I’ve had a number of patients ask me whether it’s okay to use red yeast rice to lower their cholesterol levels.  There actually has been a good deal of controversy over red yeast rice, as it once contained a natural form of Lovastatin, which is also used in prescription statins.  So you might not even be able to find red yeast rice which contains this ingredient.  However, even without this ingredient it still might be effective in reducing cholesterol levels.

However, you want to be careful when using red yeast rice, as even though it’s a natural product, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t any risks associated with taking it.  Just as is the case with statins, taking red yeast rice to lower cholesterol can actually affect your thyroid health.

Cholesterol Is Important For Proper Thyroid Health

Even though many people have a negative perception of cholesterol, the truth is that cholesterol is extremely important for proper thyroid health.  The reason for this is because cholesterol is the precursor for both the steroid hormones and the adrenal hormones.  So while you of course don’t want to have too high of a cholesterol level, if the levels are too low then this can lead to a deficiency in progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol, as well as other hormones which are essential for proper thyroid health.

So what cholesterol level is considered to be too high?  Most medical doctors will recommend for their patients to have a cholesterol level below 200, and some will actually recommend a cholesterol level below 180.  The truth is that in most cases, having a cholesterol level between 200 and 250 isn’t something to be too concerned about.  And this just isn’t my opinion, as the research supports this.  You’ll no doubt be told that having high levels can increase your risk of developing heart disease and strokes.  Once again, having extremely high cholesterol levels can lead to health issues, but the same can be said with very low levels.  In fact, many people who take red yeast rice or statins are doing themselves more harm than good.

But why do so many medical doctors recommend for their patients to take cholesterol-lowering medication such as statins?  There are essentially two reasons:

1. They don’t know any better. This obviously shouldn’t be the case with the training and experience that most medical doctors have, but the truth is, they don’t seem to pay much attention to the physiology of the body in many cases.  This of course isn’t just true with regards to lowering cholesterol, but in other areas as well.  In hyperthyroidism or Graves’ Disease, the solution in the eyes of many medical doctors is to obliterate the thyroid gland, even when the symptoms aren’t too severe.  With hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, synthetic thyroid hormone is almost always recommended.  Similarly, for high cholesterol, most medical doctors will recommend statin for someone with “high” cholesterol levels.

This doesn’t mean that some people can’t benefit from taking statins.  When someone has a very high cholesterol level, then perhaps giving that person statins on a temporary basis isn’t a bad idea.  The problem is that many doctors don’t do anything to address the cause behind the high cholesterol problem.

2. The influence of the billion dollar pharmaceutical industry. Of course the more statins are sold, the more money the drug industry makes.  It should come as no surprise then that the drug industry would want medical doctors to recommend statins to everyone with high cholesterol levels.  While it may seem like common sense to recommend statins, when you consider that in most cases high cholesterol levels are caused by lifestyle factors (and not a deficiency of cholesterol-lowering medication), the primary goal should be to have the person modify these lifestyle factors.

Once again, I’m not suggesting that statins are never necessary.  I realize that lifestyle factors aren’t the only factor responsible for high cholesterol levels.  Plus, if someone has extremely high cholesterol levels, even if it is due to lifestyle factors it might be necessary for them to take statins or red yeast rice on a temporary basis.  So I’m not going to argue that some people might benefit from taking statins or red yeast rice, although I definitely think statins are overused, and in some people will affect the production of progesterone and/or other hormones which can in turn affect thyroid health.

In summary, while you don’t want your cholesterol levels to be too high, having too low of a cholesterol level can affect the production of certain hormones, which in turn can affect your thyroid health.  So while some people may benefit from taking red yeast rice or statins, many people really don’t need to lower their cholesterol.  And many who do need to do this can accomplish this by eating better and exercising regularly.

Millions of people with hypothyroidism experience hair loss.  This is typically caused by the imbalance in thyroid hormone.  Frequently having the person take synthetic or natural thyroid hormone will help to correct the thyroid hormone imbalance, which will usually help with the thyroid hair loss.  However, this isn’t always the case, as there can be other causes of hair loss in people with hypothyroidism.

Whatever the cause of the thyroid hair loss in the person with hypothyroidism is, the ideal goal should be to correct the underlying cause of the condition.  While some people with hypothyroidism do need to take synthetic or natural thyroid hormone on a permanent basis, others can have their health restored back to normal through a natural treatment protocol. And when this is the case, the thyroid hair loss problem many times is corrected.

Other Potential Causes Of Hair Loss In People With Hypothyroidism

In addition to an imbalance in thyroid hormone resulting in hair loss in people with hypothyroidism, an imbalance in other hormones can result in this as well.  I’ve discussed the condition estrogen dominance in other articles, which is an imbalance in the hormones estrogen and progesterone.  Estrogen dominance can also lead to hair loss in people with hypothyroidism.  As a result, just giving a person with this condition thyroid hormone might help with the hypothyroid symptoms, but if estrogen dominance is responsible for the hair loss then one obviously needs to address the cause.

