The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located just below the Adam's apple. The thyroid gland produces hormones that affect the body's metabolism and energy level. Thyroid problems are among the most common medical conditions but, because thyroid symptoms often appear gradually, thyroid disease is commonly misdiagnosed. High TSH, or thyroid stimulating hormone, levels suggest the thyroid is underactive, a condition known as hypothyroidism. Low levels suggest it is overactive, known as hyperthyroidism. People with low thyroid function may lose hair, gain weight and feel sluggish, while those with overactive thyroids may lose weight, feel their hearts race and have trembling hands. Both can be easily treated with a daily pill.

In normal adults, the daily production rate of the two biologically active thyroid hormones, tetraiodothyronine (which is better known as thyroxine and has four iodine atoms) and triiodothyronine (which has three), is approximately 100 µg and 30 µg, respectively. All of the thyroxine, but only about 20 percent of the triiodothyronine, is produced by the thyroid gland; the remainder of the triiodothyronine is produced through the extrathyroidal deiodination of thyroxine. A minimum of approximately 70 µg of iodine is therefore needed to produce these two hormones in the thyroid gland each day.

Thyroid cancer
There are about 20,000 new cases of thyroid cancer each year in the United States. Females are more likely to have thyroid cancer at a ratio of three to one. Thyroid cancer can occur in any age group, although it is most common after age 30 and its aggressiveness increases significantly in older patients. The majority of patients present with a nodule on their thyroid which typically does not cause symptoms. Over 99% of thyroid nodules are not cancer! But, when a thyroid cancer does begin to grow within a thyroid gland, it almost always does so within a discrete nodule within the thyroid.

The steady climb in the incidence of thyroid cancer since the early 1980s has been attributed to an increase in screening in recent years and the diagnosis of more small tumors. However, work by investigators at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta suggests that other factors - such as environmental exposures, dietary changes, or genetic causes - may play a larger role. Cancer, August 15 2009.

Underactive Thyroid - Low thyroid - Hypothyroid
Hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid may occur at any age but is especially common in older individuals. It affects 17% of women and 9% of men by age 60. Iodine deficiency is one cause of hypothyroidism but there are many causes. Iodine supplements are sold online.
   Exposure to perchlorate, a widely used industrial chemical found in U.S. drinking water, may prevent some women's thyroid glands from functioning properly. A component of rocket fuel and pyrotechnics, perchlorate has been detected in milk, vegetables, fruit and grains, in addition to drinking water across the United States. Even small increases in perchlorate exposure may inhibit the thyroid's ability to absorb iodine from the bloodstream. Perhaps water filters may help remove the perchlorate.

Q. What is the best treatment natural or herbal for hypothyroid?

Q. What natural product do you recommend for low thyroid? I'm an ICU and ER nurse. I often see patients who's lab tests indicate they have hypothyroidism. For people who have a mild case of low thyroid, is there any natural supplement they can take; or are prescribed medications such as Synthroid the best route?
   A. Sometimes Armour thyroid is used, but I am not aware of a natural supplement for low thyroid that has been tested effectively. The traditional treatment for hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone replacement, which involves taking a prescription drug (T4, T3, or a combination product containing both T4 and T3). Armour is a naturally derived thyroid replacement containing both T4 and T3, and it is available by prescription.

Q. An issue I find in your otherwise excellent overview is a neutrality concerning the administration of synthetic T4 (by itself) that appears to miss a crucial issue, namely the flawed assumption that the natural conversion of T4 to the active T3 invariably takes place in the body. That this is not the case has been amply demonstrated in peer-reviewed literature; factors including pesticides (now ubiquitous in the diets of people in developed societies), stress, allergies, and selenium deficiencies (or in cases of excessive selenium in water supplies, selenium toxicity) -- all may block the endogenous T4 to T3 conversion. The statement that prompted the above paragraph is in your page as: The traditional treatment for hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone replacement, which involves taking a prescription drug (T4, T3, or a combination product containing both T4 and T3). Armour is a naturally derived thyroid replacement containing both T4 and T3, and it is available by prescription. I don't think I am being picky by focusing on the "(T4, T3, or a combination product) since the beginning of the phrase clearly implies that T4 by itself can be used, without bringing up the problematic aspects of such an assumption. T4 alone may indeed convert nicely in some people, but there are a plethora of studies that suggest, either directly or indirectly, that this conversion is not something that can be assumed, in fact an aggregate of the various investigations would suggest that up to 40% of people do not have the capacity to make this conversion upon taking Synthroid, or it is even (possibly most often) missing in the case of endogenous T4 production. I could take the time to gather all the studies I have referred to, but at this time they are tacit knowledge to me from my own researches stretching back some years. I would have to take a trip to my local university to revisit them. Your site says you have a research staff, well this is something they can focus on. To be fair, I do happen to have on hand one study that indirectly contradicts what I have said (in a narrow way):
"Psychological Well-Being Correlates with Free Thyroxine But Not Free 3,5,3΄-Triiodothyronine Levels in Patients on Thyroid Hormone Replacement" Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 91(9). I think the above study, focusing on patient psychological well-being, is in response to the NEJM study "EFFECTS OF THYROXINE AS COMPARED WITH THYROXINE PLUS TRIIODOTHYRONINE IN PATIENTS WITH HYPOTHYROIDISM" (New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 340 Number 6 [1999] - curiously, this pivotal NEJM study is not referenced in the J Clin Endoc Metab study. This area is very 'political' and there is evidence from the area of Science and Technology Studies and from the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge, that the former study may qualify for a contrived one motivated and possibly financed, directly, indirectly, assisted in covert ways, by major pharmaceutical manufacturers.
    A. Thanks for writing.

