Part of the challenge of writing content for this website is catering to those people who have been loyal subscribers for awhile, as well as those who are relatively new to this website.  While this email is primarily for those people who are new to this website, the information will also benefit just about everyone who is considering natural treatment methods.  So for those new to this website, you can think of this as an “introductory lesson” on natural treatment methods, while those who have been reading these posts for awhile can look at this as a “quick review”.

In any case, some people think that the goal of natural treatment methods is to simply manage the symptoms naturally through supplements and herbs, rather than through prescription drugs, RAI, thyroid surgery, etc.  For most people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid disorders, the ultimate goal is to get to the underlying cause of the disorder and if possible, try to completely restore the person’s health back to normal.  In other words, while supplements and herbs can play an important role in the recovery process, I don’t want anyone to have to rely on taking supplements and herbs for the rest of their life either.  Sure, most people can benefit from taking certain supplements on a daily basis, but certain herbs like Bugleweed and Motherwort (for hyperthyroid disorders), and Bladderwrack and Ashwagandha (for hypothyroid conditions) should not be taken on a permanent basis.

Who Is An “Ideal” Candidate For Natural Treatment Methods?

The truth is that most people can benefit from following a natural treatment protocol.  This doesn’t mean that everyone with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition can completely restore their thyroid health back to normal.  For example, someone who has received a complete thyroidectomy will need to take synthetic or natural thyroid hormone for the rest of their life.  However, while they can’t be cured, this doesn’t mean they still don’t have problems with their adrenal glands, immune system, and other areas of the body which was not addressed by the surgery.

The same concept applies to someone who has had a partial thyroidectomy or received radioactive iodine treatment.  Unlike someone who has had their entire thyroid gland removed, these people can sometimes have their thyroid health restored back to normal, although it of course will be more challenging than for someone who has not received these procedures.  But once again, even those people who received these procedures that can’t have their health completely restored can usually benefit from natural treatment methods.  Receiving radioactive iodine therapy or thyroid surgery once again won’t do anything for the underlying cause of the disorder.

How Do Natural Thyroid Treatment Methods Work?

Let’s get “back to the basics” with regards to how natural thyroid treatment methods work.  As I frequently mention on this website, it’s a good idea to consult with a competent holistic doctor who focuses on endocrine disorders.  While a general holistic doctor might be able to help you, it’s a good idea to see someone who has a great deal of experience using natural treatment methods to help people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions.  Upon seeing such a doctor, they will evaluate your health history and symptoms, look at any thyroid blood tests you have already received, and most likely will recommend additional tests to help find out the underlying cause.

For example, when I consult with a new patient, if I suspect that they have compromised adrenal glands which is causing or contributing to their problem (which by the way, is very common), then I typically will recommend an Adrenal Stress Index test to evaluate the health of their adrenal glands.  If the test reveals low cortisol levels, then I’ll put together a specific protocol to help with this.  If they have high cortisol levels, then I’ll recommend a specific protocol to lower these levels.  And if their DHEA levels (also measured on the ASI test) are low, then there are certain things they can take to raise these levels as well (and it doesn’t always involve giving bioidentical DHEA).

Similarly, if I suspected that someone had a mineral deficiency, which as you can probably guess is quite common, then I would recommend a hair mineral analysis test.  If their symptoms indicated there was a hormone imbalance then I would recommend a male or female hormone panel.  These imbalances might not directly cause the thyroid condition (although sometimes they do), but often times will affect other areas of the body which in turn will lead to the development of the condition.  For example, a mineral imbalance or stressed out adrenals might compromise the immune system, and lead to the development of an autoimmune thyroid disorder, such as Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

Lifestyle Factors, Nutritional Supplements, Etc.

Once the underlying cause has been detected, the obvious goal will be to correct these issues.  Lifestyle factors play an important part in this, as eating well, drinking purified water, getting sufficient sleep, and doing a good job of managing stress all are essential to achieve optimal health.  Frequently certain nutritional supplements and herbs are required to address nutritional deficiencies and assist in the recovery process.  This once again is another reason why you should consult with an expert, rather than try to self-treat your condition.

In summary, just about everyone with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid disorder can benefit from natural treatment methods.  The question is whether or not they can have their health completely restored back to normal, and this of course depends on the individual.  Many people can accomplish this when following a natural treatment protocol.  But even those who can’t have their health restored can usually benefit, as following a natural treatment protocol can help strengthen their adrenal glands, improve the health of their immune system, restore their digestive health, and help them to achieve overall optimal health, even when a cure isn’t possible.

