One of the most common clinical problems I see
in my practice is thyroid dysfunction. Nearly
twenty years ago, while working in Sri Lanka, it
was common to see people, the great majority of
them women, walking about with huge lumps -
some the size of a tennis ball, some closer to a
bowling ball - under their chins. These goitres, or
enlarged thyroid glands, were for the most part a
result of malnutrition, specifically a lack of iodine
in the diet.
At the time I was working as an acupuncturist in a
rural clinic, and it was possible to achieve
considerable success in treating this condition
through nutritional advice and acupuncture. The
thyroid problems I see today in this country,
though, are of a different sort. Rarely are they
caused by a simple iodine deficiency.
Instead, there appears to be a number of factors
related to internal as well as external toxins,
emotions and nutrition that, individually or in
combination, are the underlying cause for most
modern day thyroid problems.
Before exploring these issues further, let?s review
a bit about the thyroid itself. This pair of glands is
located in the neck around the voice box and they
control the overall metabolic rate of the body.
Malfunctions of the thyroid can have a profound
impact that ripples through the entire body.
Sometimes the disturbances are very clear and
easily diagnosed. Often though, they can be
rather subtle and easily overlooked.
If the metabolic rate is running high ?
hyperthyroidism ? then a person generally
becomes hot, restless, feels heart palpitations and
loses weight despite developing an enormous
appetite.
In hypothyroidism, or low function of the thyroid,
the opposite is true. A person becomes chilly,
tires easily, finds it hard to get up in the morning
and hard to fall asleep at night, and starts to put
on weight for seemingly no reason at all.
Checking out the thyroid is a little like monitoring
the idle of a car engine. You don't want it to be
too revved up and you don't want it to be conking
out. A generation or two ago, a conventional
medical practitioner might palpate the gland and
ask some questions to diagnose a thyroid
disorder.
Today, thyroid function is assessed through one
of several types blood tests which measure levels
of various hormones. Without positive results, a
conventional practitioner is unlikely to diagnose
or treat a patient for thyroid problems.
Yet, the diagnosis of thyroid imbalance is not
always so clear cut. Blood tests and hormonal
panels are not always the most definitive method
to determine whether the thyroid is
malfunctioning.
For instance, the term subclinical hypothyroidism,
which was coined by a researcher turned
physician named Broda Barnes nearly a half
century ago, refers to a situation where the thyroid
is low functioning - but not low enough to be
picked up by conventional diagnostic procedures.
What complicates the picture even further is that
even the are conventional division of thryoid
disorders into either the ?hypo? or the ?hyper? can
be misleading. For instance, it is not altogether
uncommon for they thryoid to be ?disregulated? -
swinging back and forth between hypo- and
hyperfunctioning. This might occur as a response
to an underlying stress where the gland is unable
to hold a hormonal balance and instead
compensates by going up and down.
Conventional therapies, usually suppression or
impairment of glandular function through drugs,
radiation or surgery in the case of
hyperthyroidism, and the use of synthetic thyroid
hormones in hypothyroidism, rarely address the
problem at a causal level. In effect, these
strategies are symptomatic, sometimes toxic, and
can even aggravate the condition while
superficially providing a sense of normalcy.
One of the more memorable instances of
hyperthyroidism that I have treated was the case
of a young woman who was thrown into this
condition by an acute grief she had suffered. As a
nurse, she had initially focused on reporting the
clinical and diagnositic information, without
sharing much else about herself. Ultimately, it
turned out that the pain she felt at the death of her
dog had been the immediate cause. Once I was
able to understand this and provide her with an
appropriate homeopathic remedy based her inner
state, the condition resolved in a timely fashion.
Another factor - one amongst many - that has
been linked to thyroid dysfunction is the coxsackie
virus. This is actually a group of viruses that are a
common source of infection in children which are
transmitted primarily by touch. The most common
symptoms are fever, fatigue, and a rash. Some
people develop ulcers in the back of their throat,
called herpangina. More serious complications
involving the heart due occur but they seem to be
uncommon.