Q. Can excessive wine (alcohol) consumption cause low thyroid?
   A. I doubt alcohol would cause low thyroid.

Q. Can detoxification reverse the effects of hypothyroidism?
   A. I doubt detox diets would have much of an influence on hypothyroidism.
   
Symptoms of low thyroid - Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
Symptoms of mild hypothyroidism are usually subtle and gradual and may be mistaken for symptoms of depression. The following are the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism: fatigue, weight gain, hoarse voice, slow speech, droopy eyelids, puffy and swollen face, constipation, coarse and dry hair, coarse, dry, and thickened skin,  slow pulse.
   Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined as an increased serum TSH in the presence of normal serum FT4 and FT3. in people who have these obvious symptoms coupled with elevated TSH above 10.0 mIU/L and low free T4, the decision to start treatment with thyroxine is usually easy. However, whether to treat people with a mild form of hypothyroidism is the subject of an ongoing controversy, primarily because of the lack of definitive research, especially when it comes to neuropsychological effects, symptoms, and the effect of thyroxine.

Longevity
Low thyroid activity may actually be a sign of longevity. Dr. Martin Surks and colleagues at the Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York studied hundreds of people who had lived to be 100, and found evidence that people with low thyroid activity were more likely to be in that group. Fifteen to 20 percent of people over the age of 60 have TSH levels that suggest an underactive thyroid gland. This may be normal for older people and may in fact be a sign of longevity. The majority of old people whose TSH is minimally elevated and who were considered to have hypothyroidism are actually in their age-specific limits. Dr. Martin Surks thinks millions of older people in the United States are being aggressively treated for hypothyroidism which may not be necessary.

Overactive thyroid
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that produces hormones that regulate the body's metabolism. In hyperthyroidism, the gland is overactive, causing symptoms such as excessive sweating, heat intolerance, and nervousness. Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which an overactive thyroid gland is producing an excessive amount of thyroid hormones that circulate in the blood. Thyrotoxicosis is a toxic condition that is caused by an excess of thyroid hormones from any cause. Thyrotoxicosis can be caused by an excessive intake of thyroid hormone or by overproduction of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland. Having an overactive thyroid gland is associated with an increased risk for atrial fibrillation.
   Subclinical hyperthyroidism as a decreased serum TSH in the presence of normal serum FT4 and FT3.
   Grave's disease causes hyperthyroidism.

Is there a treatment for people who suffer from overactive thyroid? I would like to know if you have a formula for overactive thyroid, hyperthyroidism. Thank you for help on this health condition.
    At present I am not aware of a natural treatment for hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroid treatment risks
Patients who are treated with radioactive iodine for an over active thyroid, a condition also referred to as hyperthyroidism, have an increased risk of cancer -- especially cancers of the stomach, kidney, and breast. Radioactive iodine is often used as first-line therapy for hyperthyroidism since the 1940s.

Thyroid nodules
Nodular disease of the thyroid gland is quite common in the United States. The lifetime risk for development of a palpable thyroid nodule is estimated to be 5-10% and is more common in women than in men. In general, nodular disease of the thyroid is common; however, malignancy of the thyroid occurs in only 0.004% of the US population annually. Roughly 5% of thyroid nodules are malignant, whereas the remainder represents a variety of benign diagnoses, including colloid nodule, degenerative cyst, hyperplasia, thyroiditis, or benign neoplasm.
   Thyroid nodules are typically discovered by palpation in 3% to 7% and by ultrasound examination in 20% to 75%. "Extra" nodules are detected by ultrasound in up to 50% of patients with a single palpable thyroid nodule. The estimated annual incidence rate of 0.1% translates into approximately 300,000 new nodules that are discovered in the U.S.. The overall frequency of malignancy in thyroid nodules is approximately 5%, requiring careful selection of patients for surgical treatment. Patients with palpable nodules should undergo thyroid US examination and FNA. Ultrasound-guided FNA biopsy is suggested for a nodule yielding unsatisfactory aspirate on initial palpation-guided FNA; micronodules <1 cm; impalpable nodules; and for alcohol ablative therapy. Micronodules should be selected for biopsy primarily by history and ultrasound characteristics, rather than by size alone.