The problem is that many endocrinologists don’t evaluate the estrogen and progesterone levels of their patients.  And those that do usually will only perform a one sample test, which might be sufficient for menopausal women, but definitely isn’t adequate for cycling women.  For cycling women, their hormones are in a constant state of fluctuation, which is why a one sample test usually isn’t sufficient to determine whether they have estrogen dominance.  This is why I recommend a cycling female hormone panel for cycling women, as it tests for estrogen and progesterone (and other hormones) every three days during a woman’s cycle.

When someone with hypothyroidism has hair loss due to estrogen dominance, putting that person on a specific natural treatment protocol can help to correct this condition.  Some doctors will recommend bioidentical hormones to address the problem, which very well might help with the hormone imbalance and in turn with the thyroid hair loss.  However, giving natural hormones won’t correct the cause of the problem, which is why I try to avoid giving bioidentical hormones if at all possible.  And when I do recommend them, it is usually on a temporary basis.

There are other possible causes of hair loss in people with hypothyroidism, such as certain medications (antidepressants and oral contraceptives are examples), as well as nutritional deficiencies.  Some people with a zinc deficiency will experience hair loss.  Chronic stress can also lead to hair loss, and of course many people deal with chronic stress on a regular basis.  So in these cases, correcting the cause of the problem will usually help with the hair loss.

Can Nutritional Supplements Help With Thyroid Hair Loss?

Taking certain nutritional supplements can help some people with hypothyroidism who are experiencing hair loss.  Just as is the case with giving medication or natural hormones, one doesn’t just want to give supplements instead of addressing the actual cause.  While some supplements can be given on a temporary basis, the ultimate goal should be to find the underlying cause and then correct it if at all possible.  Of course some supplements are recommended to help address the cause of the hair loss.  In any case, here are some of the supplements which might be able to help with certain hair loss issues in people who have hypothyroidism:

• Evening Primose Oil

• L-lysine and L-arginine

• Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Of course before taking any nutritional supplements, or natural hormones for that matter, it is wise to first consult with a competent holistic doctor to see if they can find the underlying cause of your hair loss problem.  This of course is better than just managing the symptoms.

In summary, natural treatment methods can help many people with hypothyroidism who are experiencing hair loss.  Just as is the case with many other conditions, the ultimate goal should be to detect the underlying cause of the problem, whether it be the reduction in thyroid hormone, estrogen dominance, or a nutritional deficiency.

When people begin a natural thyroid treatment protocol, one of the main goals is to restore their digestive health.  Most people have unhealthy digestive systems, and it frequently shows in the form of symptoms such as bloating, gas, and indigestion.  But even those who don’t have such symptoms usually have a less than optimal functioning digestive system.  And as I have stated in other articles and posts, if one doesn’t have a properly functioning digestive system, they won’t be able to properly utilize the minerals and nutrients from the foods they eat and any nutritional supplements they take.

So while the ultimate goal is to restore the health of the person’s digestive system, some people do need some additional digestive support on a temporary basis.  Then once they have a healthy digestive system they can usually wean off of these supplements.

1. Digestive Enzymes. Taking quality digestive enzymes can help to properly digest the food you eat and any nutritional supplements you take.  When someone has problems with their digestive system it probably will take at least a few months to completely heal the digestive system to the point where it can properly digest the food they eat and the supplements they take on its own.  So if your digestive system isn’t functioning properly then you probably will need to take digestive enzymes for awhile.  Some people continue to take digestive enzymes on a maintenance basis to further help with the digestive process.

2. Probiotics. Many people take probiotics to help replenish the healthy bacteria of the gut.  It is especially important to take probiotics if one is on antibiotics, as these drugs kill both the harmful bacteria, as well as the good bacteria.  In addition to there being probiotic supplements, certain foods such as yogurt contain these healthy bacteria as well.  So if you eat yogurt then this will also supply you with some probiotics.  Of course if you’re avoiding dairy then you just might want to stick with taking some supplements.  Plus, many people eat flavored yogurt, which usually has a high sugar content, and thus can potentially do more harm than good.

3. Betaine Hydrochloride(HCL). Although millions of people take acid-stopping medication to reduce the production of acid in the stomach, the fact remains that many people have insufficient stomach acid.  When this is the problem, taking Betain HCL with pepsin can help with this.  You want to take this with food to avoid stomach burning.  If someone has an overproduction of stomach acid then taking this will exacerbate your digestive issues, and probably will cause burning.  This is why it’s important to begin with a lower dosage, and caution should be taken if you already have symptoms such as stomach burning.

Standard Process has a digestive supplement called Zypan, which actually contains a combination of Betaine hydrochloride and digestive enzymes, including pepsin and pancreatin (which in turn contains amylase, lipase, and protease).  If someone is experiencing stomach burning then they should not take this supplement.  In fact, if someone is having severe digestive issues then it’s a good idea to consult with a competent holistic doctor before taking any of the supplements I have discussed here.

When Can You Stop Taking Nutritional Supplements For Digestion?