Practitioners utilizing non-conventional forms of
diagnosis such as electro-dermal screening have
often seen that the remnants of this virus - what
might be called its ?energetic footprints? - often
migrates to the thyroid, disrupting the glands
capacity to regulate the metabolism. This can
only be resolved by erasing this footprint through
the use of appropriate detoxification protocols.
Part II
The pair of thyroid glands located on either side
of the voice box is the body?s metabolic general.
As regulators of the metabolic rate of the entire
body, there are few physiological processes that
are are somehow related to it. Thyroid function
influences energy formation, circulation, immune
function, the metabolism of all the organs, blood
sugar regulation, emotional stability, and
hormonal balance.
Low thyroid function is associated with a host of
symptoms, some of which are: fatigue, weight
gain, low motivation and ambition, heat and/or
cold intolerance, headaches and migraines, dry
skin and hair, hair loss, fluid retention, unhealthy
nails, brittle nails, constipation, irritable bowel
syndrome, asthma, allergies, slow healing, acne,
hives, carpal tunnel syndrome, low sex drive,
insomnia, irritability, anxiety and panic attacks,
depression, decreased memory and
concentration.
Overactive thyroid function often manifests with
symptoms such as weight loss coupled with
increased appetite, heart palpitations, increased
body heat, bulging eyes, restlessness and
anxiety.
Something so essential to the proper workings of
the organism is involved in a number of feedback
loops, which allows the thyroid to monitor the
metabolism of various areas and systems in the
body and respond according. This central role
and the incoming information of the feedback
loops - in the form of hormonal and neurological
messengers - means that the thyroid is influenced
by any number of stimuli, healthy or otherwise,
and make it quite susceptible to a variety of
disruptions that cause it to malfunction.
Amongst the factors that can disrupt thyroid
function, there are several large categories:
deficiencies, nutritional toxins, environmental
toxins, microorganisms, iatrogenic disorders
(?iatrogenic? meaning a disease or medical
condition caused by
a medical procedure or drug), and hormonal
imbalances.
The most common deficiencies that affect the
thyroid gland are of iodine, the B vitamins, various
minerals, especially the trace minerals, the amino
acid tyrosine, taurine and glutamine and Vitamins
A,C and E .
Nutritional toxins are foods that for one reason or
another act as thyroid antagonists, impairing its
function. Soy isoflavones are a type of
phytoestrogen compound (that is, plant estrogen
compound), that have weak estrogenic activity.
Ironically, it is partially because of the high
content of isoflavones, that soy products are
currently heralded as such a healthful food
source, especially for menopausal women. Yet
for some people, these isoflavones are potent
thyroid inhibitors and must be avoided at all costs.
Other potential thyroid disruptors are members of
the brassica family - broccoli, cauliflower,
cabbage, brussels sprouts - when eaten raw.
There are any number of external environmental
factors that influence the thyroid. Agricultural
sprays that a person comes in direct contact with
through farming or living in a heavily farmed area,
or even through residues that are contained in
many foods are one source. There are many
other chemicals on and in food as well as in our
water that can have similar affects. Chief amongst
them are the chlorine and fluorides in water.
Another ubiquitous source of toxicity is radiation.
Sources range from nuclear plants and high
power lines, to common household items such as
microwaves, TV?s, computers, water beds, electric
blankets, some electrical appliances. All have the
potential of affecting the thyroid.
A third common environmental factor are heavy
metals including but not necessarily limited to
mercury [found in the external environment as
well as in amalgam tooth fillings], cadmium, iron,
and arsenic.
Previously, I mentioned the effect of
residues of the coxsackie virus on the thyroid.
Aside from this one viral influence there are any
number of viruses, bacteria, yeast, flukes, and
parasites that produce inflammation in various
parts of the body, resulting in the formation of
antibodies which can cause autoimmune activity
that ultimately destroys thyroid tissues.