Thyroid Nodules
Although thyroid nodules are common, few are malignant and require surgical treatment. A systematic approach to their evaluation is important to avoid unnecessary surgery. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy has resulted in substantial improvements in diagnostic accuracy, cost reductions, and higher malignancy yield at time of surgery. The preferred approach when repeated fine-needle aspiration biopsy fails to yield an adequate specimen remains a challenge. Management of patients with nodules "suspicious for follicular neoplasm" is difficult, since only 15% to 20% of such lesions have been shown to be malignant. Immunohistochemical markers, such as galectin-3 and human bone marrow endothelial cell (HBME-1), have shown promise in preliminary studies.

Obesity as cause of thyroid problems
Obese children damage their thyroids, creating a vicious cycle of metabolism and overweight. Obesity causes inflammation that damages the thyroid. Alterations in thyroid function and structure are common in obese children. Excess fat tissue may have a role in thyroid tissue modification. Obesity does not seem related to Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease in which T-cells mistakenly attack the thyroid. Obesity does seem to cause a low-grade inflammation state in the thyroid gland. Low thyroid function can be linked to weight gain. Losing weight, however, has been shown to restore thyroid function in some cases.

Thyroid Disorder and sexual health
Thyroid disorders are associated with a variety of sexual symptoms in men. Scientists looked into the prevalence of sexual difficulties in 48 adult male patients with either underactive or overactive thyroid conditions, before and after they recovered. Based on interviews with the 34 men with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), 18 percent had below-normal sexual desire, 3 percent had delayed ejaculation, 50 percent had premature ejaculation, and 15 percent had erectile dysfunction. Among the 14 men with hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), 64 percent had low sexual desire, delayed ejaculation, or erectile dysfunction, while 7 percent suffered from premature ejaculation. When patients with hyperthyroidism were treated for the condition, the rate of premature ejaculation fell from 50 percent to 15 percent -- a figure similar to that found in the general population. Low sexual desire and delayed ejaculation resolved with treatment in most of these patients. Delayed ejaculation resolved in half of the hypothyroid men after treatment, the researchers note. Erectile dysfunction almost disappeared in these patients, and low sexual desire improved significantly. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, December 2005.

Enlarged thyroid
Growth or enlargement of the thyroid may be due to a number of different conditions. The majority of patients with thyroid enlargement have benign thyroid disease. In areas of iodine deficiency, thyroid growth, leading to large thyroid glands or ' thyroid goiter' is not uncommon. Defects in the function of the thyroid may lead to thyroid enlargement as the gland tries to compensate and maintain thyroid hormone production at normal levels. Inflammation of the thyroid, as may occur in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, may commonly lead to an enlarged thyroid. Similarly, development of one or more thyroid nodules may be associated with asymmetrical or generalized thyroid enlargement. Finally, thyroid cancer may also be detected as a cause of an enlarged thyroid gland.

Thyroid enlargement
Enlargement of the thyroid gland is called goiter. Goiter does not always indicate a disease, since thyroid enlargement can also be caused by physiological conditions such as puberty and pregnancy.

Thyroid medication
Treatment of hypothyroidism or a low thyroid condition is by administering regular thyroid hormone replacement. This is best given once per day at a certain time of the day (first thing in the morning or last thing before bedtime) so that a routine is followed and the medication is not forgotten. There are various thyroid medications such as purified T4 hormone, called levothyroxine (brand names: Eltroxin, Levotec, Synthroid). Thyroid hormone can also be given as desiccated thyroid ( brand name: thyroid hormone Parke-Davis), which contains both T4 and T3 hormones.

Desiccated thyroid
Desiccated thyroid extract is made from dried animal glands. This form of thyroid medication used to be the most common form of treatment for low thyroid problems/. After the individual thyroid hormones such as T3 and T4 were made available to doctors during the 1960s, most physicians stopped using desiccated thyroid pills. One major reason was that the potency of desiccated thyroid may vary from one batch to another although it appears to be less of a problem now. Armour Thyroid is made by Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a subsidiary of Forest Laboratories, Inc and it appears to be very well standardized.