As I mentioned earlier, it will take at least a few months to heal the digestive system.  This process usually takes a minimum of three to six months, and can take longer in some people.  In order to heal the digestive system one needs to eat a diet consisting mostly of whole foods, and cut out the refined foods and sugars.  Certain allergens such as gluten should also be eliminated during the healing process.  And needless to say, one should be drinking purified water and avoid drinking soda, coffee, etc.  In addition to taking nutritional supplements to help with the digestive process, other supplements may need to be taken as well in order to address certain nutritional deficiencies one may have.

Once someone’s digestive health has been restored then they can begin weaning off these supplements.  Once again, some people do choose to take some of these supplements on a maintenance basis, especially the enzymes and probiotics.  Whether you want to do this is of course completely up to you.

In summary, these are some of the nutritional supplements which can help with digestion.  Although many people will take these supplements and continue to eat unhealthy foods, the obvious goal should be to do what it takes to restore your digestive health back to normal.  So one really should try to eat well.  To be honest, when it comes to restoring the health of your digestive system, a lot of this you can do on your own, although some people can benefit from food allergy testing, a detoxification program, as well as other factors to help improve their digestive health.  So while you can and should do some of the basics on your own, for optimal results consult with a competent holistic doctor.

Every new patient of mine is required to fill out an extensive health history questionnaire.  One of the questions I ask is for them to rate their stress handling skills on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 meaning that they have great stress handling skills.  I also ask them to rate their stress levels.  But of these two questions, to me the person’s stress handling skills is the more important one.  The reason for this is because just about everyone deals with a great amount of stress on a regular basis, but most people don’t do a good job of handling stress.  And as you probably know, stress can lead to numerous health issues.

Let’s take a look at two different scenarios.  Scenario #1 involves a patient with Graves’ Disease who has a stress level of “7”, but their stress handling skills is a “9”.  Scenario #2 involves a patient with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis who has a stress level of “5”, but their stress handling skills is a “2”.  The fact that they have two different conditions doesn’t matter.  What I want to focus on is their stress levels and stress handling skills.

While the patient in scenario #1 has higher stress levels than the patient in scenario #2, she also has significantly greater stress handling skills.  If both of these patients were following a natural treatment protocol and didn’t do anything to further improve their stress handling skills, patient #1 would have a better chance of recovering.  Obviously there are factors other than stress which play a role in one’s recovery, but stress is a huge factor.  So if everything else were equal and the only difference between these two patients was with the different stress handling skills, the patient with the greater stress handling skills would have a better chance of recovering, even if they dealt with more stress on a regular basis.

In fact, if someone has poor stress handling skills and doesn’t do anything to improve this, even if they follow all of my other recommendations, it will be almost impossible for this person to achieve optimal health.  They could eat a perfect diet, take the recommended supplements, get sufficient sleep, minimize their exposure to environmental toxins, etc.  But if they are unable to manage their stress, they will not fully recover.

Chronic Stress Weakens Both The Adrenal Glands And The Immune System

The reason why someone with chronic stress won’t be able to achieve optimal health is because this stress will impact both the adrenal glands and the immune system.  Chronic stress will cause the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol, which over a long period of time will weaken the adrenal glands.  And as I’ve discussed in the past, weak adrenal glands will also affect immunity.  So it really is critical that someone does a good job of managing their stress.

I’m pretty sure that stress was one of the main factors in my development of Graves’ Disease.  I have had some patients ask me what I have done to better deal with the stress.  While there are many different stress management techniques one can use (yoga, meditation, etc.), the truth is that I didn’t use any specific technique to manage my stress.  Eating healthy and exercising regularly definitely helps me to better deal with stress.  But a lot of it is mental in nature, as while there definitely is no shortage of stress in my life, I’ve just learned to handle it much better.  In other words, just being aware of the impact stress had on my health has helped improve my stress handling skills over the years.  This doesn’t mean I can’t further improve it, as I probably should do some meditation or yoga.

Of course I realize it’s not easy to rate one’s stress handling skills.  And many people have a tendency to overestimate their ability to manage stress.  If you were to ask me a few years before I was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease to rate my stress handling skills on a scale of 1 to 10, I probably would have put an 8 or 9, although it probably was more like a 4 or 5.  So while I do pay attention to what people put down on the questionnaires, I realize that some people think they do a good job of managing the stress in their life, but in reality they need to greatly improve their stress handling skills.

In summary, if you’re looking to restore your health back to normal by following a natural thyroid treatment protocol, then it is essential for you to develop good stress handling skills.  If you don’t do this and if you deal with a lot of stress on a regular basis then it will be nearly impossible to achieve optimal health, even if you follow all of the other recommendations of the holistic doctor you’re consulting with.

One of my favorite books is by Dr. John R. Lee entitled “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause…The Breakthrough Book on Natural Hormone Balance”.  In this book, Dr. Lee talks about many of the different conditions which can be helped by taking bioidentical progesterone.  This is not the primary reason why I enjoyed reading this book, as overall he provides some valuable information not only for menopausal women, but information which can benefit anyone with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition.

