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Thyroid Disease, A Naturopathic Answer

Thyroid disease, malfunctions of the thyroid gland, hyperthyroid (overactive)
or hypothyroid (underactive) are showing signs in our population of becoming an
epidemic says “The Colorado Thyroid Disease Prevalence Study”. This is a trend
across the board in American health, where we are seeing many common diseases
moving to an epidemic stage. You name a disease and it is probably an epidemic
or moving toward becoming an epidemic like thyroid disease.

Why do we have this problem? Well, as a naturopath I say look at the basics, we
are violating just about every natural law in how we take care of ourselves and
our environment. But for you who have thyroid disease, solving your problem is
the most important priority right now. I will be frank with you; the drug
industry does not have a realistic answer to your problem. Drugs can be a way to
stabilize your situation temporarily but to use those drugs does not address the
root of the problem only the symptoms. Through your thyroid disease, your body
is saying something is wrong with the way you are living. If you only address
this disease signal your body is sending you with drugs, without addressing the
real cause, it will breakout again as another disease and so on.

To get back to basics, take a look at an article I wrote titled “You Are Sick
and You Need Help Now” also read “I am an omnivore, we are all omnivores”. These
articles will give you some real solid basic health suggestions and common sense
knowledge that, when put into practice, begin to address those needs your body
has. When you give your body what it needs, the whole body begins to normalize
and all your organs begin to run like they were designed to. When they do that,
even genetically weak organs begin to move toward normal function.

I ask that you give these suggestions a fair shake of at least 3 months of
diligent work. Remember it took years of abuse to develop thyroid disease, it is
not going to be solved with a few good meals, you have to work with this. You
will see changes just as I did. Read my biography. I had cancer, a genetic
weakness, and many genetic problems all served up by an American life style. I
really thought I led a healthy life until I was taught better by my sicknesses.
If I had not changed my life, like I am asking you to do, I would be dead like
my father and grandfather. As I have repeated over and over to students, “I have
not drawn a sick breath since that time 18 years ago when I cured my cancer.”

While you are establishing a healthy foundation for your body there are herbs,
vitamins and minerals listed below that can assist you with your thyroid issues.
Also I would encourage you to take up a hatha yoga routine that includes the
inverted postures (simple inverted, shoulder stand, and plow poses). These
powerful yoga postures are known to cleanse and stimulate the thyroid gland to
balance itself while encourage a balancing of all hormones.

The kind of Ingredients you should seek for thyroid disease.
Below are listed some of many foods that can assist the body when it is
suffering from this disease. Some of these foods have a reputation for their
thyroid remedial power. Why is it important that the ingredients in the herbal
formulas you take be from food? Why couldn’t they be from chemicals? Scientists
would like to think that we can treat our bodies with chemicals, that chemical
medicines will cure us. But that has never happened and it never will; that is
why there are always dangerous side effects. This is just plain common sense;
our bodies do not recognize chemicals because they are not from nature. Below
are simple natural food complexes which have been shown to be better for our
internal human environment. Our forefather’s and mother’s have been using some
of these same ingredients for thousands of years with no ill effects.

Why so many different ingredients? This is also just plain common sense as are
all nature healing remedies and philosophies. Every single ingredient we are
suggesting will all encourage a positive result in your body. But our bodies are
uniquely individual and what will encourage dramatic healing results for you
might not be as beneficial for someone else with thyroid disease. So we suggest
many herbal foods combined together to create a healing synergy that will fit
with each unique individual. Again this is common sense when you are given the
simple answer. Chemicals can react against each other causing side effects while
foods tend to work together; we all know that.

Food Nutrients for the Thyroid
Listed below is information on different food complexes that assist the thyroid
to regain balance and function. This information was compiled by Doctor Robert
Thiel, N.H.D. who also holds a Ph.D. in nutrition science; he heads the research
group at Doctors’ Research.

Adrenalglandulars are a Food which has been used for decades by
nutrition-oriented doctors when adrenal concerns are suspected. The adrenal
glands help the body deal with stress, but high stress weakens the adrenal
glands. Fatigue and metabolic problems are common symptoms of adrenal
insufficiency. It should be noted that it is well accepted that hypoadrenalism
results in “increasing the frequency of hypoglycemia” as well as
“hypothyroidism”. Salt craving is a common symptom of hypoadrenalism; it can
also be involved in hypothyroidism. The adrenal cortex produces the hormone
cortisol which helps control organic metabolism and responses to stress.

Alfalfa is believed by some herbalists have a “beneficial effect on the
pituitary gland”, “helps in chemical imbalance”, “neutralizes uric acid for
arthritis”, and “is useful as a Food to prevent cholesterol accumulation in the
veins”; this last point is supported by several animal studies.

Brown Kelp is a Food source of trace minerals, and an excellent source of
iodine. Kelp has long been used (since 3000 B.C.) to provide nutritional support
for the thyroid gland. Gary Null, Ph.D., has written, “Kelp can rebalance
thyroid metabolism, resulting in successful weight management and the reversal
of many conditions which are caused by a thyroid imbalance, including stomach
and respiratory disorders”.

Burdock is believed by some to be helpful in “fortifying the immune system”.
It has several historical uses including helping with skin disorders
“particularly when they are caused by a system imbalance. It stimulates the
digestive juices and bile secretion and therefore is useful in treating anorexia
nervosa and digestion and appetite problems”. Some believe, in addition to
helping with digestive concerns, burdock “aids the pituitary gland to help
adjust hormone balance”. Burdock has sometimes been recommended for thyroid
health.

Carrots contain a variety of carotenoids, which is a vitamin A precursor.
Low levels of vitamin A are associated with increased risk of thyroid goiters
and deficiencies affect thyroid metabolism. “A decade-long Harvard study
indicated that by getting 50 milligrams of carotenoids in every other
day…significantly reduced the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and
cataracts”.