Q. I wanted to review your statement above. The operative word is "was". Batch standardization procedures are, and have been for a long time, incorporated in the production of desiccated thyroid products, e.g. Armour, or in Canada Erfa Thyroid (formerly PD Thyroid). The batch inconsistency theory may have been valid a long time ago, or may have been a canard even then. In any case, the documentation of this standardization procedure is so well known that I can't even be bothered to search the literature, since it was long ago settled (and for example, accepted by e.g. Health Canada in approving the continued production of dessicated thyroid from Erfa / PD Thyroid).
  A. Thanks for your input.

What is your opinion on natural desiccated thyroid tablets and the controversy surrounding it at this point and time.

Thyroid Problem and Pregnancy
There is an increased risk of neurological development problems in infants born to mothers who have low levels of thyroid hormone early in pregnancy. Low thyroid hormone levels in the mother, even if they don't cause any symptoms, can have important neurological development consequences in the newborn.

Congenital Hypothyroidism
Newborn babies are routinely screened for low thyroid hormone levels. When the condition -- congenital hypothyroidism -- is discovered, its severity influences long-term mental performance and movement function. The hope has been that early treatment of hypothyroidism will prevent development problems, but a study found that the timing of the start of treatment does not seem to have a great effect. This study has shown that cognitive and motor deficits in congenital hypothyroidism patients, who started treatment at a median age of 28 days after birth, persist into adulthood. The findings are based on a study of 70 young adults who had been diagnosed with hypothyroidism during neonatal screening. Compared with the normal population, patients with congential hypothyroidism had significantly worse motor and cognitive function scores. In general, IQ from childhood held steady into adulthood. On further analysis, the severity of congenital hypothyroidism correlated with IQ and motor deficits, whereas the timing of treatment initiation did not. The results suggest that "mildly and moderately affected patients have a fair prognosis, whereas severely affected congenital hypothyroidism patients continue to experience IQ and motor problems in later life. Source: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, February 2006.

Thyroid Disorder and Sexual Function
Thyroid disorders are associated with a variety of sexual symptoms in men. Scientists looked into the prevalence of sexual difficulties in 48 adult male patients with either underactive or overactive thyroid conditions, before and after they recovered. Based on interviews with the 34 men with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), 18 percent had below-normal sexual desire, 3 percent had delayed ejaculation, 50 percent had premature ejaculation, and 15 percent had erectile dysfunction. Among the 14 men with hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), 64 percent had low sexual desire, delayed ejaculation, or erectile dysfunction, while 7 percent suffered from premature ejaculation, the researchers report in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. When patients with hyperthyroidism were treated for the condition, the rate of premature ejaculation fell from 50 percent to 15 percent -- a figure similar to that found in the general population. Low sexual desire and delayed ejaculation resolved with treatment in most of these patients. Delayed ejaculation resolved in half of the hypothyroid men after treatment, the researchers note. Erectile dysfunction almost disappeared in these patients, and low sexual desire improved significantly. SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, December 2005.

Thyroid Condition emails
Q. Is there a particular thyroid diet one should follow?
   A. Unless you have a deficiency of iodine in your diet leading to hypothyroidism, I can't think of a particular diet you need to follow that will make a strong impact on your thyroid disease.

Q. Should mild hypothyroidism be treated? I have a very mild case of low thyroid.
   A. Weighing in on the controversy of whether to treat a person with mild hypothyroidism -- or an underactive thyroid -- with thyroid hormone, Norwegian researchers found strongly in favor of no treatment, according to a placebo-controlled, double-blind intervention study published in the January, 2006 issue of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism published by The Endocrine Society. People with no obvious symptoms but with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels of 3.5 - 10.0 mIU/L and normal free thyroxine (T4) and free triiodothyronine (T3) levels in the blood -- the standard definition of subclinical hypothyroidism -- had no significant differences in cognitive function and hypothyroid symptoms when compared to a healthy control group. Treatment with the thyroid hormone thyroxine had no significant effect on these parameters as well.

Q. I have a thyroid condition. Please inform me of any herb / drug interaction between ashwagandha and Synthroid.
   A. Human studies are few regarding the interaction between ashwagandha and synthroid. If you have a thyroid condition and were to take Ashwagandha, you may consider using a third of a capsule for a few days to see how this affects you and then base the dosage for future use based on your initial response.

Q. I have hypothyroidism. I an taking Thyroid Caps by Solaray. It has Thyroid substance 150mg (Thyroxin free) in it. Can I also take forskolin? I have read that you should not take Rx thyroid meds with this herb. But the Thyroid caps are natural. Thank you for any information you can give.
   A. We are not familiar with the thyroid product you mention. Even so, we are not familiar with any research combining Forskolin and thyroid medications, so we really can't say.

