Improve gut health through
homeopathic detoxification.
Remove
heavy metals from the body through
homeopathic detoxification.
Stop drinking all coffee, black
tea and all sodas.
Remove
gluten from the diet and eat a healthy, whole foods diet with adequate
protein.
Get adequate sleep of 7 - 8
hours nightly, and be in bed by 10 pm nightly.
The thyroid gland
wraps around the windpipe (trachea) with a shape similar to a
butterfly, formed by two wings and attached by a middle part.
About the Thyroid and Thyroid Hormones Thyroid hormones are produced by the thyroid gland which is located at the
base of the neck. The Thyroid hormone is called
thyroxine. A thyroid-stimulating
hormone (TSH) blood test is used to check for thyroid gland problems.
T3 is made up of 4 molecules of iodine, and T3 is 3 molecules of iodine. TSH
is produced when the hypothalamus releases a substance called
thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH).
TRH then triggers the pituitary gland to release TSH.
The thyroid gland uses
iodine,
which is mostly available from the diet in foods such as seafood, bread, and
salt is needed to produce thyroid hormones.
The two most important
thyroid hormones are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
T3 is made up of 4 molecules of
iodine,
and T3 is 3 molecules of
iodine. Having adequate iodine
in the diet
is critical for proper thyroid function.
T4 become T3 and 65% is done in the
liver. The other 20% of conversion is in
the gut, the other 15% is in the periphery.
Once released from the thyroid
gland into the blood, a large amount of T4 is converted into T3 which is the
active hormone that affects the metabolism of cells.
T4 accounts
for 99% and T3 accounts for 1% of thyroid hormones present in the blood.
The
thyroid hormone
that is the most biological activity is T3.
This entire conversion
depends on adequate zinc. Low levels of
selenium will also cause inactivity of T3.
In 2002, the Society of Endocrinologists announced that the standard testing
ranges for TSH were inaccurate and that many people with hypothyroidism were
undiagnosed.
Many thyroid lab tests have still not been corrected to test
for the accurate range of thyroid hormone levels.
The
TSH functional
range (optimum) is 1.3 - 1.8 and not higher like most lab ranges
currently report.
Conventional medicine often only
looks at TSH and may not be using the most current cut-off levels even for that.
In allopathy,
hypothyroidism is generally treated with synthetic T4 using Synthroid and
Levothyroxine, which can correct T4 and TSH levels.
But, many people cannot efficiently convert T4 to T3.This is a problem because
T3 is the more active form of thyroid hormone. Even if
your T4 and TSH levels are optimal, if your T3 levels are imbalanced, you may
still experience symptoms.
Hypothyroidism is a condition
in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone.
Hypothyroidism upsets the normal
balance of chemical reactions in your body.
This means the thyroid gland
does not produce enough thyroxine
(T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
Your body's energy production
requires certain amounts of thyroid hormones to function, so a drop in
hormone production leads to lower energy levels.
Because thyroid hormone affects growth, development, and many cellular
processes, inadequate thyroid hormone can have widespread consequences for the
body.
Other causes
include growths in the thyroid gland (thyroid nodules),
inflammation and the autoimmune state of the
thyroid gland (called Hashimoto's thyroiditis), and/or taking too much thyroid replacement hormone
to treat an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
can cause symptoms listed above like
weight gain, tiredness, dry skin, constipation, a feeling
of being too cold, or frequent menstrual periods.
Women of all ages can suffer from hypothyroid symptoms,
but women
over 60 are more likely to have hypothyroidism.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis: In
this autoimmune disorder where the body attacks thyroid tissue. The tissue
eventually dies and stops producing hormones.
Removal of the thyroid gland:
The thyroid may have been surgically removed or chemically destroyed.
Exposure to excessive amounts of iodide in dyes for
medical procedures:
Cold and sinus medicines, the heart medicine amiodarone, or
certain contrast dyes given before some X-rays may expose you to too much
iodine as well as chemical dyes.
