going to

fix it.

Patience is required to see the positive side of naturopathy. Read on to know foods that can help

the body combat thyroid disease. Since every individual is different, a wide range of herbal foods

are recommended to create a healing synergy. A qualified naturopath will be able to determine

which combination of these would be most beneficial for your individual biochemistry.

Alfalfa - Many herbalists believe in the goodness of Alfalfa due to the beneficial effect it has on

the pituitary gland. In addition, it also helps in chemical imbalance and prevents cholesterol

accumulation in the veins. It also has the ability to neutralize uric acid in case of arthritis.

Brown Kelp - Basically a food source of trace minerals, it is also a great source of iodine and

hence extremely beneficial for people with thyroid problems. In fact, it is being used since 3000

B.C. to give nutritional support to the thyroid gland. It can also aid in weight management due to

its ability to rebalance thyroid metabolism. Similarly, it can also be of immense help in reversing

the conditions like stomach and respiratory problems that are caused by thyroid imbalance.

Burdock - The biggest advantage of Burdock is its ability to fortify the immune system. It not only

helps in rectifying skin disorders and digestion and appetite related problems, but also helps the

pituitary gland facilitate hormone balance. No doubt it is recommended by naturopaths for thyroid

health.

Bupleurum Falcatum – This has traditionally been used to provide natural support for liver

function. Since the conversion of T4 to the more active T3 takes place mainly in the liver,

supporting its function is very important in resolving thyroid conditions, especially hypothyroidism.

Carrots - Being rich in carotenoids, a Vitamin A precursor, carrots can improve thyroid

metabolism that is disturbed due to vitamin A deficiency.

Guar gum seed - It is a water soluble fiber that is derived from locust beans. It is found useful in

enhancing the body's tolerance to glucose by reducing absorption.

Iodine - It would not be wrong to call iodine the thyroid mineral since it is used exclusively by the

thyroid to produce thyroid hormones.

Irish Moss Chondrus crispus - It is used for detoxification due to the presence of humic and fulvic

acids (FAs) that help in increasing the solubility of toxic metals. It is often used in conjunction with

Kelp to balance hormonal deficiency in the thyroid gland, improve detoxifying functions of the

body, and enhance the metabolic rate as well as thyroid activity.

Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis) – Is a well recognized thyroid-calming herb. It has multiple

actions which reduce thyroid activity in the body, including a reduction in conversion of T4 to T3 in

the peripheral tissues. It also reduces the binding of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to its

receptor in the thyroid, leading to a reduction in hormone production. It also helps to counteract

the cardiac manifestations of hyperthyroidism.

Lycium (commonly known as Goji) – Lycium is renowned for its superb antioxidant activity. It has

been shown to restore the function of the body’s key antioxidant enzymes including superoxide

dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, the enzymes which the thyroid uses to control

oxidative stress. Lycium also improves cellular metabolism, enhances stamina and alleviate

fatigue.

Thyroid glandulars - They have been in use for a long time to provide nutritional support to the

thyroid.

Selenium - It is highly beneficial to the thyroid as it offers antioxidant effects, supports

cardiovascular health, and most importantly, supports thyroid hormone production, as well as

aiding in the removal of heavy metals and other toxic substances from the body. Selenium comes

in many forms, all of which may be beneficial, but clinical experience has shown that by far the

best results are achieved with selenium cysteine. The only company that I know of which

produces this supplement is called Metabolics. You can find them at www.metabolics.com

http://www.metabolics.com/

Scullcap - An important member of the mint family, Scullcap is used as a tonic for women and a

remedy for thyroid concerns.

Silymarin (St Mary’s Thistle) – This is another powerful aid to detoxification and healthy liver

function, which is essential for good thyroid function and the conversion of T4 to T3.

Rice bran - It is a rich food source of B vitamins that help in reducing stress and anxiety. Since

stress is also believed to be a contributing factor for thyroid problems, rice bran indirectly helps in

minimizing the risk of developing them.

Withania – This herb has both stress relieving and thyroid stimulating properties. Taking Withania

has been shown to increase T4 production in the thyroid by 111%, and to significantly increase

the conversion of T4 to the more active T3, making it one of the best treatments for

hypothyroidism.

Pituitary glandulars – They have been used by doctors for a long time to aid in production of

thyroid stimulating hormone to tell the thyroid that it needs to work and produce hormones.

Liver glandulars - They are usually recommended to patients with metabolic concerns since they

not only help in blood sugar regulation but also facilitate conversion of T4 to T3.