Q. Is there a vitamin for macular degeneration cure?
   A. We don't think one vitamin provides a macular degeneration cure. It is possible that a combination of vitamins, herbs, nutrients and fatty acids could make a significant improvement in early stages of macular degeneration, however more studies are needed.

Q. I have an eye condition called Graves disease, it has to do with the muscles of my eyes. Can you tell me if Eyesight RX will help the condition. My husband uses Eyesight RX and I was wondering if it would help me.
   A. Eyesight Rx was developed for those who have age related gradual vision loss, not for Grave's disease. We doubt it will help a thyroid condition but we have never tested it in this condition.

Q. Hi, I've been taking l tyrosine for quite a while due to thyroid condition. (Sluggish Thyroid). My question is can L tyrosine interfer with high blood medication?? I'm also on thyroid medication. Is it safe to take. I'm taking 500mg l-tryosine.
   A. Tyrosine may increase blood pressure and cause heart rhythm abnormalities.

Q. I take thyroid medicine and sometimes it makes me so wired that I need to take alprazolam to calm down. I found out that the dose of the thyroid medicine was too high, and since my doctor lowered the dose, I don't need the Xanax anymore.

Q. I am 28 years old. I was diagnosed with overactive thyroid and currently being treated with medication (Methamazole). I strongly believe in herbal and homeopathic ways of treating diseases so I need some guidance from you on what to take to treat my overactive thyroid. Because of hyperthyroidism, I was having anxiety and difficulty taking deep breaths (tightened breathing) which is really bothering me at this time. I take Valerian root to help me relax but I need more information on treating the primary cause of the anxiety. Please let me know what kinds of herbs I can use to treat hyperthyroidism and the anxiety that resulted from it.
   A. We are not in a position to give individual advice, but you could have some information here on anxiety. There are many herbs besides valerian that could occasionally be used for anxiety, such as kava and passionflower, and nutrients such as 5-htp or tryptophan, but those who have a thyroid problem should be under medical supervision since a high thyroid level can cause anxiety.

Q. What is the equivalent of natural thyroid supplement to 0.125 mg Synthroid?
   A. There are countless natural thyroid supplements marketed over the counter, each different than the other. It is very difficult to make an accurate guess.

Q. I have been taking 5 grams of arabinogalactan powder everyday. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. My doctor said that I do not have to take Synthroid any more. My thyroid levels are normal. My mom was hyperthyroid. She now has normal thyroid levels. I believe strongly that it is due to our taking arabinoglactan every morning. The only thing both of us did similar is that we both took it. I asked my mother in law who has hypothyroid to test it too. I will let you know how that goes. If this really is the reason why our thyroid levels are normal, there is a large population that can benefit from this knowledge. I was hoping to peak your interest. Please give it some thought.
   A. Thank you for feedback regarding arabinogalactan and thyroid disorders. We will wait to see if others provide us with similar results. It makes me slightly suspicious that both hyper and hypothyroid states were corrected, but we'll see.

Q. My wife has a thyroid problem with low thyroid and takes Synthroid, She's 48 and has the start of osteoporosis, would Sam-e help her with minor depression and joint pain? She's also tired all the time. Should she talk to her doctor first?
   A. Yes, she should talk to her doctor who perhaps can take a look at the web page on SAM-e. If your doctor does decide to recommend SAM-e, low dosages, such as 50 to 100 mg should be considered.

Q. I have been on 30mcg of Armour for low thyroid for three weeks now and have gained 8 lbs. My doctor also said that I have very low testosterone levels. I was hoping to order a supplement that would help me with my recent weight gain, and not interfere with what my doctor is trying to do.
   A. You can ask your doctor to read this page on weight loss and recommend some supplements for you.

Q. I'm 55 years old. My thyroid was removed due to papilar cancer and I'm taking Syntroid alternating dose of 125 and 150ml. I developed insomnia and anxiety, probably as a side effects of this hormone. My endocrinologist doesn't agree with  it. I'm taking 5-HTP 50mg, the formula you developed twice daily which eliminates my anxiety but sleep is still deprived.

Q. When the thyroid produces more or less hormone amounts, pills are given to control the thyroid hormone output for the rest of someone's life. Are there ways to correct the thyroid function rather than be doomed to take pills forever? Also if someone has anti-TPO or anti-TG bodies in the blood, is there a way to stop the destruction of the thyroid? (for example with curcumin?)
   A. These are good but complicated questions and I don't have a good answer at this time.

