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.

Yet another new year is upon us, and while the articles and blog posts I write each week have encouraged many people to develop a more natural mindset, most of us can still make improvements to our health.  While the following five tips will be a review for many people, I still believe that most people can benefit from reading this information, even if it is just reinforcing information they already know.  After all, while knowing the information I’m about to discuss is important, it’s another thing to actually implement the following tips.

Tip #1: It all starts with diet. Everyone knows the importance of proper eating, but there are still many people who don’t truly understand what a good diet consists of.  It really all comes down to common sense, as you of course want to eat mostly whole foods (fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, fish and poultry, etc.), and at the same time minimize the refined foods and sugars.  This doesn’t mean you need to eat a perfect diet for the rest of your life, but if you constantly eat refined foods and sugars, fast food, and other junk food, then you’re just asking for problems to develop.  As I’ve stated in other articles and posts, I think that just about everyone can benefit from a purification program, as this can be a wonderful way to get into the habit of eating well, and at the same time remove some of the toxins from your body which have been accumulating over the years.  Although I don’t recommend this to all of my patients initially, eventually just about everyone can benefit from detoxifying.

Tip #2: Don’t let stress get the best of you. Everyone has to deal with stress, and as I’ve stated numerous times, the key is how you handle this stress.  After all, you and I both know that it is impossible to completely eliminate the stress from our lives.  And chronic stress definitely can have a huge impact on our overall health.  As a result, you need to do a good job of managing your stress.  Some people can do this without any special techniques, while others need to incorporate methods such as yoga, deep breathing, and/or meditation.  Biofeedback is another technique which can greatly help with stress management.  To learn more about biofeedback you can visit www.heartmath.com.

Tip #3: Exercise regularly…but not too hard. The common trend in the beginning of the new year is for the fitness clubs to become packed for the first couple of months, and then as the year moves on the number of people exercising continues to dwindle.  Exercise is important, and you want to make sure you exercise on a regular basis.  But you also don’t want to overdo it, as exercising too hard will put stress on the body, and can weaken the immune system.  This obviously isn’t a good thing for someone with an autoimmune thyroid disorder, but even for those without such a condition it still isn’t wise to exercise too hard.  So whether you are beginning a new exercise program, or have been exercising for years, although you want to get a good workout in at least three to five days each week, you don’t want to overexert yourself.

Tip #4: Get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. I know that some people seem to do fine with only five to six hours of sleep each night, but most people really need at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night, and ideally more than this.  Eight to ten hours is what most people should be getting, although I’d be lying if I told you that I routinely get ten hours each night.  I personally try to get at least eight hours of sleep each night, although there are times when I get less than this.  In any case, if you consistently get less than seven hours each night because you spend a lot of time watching television or surfing the internet, then it really will benefit your health if you begin going to sleep earlier.

Tip #5: Start making your home environmentally friendly. Many of the environmental toxins we’re exposed to are due to factors within own home.  The water you drink and bathe in, the food you eat, the cleaning supplies you use, the cosmetics you apply to your body, the EMFs you’re constantly exposed to, and many other factors can negatively impact your health.  I can’t possibly list everything you should do here, but there are a lot of simple changes you can make on your own which can make a big difference.

First of all, try to purchase natural and organic foods, and try not to buy foods with artificial ingredients in them.  Don’t drink tap water, and purchase a chlorine filter for your shower.  Try to purchase natural cleaners and cosmetics, and for information on minimizing your exposure to EMFs I recommend reading the book “Zapped”, by Anne Louise Gittleman.  If you were to just make a few of these changes I just mentioned this would have a huge impact on your health.

So hopefully you have found this first post of the new year to be valuable, and will incorporate some, if not all of these changes in 2012.  Either way, I hope you have an awesome 2012, and I’m confident you will try doing everything you can to make this year the healthiest one ever!

For some people who visit this website, following a natural treatment protocol sounds appealing, but they are unable to afford this type of healthcare.  Even though I personally try to make my consultations affordable, when one factors in any additional testing (Adrenal Stress Index, hair mineral analysis, etc.), along with the necessary nutritional supplements and herbs they need to take, there is no question that it can be costly to follow a natural treatment protocol.