While I’m not completely opposed to having my patients take natural progesterone, as well as other bioidentical hormones, I usually don’t recommend them taking any natural hormones unless absolutely necessary.  An example of this would be a woman who received a complete hysterectomy, as there is a good chance that this person would need to take natural progesterone.  On the other hand, I have consulted with numerous cycling women who currently take or have taken natural progesterone, and this usually is unnecessary, although there of course are exceptions.  The same concept applies to men, as many men who are low in testosterone take bioidentical testosterone, which usually isn’t necessary.

Why Are Many Doctors Recommending Natural Hormones?

If there are risks when taking bioidentical hormones, then why do so many doctors recommend them to their patients?  First of all, I wouldn’t assume that natural hormones are completely safe just because doctors advise their patients to take them.  As we are all aware of, there are many medications and other conventional medical treatment methods which are risky, yet recommended frequently by medical doctors (radioactive iodine anyone?).  So I wouldn’t assume that bioidentical hormones don’t have any risks just because they are recommended by numerous doctors.

Many people assume that bioidentical hormones are safe not because they are recommended by many healthcare professionals, but because they are natural.  Plus, just like nutritional supplements, people can easily purchase natural progesterone and other bioidentical hormones online.  So because they are “natural” and are readily available, AND at the same time are recommended by numerous doctors, many people think that natural hormones are completely harmless.

The Difference Between Bioidentical Hormones & Nutritional Supplements

Many people think of natural hormones as being similar to taking nutritional supplements.  But hormones are very complex, and should not be mistaken as being the same as supplements and herbs.  While there are risks with taking certain supplements and herbs, it is much easier to develop problems from taking hormones, as they are very powerful.  One of the most common problems with hormones is overdosing.  For example, many people take bioidentical progesterone or testosterone.  Doing so will frequently make the person feel better initially, but there is the potential to overdose, which can lead to a whole host of symptoms.  This is true even when you are careful with taking specific dosages, as especially with hormone creams there is a good chance of overdosing.

When Are Bioidentical Hormones Necessary To Take?

Although I’m not in favor of giving bioidentical hormones out like candy, there are times when I will recommend them to my patients.  The main problem I have is that they don’t get to the underlying cause of the problem. So for example, if someone has a deficiency in progesterone, testosterone, or any other hormone, then I want to find out what caused the deficiency.  This is similar to the approach I take with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, as I want to find out why the person has a deficiency or excess in thyroid hormone, and not just give thyroid hormone to people with hypothyroidism, or a drug to suppress the production of thyroid hormone in people with hyperthyroidism.

So there are essentially two cases when I will recommend bioidentical hormones to my patients:

1. When the person has had a gland or organ removed. As I mentioned previously, a good example of this is when I consult with a woman who has had a complete hysterectomy, as there is a good chance this person will need to take natural progesterone because her body no longer can produce a sufficient amount on its own.

2. When someone has a severe deficiency. If someone has a severe deficiency then I also may give that person natural hormones on a TEMPORARY basis.  So for example, if someone has very low DHEA levels then I very well might have that person take DHEA on a temporary basis.  On the other hands, an herb like Tribulus can sometimes raise low DHEA levels in menopausal women and men, and so not everyone with a low DHEA level needs to take bioidentical DHEA.  But when someone with a severe deficiency needs to take bioidentical hormones, my goal is to put them on them temporarily.

Warning: Most Healthcare Professionals Don’t Know Much About Natural Hormones

One of the big problems is that many healthcare professionals don’t know much about bioidentical hormones, yet they recommend them frequently to their patients.  Some have had a weekend crash course, while others don’t know any more than their patients.  So you really do need to be careful when speaking with any healthcare professional about bioidentical hormones.  And if you have a deficiency, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor “why do I have the deficiency, and how will taking these hormones permanently correct it?”  Don’t be surprised if they don’t have a good answer for you.

In summary, although bioidentical hormones such as natural progesterone can help many people, you need to remember that in most cases they don’t do anything for the underlying cause of the problem.  The truth is that most people don’t need to take any natural hormones, and when they do need to take them, it usually should be on a temporary basis.  And please don’t take bioidentical hormones on your own, as you really do want to speak with someone who is competent in this area, as this can lead to a lot of problems.  This is especially true if you are taking hormone creams.

Some people who choose to follow a natural treatment protocol have issues with their “unsupportive” spouse.  Fortunately this isn’t too common with the people I consult with, although I’m sure there are many people who don’t even schedule a consultation because their spouse isn’t supportive of their choice to use natural treatment methods in an attempt to restore their health back to normal.  The truth is that most people have a conventional mindset and take the advice of their medical doctor, and so when someone is told to take thyroid medication or receive radioactive iodine treatment, but then chooses to follow a natural treatment protocol, it is not uncommon for their “significant other” to question this decision.

In the past I have written articles and posts regarding “unsupportive” friends and family members.  One of my recommendations is to try to avoid those people who don’t support your decision to follow a natural thyroid treatment protocol AND who constantly nag you about this. But of course this is difficult to accomplish with your spouse, and so if you are looking into natural treatment methods but have an unsupportive spouse, then you need to try educating them about the safety and effectiveness of such methods. This can admittedly be challenging to do, but it’s definitely worth attempting this.