Perhaps the most common problem in this group
is the pathogenic overgrowth of candida, a
member of the yeast family. This fungus is a
normal inhabitant of a healthy colon, but it can
also proliferate in the intestines because of
several factors, including stress, lowered immune
system, antibiotic overuse, oral contraceptives,
and use of cortisone or prednisone. Changing
from the harmless noninvasive, sugar fermenting
yeast like organism to the mycelial, or fungal, form
with long, root like structures, candida can
penetrate the membrane lining of the digestive
tract. It can become so prolific that it escapes the
confines of the intestinal tract altogether and
cause havoc throughout the rest of the body.
Consequently, there are nearly 80 distinct toxins
(known as endotoxins because they are produced
within the body) produced by candida. It is
closely related to to other conditions such as
irritable bowel syndrome and leaky gut. Candida
is known to induce a 2000% increase in IgE
antibodies resulting in allergies, fatigue, and
many common symptom complexes which may
be misconstrued as emotional or depressive.
Medical intervention such as surgery, radioactive
iodine and suppressive drugs often preclude the
possibility of the thyroid ever regaining normal
functioning. Most drugs, including synthetic
thyroid, suppress thyroid function, and can have
the long range affect of weakening the capacity of
the thyroid to operate on its own.
Chief amongst the disruptive hormonal influences
on the thyroid is the overabundance of estrogen.
This syndrome mostly commonly affects women
during perimenopause is most often a result of
diet, poor liver function, environmental factors
such as the abundance of ?estrogen mimics? in
chemicals, and anovulatory cycles (menstrual
cycles in which no ovulation has occurred) before
menopause. Estrogen dominance not only
suppresses thyroid function but it also can
dispose a person to cancer.
With all these potential harmful influences, it is no
wonder that thyroid imbalances are so common.
Part III
Thyroid dysfunction is a frequent problem that is often overlooked as the cause of a variety of ailments. Awareness of the most common symptoms related to the overproduction (hyperthyroidism), underproduction (hypothyroidism) or irregular output of thyroid hormone is often a first step in pinpointing the problem.
These are: poor circulation, menstrual problems like PMS with bloating and soreness, cramps, irregularity; other gynecological problems like uterine fibroids, cysts, infertility, miscarriage; poor memory and concentration; dry, itchy skin and hair; irritability, anxiety, low moods; low blood sugar, weight gain, excessive or low appetite; arthritis, joint and muscle pains; poor sleep; heart palpitations; headaches; delayed development in children.
When thyroid involvement is suspected as a potential factor in any complaint, the next step is to measure the activity of the gland. Checking thyroid function is a little like monitoring the idle of a car engine. You don't want it to be too revved up and you don't want it to be conking out.
A generation or two ago, a conventional medical practitioner might palpate the gland and ask some questions to diagnose a thyroid disorder. Today, conventionally thyroid function is assessed through one of several types blood tests which measure levels of various hormones. Two types of thyroid hormones are easily measurable in the blood, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). It is easier and less expensive to measure the T4 level, so T3 is usually not measured on screening tests.
The Total T4 test shows the total amount of the T4. High levels may be due to hyperthyroidism, however this may be artificially raised when estrogen levels are higher due to pregnancy, birth control pills or estrogen replacement therapy. A Free T4 which directly measures the free T4 in the blood is more reliable , but a little more expensive test.
The Free Thyroxine Index is a mathematical computation which shows how much thyroid hormone is free in the blood stream to work on the body. Unlike the T4 alone, it is not affected by estrogen levels.
The Total T3 tests the total amount of T3 in the bloodstream and is usually not a screening test, but used to evaluate known thyroid disease. T3 is the more potent and shorter lived version of thyroid hormone. In some cases of hyperthyroid the T4 can be normal and the T3 high, and the TSH low.
Free T3 measures only the portion of thyroid hormone T3 that is "free", that is, not bound to carrier proteins.
A test of the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) measures the level of this protein hormone secreted by the pituitary gland and regulates the thyroid gland. A high level suggests your thyroid is underactive, and a low level suggests your thyroid is overactive.
The problem is that many, if not most, cases of mildly underactive thyroid function - what is termed subclinical hypothyroidism - can be missed through these tests.
