Health Gallery Nutrition Center

HYPOTHYROIDISM: A GROWING MENACE OVERLOOKED As early as 1959, a nationally recognized authority on the thyroid gland, Dr. A.S. Jackson, had published a paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association, declaring that low thyroid function is the most common disease entering the doctor's office and the diagnosis most missed. The situation is much the same today, except that there are more tests, more misdiagnosis, and more people complaining about the telltale physical and emotional signs of hypothyroidism: (1) weakness; (2) dry, coarse skin; (3) lethargy; (4) slow speech; (5) swelling of face and eyelids; (6) coldness and cold skin; (7) diminished sweating; (8) thick tongue; (9) coarse hair; (10) pale skin; (11) constipation; (12) gain in weight; (13) loss of hair; (14) nervousness; (15) heart palpitation; (16) brittle nails; (17) poor memory; (18) depression; (19) emotional instability; (20) depression; and (20) headaches. Speaking from almost fifty years of clinical experimentation, Dr. Barnes stated that no less than 40 percent of the adults population of the U.S. suffers from an often hidden condition known as hypothyroidism was going virtually undetected , because of doctorsÕ almost total reliance upon laboratory blood tests. Why should millions suffer needlessly from the insidious effects of hypothyroidism when a simple, accurate thyroid function test was available to everyone? The Barnes Basal Metabolism (underarm test) has been painstakingly checked for accuracy against basal metabolism results in thousands of persons in the late 1930s and early 1940s and a paper on the subject had been published in one of the most prestigious medical journals. You may be experiencing many of the signs mentioned above and your blood test appears normal. However, if your underarm test reading is below 97.6 degrees at least three days in a row, Dr. Barnes would be treating you for low thyroid. If some of your symptoms improve in 30 days of treatment, it seems logical that you are on the right track. Test yourself for lack of iodine. Simply use the "orange drugstore type iodine" on a sensitive portion of your skin. If it disappears with in 10 hours, your body has absorbed it indicating your body needs additional iodine. Iodine is critical for thyroid health. Traditional medical doctors are schooled to prescribe synthetic thyroid formulas for hypothyroidism such as levothyroxine. The generic name for thyroid brands such as Euthyrox, Levothyroid, Levoxyl, and Synthroid. Reports to the FDA indicate that levothyroxine is of little value in treatment of thyroid problems. Further investigation is necessary. Holistically oriented doctors, influenced by the great success of Dr. Barnes in treating hypothyroidism with Armour natural desiccated thyroid which provides both T4 and T3. Adrenal exhaustion is a condition that may preclude substantive improvement of symptoms. Symptoms that indicate a weak adrenal system, include allergies, asthma, breathing difficulties , acne, eczema, psoriasis, lupus, flaky dry skin, arthritic pains, and wide emotional swings. Members of the old medical school believed that low production of T4 was the major cause of hypothyroidism and that is the reason for using synthetic formulas. The thyroid must synthesize the T4 to T3 for the body to benefit from it. However, if the thyroid is unable to accomplish this action because it is lacking good nutrition, synthetic formulas fail. Even a mainstream authority like the New England Journal of Medicine supports the view that the T4/T3 combination is more effective than T4 alone. The nutritionally oriented physicians, such as Stephen E. Langer, M.D., believe the lack of the amino acid tyrosine and/or lack of enough iodine can inhibit the thyroid gland to synthesize T4. In addition, the need for selenium 100 to 200 micrograms, copper, zinc, vitamin E 400 IU, vitamin C 1000 to 1500 mg and B vitamin complex 50 to 100 mg are necessary to build up the thyroid. Other products used to nutritionally improve the condition of the thyroid are: Thyroid Support 1 fl oz, (Homeopathic) $9.95; Thyroid caps 60 $16.00; Atomidine 2 fl oz, $11.00; and Liqui-dulse 4 fl oz, $9.95. THYROIDITIS: Rarely Diagnosed and Consequently Rarely Treated Hashimoto's Autoimmune Thyroiditis (HAIT) is an autoimmune illness. The body produces antibodies which attack the thyroid gland as if it were a threatening invader such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi (yeast). Way back in the year 1935, HAIT was almost too rare to be a statistic occurring in about 6 individuals in 100,000. Today approximately 2 out of 100 are afflicted with HAIT, according to an article in Medical Clinics of America. More recent estimates boost that figure to about 3 percent of the population. The diagnosis is often not suspected and, therefore, not treated. What are HAIT'S classic symptoms? (1) Deep fatigue, often patients go to sleep exhausted and wake up even more so. They lack endurance and day-to-day activities is beyond them. (2) Depression. Thyroiditis is frequently a common cause of postpartum depression. Many are treated with Prozac rather than discover what could be causing the depression. PatientsÕ exhaustion and inability to function normally being on feelings of futility -- especially in adult women. Proper testing for antibodies to the thyroid. (3) Memory loss, effecting recent memory and ability to concentrate. (4) Nervousness ranges from mild anxiety to full-blown panic attacks. Something is wrong physically, yet all medical exams are normal. An exhausted adrenal system can exhibit similar symptoms. An accurate way to diagnose hypothyroidism is by means of the Barnes Basal Temperature Test. More than a hundred years of research has established a definite relationship between subnormal temperature, no matter how slight, and hypothyroidism. Specific treatments and explanation can be found in SOLVED: the RIDDLE of ILLNESS Your Amazing Thyroid and How You Can Work With It To Control: Arthritis, Obesity, Depression, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Circulatory Problems, Cancer, Sexual Problems. By Stephen E. Langer, M.D. and James F. Scheer. Thought For The Day: Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself! Leo Tolstoi