So how can you accomplish this?  After all, you can’t force anyone to be open minded and embrace natural treatment methods.  But you can try to convince them to take an hour or two of their time to look at some of the benefits of following a natural treatment protocol, as well as some of the risks of conventional medical treatment.  Here are a few of the ways you can do this:

1. Have them visit this website. However, I wouldn’t just give them the website address and tell them to read some articles.  I would choose a few select articles and/or videos for them to watch.  I would try not to overdo it.  For example, if you have hyperthyroidism or Graves’ Disease and wanted to convince your spouse about the benefits of natural treatment methods and the risks of radioactive iodine treatment, then you might want to have them read the following articles and/or watch the following videos:

Article: Are You Skeptical About Natural Treatment Methods?

https://www.naturalendocrinesolutions.com/articles/are-you-skeptical-about-natural-thyroid-treatment-methods/

Article: Combining Natural Thyroid Treatment Methods With Conventional Treatment Methods

https://www.naturalendocrinesolutions.com/articles/combining-natural-thyroid-treatment-methods-with-conventional-treatment-protocols/

Article: Stop Treating The Thyroid Gland!

https://www.naturalendocrinesolutions.com/articles/stop-treating-thyroid-gland/

Video: Natural Hyperthyroid Treatment Methods: Are They Safe?

https://www.naturalendocrinesolutions.com/videos/video-natural-hyperthyroid-treatment-methods-safe/

Video: Radioactive Iodine: Why You Should Avoid It

https://www.naturalendocrinesolutions.com/videos/video-radioactive-iodine-avoid/

Video: Graves’ Disease: Natural Treatment Options

https://www.naturalendocrinesolutions.com/videos/graves-disease-video-natural-treatment-options/

On the other hand, if you have hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, then you might want to have them read and/or watch the following:

The same three articles I listed above

Video: Natural Hypothyroid Treatment Methods Can Cure Your Thyroid Condition

https://www.naturalendocrinesolutions.com/videos/video-natural-hypothyroid-treatment-methods-cure-thyroid-condition/

Video: Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Natural Treatment Solutions

https://www.naturalendocrinesolutions.com/videos/video-hashimotos-thyroiditis-natural-treatment-solutions/

2. Have your spouse listen in on a consultation with a natural endocrine doctor. Have them be a part of your recovery, as if they are at all skeptical about you following a natural treatment protocol, I think it’s a good idea to get them involved.  This way they can hear the doctor tell them all of the benefits, and of course they can ask the doctor any questions they may have.  This can help to overcome many of the objections your spouse may have about you following a natural treatment protocol.

3. Give them some physical material they can read. If your spouse prefers to read physical material rather going online or talking on the phone, then you can give them a book to read.  Or if they don’t want to read an entire book then print up a copy of the free guide I offer online, and have them read this.  They should be able to read this within an hour, and it will give them some valuable information that might make them more supportive of your decision to follow a natural treatment protocol.

Obviously there will be some people who refuse to do any of the above things.  And while reading an entire book may be a lot to ask, asking your spouse to read a few articles and/ or a couple of videos won’t take too much of their time.  There of course still will be some people who can’t be convinced of the benefits of natural treatment methods.  For these people there really isn’t much you can do, other than stick to your guns and hope that your spouse doesn’t become too big of a nuisance in trying to persuade you to stick with the conventional medical treatment protocol.

Some people think of their gallbladder as being “expendable”.  Don’t get me wrong, as I don’t think anybody wants any of their organs to be removed.  But since many people live a seemingly normal life after getting their gallbladder removed, many people don’t think their gallbadder plays an important role in their overall health.  After all, how important can your gallbladder be if you can do just fine after it’s surgically removed?

The gallbladder actually plays a very important role in your body.  And while many people do seem to live a normal life without it, many others have health issues that are due to their gallbladder being removed.  But most people aren’t aware that their health issues are related to this.

To better understand this, let’s take a look at the function of the gallbladder.  The gallbladder stores bile, which is necessary for the emulsification of fats.  In other words, it helps to break down the fats you eat.  If have your gallbladder removed, then this will affect the bile, and your body will have problems breaking down fats, which will also interfere with the digestion of fats.  This is why people who have received gallbladder surgery usually experience digestive symptoms (bloating, gas, indigestion, etc.) when eating a lot of fatty foods.

So why is this a big deal?  Well, the fats and oils you consume are part of the building blocks of many of the hormones in your body.  And so if you don’t have a gallbladder, then your ability to make and metabolize hormones will be impaired.  This of course is also the case if you still have your gallbladder, but if it’s not functioning correctly, which is the case with many people.  So if you have a malfunctioning gallbladder then you can expect to have problems with hormone metabolism.  Once again, someone who has a malfunctioning gallbladder will have some of the same symptoms I listed above (bloating, belching, indigesting, pain between the shoulder blades, etc.).  So when someone follows a natural treatment protocol, this is one of the primary things I will look for, as if they have an impaired ability to make hormones, then this of course will affect their recovery.