Fifty years of work on the human thyroid led a research physician named Broda Barnes to conclude that millions of people in this country are in this category. He also developed a fairly simple way to diagnosis it by measuring the basal body temperature (BBT). The BBT measures the body temperature when a person has been quiet for a good period of time and therefore will give a good assessment of the rate at which the body is "idling".
The protocol is simple: place an oral thermometer by ones bedside at night, then first thing on waking in the morning, take the temperature in the armpit for about ten minutes.
The "normal" range is said to be somewhere in the 97.2 to 97.8 range although individual researchers do vary somewhat in what they consider to be within normal limits. Typically there is some fluctuation anyhow, especially in women, that corresponds to hormonal changes.
Measurements consistently below 97.0, suggest low thyroid function. (Obviously, the same can be said for high temperatures and high thyroid function.) In Barnes experience this extremely simple, low cost procedure was the most accurate way to determine thyroid status.
Parenthetically, today there is a more sophisticated procedure to reveal even mild low thyroid known as the TRH (Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone) test. It requires an injection, followed by one or more blood draws at 15, 30 and 45 minute intervals. This test is accurate, but is expensive and inconvenient for both patient and the lab.
Lately, some experts think Barnes’s underarm method is outdated because many people can be one degree low when taking it there. They believe taking the oral temperature (that is, in the mouth) is much more accurate, and that people using the underarm method have been found to be taking too much thyroid.
According to this line of thinking, taking an oral temperature with a mercury thermometer between 11 am and 3 pm is best. Optimum oral temperature should be 98.0 in the morning before arising and should rise to 98.6 to 99 degrees for about 10 hours a day - from 8 am until 11 am. Lower temperature readings, which can sometimes dip from 1 to 3 degrees below normal indicate hypothyroidism.
Curative - as opposed to symptomatic - treatment of thyroid imbalances must aim at underlying causes. Stimulating the gland with synthetic hormones, which is the norm for conventional management of hypothyroidism, or reducing hormone output through radioactive or surgical impairment of the gland, which is the norm for conventional management of hyperthyroidism, are symptomatic at best. Often, aggressive or long term conventional treatment weaken the gland irreparably, making a true cure almost impossible to attain.
Having said that, there is no single cure for thyroid imbalances because the causes can vary so greatly.
Vitamin, mineral and amino acid deficiencies can be addressed through supplementation. For people sensitive to the thyroid inhibiting effects of foods, adjustment to the diet by eliminating soy products and raw brassicas - broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts -
Every reasonable effort must be made to avoid the residues of agricultural sprays and other chemicals in and on food sources. This includes chlorine and fluorides in our water
To rid the body of residues already present in the body in general and the thyroxine gland in particular, there are homeopathic, herbal and nutritional protocols that flush the toxins out of the cells and promote healthy lymphatic drainage to flush them out of the body altogether.
Inflammations caused by viruses, bacteria, yeast, flukes, and parasites which can cause autoimmune activity that ultimately destroys thyroid tissues must be diagnosed and treated. Diagnosis can be done through a variety of methods, from conventional blood tests to electrodermal screening (see former columns on “EAV testing”), though long-term, low grade inflammations ar almost always missed through conventional testing.
Where possible, precautions should be taken to avoid radiation from nuclear plants, high power lines, microwaves, TV’s, computers, water beds, electric blankets, some electrical appliances. Likewise, homeopathic, herbal and nutritional protocols exist which cleanse the body and the thyroid of radioactive toxicity.
The effect of heavy metals such as mercury [amalgam tooth fillings], cadmium, iron can be neutralized through holistic dental work, along with homeopathic, herbal and nutritional protocols.
Regulation of digestive function, especially intestinal, along with the removal of internal toxins such as candida yeast and parasites, also can profoundly effect thyroid function.
Amongst the most effective treaments are ones which address the vitality of the entire body as opposed to focusing on a single causative factor. These include constitutional homeopathy, acupuncture and oriental medicine, as well as some systems body.
Lastly, as much as possible, suppressive drugs and radiation or surgical treatments should be avoided.
