Low Temperature and Hypothyroidism
★★★★★
So perhaps its best to go and see your doctor and ask, at the very least, for a Free T3 and Free T4 (thyroid hormones) test. Your doctor will probably advise that you simply take just the TSH test - which is highly inaccurate on its own. So I would insist on the TSH plus the Free T3 and Free T4 tests for the thyroid gland. Your series of tests, to give a complete picture, should also realistically include blood tests for ferritin(anaemia), adrenal hormones(stress), TSH, T3, T4, Reverse T3 and a test for Vitamin B12 levels in the blood. This is described in more detail in the links below.
For a proper understanding and much more detail on how to actually cure your own thyroid problem and symptoms (using the lugols iodine protocol and natural bio-identical hormones) you should also try to read Dr Brownsteins two books which will give you a much greater understanding of your problem:
Iodine: Why You need it, Why you Can't Live Without it
The above books can also be found on Amazon.
And also from Dr Brownstein, here is a simple link that quickly describes, in fair detail, some surprising reasons as to what really causes hypothyroidism, its particular effects on the body and what you can actually do about it.
http://americannutritionassociation.org/sites/default/files/Brownstein 1.pdf
Lugol's Iodine
A chiropractor noticed I was getting a "dowager's hump" and said it was because of my hypothyroidism. I have been taking .125 synthroid for 24 years. He suggested I take Lugol's Iodine. I have been taking it but it has been making me dizzy and weak, or something is making me dizzy and weak. Anyone have any experience with Lugol's Iodine and thyroid medication?
(Maryland, USA)
05/16/2009
Although I have thyroid disease, I can't speak on the iodine as I am still researching many things. But I wanted to remark on the dowager's hump - this means osteoporosis and that should be attended to ASAP. Have you had a bone scan? It would be a good idea to find out just what level this is at.
A lot of people think that popping some calcium tablets will be the fix, but this is not true. Building and maintaining bone is far more complex than that, and calcium alone will not do it. On the dietary front, chia seeds are a "super food" that are easy to incorporate into the diet (eat plain, sprinkle on salads or cereals, add to soups, baked goods, etc.). Among other beneficial things, like omega-3's and 6's, chia seeds contain a good amount of calcium plus an often-overlooked trace mineral which is important for bone health - boron. They are also a good source of phosphorus and manganese. You also would want to ensure adequate intake of vitamins D3 and K - I take these together in a tiny sublingual "dot". Another factor will be magnesium. I take a calcium magnesium citrate liquid; again it's very easy to take. These should of course be in addition to a good diet and multivitamin. Do some research on these vitamins and minerals, and bone health in general, and see what you think.
Just found these links to start you off, which from a quick skim seem to have good info:
http://www.project-aware.org/Health/Osteo/osteo-bonehealth.shtml
http://www.project-aware.org/Health/Osteo/osteo-bonehealth2.shtml
Good luck, and please keep us updated!
(Nashville, TN)
05/16/2009
Thanks for your concern. I think I'm OK on the osteo thing - my last bone scan showed me at, I think this is right, 117. They told me that was way over the normal number, which I think is around 100, for good strong bones - so no bone loss yet. The chiropractor doctor told me that I would get rid of the hump with 6 drops of Lugol's (15%) 3 times a day. And something is making me really dizzy, so I was hoping to find out more info from others who might have taken Lugol's along with their synthroid medication. Thanks so much for you help!!!
(Nashville, TN)
05/19/2009
Should you take Lugol's Iodine AND your Synthroid medication for hypothyroidism?
I was told that a 15% solution of Lugol's Iodine, 6 drops a day, three times a day for about three months, would cure hypothyroidism. Has anyone else heard about this? And is it safe to take your doctor prescribed thyroid meds while taking Lugol's Iodine? I've been taking .l25 for about 24 years.
Maca
one of yr posts that Maca is really helpful to menopausal women especially. Do you think it can correct a hypothyroid condition with long term use? Ihave read many good reviews on this product and would love to try it. I was diagnosed with hypothyroid a few months ago and I am hoping Maca can help. Please advice. Thank you so much.