Adrenalglandulars - They are quite popular among nutrition-oriented doctors to treat fatigue and

metabolism problems caused by adrenal insufficiency. Hypoadrenalism can also induce

hypothyroidism.

L e s s o n 3 : T r a d i t i o n a l C h i n e s e M e d i c i n e ( T C M )

Traditional Chinese medicine or TCM regards thyroid disease as an outcome of emotional

distress and frustration. A TCM practitioner can help you in treating your thyroid condition

painlessly and effectively using homeopathic mixtures, herbs, and various preparations based on

TCM and acupuncture. As per TCM, emotional distress and frustration block the life force energy

(qi) in the liver and spleen.

★★★ As per TCM, emotional distress and frustration block the life force energy (qi) in

the liver and spleen.

Various herbs and acupuncture can release this energy and restore good health. In addition,

acupuncture helps in alleviating symptoms like irritability, insomnia, and palpitations that usually

accompany thyroid problems.

TCM and Hyperthyroidism

TCM believes that thyroid problems stem from Yin/Yang imbalance. As per TCM, when Yin is

deficient it has no control over the movement of the Yang energy and it is this reckless movement

of Yang that induces hyperthyroidism symptoms in the body. As such, there are three patterns of

Yin deficiency in the body that lead to hyperthyroidism. They are:

Kidney Yin Deficiency with Excess Heat - Causes symptoms like enlarged, soft and smooth

thyroid, anger, anxiety, dryness in the mouth with a bitter taste, aversion to heat, bulging eyes,

tremor, red tongue with dry, yellow coating, increased volume of bowel movements, and rapid

pulse.

Heart/Liver Yin Deficiency - causes symptoms such as enlarged, soft, swollen, and smooth

thyroid, anxiety, insomnia, dry throat, red tongue body with or without yellow coating, and heart

palpitations.

Heart/Kidney Yin Deficiency - causes symptoms like hand tremors, heart palpitations, irregular

period or amenorrhea in case of women, weakness of the knees and lower back, and impotence

or low sex drive in case of men.

Herbs such as dioscorea (shan yao), cornus (shan zhu yu), and Rehmannia (shu di huang) are

used in treating Yin Deficiency along with other herbal formulas like Liver Cleansing (Zhi Zi Qing

Gan Tang) and Heart Yin Tonic (Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan) depending on individual condition.

Another herbal formula called Kidney Yin Tonic (Liu Wei Di Huang Wan) is also used very

frequently in treating hyperthyroidism symptoms. Patients are also recommended an effective

and traditional recipe for treating Yin Deficiency. 10g of tremella (silver ear fungus), 10g of black

fungus (black ear mushroom) and 30 g rock-type sugar are cooked in three cups of water for an

hour and one serving of this mixture is given to patients once a day.

TCM and Hypothyroidism

When Yang is deficient, it fails to produce the vital energy required for effective body functions

thereby leading to hypothyroidism symptoms. As such, there are two patterns of Yang deficiency

in the body that lead to hypothyroidism. They are:

Spleen/Kidney Deficiency - causes symptoms such as sleepiness, dizziness, tinnitus or ringing in

the ears, lassitude, poor memory, dry skin, dry hair, edema, irregular periods in women,

impotence in men, deep and slow or deep and thin pulse, and aversion to cold.

Heart/Kidney Deficiency - causes symptoms such as heart palpitations, sleepiness, feeling cold,

and chest congestion and pain, and a deep, slow pulse.

Herbs like Cinnamon (rou gui) and aconite (fu zi) are used in treating Yang Deficiency along with

herbal formulas such as Kidney Yang Tonic (Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan) and Right Restoration

Formula (You Gui Wan) that are effective in treating hypothyroidism symptoms.

An old but effective recipe is also suggested for hypothyroidism. 3g pepper, 20g ginger, and 10g

tangerine peel is to be added to about half a pound of fresh carp and the mixture is cooked in

some water. The mixture should be allowed to simmer over a low flame for an hour before eating.

Three servings a week are recommended for best results.

Acupuncture - Acupuncture is also widely used in alleviating the symptoms associated with

various thyroid disorders. Thyroid happens to be one of the many diseases that the World Health

Organization believes that acupuncture can treat effectively. Acupuncture gives best results in

certain cases if the needles are heated using a technique called as "moxibustion" (uses moxa or

mugwort herb).