Past thyroid problems: You may be at greater risk
for developing hypothyroidism if you have had thyroid problems in the past.
Lithium: This drug has also
been implicated as a cause of hypothyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which an overactive
thyroid gland is producing an excessive amount of thyroid hormones that
circulate in the blood.
Thyroid hormones stimulate the metabolism of cells.
They are produced by the thyroid gland.
The thyroid gland removes iodine
from the blood and uses it to produce thyroid hormones.
The hormone with the most biological activity is T3. Once
released from the thyroid gland into the blood, a large amount of T4 is
converted to T3 - which is the more active hormone that affects the
metabolism of cells.
An autoimmune
disorder called Graves' disease is the most common cause of
hyperthyroidism.
Other causes
include growths in the thyroid gland (thyroid nodules), inflammation of the
thyroid gland (thyroiditis), and taking too much thyroid replacement hormone
to treat an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
Testing of TSH levels can help determine whether
hypothyroidism is due to a damaged thyroid gland or some other cause,
such as a problem with the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus.
TSH that is elevated or above normal, is considered
indicative of hypothyroidism.
TSH that is “suppressed” or below normal, is considered
evidence of hyperthyroidism.
Functional medicine puts the
OPTIMUM range at 1.5 to 1.8.
Free T4 measures the free, unbound thyroxine levels in
your bloodstream.
Free T4 is elevated in hyperthyroidism.
Free T4 is lowered in hypothyroidism.
Free or unbound T4 levels represent the level of hormone
available for uptake and use by cells.
Bound levels are the circulating hormone that may not
all be immediately available, because it is affected by other drugs,
illness, and physical changes like pregnancy.
Free T4 is thought to better reflect the patient's
hormonal status than total T4.
Free thyroxine affects tissue function in the body,
but bound thyroxine does not.
Most of the thyroxine (T4) in the blood is attached
to a protein called thyroxine-binding globulin. Less than 1% of the T4
is unattached.
A total T4 blood test measures both
bound and free thyroxine.
The reason for high RT3 is usually a
low iron and/or a
cortisol problem.
RT3 is a metabolite of T4 (thyroxine).
When T4 loses an atom of iodine -- a process known as T4 to T3
conversion -- it becomes triiodothyronine (T3), the active thyroid
hormone.
When the body is under stress, instead of
converting T4 into T3 - the active form of thyroid hormone - the body
conserves energy by making what is known
as
Reverse T3 (RT3), an inactive form of the T3 hormone.
Some practitioners believe that the body continues to
manufacture RT3 instead of active T3, causing various symptoms that are
identified as the so-called “Wilson’s syndrome.”
Elevated levels of RT3 --
even though TSH, Free T3 and
Free T3 values may be within the normal reference range --
reflect a thyroid problem at the cellular level -- a condition that Kent
Holtorf, MD calls "cellular hypothyroidism."
In this integrative view, elevated RT3 can be
triggered by ongoing chronic
physical or emotional stress, adrenal
fatigue, low ferritin (stored iron) levels, acute illness and
injury, and chronic disease, among other factors.
Reverse T3 is
actually an "antithyroid" -- T3 is the active thyroid that goes
to the cells and stimulates energy and metabolism.
Reverse T3 is a mirror image
-- it actually goes to the receptors, sticks there, and nothing happens.
So it blocks the thyroid effect. Reverse T3 is kind of a hibernation hormone, in times of stress
and chronic illness, it lowers your metabolism. So many people seemingly
have normal thyroid levels, but if they have high Reverse T3, they're
actually suffering from hypothyroidism.
Increased T4 and RT3 levels, along with decreased T3 levels, are
associated with symptomatic hypothyroidism at the cellular or tissue
level.
People with low T3 and
high reverse T3 had the lowest PPS [a score
that evaluates normal activities and measures physical and mental
functioning].
Subjects with high reverse T3
concentrations had worse physical performance scores and lower
grip strength.