(Thousand Oaks, Ca, USA)
12/02/2009
Hi Loren, I'm glad you find my posts of use. I think that Maca would be a wonderful choice for you as I have noticed that many of your posts have to do with thyroid, menopausal and adrenal issues. This is a superfood that addresses all of these. I would also encourage you to read up on others like raw cacao, goji berries, medicinal mushrooms- there are some amazing superfoods on this planet that are given to us by Mother Nature we need only do the research. I know I've said this before but you should listen to David Wolfe speak on youtube and other forums as he is quite brilliant in his research and knowledge- an absolute wealth of information and much of it doctors will not tell you or don't even know themselves or would poo-poo the info anyway. He has given me some amazing keys to my own healing such as the negative effects of calcium in the body and the damage it is doing to everyone. I can't believe how much is changing for myself. I love it! At any rate, don't become overwhelmed and maca would be a wonderful start. I wish you the best! Lisa
(Queens, Ny)
12/02/2009
(Toledo, Oh - Ohio)
03/06/2012
★☆☆☆☆
I'm a certified Holistic Health Coach. I had previously used Maca when I was 40 because I was experiencing hormonal fluxuation. I wanted to mention that I had to stop because it was making me estrogen dominant. After stopping my estrogen dominant symptoms went away. I was hoping that it would have increased my progesterone.
(Nyc, Ny)
03/06/2012
Sonja.... What were your/are "estrogen dominant symptoms"? Thanks in advance.
Medication Side Effects
 (1) |
100% |
(La, Usa)
03/19/2012
Hi, your msg. frightens me. I am on euthyrox since Oct'11 25mg daily and I have noticed a consistent weight gain since then. I have told my doctor about this, and he says be patient, you are actually supposed to lose weight on this , but you are giving me mixed signals. He increased the dosage by 25mg for one day of the week, and I think he wants to see what happens. As the visits are every two months, I think that I am in for a long wait , to see how my body reacts to teeny weeny increases.... I too have gained about 5 kg and very upset about it, despite controlled eating. I am on the verge of ditching the meds, but I have seen an improvements in other areas so dont want to give up on those. Instead I am now thinking of starting daily exercise of at least 1 hour a day, may be this will help.... But if it does, then it wont be the medication, it will be the excersise and I wont know for sure... I am confused as you are....
(Florida)
09/23/2015
Multiple Remedies
I immediately started research here for natural healing and added coconut oil to my daily intake of food (about 1and 1/2 or 2 Tbsp/day). Also, 4 days ago, I found a kelp supplement w/ added folic acid and started that, 1/day. At the same time, I found Ashwaganda and a B-stress formula and started taking those 2x's a day. I've been unable to find the Guggul and the Bauhinia as of yet.
I also had started ACV (about 2Tbsp. + water +honey around 2x's a day) about a week before this diagnosis, as I had just found this website and read that it would help my asthma. Unbelievably, my asthma practically disappeared w/i 2 days. Weirdest thing I've ever seen! I have used my Xopenex inhaler 3times w/i the last 3 weeks, but only on the nights when I had neglected to take my ACV that day. Before that, I had been using it 3 to 4 times A DAY!, 2 puffs each time, and it was getting worse by the day! Oh, and I have OPed with Coconut Oil about 4 or 5 times during this time too (only once before my asthma went away though, so I attribute it's disappearance to the ACV, not the OP).
My husband made the comment to me yesterday that I seem to have gotten worse since being diagnosed. (I only started the Armour 2 mornings ago). I agree that I seem to be even more exhausted than normal and the only thing I can think of is that maybe I'm detoxing because of the OPing and the ACV, and the coconut oil in general? I would not be surprised in the least if I have a system wide Candida issue. I think I read somewhere about "die-off"? Can you explain this to me and tell me what I would need to do to help it along? It's Christmas of course, so it is not real probable for me to get off sugar until January. Even then, I will struggle tremendously. I am truly addicted to chocolate and crave a sweet (hot chocolate, cookies, cheesecake, hot fudge sundae, etc...) before going to bed at night. :(
Are there other things I could be doing for hypothyroidism that I am not currently doing? I find it difficult to get enough time on here to read everything as I have 3 children and am SO exhausted! Do I need to take more coconut oil than I am? More Kelp? More B? More herbs? Oh, and what is the difference between cold pressed and expeller pressed? Mine is from Radiant Life and is expeller pressed. Also, do I really have to take 2 days off the ACV every wk. to get it to work best? I'm concerned about my asthma coming back. I hate being dependent on the inhaler.
I know that I have more questions, but due to the fog brain, I can't remember them all. My memory is shot. I walk around all day knowing I'm supposed to be doing something, but can't remember what. Please help!