The Relationship Between Estrogen Dominance And Gallbladder Issues

If you’ve been reading these posts and articles for awhile, then you know that from time to time I’ll speak about estrogen dominance, which is a condition involving a hormone imbalance between estrogen and progesterone.  This condition causes bile to become thick and sluggish, which will cause problems with the emulsification of fats, and therefore can impair hormone metabolism as well.  In other words, it’s very common for someone who is in a state of estrogen dominance to have gallbladder issues.  And while someone with the above symptoms might try to do a gallbladder flush to help, they need to get to the root cause of the problem, which is to correct the estrogen dominance issue.  So for anyone who is looking to achieve optimal health, if the person is in a state of estrogen dominance this needs to be corrected.  Once this is corrected the person will sometimes still require a gallbladder flush, although not always.

What can you do if you have already had your gallbladder removed?  Obviously there is nothing that can be done to permanently fix this problem.  However, there are certain supplements people can take to help emulsify the fats.  Most people of course don’t do this, as they try to minimize the fats they eat, which can also cause problems.  We’ve been taught to avoid fats, and while you don’t want to eat an excess amount of fats, you also don’t want to substitute eating carbohydrates for them.  You need to eat a balanced diet consisting of protein, quality fats, and a minimal amount of carbohydrates.  But in order to break down the healthy fats you eat, you either need a properly functioning gallbladder, or if your gallbladder has been removed, then you will need to take certain supplements which helps prevent the bile from becoming thick and sluggish.

In summary, even though people can live without a gallbladder, this doesn’t mean this organ isn’t important to our health.  Without a properly functioning gallbladder, not only will this affect the ability to break down fats, but it will also affect the formation and metabolism of hormones.  So if you’re looking to follow a natural treatment protocol, it is essential to have a properly functioning gallbladder.  And if you have had your gallbladder removed, you then need to receive the necessary nutritional support.

I’ve had a number of people ask me whether it’s possible to have both Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis at the same time.  I’ve also had some people tell me they have been diagnosed as having both conditions.  Although both Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis are autoimmune thyroid disorders, there of course are differences between the two conditions.

Graves’ Disease is an autoimmune hyperthyroid condition, while Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune hypothyroid disorder.  Both could involve the presence of TPO antibodies, while TSI antibodies are involved with Graves’ Disease.  Other types of antibodies can be involved as well.  But of course Graves’ Disease involves an excess production of thyroid hormone, while Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis involves a decrease in thyroid hormone.

There are times when people seem to fluctuate between Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.  For example, some people will be diagnosed with Graves’ Disease, but then over time will develop a hypothyroid condition, and will  be diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.  There are some people who will fluctuate back and forth between the two conditions, although this is rare.  And of course someone with Graves’ Disease who receives radioactive iodine or thyroid surgery and doesn’t address the underlying cause of the condition has a pretty good chance of developing another autoimmune disorder, such as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

But to answer the original question, one cannot have both conditions at the same exact time.  If the definition of Graves’ Disease is an autoimmune hyperthyroid condition and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune hypothyroid condition, then hopefully you can understand why it’s not possible to have both conditions simultaneously.  However, a person can have different thyroid antibodies, and so once again it is possible to fluctuate between the two conditions.

Can Following A Natural Treatment Protocol Help?

For someone who has thyroid antibodies for both Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, a natural treatment protocol can frequently help with this.  Just as is the case with someone who only has thyroid antibodies for a single condition, the goal is to get to the underlying cause of the condition.  And while it’s rare for someone to fluctuate back and forth between Graves’ and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, following a natural treatment protocol consisting of eating well, taking certain supplements and herbs, and modifying other lifestyle factors can potentially restore this person’s health back to normal.

This doesn’t mean there can’t be some challenges when trying to help someone with such a condition.  For example, while people with Graves’ Disease who have an iodine deficiency can supplement with iodine, the same thing isn’t always true for someone with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, although there is some controversy over this.  So if someone is fluctuating between both conditions and has an iodine deficiency, one might want to hold off on giving that person iodine until the autoimmune response is addressed.

Similarly, the herb Bugleweed is commonly recommended for people with Graves’ Disease, but is contraindicated for people who have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.  So a person who fluctuates between the two conditions probably shouldn’t take Bugleweed, or any other herb which is contraindicated for either Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

But for the most part, such a condition is handled in a similar manner as someone who is diagnosed with just Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.  While there might be fluctuations between the thyroid blood tests and thyroid antibody tests, this is why other tests are usually recommended (adrenal testing, hormone testing, hair mineral analysis, etc.).  So regardless of the autoimmune thyroid condition, the ultimate goal is to find the underlying cause of the condition and do what is necessary to correct the problem.

In summary, it isn’t impossible for someone to have both Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis at the same exact time.  However, it is possible for someone to have thyroid antibodies for both conditions, which can cause them to switch back and forth from one autoimmune thyroid disorder to another.  Either way, for anyone looking to restore their health through natural treatment methods, the goal is to find out what the underlying cause of the condition is, and then put the person on the appropriate protocol in order to correct the cause.

