Natural Support for Hypothyroidism -Michael T. Murray, N.D.

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Natural Support for Hypothyroidism - Michael T. Murray, N.D.

JoAnn Guest

Feb 24, 2005 16:33 PST

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Introduction

 

A low level of thyroid hormone is a common problem, affecting perhaps

one out of five women and a smaller percentage of men. If your thyroid

activity is reduced, your body may not respond as well as it should to

nutritional or supplemental strategies. For that reason, a crucial step

in attaining or maintaining good health is to make sure your thyroid is

working properly.

 

What is the thyroid gland?

 

The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck below the voice

box. It is just about the same size and shape - and is in the same

location - as a small bow tie. The thyroid secretes two hormones that

are crucial for regulating metabolism: triiodothyronine (T3) and

thyroxine (T4). The numbers refer to the numbers of iodine atoms each

molecule of hormone contains. T4 is the major player, because it affects

virtually every cell in the body.

 

Since thyroid hormones affect every cell of the body, a deficiency or

hypothyroidism will usually result in a large number of signs and

symptoms including low body temperature, intolerance to cold, weight

gain or an inability to lose weight, depression, lack of concentration,

hair loss, and fatigue. Hypothyroidism is an extremely common condition

that is estimated to affect nearly 20% of all women and 10% of all men

in the United States.

 

Common signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism:

 

Depression

Difficulty in losing weight

Dry skin

Headaches

Lethargy or fatigue

Menstrual problems

Recurrent infections

Sensitivity to cold

Diagnosing hypothyroidism

 

Your doctor can conduct blood tests that measure thyroid hormone levels.

The test assesses the quantity of T4 and T3 hormones and determines how

well the body's cells respond to the hormones by measuring the level of

thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), a chemical released by the pituitary

gland. High levels of TSH indicate that the cells of the body are not

receiving adequate thyroid hormone. As a result, the pituitary is in

overdrive, frantically trying to signal the thyroid to step up its

hormone output.

 

Although a low level of thyroid hormone or an elevated TSH clearly

indicate low thyroid function, in milder cases of thyroid hormone

insufficiency, the blood tests may show that hormone levels are within

" normal " ranges, even if the person is experiencing symptoms. In these

individuals, I recommend that they try to boost thyroid hormone activity

by taking Thyroid Health Formula from Natural Factors. This

recommendation is especially useful in people that have a TSH value is

greater than 2.0 IU/ml (International Units per milliliter), but less

than the 5.5 IU/ml level indicative of hypothyroidism.

 

Before rushing off to your doctor for a blood test, however, I suggest

that you first determine your basal body temperature. Your body

temperature reflects your metabolic rate, a rate that in turn is largely

determined by thyroid hormone activity. When your thyroid is out of

whack, your temperature often falls. Many experts agree that the basal

body temperature is the most sensitive functional test of thyroid

function. The test is simple: all you need is a thermometer.

 

Many health experts believe that determining your basal body temperature

- the temperature of your body at rest - is the most sensitive test of

thyroid function. The test is simple: all you need is a thermometer.

 

Taking Your Basal Body Temperature

 

Plan to take the test first thing in the morning after you wake up,

because it's important to measure temperature after you have had

adequate rest.

Before going to sleep, if you are not using a digital thermometer shake

down a regular thermometer to below the 95-degree mark and place it by

your bed.

Immediately upon waking, place the thermometer in your armpit (if using

a regular thermometer keep it there for a full 10). Hold your elbow

close to your side to keep the thermometer in place.

Read and record the temperature and date.

Repeat the test for least three mornings (preferably at the same time of

day).

A reading between 97.6 and 98.2 degrees F is normal. Readings below 97.6

may indicate hypothyroidism.

Note: Menstruating women must perform the test on the second, third, and

fourth days of menstruation. Men and postmenopausal women can perform

the test at any time.

 

Dealing with hypothyroidism

 

Severe hypothyroidism requires the use of supplemental thyroid hormone -

available only by prescription. Mild or subclinical hypothyroidism may

respond to nutritional and herbal support such as Thyroid Health

Formula. Like other glands, the thyroid has special nutritional needs.

Here are some of the key nutrients required for proper thyroid function

that are found in Thyroid Health Formula:

 

Iodine. The thyroid gland needs iodine to make its hormones. In fact,

iodine's only role in your body is in making thyroid hormones. Too

little iodine can cause impaired thyroid function, while too much iodine

can actually interfere with the thyroid's ability to produce hormones.

The dosage range for iodine supplementation is 300 to 400 mcg per day.

Read the labels on your multivitamin supplement and on any thyroid

preparations you are taking. Keep your intake of iodized salt to a bare

minimum. Make sure that your total amount of iodine intake is within the

recommended range - not too low or too high.