Erika, my hypothyroid was off the charts a yr ago, and small nodule, but is now normal. My regimen wasn't completely like yours but some similarities. I had severe side effects to the Levothyroxine with only 2 doses. I used magnet therapy daily on each gland for almost 1yr. I finally broke down and decided the Kelp thing wasn't enough and the povidone iodine may not be suitable, and began liquid potassium iodine. A few weeks of daily LPI I experienced a sudden symptoms of radiation sickness. I took some pectin fiber and sodium bicarbonate to deal with the radiation (I assume). Normal now. Oh, I also took raw thyroid glandular daily for several months.
Hope this helps and good luck.
(Uppsala, Sweden)
02/24/2013
Watch out so you don´t overdo it! I screwed up my liver because I started taking like 20 supplements at the same time. They have no time to work separately, so you do need to stop the madness. Take the kelp and ACV and wait with the VCO because it is actually cleansing your liver and will make you worse for couple of weeks, so when you start with it, you need to be sure that you don't take anything else! Good luck!
(North Carolina)
07/06/2017
Michelle, no one is going to listen to you extolling the virtues of a synthetic thyroid here on Earth Clinic. We are interested in natural remedies and cures from the things God created---not the junk created in a pharmaceutical lab for profit.
Multiple Remedies
★★★★★
Then I started taking MSM, L-tyrosine, mega doses of B vitamins, vitamin C, zinc, selenium, vitamin D3 (very important- 5000IU) Vitamin E. Everything in high doses. I also was drinking a lot of herbal teas like: nettle (for extra iron), horsetail, sage, liqurice root. I had a big glass of raw vegetable/fruit juice with ginger every day. I also consumed some chlorella, coconut oil, fish/evening primerose oil and bee pollen. I installed water filter to get rid of the fluoride in my drinking water and used chemical-free cosmetics and household products (no perfume as well) I consume only organic meat, raw cheese and do not drink any alcohol nor coffee and do not smoke. I walk 1-2 hours every day and use only cable internet and no wireless devices. (wireless and all x-rays are very bad for the thyroid) I reduced the use of my mobile phone. I removed all my amalgam fillings and do not eat tuna- too much mercury in there! ) I also tried liquid zeolites for a month and it gave me so much energy but had to discontinue it because of high price. This is a lot but certainly it worked because my TSH is 3.30 now and I am feeling much more better. If I do not take MSM I am losing my hair and if I do not take 300 mg of niacin a day I am getting nervous. I hope it will help. Regards, Magda
(London)
05/07/2015
★★★★★
Thanks Magda! Since I first found my TSH as high as 19 two months ago, I've been taking the same vitamins, herbal teas of echinacea, licorice, astragalus; ashwagandha capsules, chyawanprash in the morning and triphala in the evening, EV coconut oil 2-3 table spoons a day, fruit, cooked vegetables, very little of oatmeal and other grains, every day bone broth, brazil nuts for selenium and pumpkin seeds for zinc/magnesium, sometimes probiotic capsules. I use only olive oil for frying.
In two months my TSH improved to 10. The antibodies also improved.
Should I start taking levothyroxin tablets?
(Essex, England)
05/08/2015
My doctor has been monitoring me with blood tests for over six months, thinking I might have underactive thyroid, I had many of the symptoms but they would come and go and switch around.
I am now on a healthier diet but get good days and bad days, is it the same with you? Am thinking of taking licquorice and some other things, deciding which way to go, turmeric keeps coming up as being a good idea. How are you getting on?
(London)
05/08/2015
Hi Carmel, I feel little improvement not every day, but every week in general.
Does your blood test display that you are low in freeT3, T4 and have too high TSH and antibodies?
If your blood test results are within normal range, but you have simptoms of underactive thyroid, I would recommend you to choose natural remedy in accordance with the symptoms. I am not a doctor, this comes from my personal experience.
If you have issues with the immune system, you should understand, either you are TH1 dominant or TH2 dominant, and take the herbs accordingly (TH1 - green tea, gotu kola, pycnogenol, grape seed extract, lycopene; while TH2's are echinacea, licorice, astragalus, maitake mushroom etc). There is information about this in Google.
If it is slow methabolism, there are coconut oil, triphala for constipation and general detox, probiotics. For stress and anxiety there are adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha, siberian ginseng, passiflora. And vitamins of course for general well-being.
I've been taking coconut oil for a year and my thyroid seems to have re balanced itself going by my morning basal temperatur( taken before I get out if bed). Be careful with licorice as though it has its uses. It can send your blood pressure up a lot. I was having several cups a day and mine went from my normal 120/75 to 157/85! When I came off the licorice my BP came down.
