Is this you? You are always tired,
even without too much exertion. Perhaps you are prone to frequent infections
that seem to last forever. Or maybe you often feel depressed for no meaningful
reason. Your sex drive is minimal or non-existent. Your blood tests show high
cholesterol. You suffer from multiple allergies, diabetes or arthritis. You are
troubled by dry skin, rough hair or brittle nails. If you are a woman, pre-menstrual syndrome and/or painful
periods is something you have resigned yourself to. If some or all of the above
apply to you, the common cause could be related to the functioning of your
thyroid: a butterfly shaped gland situated in the front of the throat below the
Adam’s apple in men, and the corresponding area in women.
The thyroid gland is responsible
for producing thyroid hormone. This critical hormone controls metabolism: the
process by which the food we eat is transformed into energy. Every organ, every
tissue, every cell in the body is affected by this hormone; remove the thyroid gland
and all metabolic activity is dramatically reduced. Thyroid regulates the rate
at which the body utilizes oxygen, controls the rate at which various organs
function and the speed with which the body utilizes food. It also functions as
a thermostat responsible for production of much of the body’s heat.
There are several kinds of thyroid diseases: Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function), Hyperthyroidism (high
thyroid function), Goiter (enlargement of thyroid gland), Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
(autoimmune disease) and Thyroid Cancer. Of these, Hypothyroidism is by far the
most common, and has the most deleterious effects on its unfortunate victims.
Low thyroid is so severely
under-diagnosed that it can be called an undeclared epidemic. Research in the
United States has shown about 40% of that country’s population is hypothyroid. To quote Dr.
Richard Shames, MD, a world-renowned expert on the thyroid gland, even when Hypothyroidism
is diagnosed, it often either goes untreated, or is not treated optimally. To
add to this conundrum, current laboratory tests routinely fail to flag this
deficiency even when the patient shows clear symptoms. The range of symptoms is
broad, contradictory and often very confusing to both patients and doctors
(listed below).
Luckily, a
simple test that can be done at home is remarkably effective in detecting this
condition. For five consecutive days, take your body temperature in the armpit
upon waking up, but before doing any activity or movement. This test is called
the “basal temperature test”. The average of the five readings should lie
within the normal range of 97.8 to 98.2 Fahrenheit. A lower reading strongly
suggests low thyroid function. Men and post-menopausal women can do the test
anytime, but pre-menopausal women should do it after the 2nd or 3rd
day of the menstrual period.
Treating Hypothyroidism
is straightforward: one simply takes the hormone. This can be done effectively,
inexpensively and safely. There are actually several kinds of thyroid hormones:
T4 (the storage hormone), T3 (the
active, energy-giving hormone), T2 (has an important role in metabolism), T1 (widely
believed to affect brain function), and Calcitonin (an hormone which keeps the
calcium in your bones). Most of today’s doctors, upon reaching a
diagnosis of hypothyroidism, prescribe a synthetically manufactured form of
thyroid (Synthroid, Levoxyl) that only contains the T4 component. This is
incomplete as the other vital components of the thyroid hormones are missed. Natural or
Desiccated Thyroid, which is derived from the desiccated thyroid gland
of some animal, provides a far superior alternative. It contains the same hormones that your
own thyroid would produce (T4, T3, T2, T1 and Calcitonin), and works better in
treating the broad range of symptoms. It should be noted that thyroid
therapy does not produce instantaneous results. Most symptoms will subside
between one and two months after the onset of therapy. The proper starting
dosage will vary with age and size of the patient, but a rule of thumb for
adults is to start with 1 “grain” (60 mg) and increase by an equal amount every
two weeks till the symptoms are eliminated.
The following are the symptoms of
Hypothyroidism. Patients may see only some of these:
Fatigue
Decreased sex drive
Candida (yeast infection)
Dry skin
Premature aging
Infertility
Constipation
Premenstrual syndrome
Frequent and prolonged infections
Hypertension
Headaches
Brittle nails
Birth defects
Mental disorders
Endometriosis
Diabetes
Multiple sclerosis
Memory impairment
Cancer
Nervousness
Heart attack and stroke
Hair loss
High cholesterol
Intolerance to heat
Nutritional imbalance
Muscle weakness
Low immune system
Overweight
Arthritis/gout
Low blood pressure
Depression
Osteoporosis
Joint/muscle pain
Heart palpitations
Cystic breasts/ovaries
Chronic fatigue
Intolerance to cold
Hyperinsulinemia
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