Q. I am 45 year old female. About a year and a half ago, I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer and right afterwards I was give an complete thyroidectomy. I have always been label as hypo thyroid. Since the surgery, I have had quite a few problems:
1. Some hair loss and breaking badly
2. Menstrual cycles - skip 4 months, then have a cycle for 1 or 2 months and then who knows what the next few months bring,
3. My personality has completely changed (I used to have a little bit of a temper - nothing bad - I feel like part of me is missing, - my blood work does not say I am pre-menapausal...
4. I get what they call a "brain fog" - the word will be on the tip of my tongue - but I cannot say it or I know where I am going in a conversation and I get tongue tied,
5. Also I feel since the thyroid cancer removal there has been some paralization of my vocal cords - at first, speaking above a low tone of voice was very difficult - this has improved, but I cannot project my voice and my speech slurs or words come out funny (I am a teacher - and the kids will make remarks when things do not sound right),
6. I am also suffering from depression and weight gain. I will cry at the drop of a hat, I find myself frustrated and sad about the smallest things. When I do get a cycle - I feel better in my "head". Right now, I feel as though my entire personality has changed, things that would get my emotions up - maybe it makes me mad - now, just makes me sad...due to my speech being altered from the surgery; I am unable to express myself when I am angry - this just makes me sadder, because I cannot express myself.
6. Several years before I found out that I had thyroid cancer, I began gaining weight. I am a dance teacher and exercise pretty regularly....Since the surgery, I am having more of a problem... This really makes me depressed, I used to have a good figure and I get so down on myself.
7. My doctor endocrynologist prescribed me an anti-depressant recently that its side effect is weight loss - she did this to try and help with two things at once depression and weight.
8. I talked with my brother - who is in AA recently... he told me that antidepressants are psychosomatic and that I will find myself needing more and more (I do not want to get addicted)
9. I know that my problems are never going to go away - not having a thyroid has created an entirely different venue for me.
10. I also have MVP and an irregular heart beat - I have read where people with thyroid problems - have these problems as well.
I take Levothyroxine 150mcgs (since I do not have a thyroid). I also take Metorpolol Succ ER 12.5 mgs or (toprol) for my heart. I am taking budeprion SR 100 MG for the depression/weight.

Q. Is there anywhere in the world that I can purchase Sheep Thyroid Supplements? I am not allergic to Sheep or Lamb.
   A. We have not looked into sheep or lamb derived thyroid supplements.

Q. I'm a 35 year old female and had a whole thyriodectomy due to cancer 7 years ago. Since then i have been on Levoxyl as for hormone replacement therapy. The dose is variable however they try to keep it as high as they can so the TSH stays as close as to zero. I also have been diagnosed with severe depression anxiety ADHD. The Depression visibly gets worsened at low doses of Levoxyl. MY doctor believes that I would be apt to depression anyway just due to my log term ADHD. And is not willing to increase the Levoxyl dose just due to other risk factors. I have also reacted severely to many of the prescription anti depressants. I'm interested to try supplements. Which one of the supplements you suggest fits best with a thyroid condition?  
   A. We really can't give individual advice, there are too many variables that involve the use of supplements and what works for one person may not for another, particularly those with a medical condition such as thyroid disease or on hormone treatment such as Levoxyl. One option is to discuss with your doctor, and if you try a supplement you have never taken before, open a capsule and at first use only a third or half the amount.

Q. Can I use 5-HTP if taking Synthroid 0.075 mg for low thyroid?
   A. The dosage of a supplement and the dosage of a medication are the crucial factors when the are combined. There are many other factors that influence how a person responds to a supplement including age, other medicines used, weight, overall health, diet, activity level, etc. As a general rule, your health care provider should guide you, and it is always safer to, at first, take a portion of a capsule when introducing a new supplement just to see how you react. Beyond this we cannot be any more specific.

Q. is it possible for topical forskolin application to enhance thyroid function? is there any site specific cAMP modulator to boost specific hormones?
   A. I have no idea what topical forskolin administration would do to thyroid hormone levels.

Q. I have Hyperthyroidism, what can I do with natural herbals, such like food or other things.
   A. The cause of hyperthyroidism needs to be determined and appropriate medical tests and medicines should be used. There are different causes for an overactive thyroid. I am not aware of any specific food or herb to treat an overactive thyroid.