These high RT3 levels were accompanied by high FT4
levels (within the normal range). These changes in thyroid hormone
concentrations may be explained by a decrease in peripheral thyroid
hormone metabolism.
According to Kent Holtorf, MD, a Reverse T3 level
above 150 -- or a Free
T3/Reverse T3 ratio that exceeds .2 [when the Free T3 is measured
in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL)] -- may indicate
hypothyroidism.
A high Reverse T3 demonstrates that there is
either an inhibition of reverse T3 uptake into the cell and/or
there is increased T4 to reverse T3 formation.
Reverse T3 is
an excellent marker for reduced cellular T4 and T3 levels not detected
by TSH or serum T4 and T3 levels.
High or high normal RT3 is not only an indicator of
tissue hypothyroidism but also that T4 only replacement would not be
considered optimal in such cases and would be expected to have
inadequate or sub-optimal results.
One of the key ways to address elevated RT3 and
"cellular hypothyroidism" is through thyroid treatment with a medication
that contains T3. One preferred form is time-released T3.
Time-released T3 is a compounded
form of T3 available by prescription. In some cases, this T3 is
prescribed as a stand-alone thyroid treatment.
In other cases, T3 is added to a synthetic T4
prescription drug (i.e., Synthroid, Unithroid, Tirosint), or a
prescription natural desiccated thyroid drug (i.e., Nature-throid,
Armour) is prescribed.
The bulk of RT3 is made
in the liver. Some people have lowered their high RT3 by using a
good liver cleanse, especially those
with Milk Thistle. You may have to DOUBLE the recommended amount to get
the lowered RT3. Milk Thistle can supposedly lower ferritin, so
patients are adding iron to their supplementation, or raising what they
are already on. Also make sure your Milk Thistle comes from the seeds.
Milk Thistle not from the seeds can have an estrogenic effect. Also,
there is a lot of research which proves that
low selenium can increase RT3, so
supplementation can help.
A homeopath can use homeopathic sarcodes like
adrenalinum or
adrenal cortex to support lowering RT3.
If you have already been diagnosed with Graves' disease,
having high levels of thyroglobulin antibodies means that you are
more likely to eventually become hypothyroid.
Thyroglobulin antibodies are positive in about 60% of
Hashimoto's patients and 30% of Graves' patients.
Thyroid antibody testing is primarily ordered to help diagnose an
autoimmune thyroid disease and to distinguish it from other forms
of thyroid dysfunction.
Testing should be
performed on all those suspected with thyroid issues and when other thyroid test results.
Testing is done to help investigate the cause of a goiter or other signs and
symptoms associated with low or high thyroid hormone levels.
Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies work against
thyroid peroxidase, an enzyme that plays a part in the T4-to-T3
conversion and synthesis process.
TPO antibodies can be evidence of tissue destruction as in Hashimoto's disease and other forms of thyroiditis such as
post-partum thyroiditis.
TPO antibodies are detectable in approximately 95%of
patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
They are detectible and 50% to 85% of Graves’ disease
patients. The concentrations of antibodies found in patients with Graves'
disease are usually lower than in patients with Hashimoto's disease.
Monitoring of thyroglobulin levels is frequently used to evaluate
the effectiveness of treatment for thyroid cancer and to monitor for thyroid
cancer recurrence.
TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) are seen in most
patients with a history of - or who currently have Graves' disease.
Testing is usually done for a specific type of stimulating TRAb
that goes by several different names, including:
Thyroid-Stimulating Immunoglobulins (TSI)
TSH stimulating antibodies (TSAb)
Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) can be
detected in the majority - some estimates say as many as 75 to 90
percent - of Graves' disease patients. The higher the levels, the more
active the Graves' disease is thought to be. (The absence of these
antibodies does not, however, rule out Graves' disease.) Less commonly,
some people with Hashimoto's disease also have these antibodies, and
this can cause periodic short term episodes of hyperthyroidism.
When monitoring TSI, elevated levels may help predict
relapse of Graves' disease, and lowered TSI levels may indicate that
Graves' disease treatment is working.
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