HYPOTHYROIDISM

[Guest guest]

WHY YOU PROBABLY HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM

 

 

By Dr. James Howenstine, MD.

January 28, 2004

NewsWithViews.com

 

The astute clinician, Dr. Broda Barnes, accomplished

some ground breaking work when he wrote a book (Solved

: The Riddle of Heart Attacks) in 1976 pointing out

much of the current heart disease is caused by

unrecognized hypothyroidism. Blood fats have long been

known to increase and metabolism to slow in

hypothyroidism whereas metabolism is increased in

hyperthyroidism with falling blood fats.

Hypothyroidism causes poor circulation

(arteriosclerosis), impaired immune function with

vulnerability to infections, depression and mental

confusion. Among the causes for hypothyroidism are:

 

*

Estrogen Dominance is caused by petrochemicals,

fuel exhaust we breath, estrogenic hormones in meat

and chickens, plastics, propylene glycol, sodium

laurel sulphate in ointments, herbicides and

pesticides. These potent estrogenic substances block

the production of thyroid hormone and greatly magnify

the incidence of estrogen dependent cancers. All males

and females in developed nations have estrogen

dominance.

 

*

Antibiotics, chlorine from our water

purification systems, fluoride, and NSAID drugs used

for arthritis all kill the healthy bacteria in the

intestinal tract. This results in overgrowth in the

intestines.of candida, fungi, mycoplasma, and anerobic

bacteria (Yeast syndrome). These dangerous organisms

release powerful neurotoxic substances into the blood

stream that damage the hypothalamus often resulting in

multiple endocrine disorders including underactivity

of the thyroid gland.

 

*

Mercury released from our dental amalgams is

toxic to the thyroid gland.

 

*

Fluoride in our water directly interferes with

thyroid function.

 

*

Selenium deficiency is related to lack of trace

minerals in our soil. The proper conversion of

precursors into thyroid hormone depends on a selenium

containing enzyme[1] which is lacking.

 

*

Lack of iodine in our soil and diet leads to

decreased thyroid hormone production.

 

*

Diagnostic xrays injure the thyroid gland

(dental,. neck, spine).

 

*

Perchlorates widely found in drinking water

inhibit the production of thyroid hormone by blocking

the reuptake of iodine

 

In the light of these common occurences it is

remarkable that anyone has normal thyroid function.

Dr. Barnes was aware that diagnosing thyroid disease

by the currently popular blood tests was seriously

flawed missing most of the persons who really are

hypothyroid.

 

Dr. Barnes noted that taking an axillary temperature

before arising revealed that many persons had

subnormal temperatures, the key finding needed to

establish the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. The

axillary temperature should be taken for 5 minutes

before leaving bed. A normal result is above 97.0

degrees. My three consecutive axillary temperatures

were 96 degrees. On 2 tablets of Thytropin PMG three

times daily my axillary temperature is now back up to

97 degrees and I have more energy. My blood thyroid

tests were normal.

 

Dr. Frank Shallenberger, medical director of the

Nevada Center of Anti-Aging Medicine in Carson City,

Nv., began to apply the axillary temperature testing

in his practice. He discovered that only 5 % of his

patients had normal axillary temperatures[2]. All

these patients had normal blood tests for thyroid

function. Barnes also claimed that the correct thyroid

dosage was the one that restored the axillary

temperature to normal. When Dr. Shallenberger began to

treat these patients with the dose of thyroid hormone

that restored their axillary temperatures to normal

many related to him that they felt better than they

had in their whole lives and a great many undiagnosed

symptoms disappeared. Often these patients did very

well on thyroid doses that seemed excessive.