L e s s o n 4 : N u t r i t i o n

Having a wholesome, nutritive diet can resolve a myriad of health issues. In fact it has been said

that 50% of our symptoms (no matter what the condition) are a result of what we eat. The

problem however is that foods that are good for one condition may be a strict no-no for other

health conditions.

Thyroid problems can also be rectified by incorporating the right types of foods into our diet. The

ability of the thyroid gland to synthesize and utilize a healthy quantity of T3 and T4 relies on the

availability of a number of nutrients, including iodine, tyrosine, zinc, selenium and vitamins A, C

and D. Even a mild deficiency of one or more of these nutrients can lead to subclinical or clinical

hypothyroidism. It has also been shown that a diet low in the sulfur-containing amino acid

cysteine reduces the conversion of T4 to the more active T3.

So let us look at some foods that may need to be included or excluded from your diet, depending

on your condition.

Foods like cauliflower, kale, spinach, turnips, broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, soy, beans,

and mustard greens should be avoided by patients suffering from hypothyroidism, as they

depress thyroid activity. However, the same foods would render positive results if consumed by

patients suffering from hyperthyroidism, as they are thought to block the activity of thyroid

peroxidase- the enzyme responsible for binding iodine in thyroid cells.

If iodine deficiency is the cause of your hypothyroidism then it can often be rectified by taking a

kelp (seaweed) supplement- this is one of the richest natural sources of iodine, and is something

that isn’t usually present in the western diet.

Confusingly, however, too much iodine can be a cause of low thyroid function, even though too

little iodine is a common cause of hypothyroidism. This is because the body monitors our thyroid

hormone levels using something called a negative feedback loop, which means that if iodine

levels in the blood are too high the body will decrease hormone production. In Australia the

NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) has set the upper level of intake at

1100 mcg/day, however individuals with thyroid problems may have a lower tolerance and any

iodine supplementation, if appropriate, should commence conservatively.

Refined foods, sugar, wheat, dairy products, alcohol and caffeine should also be avoided by

people suffering from thyroid problems. 1,000 to 1,500 mg flaxseed oil is often recommended

three times a day, as essential fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and facilitate hormone

production. A good quality fish oil supplement can also be helpful in this way, as well as reducing

inflammation (which depresses thyroid hormone production).

★★★ Calcium and magnesium are also crucial for proper functioning of the metabolic

processes

It is however important that they are both present in adequate quantities for the body to use them

properly. Patients taking a calcium supplement should also take a magnesium supplement or else

the body would use the stored magnesium to process the supplemented calcium.

In this whole process, the body exhausts its stored calcium reserves, as the magnesium that

holds it in place was used to process the supplemented calcium. Maintaining the right balance of

calcium and magnesium in the body is therefore critical for good health. When taking

supplements, attempt an ideal ratio of 3:1 for calcium to magnesium.

As with virtually all health conditions, eating a wholesome organic diet, high in fresh fruits and

vegetables and low in processed and refined sugars, salts and fats is a great place to start.

L e s s o n 5 : H o m e o p a t h y

Homeopathy is being used extensively as an alternative form of treatment for treating thyroid

conditions mainly because it is a natural system of healthcare. People usually are less

apprehensive of trying homeopathy as compared to other alternative treatment options because it

makes use of natural substances only to prepare medicines. This holistic system of treatment has

a different approach to treating thyroid conditions as compared other conventional treatment

options.

Homeopathy targets the root causes that trigger the thyroid problems instead of dealing with the

symptoms. In this manner, it treats the thyroid condition permanently. In addition, homeopathy

also endeavors to stimulate the body's self-healing abilities. For the same reason, homeopathy

medicines are called a "remedy".

★★★ With more than fifty homeopathic remedies available for treating thyroid

conditions, there is potential for everyone to benefit from it.

Multiple remedies exist in homeopathy owing to the fact that every individual has a different

personality and constitution. Some of the most popular homeopathic remedies for hypothyroidism

and hyperthyroidism include Iodium, Calcarea, Lycopus, Calcarea carb, Fucus vesiculosus,

Bromium, Calcarea carb, Calcarea phos, Lapis alb, and Spongia.

Whether to go for homeopathy or not is a decision that entirely depends on the individual and his

or her family members. There is no doubt that homeopathy can effectively treat all sorts of thyroid

conditions. However, it requires tremendous patience since it may be a slow process. So, if the

patient is looking for temporary relief or if the thyroid condition is severe, it makes sense to go for

other natural or more conventional treatments and get immediate relief.