Q.  My question is in regards to a thyroid problem. I don't have one. I was diagnosed with Graves Disease in 1999. The doctors at Ft. Sill, OK army hospital decided that it was best to destroy it. So I was given the radioactive iodine pill. I am taking Levoxyl or whatever thyroid medicine that I need to be on for the rest of my life. My question is, since Ashwagandha is known to stimulate the thyroid, what would it do to me since my thyroid is "dead"? My doctor is no into the herbal thing and I don't know of anyone around where I live who would know about both the pharmaceutical and herbal routes. I am learning how to cope with anxiety so I'm limited on what I can take due to my thyroid problem. Plus the other benefits wouldn't hurt either.
   A. We would think ashwagandha would not have much of an influence in terms of thyroid effect since you don't have an active thyroid gland. It is a good idea to start with smaller doses of ashwagandha, such as a third or half of a capsule. There are many other herbs that are helpful for anxiety, including passion flower and valerian, along with the nutrients 5-HTP or tryptophan, and it is a good idea to alternate their use rather than taking the same herb or supplement all the time.

Q. I’ve read your website many times and find the info and your products very helpful and hope you continue to provide updated info on a regular basis. I am a big supporter of natural and herbal supplements and along with physicians such as yourself I’m confident I will always find natural solutions to my health issues. My primary reason for writing is that I would like you to do info on thyroid concerns. I did not find any info on your website that addresses this health concern aside from tyrosine which I have used in a combined product but not individually. It does not agree with me at all, way too many side effects. I would like to see discussions on metabolism, hair loss, soy products (I’ve been told thyroid patients should not use soy products, true?), Just some of the myths and concerns related to thyroid problems would be helpful, and/or some of the various amino acids, herbs or vitamins that would support thyroid disorders. Thank you again for a wonderful website and newsletter.

Q. is it okay to take phytosterol complex while taking Armour thyroid medicine and estradiol, estrogen? Any known side affects?
   A. Much depends on the dosages and the overall medication condition of the person taking it. There are no simple answers.

Q. I had a test and they found a 1.4cm nodule on my thyroid. I just had the needle biopsy and it came back benign (not cancer). I was wondering if I should be taking an herb or supplement now as I am not having it removed. I don't know much about thyroid and disease. My doctor gave me blood test and my thyroid is perfectly normal.
   A. We are not aware of any supplements or herbs that influence thyroid nodules.

Q. I had Graves disease, and had a total thyroidectomy ,with a tiny piece of thyroid remaining, 10 years ago. I have been on 100mcg (sometimes 112 mcg) of Levoxyl since then I feel around 75% normal, but I do have hair loss, weight gain issues (and I am very athletic, and eat right, trust me), fatigue, depression, etc. My menstrual cycle has been normal though. I have also had one successful pregnancy, and delivered a healthy baby boy last year. Post delivery, I have tried everything from Levoxyl 100 and Cytomel 5 (once a day) to increasing my dose of Levoxyl (to 112), with no success. The former caused me to become severely hyperthyroid, and I had horrible muscle fatigue, headaches, dizziness (this is the 3rd time I have tried Cytomel with similar problems each time)  The latter made my symptoms persist, despite fairly low TSH and normal free T3 / T4 levels Staying at Levoxyl 100 keeps my levels in the normal range, but symptoms as I mentioned above (hypothyroid symptoms) persist. The question I have is this : if I try a natural supplement like Ashwagandha or Guggal - will these supplements stimulate the small remnant piece of my thyroid and put me at risk of hyperthyroidism? Will they cause my Graves to flare up? I still show the antibodies present in my blood.
   A. Human research with ashwagandha, Guggul, and many herbs is quite limited and little is known on how these supplements influence the thyroid gland let alone a small portion of a thyroid gland.

Q. I'm trying to find a natural remedy for keeping the thyroid healthy that I can take while breastfeeding. Can the thyroid be high due to breastfeeding and hormones at this time my son is 7 months? My t3 and t4 are normal but my TSH is 6.59 and nurse practitioner wants to put me on synthetic medicine but I told her I am going to do some research before starting anything. She said no your tsh can be high because of your breastfeeding.
   A. I am not aware of breastfeeding causing high TSH levels, but I am not an expert in this particular area.

Q. I have a 2 cm nodule on my right thyroid that has been checked twice and seems to be alright I had one removed 25 yrs ago in the same place, but it bothers me a little also I have hypothyroid symptoms with low body temperature but I did a test and checked my Tester one, and cortical, and thyroid, the thyroid came back normal but the testosterone, and corlisol, was very low I was looking at a product called Tongkat Ali herb will this bring my levels up? I know I don't feel good and my wife says my sex drive is low please let me know thinks.
   A. It is not yet very clear how Tongkat-Ali herb influences the various hormones in the body, however it is clear that the majority of users find tongkat ali herb helps improve their libido.