It’s hard to believe another Thanksgiving has arrived, which of course means that we’ll be ringing in a brand new year before we know it!  So much has happened over the past year that I have to be thankful for, as I have thousands of people with both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions visiting my website who are learning how a natural treatment protocol might be able to restore their health back to normal.  And of course I just released a book on hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease, which will make many people with these conditions aware that there are alternatives besides radioactive iodine and antithyroid drugs.

In any case, I’d like to sincerely thank you for continuing to read my posts and articles, and I look forward to providing you with more valuable information for the rest of this year, as well as for 2012!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving…and go easy on the pumpkin pie!

Dr. Eric

As most people who are reading this know, I personally was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease, and used a natural treatment protocol to help restore my health back to normal.  And while I frequently mention how just taking nutritional supplements and herbs alone isn’t enough to restore one’s health, this doesn’t mean that taking supplements and herbs aren’t important, as they definitely play a big role in the recovery process.

When I followed a natural treatment protocol there were numerous supplements and herbs which I took.  And when it came to managing my symptoms, the herbs Bugleweed and Motherwort were the two most valuable ones.  Since I opted not to take any antithyroid drugs, it was somewhat challenging dealing with the hyperthyroid symptoms (high pulse rate, palpitations, etc.).  These two herbs were highly responsible for controlling these symptoms.

I actually began by just taking Bugleweed for a few months, which by itself did a good job of managing the symptoms.  Of course the other supplements and herbs I took, along with modifying certain lifestyle factors, were also an important part of the recovery process.  But for many people who don’t want to take antithyroid drugs, Bugleweed is an option.  Although Bugleweed did do a good job of managing my symptoms, I still had some minor palpitations, which is why I decided to take Motherwort as well.  Taking both of these herbs pretty much eliminated the cardiac symptoms I experienced.

Taking These Herbs On Your Own

I’m of course not a big advocate of self-treating one’s condition.  However, I realize that many people with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease will take these and other herbs on their own.  In fact, a number of people I consult with are already taking these herbs during the initial consultation.  And many of these people told me they decided to take them based on what they read on my website.  What’s important to understand is that these herbs won’t work on everybody with a hyperthyroid condition, as other factors need to be addressed as well.

For example, I’ve consulted with some people who took Bugleweed and Motherwort and actually experienced a worsening of their thyroid blood tests.  And usually the reason for this is because there are other factors that aren’t being addressed.  In other words, when I was taking the Bugleweed, I was also taking certain herbs to help with my immune system, was taking iodine and magnesium to help address my iodine deficiency, etc.  So I wasn’t just taking Bugleweed alone, which is what some people do.  Or many will take other supplements and herbs, but these won’t be the appropriate ones to address other problems they are experiencing.  This is why it’s always wise to consult with an expert.

Replacing Antithyroid Drugs With Herbs

Some people who are already taking antithyroid drugs such as Methimazole or PTU try to replace them with these herbs.  Once again, I can’t recommend for anyone to do this, even if they are a current patient of mine.  Some people choose to take both the antithyroid drugs and these herbs, which once again is completely up to them.

Weaning Off These Herbs

Just as most people don’t want to take antithyroid drugs for the rest of their life, the same thing applies with herbs.  As I mentioned before, I began taking Bugleweed each day, and then eventually began taking Motherwort.  Then a few months later I began weaning myself off of these herbs, first reducing the dosage in half, and then taking them once a day, until eventually I no longer needed them anymore.  After doing this I was concerned that my symptoms would return, but fortunately they didn’t.  Obviously it wasn’t just taking these herbs which was responsible for restoring my health back to normal.  But my guess is that most people with an autoimmune thyroid disorder who begin weaning off the supplements and herbs worry about their symptoms returning.

In summary, both Bugleweed and Motherwort can both help to manage the symptoms of hyperthyroidism naturally.  However, it’s important to keep in mind that just taking these herbs alone might not be enough to manage your symptoms, and almost definitely won’t be enough to restore your health back to normal.  Plus, just as is the case with any other herb, the goal is to eventually wean off these herbs.  While many people take these herbs on their own, those serious about restoring their health back to normal really should consult with a competent natural endocrine doctor.