Millions of people have thyroid conditions, and while many men are afflicted with hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and autoimmune thyroid conditions, most of the people affected with these conditions are women. Of course many men also have thyroid conditions, and most reading this know that I personally was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease.  However, about 85% of the people I consult with for thyroid conditions are women.  This includes both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions.

So why are both thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions more common in women?  The truth is that it is not known for sure, but there’s an excellent chance that hormones play a big role in this, especially the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which of course are more abundant in women.  I’ve spoken in the past about the condition estrogen dominance, which is an imbalance in the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and how this condition is common in many women with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions.  Of course not all women have estrogen dominance, so I’m not suggesting that all thyroid conditions are caused by estrogen dominance, because this isn’t true.  The truth is that there isn’t a single cause behind all thyroid conditions.

Men Can Develop Estrogen Dominance Too

While estrogen dominance is primarily found in women, men can develop this condition as well.  And so there are times when I will recommend a male hormone panel for my male patients to rule out this condition.  Usually the symptoms they present with will give me a good idea as to whether someone should obtain this test.  Other times it’s not so obvious (or sometimes the problem is that many men won’t put down all of the symptoms they’re experiencing…it’s a guy thing).  Sometimes it’s not apparent they have a hormone imbalance until they follow a natural treatment protocol, and then they may hit a roadblock which indicates something else is wrong.

You might wonder how men, as well as women, develop a hormone imbalance.  There are different ways these problems can develop.  Sometimes exposure to xenoestrogens will lead to estrogen dominance, as eating foods and using products with artificial estrogens can cause this problem.  Taking bioidentical hormones can also lead to this condition, potentially causing a progesterone deficiency, also leading to estrogen dominance.  Once again, this problem won’t always cause a thyroid condition, but it’s frequently related, which means that any woman or man with a hormone imbalance looking to have their health restored back to normal needs to have this corrected first.

Restoring Thyroid Health: A Comparison Between Men and Women

While it’s always a challenge to restore someone’s thyroid health back to normal (as well as their overall health), in some cases it is easier to accomplish this in men, since they don’t have the same hormonal issues as women.  This is especially true when comparing men with cycling women, as with cycling women the sex hormones are always fluctuating.  Plus, many cycling women will take oral contraceptives to deal with hormonal issues, which usually makes the problem worse.  This isn’t something I need to focus on with men, although I do need to find out whether they are taking or have taken bioidentical hormones such as DHEA or testosterone, as this can lead to a hormone imbalance.

When it comes to using natural treatment methods to restore someone’s health back to normal, whether a woman or a man presents with a thyroid condition really doesn’t matter.  Sure, men might be easier to treat in some cases, but then again, there have been some women who responded quicker than some of my male patients.  So one really can’t predict how one will respond simply by gender alone.  The goal either way will be to evaluate the person, have them obtain certain tests if necessary, and then put them on a protocol based on a combination of their health history and symptoms, along with the results of the tests.

Of course any hormone testing that is recommended will be different, as a woman will need to obtain either a cycling or menopausal hormone test, while a man will need to obtain a male hormone panel.  The hormones in these tests will be the same, as both the male and female hormone panels will evaluate the hormones estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA.  The panels will also include Androstenedione and Dihydrotestosterone, while an expanded male or female panel will also include the hormones FSH and LH.

In summary, while nobody knows for certain why thyroid conditions are more prominent in women, the reason is probably due to the difference in hormones.  While both women and men have the same hormones, they have different levels of them, and since women have greater levels of estrogen and progesterone they are more susceptible to certain hormone imbalances such as estrogen dominance.  Of course men can also experience such imbalances as well, which is why regardless of whether a man or a woman presents with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition, they of course need to be evaluated on an individual basis to find out what might be causing their condition, and then once this is determined I can then put them on the appropriate natural treatment protocol.

Today’s post includes a very special guest, Dr. David Brownstein.  Dr. Brownstein is author of many different books, including “Iodine, Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It” and “Overcoming Thyroid Disorders”.  During this interview Dr. Brownstein is going to discuss the importance of iodine, and how it can help people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid disorders.

Dr. Eric: How are you doing today Dr. Brownstein?

Dr. Brownstein: I am doing great and thanks for having me here.

Dr. Eric: I really have been looking forward to this interview, as I enjoyed attending your webinar on Overcoming Thyroid Disorders, and I’m sure you’re going to share some great information here that will benefit people with both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions, including autoimmune thyroid disorders such as Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

When I was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease I’m pretty sure iodine was very important in helping to restore my health back to normal, yet many medical doctors advise people with hyperthyroid conditions to avoid iodine. Why is this so?

Dr. Brownstein: Most doctors are under the impression that iodine is toxic to the thyroid gland. They believe that iodine will precipitate a thyroid problem or if one already has a thyroid problem, make it worse.  This just isn’t true.  The NHANES and other data clearly show iodine level have been falling over the last 30-40 years and thyroid illnesses have  been increasing. If iodine were a toxic agent to the thyroid, we would see iodine levels falling during this time period, not rising. That goes for hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroid disorders such as Graves’ and Hashimoto’s disease.