Q. I came across your website a year or two ago while researching herbs after my father's lung cancer diagnosis. As a scientist myself I was very relieved to find someone who compared traditional / popular uses and evidence from scientific studies to decipher safety and efficacy of the myriad of herbal supplements for which great claims are made. Recently, my wife was diagnosed with hyperthyroid (Grave's disease), so I began researching the conditions and treatments both western and herbal. In my research I discovered that thyroid disease - (hyper or hypothyroid) is far more common than I was aware of in the general population. Your comprehensive index of herbs covers a few of the ones I see recommended for my wife's condition.

Q. I believe that I have hypothyroidism and have visited my doctor and have received my lab order to have my blood tested for this disease. Less than a week ago I started using l-tyrosine since according to my homeopathic book this would be helpful with my thyroid, this being just a short term measure until I can get the test done. My question is this. Now that I have the order for thyroid tests, how long does taking l-tyrosine influence the tests before I undergo testing. I don’t want my test results to be skewed because of this tyrosine supplement.
   A. Much depends on the dosage of tyrosine used, but it would be safe to say that any effect should be minimal or gone after 4 or 5 days.

Q. Is hypothyroidism, for which I have been on the Armour thyroid for about a year, and it has helped me very much, but I'm wondering if this condition is connected to others such as a mucous cyst, a gum infection or a toenail fungal infection.
   A. I doubt these conditions are related to hypothyroidism.

I am a 63 year old woman, 5'6 inches tall, 190 lbs., generally in good health. I take a Multivitamin every day, or two, as well as Natural Vitamin C, and Calcium. Every other day I take 200 units of Vitamin E. I take no prescription medication. Recently, I was examined by a natural medicine doctor, as well as a traditional doctor. The former told me I had a "slightly sluggish thyroid" and the latter indicated blood work "within normal limits", with the exception of Cholesterol at 233. The Thyroid Panel +TSH, 3rd Generation was 3.73, T4 was 8.4, T3 was 28, T4 Free Calculated at 2.4. I was always slim, but weight problems surfaced around the menopause in my early fifties. I exercise and eat a healthy diet, however, I ingest refined sugar daily (I have cut it down). Might it help my energy levels and weight loss to take 100 mcgs. of Iodine three days per week?
    Thank you for writing, but we are not in a position to offer individual treatment advice, it requires a review of the whole medical history and a thorough medical exam in order to make proper suggestions and this cannot be done by email.

I read almost all of your website ... WOW. Lots of great info. My specific question is: I am a 55 year old white male, 5'11", 180 lbs. basically in good health. I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism and Graves Eye Disease about 5 years ago. I declined the traditional Radioactive Iodine treatment and the suggested surgical removal of my thyroid. I also declined the orbital decompression surgery for my eyes. My Mother-in-law and my neighbor lady both went the surgery route (thyroid and eyes) and neither got very good results. After several Endo changes I found an Endocrinologist that was willing to think outside the Merck Manual. I started on 300 mg of PTU and am now down to 50mg. I also started on 60mg of Prednisone and am now down to 5mg. My thyroid levels are almost back in range and my eyes are 90% back to normal. I have been taking 25mg of DHEA and 10mg of Pregnenolone along with the 5mg of Prednisone and 50mg of PTU for about a year. Could I take more Pregnenolone and stop the DHEA and Prednisone? Thanks again for your excellent website and information.
    This is a decision that you and your doctor need to make, it is not possible for me to give such advice without doing a full medical history, exam, and review of all blood test results. All I can say is to use the lowest dosage of these hormones that provide the needed benefits.

One year back I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. My TSH was just a little high (5.7) but my gynecologist put me on a very high dose of Synthriod 100 mcg because of this my TSH became very low and I developed hyperthyroidism. I was asked to stop the medicine. In 1 months time my TSH went up to 41 and I was asked to consult an endocrinologist. She told I have Hashimotto's hypothyroidism and I have to take medicine for the rest of my life. I'm just 28 yrs old and I'm really worried. I want to cure my disease through natural treatment options and I don't want to continue taking medicine for the rest of my life. One year back I was perfectly healthy and now I feel very tired. I find it hard to loose weight. Doctors told that my disease is hereditary but no one in my family has this problem. I have read about people getting cure through natural methods. I just wanted to know is it possible to treat hypothyroidism naturally. I'm over weighted.

I have been diagnoses with hyperthyroidism on three different occasions and typically have elevated TPO and Grave's dz anti-bodies. My episodes have been responsive to PTU and I have had periods of euthyroid x several years between the episodes. I am wondering if there are supplements that can support my immune system (so it does not attack my thyroid) in the long run.
    This is a complicated issue and there are no easy answers. The best option is to lead as healthy a lifestyle as possible.