Many people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions not only have an imbalance in thyroid hormone, but also have other hormone imbalances as well.  As I’ve mentioned in past posts and articles, an imbalance in the hormones estrogen and progesterone is very common.  Despite this, most endocrinologists and other types of medical doctors don’t evaluate for these other hormone imbalances.

If you have hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, then you know what most medical doctors will usually do is to give synthetic thyroid hormone to manage the symptoms.  And if you have hyperthyroidism or Graves’ Disease, then you’ll be told to either take antithyroid drugs, and perhaps a beta blocker, or to receive radioactive iodine treatment.  There aren’t too many medical doctors who will even consider whether someone with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition has an imbalance of the sex hormones.

One Simple Test Can Make A Big Difference

When it comes to detecting whether someone has a hormone imbalance, the person’s symptoms can be an obvious red flag.  For example, common symptoms of estrogen dominance include weight gain, depression, breast tenderness, mood swings and irritability, fatigue, and there are numerous other symptoms.  So without question, when I consult with a new patient I look at the person’s health questionnaire and symptom survey I have them fill out, and see if any of their symptoms indicate a potential hormone imbalance.  Although you can’t go by symptoms alone, often times it is obvious that the person has some type of hormone imbalance, while at other times it isn’t as clear.

The only way to confirm that someone has a hormone imbalance is through the proper testing.  So when I suspect that a patient has such an imbalance I will recommend for them to receive a male or female hormone panel.  I have mentioned in the past that I use the company Diagnos-Techs, mainly because they do a great job and have accurate reference ranges.  There are of course some other good labs out there.  And there are also other labs which aren’t too good.

In any case, I almost always will recommend an expanded male or female hormone panel.  And the reason for this is because the expanded hormone panel also includes the pituitary hormones, which are important to evaluate.  And the reason for this is because if there is an imbalance of the the pituitary hormones (FSH and LH), then this can tell us about the output of estrogen and progesterone, and the reason why there is a hormone imbalance in the first place.  In other words, looking at these two pituitary hormones can potentially tell us the cause of the estrogen dominance condition.

One-Sample Testing Usually Isn’t Sufficient In Cycling Women

While most medical doctors don’t perform any additional hormone testing other than for thyroid hormone, most doctors who DO perform such testing only collect a single sample of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.  This might be sufficient with menopausal women.  But it’s not sufficient for many pre-menopausal women and definitely not sufficient for cycling women.  The reason for this is because the hormone levels are fluctuating, and so taking a one sample test of estrogen and progesterone won’t give the complete picture of what’s happening throughout a woman’s cycle.

This is actually one reason why some women have fertility issues which aren’t resolved.  Most women who have difficulty getting pregnant obtain a one-sample test of progesterone, and if the levels on this single sample are sufficient, the doctor will usually rule out a hormone imbalance as being the cause of the problem.  However, just because the progesterone levels are normal for a single day doesn’t mean it’s normal for the entire length of the cycle.  In fact, it’s not only the total output of progesterone we’re looking at, but the distribution of progesterone throughout the cycle.  This is why multiple sample testing is important in cycling women.

An expanded female hormone panel requires the cycling woman to collect multiple saliva samples over the course of her menstrual cycle.  This will give a much better indicator as to whether she has a problem with the hormones estrogen and progesterone.  These panels also measure the levels of some of the other hormones, such as testosterone and DHEA, which don’t directly relate to estrogen dominance, but since hormones are interactive they can plan a role in this condition.

Estrogen Dominance Can Affect Men Too

While estrogen dominance is more common in women, it can also affect men too.  As a result, if a man has symptoms which indicate a potential hormone imbalance, I will recommend an expanded male hormone panel.  This will measure the levels of estradiol and progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, Androstenedione, and DHT, along with the pituitary hormones LH and FSH.

In summary, the reason why most medical doctors “miss” the diagnosis of estrogen dominance is because they don’t test for it to begin with.  And those who do hormone testing usually only obtain a one-sample test, which might be sufficient in menopausal women, men, and some women in pre-menopause, but isn’t sufficient for cycling women.  So if you’re a cycling woman with symptoms of a hormone imbalance then you definitely want to make sure you receive a multiple-sample test.  And regardless of whether you are in menopause or not, or what gender you are, if you do any type of hormone testing then it’s a good idea to obtain an expanded hormone panel to determine the levels of pituitary hormones, which in turn relate to the output of estrogen and progesterone.