(London)
05/12/2015
(Vancouver, Canada)
10/29/2016
Olive oil is great for salads and dressings, but is not suitable for frying. Much too fragile (Still shaking my head at some of these cooking shows where celeb chefs use EVOO for frying! ) It simply does not have a high smoke point and can make your end results carcinogenic. Much better choices for frying foods or high-heat baking are avocado oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil and macademia nut oil - all have high smoke points.
Multiple Remedies
My question is, how much of both the coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar would you recommend I take and also how many times/day? I have been taking 3 tablespoons 3 times a day of the coconut oil. I also read about kelp as helping, but I am a newbie and I am just not sure what to do or how much of anything I should be taking to help. I am also trying to avoid soy(challenge! ) and gluten and any refined sugar... And I exercise everyday, trying to lose about 50 lbs, that I really think came on because of my thyroid. I would appreciate any help or thoughts. Thank you :)
(Austin, Tx, Usa)
12/13/2010
I had the same issue as you mentioned. I do a combination of acupuncture and chinese herbs, along with chiropracter once monthly who suggested taking "CHIRO-ZYME T1 to T12 Rbs" (I take that one, three times daily with meals). I eat 2 tablespoons of Artisana Coconut Butter (not oil) fisr thing in the morning in addition to cooking with coconut oil. I completely eliminated soy products (despite being vegetarian). Found other sources of gluten free and soy free protein, in addition to cooking/eating at home. I also add to my diet daily Sea vegetables organic sold in plastic bags in the Asian aisles of most grocery stores. Dulse, seaweed and any other sea veg that has iodine content in it. Finally I replaced regular sea salt with 'Sea Seasonings Organic KELP Granules'. Found relief in approx 2 weeks of doing so. Once energy returned included daily exercise and am at a much better place. I was told by my chiropractor to NOT take traditional meds for this since it worsens the thyroid making it dependent on the meds for a very long time. Hope this helps!
Multiple Remedies
I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, with diagnosed thyroglobulin antibodies (but not peroxidase antibodies; not sure what the implications of the one without the other are).
I also have adrenal issues and find that taking Isocort makes all the difference in the world to my ability to think and have energy. Isocort is bovine adrenal gland that is supposed to be standardized to 2-1/2 mg. of cortisol per pill. It is non-prescription in the US, but I don't think it's available at all in Canada.
I am starting to experiment with EV coconut oil (2 Tablespoons/day) and Atomidine (the latter I've tried before by itself), where I try the Edgar Cayce approach of stimulating the thyroid via 1 drop of Atomidine in a glass of water on Day 1, increasing by 1 drop/day up to 5 drops on Day 5, then stop for 5 days, then repeat. I am wondering if such iodine stimulation is a bad idea or a good idea for autoimmune hypothyroidism, as stimulating the thyroid can, according to some theories, increase the autoimmune response against the thyroid. Can't say it's done anything so far, either way, now that I'm on Day 6 (nor when I've tried it in the past, except perhaps a tiny bit of improvement BEFORE I was on Armour/Nature-Throid, but I never continued long enough to be sure). The only thing that REALLY seems to matter is if I don't take my full 6 Isocort pills that I'm up to these days. (The Isocort bottle says you can take up to 8/day.)
I was hoping the EVCO would help the adrenals. I'll try another round or two of Atomidine starting Day 11 while continuing the EVCO throughout, and if I don't notice any changes from the Atomidine, I'll drop that and keep up the EVCO for another couple of weeks, and if THAT doesn't make obvious improvements, I'll work harder at alkalizing my body.
Vinegar alkalizes the body, but I'm reluctant to use it because I've heard from some sources it's not the best to use, especially if you have candidiasis issues, which I may have, though nowadays I think celiac disease is more of the problem.
So far no obvious changes one way or the other, but I have had the sense most of my life that my body likes the feel of coconut in my tummy, and it's not just the taste. I'll keep you posted...
Over the Counter
★★★★★
Prescription Medications
| (1) |
100% |
I have been on Eltroxin for thyroid for a few years. Lately my heart started palpitations. Had a blood test done. It came back that my thyroid was underactive again. Dr. increases my meds from 50 to 100. Had another test done in two weeks and it came back normal. But I still have heart palpitations. How long does it take for the meds to settle my heart. Do you think I should try some virgin coconut oil or kelp supplements? Or would this give me more palpitations??
(Chapel Hill, Tn)
02/08/2010
First research adrenal fatigue. Seems that adrenal is the primary cause of hypothyroidism (among other issues). If you start to treat your adrenals (primarily with eating foods to nurture it and supplements as well), then you will see improvement in your thyroid. Heart palpitations in my experience never seemed to have lasted long. That is a little concerning that you are having heart palpiations for so long. Ask your doctor to back off a level as your issue is really concerning you. or ask for a different brand. From what I understand Kelp and VCO are good places to start, but it gets confusing to me. Should I first look into healing the adrenals and then look into the thyroid...or does it all just fall in place?