 

The FDA has admitted that " no currently marketed

synthetic thyroid (levothyroxine Synthyroid) has

exhibited consistent potency and stability and thus no

levothyroxine is generally recognized as safe and

effective " . This synthetic thyroid hormone contains

Levothyroxine (T4) which must be converted in the body

to T3 to be useful. The natural thyroid hormone

(Westhyroid) and (Nature-Thyroid) is derived from

fresh frozen thyroid. These products are assayed for

T3 and T4 which must be within a narrow margin or the

batch is rejected. Thyroid hypofunction can also be

corrected with Thyrotrophin (thyroid glandular

product) from reputable Standard Process Products

Palmyra, Wis.) and iodine as Iosol. After taking iosol

four drops daily for 2 weeks the dose should be

reduced to 2 drops daily. One tablet of Thyrotrophin

is taken three times are daily as initial therapy

which may need to be increased depending on basal

temperatures.. This dose is comparable to one grain of

thyroid hormone. The use of thyrophin and iosol may

enable thyroid function to become restored to normal

whereas the use of thyroid hormone often inhibits the

thyroid gland from making thyroid hormone in which

case therapy becomes lifelong. Call 800-558-8740 to

obtain the name of a physician who can order

Thyrotropin for you or call For Your Health at

800-456-4325. Large health food stores should have

Iosol. Call 800-888-1415 ext. 9265 if you have trouble

locating Iosol.

 

Dr. Howard Hagglund has confirmed that thyroid blood

tests are often erroneous and are of little value in

monitoring thyroid dosage. There is very poor

correlation between the blood test results and the

presence of hypothroidism. Proper conversion of

synthetic levothyroxine (T4) to T3 requires good

patient nutritional status, adequate selenium,

magnesium, vitamin A, cortisol, vitamin B2, essential

fatty acids, and lack of Anti-T3 which appears in

anyone under stress. More than 50 % of patients taking

synthetic thyroid (levothyroxine) do not feel well.

When switched to natural thyroid these persons often

experience falling cholesterol values along with

decreased weight, and disappearance of mental

depression and brain fog. If you are taking

levothyroxine and not doing well suggest to your

physician that you would like to try natural thyroid

hormone or Protomorphogen from Standard Process Inc.

 

The correction of thyroid hypofunction restores

cholesterol values to normal, decreases the risk of

heart attack and allows the problems of statin

cholesterol lowering drugs to be avoided. Much of this

current epidemic of high cholesterol values is

probably due to undiagnosed hypothyroidism.

 

Diagnostic Problems Related To Laboratory Results In

Endocrine Diseases

 

When a competent physician discovers that more than

90%[3] of his patients are hypothyroid with normal

thyroid blood tests we know that the blood tests used

to diagnose thyroid disease are essentially worthless.

Recently it has been suggested that the upper level of

normal for the TSH test be dropped from 5 to 3[4] !!!.

This is a drastic change in thinking which reflects

awareness that current methods of diagnosing an

underactive thryroid gland are seriously flawed.

 

Physicians have been too dependent on blood and other

lab tests for establishing diagnoses in endocrine

disorders. We have found it very comfortable to say

" your blood tests are normal. There is nothing wrong

with your thyroid gland. " Occasionally, I was able to

recognize florid underactivity of the thyroid from the

patients symptoms and findings with normal thyroid

blood tests. Suggesting a course of thyroid therapy in

that setting was always worthwhile. I had too much

confidence in these thyroid blood tests.

 

Physicians will be forced to ignore worthless thyroid

blood tests and concentrate on what the patients

history and physical findings are telling them.

 

An important research paper from the Cleveland Clinic

points out that correcting underactive thyroid

function causes dangerously elevated homocysteine

values to return to normal. This occurs without the

need for any B vitamins which is usually considered to

be vital. Lowering homocysteine values probably helps

prevent the development of arteriosclerosis and

dementia.

 

Footnotes:

 

1, Biol Trace Elem Res 96;51(1):31-41 Clin Sci 95;89

(6):637-42

2, Shallenberger, F., Bursting With Energy pg. 139-142

3, Shallenberger, F., Bursting With Energy pages

139-143

4, Teitelbaum, J., Treating Thyroid Deficiencies in

Fibromyalgia Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients

July 2003 page 134

 

 

 

 

New Photos - easier uploading and sharing.