L e s s o n 6 : A r o m a t h e r a p y

Aromatherapy can be used to alleviate symptoms pertaining to thyroid conditions to a great

extent. Aromatherapy involves the application of essential oils to soothe or stimulate different

parts of the mind as well as body. When it comes to using aromatherapy, there are number of

ways in which you can use essential oils. You can use them in the bath, diffuse them into the air

by heating them in a burner, or mix them with carrier oils for massage. Listed below are some of

the most popular essential oils used for treating thyroid conditions.

Myrtle (Myrtus communis) - This oil can do wonders for your health for its ability to normalize

hormonal imbalances of the thyroid as well as ovaries. In addition, it also supports immune

function. All in all, it is an excellent oil highly effective in treating hypothyroidism.

Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare Dulce) - Considering the fact that majority of people suffering from

hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's suffers from adrenal deficiency too, this oil is good for the

adrenals. The oil can also balances the pituitary and thyroid thereby facilitating normal thyroid

function.

Lavender (Lavandula Augustifolia/Officinalis/Dentata) - If there is thyroid inflammation; you can

add a few drops of Lavender oil into hot water and dip a flannel into this water to use it as a

compress. On pressing the warm flannel over the neck, the patient will actually feel his/her thyroid

calming due to the anti-inflammatory properties of Lavender oil.

Spearmint (Mentha spicata) - This oil can be called as a star performer among all other essential

oils owing to its ability to support the respiratory, nervous and glandular systems. It is

antispasmodic, anti-infectious, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic.

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) - This is good for the adrenal glands and therefore good for anyone

suffering from adrenal deficiency.

Pine (Pinus Pinaster/Sylvestris) - It has a cortisone-like effect on the hormones. It is ideal for

people if they feel tired while on medication.

German Chamomile (Matricaria Recutita) - This oil can not only soothe inflamed joints, dispel

migraines, and reduce insomnia, but also improve hair growth and condition, and de-stress the

mind as well as the body.

Geranium (Pelargonium Graveolens) - It helps in balancing hormones and also has a stimulating

effect on liver and pancreas. Since liver plays an important role in T4 to T3 conversion, this oil is

great for those on thyroxine. It is also good for those suffering from Hashimoto's due to its anti-

inflammatory properties.

Sandalwood (Santalum Spicatum/Album) - It is a great option for people suffering from

hypothyroid since it helps in balancing the metabolism.

Tansy (Tanacetum Vulgare) - This oil can cleanse the lymphatic system and hence a great

alternative for people with Hashimato's.

Sage (Salvia Officinalis) - This oil can lift your mood and reduce mental fatigue.

Vetiver (Vetiveria Zizaniodes) - It is good for people with hypothyroidism due to its 'warming'

properties.

Basil (Ocimum Basilicum) - This oil with its anti-inflammatory properties can be great for muscle

spasms, mental fatigue, headaches, and intestinal problems.

Clove (Syzgium Aromaticum) - This oil is good for anyone wanting to improve memory.

Marjoram (Thymus Mastichina) - It can ease insomnia allowing patients to enjoy good sleep.

Conclusions


By now you should have a clear understanding of the functions of the thyroid gland and its vital

role in maintaining health, body weight and energy levels, as well as the difference between the

two main thyroid conditions- hypothyroidism (under-functioning) and hyperthyroidism (over-

functioning).

It is clear that thyroid disorders are an extremely common (and often undiagnosed) problem,

affecting millions of people around the world, and the incidence seems to be on the rise. We have

looked at the major causes for this, such as stress levels, lack of iodine and other vital nutrients in

our soils and therefore in our diets, and the effect that many common toxins have on thyroid

hormone production. We have also looked at the reasons why problems often go undetected,

even after a blood test.

As we have seen, it is important that we take care of all factors- physical, chemical and

emotional, if we want to balance the function of the thyroid and other hormonal glands for optimal

health.

We have seen that many of the traditional western medical treatments for thyroid problems are

quite invasive and are irreversible once performed. It is also clear that many of these approaches

simply suppress the symptoms, rather than identifying and treating the real cause. Thus it may be

wise to consider some of the gentler, more natural treatments (if appropriate) before progressing

on to the medical alternatives.

All the natural treatments discussed have proven to be effective in many cases of thyroid

problems and often lead to a permanent resolution of the situation, with little or no side effects.

I hope this has given you all the information you need to make healthy, informed choices about

dealing with thyroid issue and I wish you all the best on your journey to optimal health and

wellbeing, naturally.

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