Copper is a mineral which, in proper dosages, is essential to the human
body. Vegetarian Thyro contains copper in a B-vitamin containing Food. Copper
works with zinc in the body, and zinc without copper can lead to imbalances.
Food copper is not like non-food forms such as copper chloride.

Guar gum seed is a water soluble fiber (in the form of a galactomannan),
extracted from locust beans. It improves “tolerance to glucose by decreasing
absorption”, which makes it of value for many.

Iodine can be properly called THE THYROID mineral since the body’s sole
use of the mineral iodine is for the thyroid to make thyroid hormones (T1,T2,T3,
& T4). The primary thyroid hormone (T1) is called monoiodotyrosine, which means
it needs iodine and tyrosine. It gets converted to T2 with the addition of more
iodine, then to T3 with more iodine then to T4 with even more iodine.

Irish Moss Chondrus crispus contains humic and fulvic acids (FAs) which
increase the solubility of toxic metals, thus it is sometimes used to detoxify.
Detoxification can be an issue with thyroid health as some believe that
substances like chloride and fluoride can bind with the thyroid and interfere
with iodine absorption. “Irish moss and Kelp combination is used to balance
hormonal indeficiency especially in the thyroid gland. It increases the
metabolic rate, thyroid activity, and the detoxifying function of the body. The
herbs {also} supply trace minerals…[and] is commonly used in conjunction
with…the complex of B vitamins, vitamin A,…and zinc”.

Liver glandulars have sometimes been recommended by nutrition-oriented
practitioners for some with metabolic concerns. The liver is involved in blood
sugar regulation, conversion of T4 to T3, and a variety of enzymes.

L-tyrosine an amino acid required for the production of thyroid hormones,
T1,T2,T3, and T4. Tyrosine may reduce the net rate of protein breakdown in the
body and appears to help with endurance. Tyrosine has an effect nerve impulse
transmission and may “improve vigilance and lessen anxiety”. Gary Null (Ph.D.)
considers tyrosine to be a therapeutic amino acid for depression as well was an
antiencephalopathic, antiparkinsonian, and an antidepressant. Women on oral
contraceptives have been found to have less plasma and brain levels of tyrosine
which results in a reduction in catecholamines, which affect mood. Oral
consumption of tyrosine has, in some case, been shown to completely alleviate
depression while increasing plasma tyrosine levels. It has also been shown to
help when MAO inhibitors did not. In rat models vitamin C has enhanced the
ability of tyrosine to decrease blood pressure. Interestingly, “Tyrosine has
been known to normalize blood pressure whether high or low. Tyrosine is being
tested by the Air Force to enhance performance under stress”.

The body naturally produces tyrosine by converting it from phenylalanine.
“Compared with tyrosine which has a de novo synthesis component limited by
phenylalanine oxidation, most nonessential amino acids have a very large de novo
synthesis components because of the metabolic pathways they are involved in”.
This might explain why taking separate tyrosine is more helpful for many than
taking other separate amino acids classified as nonessential—they can be made
with much easier (with less restriction) than tyrosine can (tyrosine requires
liver hydroxylation).

Pituitary glandulars have long been used by doctors. The pituitary produces
the thyroid stimulating hormone which signals to the thyroid that it needs to
work and make its own hormones.

Rice bran is a Food source of B vitamins, which are often used for stress
and anxiety.

Scullcap (also spelled “skullcap”) is a member of the mint family and is
often used as a tonic for ‘female weakness’.“These [tonics] are plant remedies
that either strengthen or enliven a specific organ or the whole body. They are
truly Nature’s gifts to a suffering humanity”. Even the United States
Pharmacopoeia has long recognized scullcap as a nervine and tonic. It also is
recommended by some herbalists for thyroid concerns.

Selenium seems to support thyroid hormone production, function as part of
many enzymes, have antioxidant effects, and supports cardiovascular health. Food
selenium is about twice as well retained than non-food selenium.

Thyroid glandulars have long been used by doctors to nutritionally
support the thyroid. The 1916 edition of the United States Pharmacopoeia states
that the following concerning thyroid glandulars, “exerting a strong influence
on the nutritive and metabolic processes. Used in the treatment of myxdema,
cretinism and obesity”. Dr. Cass Ingram also prefers glandulars to synthetic
thyroid medications when low thyroid is suspected. There are reports that many
who do not test positive for clinical hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism who take
thyroid glandulars have sometimes reported improvement in many symptoms
associated with hyperthyroid and hypothyroid.

Watercress Nasturium officinalis is an evergreen that thrives in clear cold
water. It has been written that, “Watercress is strongly alkaline due to its
high potassium content…Watercress increases blood circulation and increases
energy…. It increases physical endurance and stamina”.

Zinc deficiency in humans can cause thyroid problems, alopecia,
impotence, skin problems, immune deficiencies, increased susceptibility to
infection/sore throats, night blindness, impaired taste, delayed wound healing,
impaired appetite, photophobia (hypersensitivity to light), difficulty in dark
adaptation, growth retardation, male infertility (low sperm counts), liver
enlargement, and spleen enlargement.

Reference:
The Colorado Thyroid Disease Prevalence Study, Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:526-534
Gay J. Canaris, MD, MSPH; Neil R. Manowitz, PhD; Gilbert Mayor, MD; E. Chester
Ridgway, MD

Paul Blake is a doctor of herbal medicine and a master herbalist. He used naturopathic medicine to treat his own case of cancer eighteen years ago. Visit Paul’s website on Herbal Remedies, Natural Healing Herbs for more interesting information on improving your health, or for more information on the Thyroid Disease.

Thyroid Disease, A Naturopathic Answer / Author: Herb Prof

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