Thyroid
Thyroid problems are eight times more common among women than they are in men. Here is a brief overview of what can go wrong.

Hypothyroidism: This is the condition in which the thyroid gland is unable to produce sufficient hormones to keep body functions operating normally. There are many possible symptoms but the main ones are fatigue, cold body temp, weight gain, dry skin and hair, hair loss, menstrual iregularites, muscle aches, water retention, and constipation. Untreated, hypothyroidism causes elevated blood lipids, high blood pressure, accelerated arteriosclerosis, and eventually even heart failure. This condition frequently goes undetected because of most physicians’ tendency to pay attention to blood test results rather than patient symptoms. Therapy with natural thyroid replacement is usually quickly successful in normalizing all symptoms, but our experience has been less satisfactory with the synthetic thyroid medications. Many patients already on those pharmaceuticals will consult us with persistent symptoms of hypothyroidism. A goiter, or enlargement of the thyroid gland, is only occasionally seen in conjunction with this diagnosis. When the thyroid enlarges, it is often a sign that there is insufficient iodine being consumed to promote adequate production of the thyroid hormones. Testing for iodine deficiency and nutritional replacement therapy usually solves this problem as well.

Hyperthyroidism: This is the opposite of hypothyroidism. Here, the body makes too much thyroid hormone (actually at least two different hormones), and that results in symptoms of palpitations, excess body heat, rapid pulse, nervousness, hair loss, fatigue, and thigh and shoulder weakness. Eventually the eyes tend to bulge outward. There are not many natural medicine treatments that can resolve an overactive thyroid. Interestingly, the gland’s overactivity diminishes temporarily during pregnancy. In all but the mildest cases, I recommend radioactive iodine ablation therapy rather than chronic anti-thyroid medication which has numerous potential side effects. The uptake of this injected material destroys the overactive thyroid gland cells, and in most cases reverts the case to an underactive thyroid condition. In reality this is much easier to treat.

Subacute Thyroiditis: This temporary infection of the gland usually follows an upper respiratory infection. There may be pain in the throat with radiation into the jaw, and tenderness over the thyroid gland. Symptoms may be compatible with either an over or an underactive gland. A similar condition can occur in the immediate post-partum period with symptoms that mimick the “blues”. Pregnancy may also inhibit the conversion of less active into the more active form of thyroid hormone, and as a result symptoms may develop. Women with postpartum mood changes should see a natural medicine physician. Thyroiditis can also be caused by immune system short circuiting that results in the destruction of thyroid gland tissue by self made antibodies. The person’s own thyroid gland is mistakenly identified as a foreign invader, and targeted for destruction. The symptoms may be subtle, and routine thyroid tests may usually look perfectly normal. Many of these patients have exaggerated negative reactions to medications, vitamins, and herbs. That is a great tip off to me to order the specific anti-thyroid antibody tests that will confirm the diagnosis. The it becomes a matter of investigating the possible allergic, pharmacologic, toxic, and infectious triggers for the autoimmune phenomenon.

Thyroid Nodules: Growths on the thyroid can be either benign or malignant. Diagnosis is confirmed by ultrasound and needle biopsy. Many of these patients are deficient in iodine. Thyroid function can be either fast or slow.

Wilson’s Thyroid Syndrome: This condition mimicks an underactive thyroid gland, but is actually due to inefficient internal conversion of the less active hormone (T4) into the more active one (T3). Tests may look normal. The tip off is a hypothyroid patient on replacement therapy with only synthetic T4 (Synthroid, Levothyroxine, Levothroid) who continue to have many symptoms of the disorder despite the thyroid tests appearing basically normal. Monitoring clinical symptoms and body temperature and using T3 in the therapy will solve this problem. The disorder is more common after pregnancy and in those of European descent, especially the Irish, but it can develop in anyone.