Dr. Eric: There seems to be a great deal of controversy as to whether people with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis should supplement with iodine, even if they have a deficiency.  I admittedly have been guilty of this as well, as I always was taught that people with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis should avoid iodine because it will worsen their condition.  When I attended your seminar you told the audience you usually have had no problems giving your patients who have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis iodine supplementation.  Can you please elaborate on this?

Dr. Brownstein: Animal studies show that you cannot cause Hashimoto’s disease in an animal unless they are iodine deficient and they are given a goitrogen.  That is what is happening to our human population;  we are iodine deficient and we are exposed to an ever-increasing amount of goitrogens like bromide and fluoride.

Dr. Eric: If it’s fine for people with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis to take iodine, then why do some people feel bad when supplementing with iodine?

Dr. Brownstein: Iodine can cause a detoxification reaction whereby the body releases bromide.  I believe this is where many of the adverse effects are coming from.  I explain this in my books.  My experience has clearly shown that vast majority of patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders improve with iodine when it is used as part of a holistic treatment regimen.

Do some react negatively to iodine? Yes.  Iodine is not for everyone, but, my clinical experience has clearly shown adverse effects to iodine are rare when it is used appropriately.

Dr. Eric: So then this should also be the case with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease too, as while most of my patients with hyperthyroid conditions do fine supplementing with iodine, I have had a few who were deficient in iodine, yet didn’t feel great when first supplementing with it.

Dr. Brownstein: Absolutely.  The entire country is in a state of iodine decline.

Dr. Eric: What are some of the reasons why many people are iodine deficient?

Dr. Brownstein: The number one reason is eating a poor diet full of refined flour-containing products such as bread, pasta, and cereal.  The bromide in food and drink (many soda products contain it) competitively inhibit iodine  and cause the body to excrete iodine.  The second reason is that our exposure to bromine from multiple non-food sources is enormous. It is used as a fire retardant in clothing, computers, furniture, automobiles and other consumer items.  Every one of the nearly 1,000 patients that I have tested for bromine has tested positive for  high levels.

Dr. Eric: But why can’t most people obtain all of the iodine they need by eating iodine-rich foods and consuming iodized salt?

Dr. Brownstein: In my book I showed that iodine is poorly absorbed from iodized salt.  Couple in our increasing exposure to goitrogens and we are ripe for major health problems.

Dr. Eric: When I supplemented with iodine my TSH actually went well above the reference range after a few months, yet all of my other labs were fine and I felt pretty good.  Eventually it did fall back within the normal range, but I’m sure some people with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease would be concerned about this.  Is there any cause for concern if someone with hyperthyroidism supplements with iodine and the TSH goes higher than the reference range?

Dr. Brownstein: The elevation of TSH is a normal and expected response to iodine supplementation as the TSH stimulates NIS—the transport molecule for iodine.  Within 6-12 months TSH levels decline as optimal iodine levels are restored intra-cellularly.

Dr. Eric: We both recommend the iodine loading test to determine whether someone has an iodine deficiency. But how can someone with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid disorder specifically know how much iodine they need to take?  Is this something they can do on their own, or do you recommend them speaking a doctor before supplementing with iodine?

Dr. Brownstein: I recommend working with a health care practitioner who is knowledgeable about iodine and thyroid disorders.  I also suggest having your levels tested before and during supplementation.  The iodine loading test is the best test we have for this.

Dr. Eric: In your book “Overcoming Thyroid Disorders”, you estimate that up to 40% of the population may be suffering from a thyroid disorder. Can this be related to many people being deficient in iodine?

Dr. Brownstein: Absolutely.  Iodine deficiency coupled with the increasing exposure to toxins like bromide and fluoride are negatively affecting the thyroid gland.

Dr. Eric: What are some of the other factors which can cause or contribute to the high incidence of thyroid conditions?

Dr. Brownstein: Nutrient deficiencies such as B-vitamins, vitamin A and mineral deficiencies can all contribute to thyroid problems.  Furthermore, many commonly used drugs such as birth control pills or beta blockers also inhibit normal thyroid function.  My book covers more items.

Dr. Eric: Dr. Brownstein, I’d like to thank you for taking the time for this interview.  I highly recommend for anyone with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition to get your books on Iodine and Overcoming Thyroid Disorders I mentioned earlier.  Plus you have some other great books, such as “The Soy Deception” and “The Guide To A Gluten-Free Diet”.  You also have a blog which I highly recommend everyone visiting.  Can you tell everyone where they can get some of your books and DVDs, and check out your blog?

Dr. Brownstein: My website is:  www.drbrownstein.com.

Well thank you again Dr. Brownstein for taking the time for this interview, as I’m sure many people will find this information to be extremely valuable, and will also look forward to reading your blog and hopefully some of your books.

Thanks for having me, Dr. Eric.