Tyrosine. The other key ingredient in thyroid hormones is the amino acid

tyrosine. Taking L-tyrosine alone or as a component as a nutritional

supplement at a dosage of 500 mg daily may enhance thyroid function.

Herbal support for thyroid function

 

Two herbs long used in Ayurvedic medicine - Withania somnifera

(ashwaganda) and Commiphora mukul (myrrh) - have shown an ability to

boost thyroid function in experimental studies in animals. The two

plants appear to exert synergistic effects. Specifically, withania

extract appears to produce a significant increase in the level of

thyroid hormone (T4) while commiphora extract enhances the conversion of

T4 to the more potent T3 form.1-4 Both of the plants appear to boost

thyroid function without influencing the release of the pituitary

hormone TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) indicating the herbs work

directly on the thyroid gland and other body tissues to exert their

effects. This action is quite important as 95% of all cases of

hypothyroidism are not due to a problem with pituitary. The problem is

with the thyroid gland itself and an impaired conversion of T4 into the

more potent T3 in tissues outside the thyroid gland. The recommended

dosages for thyroid support for the two herbs as contained in two

Thyroid Health Formula capsules are:

 

Withania somnifera root extract (standardized to contain 1.5%

withanolides)

- 150 mg

Commiphora mukul extract (standardized to contain 2.5% guggulsterones)

- 100 mg

A Testimonial

 

Since the Thyroid Health Formula has been available I have been

continually been amazed at some of the feedback from users - really life

changing experiences. Perhaps the best story is that of one health food

store worker - Jane. A 38 year old woman, Jane had battled with her

weight ever since high school. In the 20 years after high school she had

gained 45 pounds. I was amazed when I saw her recently as she finally

was able to shed the excess weight. She cried with joy when she thanked

me for providing the answer to her health challenges. She said that the

only thing that she had done differently over the past six months was

add the Thyroid Health Formula to her routine. She credited the formula

with producing the changes in her life. It seems that Jane had always

suffered from a mild insufficiency of thyroid hormone. By providing the

nutritional and herbal support, the Thyroid Health Formula reset her fat

burning thermostat and she was able to lose the weight that had plagued

her for 20 years.

 

If you are a regular reader of my work, then you know that I rarely

provide anecdotal information. The reason that I am doing so here is

simply to illustrate how getting your thyroid into shape can produce a

dramatic changes in your life.

 

Additional Recommendations for Thyroid Health

 

As I have previously described in other newsletters, I am a firm

believer in building a strong foundation. In that goal, there are three

key dietary supplements that I recommend to provide a strong foundation

for a proper nutritional supplement plan:

 

A high-potency multiple vitamin and mineral formula (MultiStart).

A " greens " drink product (Enriching Greens).

A pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplement (RxOmega-3 Factors).

A strong nutritional foundation is important as a deficiency of

nutrients like zinc, copper, manganese, and the vitamins A, B2, B3, B6,

C, and E could cause or contribute to hypothyroidism. Taking MultiStart

will ensure optimal levels of these important nutrients.

 

An important dietary recommendation is to avoid goitrogens. Some foods,

especially when eaten raw, contain substances that interfere with your

body's ability to absorb and use iodine. Because these foods can

contribute to the risk of goiter, they are classified as goitrogens.

Examples include turnips, cabbage, mustard, cassava root, soybean,

peanuts, pine nuts, and millet. Because these foods contain many other

valuable nutrients, I recommend that you avoid them only if low thyroid

hormone levels are a problem for you. Cooking usually inactivates

goitrogens, so don't be concerned about these items in your diet if you

serve them cooked. Also, the BIG concern over soy isoflavones inhibiting

thyroid function appears to be overstated as recent studies have shown

no adverse effect on thyroid function.5

 

 

Key References:

 

Panda S, Kar A. Withania somnifera and Bauhinia purpurea in the

regulation of circulating thyroid hormone concentrations in female mice.

J Ethnopharmacol 1999;67(2):233-9.

Panda S, Kar A. Changes in thyroid hormone concentrations after

administration of ashwagandha root extract to adult male mice. J Pharm

Pharmacol 1998;50(9):1065-8.

Panda S, Kar A. Gugulu (Commiphora mukul) induces triiodothyronine

production: possible involvement of lipid peroxidation. Life Sci

1999;65(12):PL137-41.

Tripathi YB, Malhotra OP, Tripathi SN. Thyroid stimulating action of

Z-guggulsterone obtained from Commiphora mukul. Planta Med

1984;(1):78-80.

Doerge DR, Sheehan DM. Goitrogenic and estrogenic activity of soy

isoflavones. Environ Health Perspect 2002;110(Suppl 3):349-53.

 

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