Prescription Medications
Hi, I am wondering if anybody has info on any issues of taking ACV or Turmeric while on Synthroid. I had my thyroid removed last year and wonder if it is OK to take these remedies or will it interfere with the meds.
(York County, Maine)
01/11/2010
Hi Sharon, I had my thyroid "fried" several years ago, started w/Synthroid, now take 200 mcg of Levothyroxine. I don't ingest ACV consistently. When I did take it for a period of time, I saw no effect toward my med....I took it in the evening so as not to disturb the absorption - you know how you should avoid dairy for so many hours within taking the med, etc. - I haven't found that any supplement I've ingested has affected the med, actually, and I've dabbled with St. John's Wort, Maca, Cellfood and have just started with 15 drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide in 6 ounces of water. I take colloidal silver on occasion or echinacea to ward off a cold; sometimes ingest a sublingual B complex which seems to help when the corners of my mouth are dry and cracked....listen to your body and just stop if it feels wrong. Good Luck to You!
(The Beach, Canada)
01/11/2010
Prescription Medications
Remove Old Dental Fillings
★★★★★
I had terrible toxicity symptoms from extreme fatigue, dizzy spells, memory loss, and multiple food intolerances. Anything that had pesticides, especially herbs, caused near anaphlyactic responses.
I was taking 125 mcg synthroid for 10 years. I never felt right.
I found when I took kelp, my thyroid increased but sometimes it went too high.
I did a lot of research on mercury fillings and decided to have a bio dentist remove them safely. I felt worse as they removed several at each visit. On my last visit, something remarkable happened. The next morning after my last amalgam was removed my basal body temperature returned to normal for the first time in my life.
I ended up in the ER because my thyroid became over active from the medication. The doctor looked at me like I was crazy when I told him it was because of my fillings. My tests confirmed that my thyroid was working on its own and I no longer needed medication. I have been free of hypothyroidism for 5 years now!
Please research the effects of mercury on your hormones. My endocronologist now makes all of her patients remove their amalagams. She has found great evidence that women in menopause can not balance their hormones until their old fillings have been replaced with more bio compatible fillings. No more silver!!!
It's also important to use chlorella or a product like ___ ___ ____ to remove remaining mercury immediately following your dentist visit after amalgam removal.
Good Luck!
(Los Angeles, Ca 91326)
01/17/2011
Dear Amy, Your story sounds similar to mine. I have been hypothyroid almost 8 years. It happened after menopause, and it has destroyed my life. I am intolerant to every thyroid medicine and have tried them all. I have researched toxic old dental fillings and still have a few left in my mouth and have always wondered if this was a problem. My regular dentist removed one and that was the start of face pain.
Since I live in L.A., can you recommend a biodentist that removed your fillings. I live for the day to get off these thyroid meds.
Thank you,
Linda at LINDAUTHR(at)aol(dot)com
(Texas)
07/07/2013
I have recently been diagnosed with hypothyroidism & started taking medication earlier this year. I'm doing better than I was, but could be better yet! I have some fillings I got when I was about 17 years old, I am now 25 years old (so I'm obviously not menopausal or post menopausal), but I did have a baby last year.... So I wonder if my fillings could be my issue. I actually lost one of my fillings a few months before I had my baby, I'm certain I probably ingested it. It's an interesting thing to wonder...
(Easton, Md)
08/10/2018
Seaweed
(Atlanta, Ga)
10/18/2011
★★★★★
(Somewhere, Europe)
10/18/2011
(Gippsland, Australia)
10/18/2011
Hi Mmsg, Kombu is a variety of kelp just as in Australia we have bull kelp growing off Tasmania (I think it is still harvested at King Island). Some other varieties are: giant kelp; stalked kelp; sea bamboo; wakame.
Bladder wrack is a seaweed that is often used to extract iodine and some refer to it as a kelp but I have read that it is not.
(Usa)
09/29/2014
Ted's Remedies
Thank you!
Melissa
Hi Melissa, Don't know what Ted's recommended vitamins for hypothyroidism is but one patient who was taking thyroid medication and remaining in the low normal range, suddenly soared out the far end of normal range about a month after she started taking a Stress Tablet 4 times a day. This is just a B complex with added Vitamins C & E.