When someone is truly interested in following a natural treatment protocol, but tells me they are unable to afford natural treatment methods, they typically fall into one of the following three categories:

1. A true financial hardship. This category of people really has a difficult time affording natural treatment methods, as they have a hard enough time paying their other bills (rent, electric, etc).  For someone who falls under this category, they simply might not be able to afford the tests and/or supplements to restore their health back to normal.  For people who fall under this category, I recommend the following:

a. Focus on modifying the lifestyle factors. As I’ve mentioned in other articles and posts, modifying the lifestyle factors (eating well, getting sufficient sleep, managing stress, etc.) is extremely important.  While doing this alone probably won’t completely restore your health back to normal, it no doubt will make a huge difference in your overall health.

b. When it comes to purchasing supplements and herbs, choose quality over quantity. Although you might not be able to afford all of the supplements and herbs recommended to you, hopefully you will at least be able to afford some of them.  Assuming this is the case, I would focus on taking the higher quality supplements, rather than go to Wal-Mart, Target, or another retail store and purchase the cheapest supplements available.  If you take low quality supplements and herbs, your body won’t absorb them well, and so you essentially will be wasting your money.

2. Those who expect their health insurance to pay for everything. Some people can afford natural treatment methods, but don’t want to pay for it out of pocket, and want their health insurance to cover this.  Of course it would be great if health insurance provided full coverage for holistic healthcare, but unfortunately, most services aren’t covered.  But for those who choose not to follow a natural treatment protocol not because they are unable to afford the care, but mainly because their insurance won’t pay for it, this in my opinion is ridiculous.

After all, one doesn’t expect their health insurance to pay for the groceries they buy, the gas they put into their car, etc.  But you of course pay for this because you view these as necessities, which they are.  Of course these days there are other expenses which didn’t exist years ago that are now perceived as priorities by many people, such as having a cell phone, high speed internet, cable or satellite television, etc.  In any case, your health should also be a priority, regardless of whether your health insurance provides coverage or not.  Once again, I realize that some people can’t afford this type of care, even with health insurance.  But even in this tough economy, many people are spending money on luxury items, and are not prioritizing their health.

That’s not to suggest you shouldn’t try to take advantage of your health insurance.  For example, we don’t process health insurance, as we did so for 7 1/2 years and found it wasn’t worth the hassle, and just caused us more aggravation and stress, as well as increased our overhead by requiring another staff person just to deal with the insurance.  But of course people don’t have to choose us, as there are some holistic doctors who do accept health insurance.  As you probably know, nutritional supplements most likely won’t be covered under any health insurance, but some of the recommended tests very well might be, which is why I tell people who do choose us that if they have a good relationship with their medical doctor then they might want to see if they will order certain testing which may be covered by their health insurance (i.e. Adrenal Stress Index test).

3. Those people who value luxury items over their health. As I briefly stated before, many people can afford natural treatment methods, but would rather spend the money on other things.  This happened many times while I had my chiropractic practice, as I would have a patient say they couldn’t afford care, but drove a really nice car, had nice clothes, etc.  While buying a new car, LCD television, or going on a nice vacation is great, your health of course should come first.  One of the problems is that many people really don’t understand the true benefits of following a natural treatment protocol. In other words, some would like to follow a natural treatment protocol to restore their health back to normal, but also don’t mind taking thyroid medication on a prolonged basis, or even receiving RAI if it means not paying out of pocket for natural healthcare (assuming their health insurance covers the conventional medical treatment).

In summary, while there are people who truly can’t afford holistic care, for many people their health is simply not a priority.  This of course isn’t meant to criticize anyone, as I consult with many people who are willing to put their health as a priority.  And those people who expect their health insurance to pay for everything or would rather buy a new lcd television or spend their money on another luxury item are of course free to make these decisions.  I’m not trying to tell anyone how to spend their money, as all I’m saying is that many people who would prefer following a natural treatment protocol could afford to follow a such a protocol if they put their health as a priority.

Millions of women take oral contraceptives.  While most women take them as a form of birth control, others take them to “regulate” their cycle.  Other women take “The Pill” to help manage their PMS symptoms”.  In any case, taking oral contraceptives can lead to numerous health issues over the long term, and can without question affect anyone with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

To better understand this it’s a good idea to discuss how oral contraceptives work.  In menstruating women, in the first half of their cycle the hormone estrogen is dominant.  In the second half of the cycle, progesterone is the dominant hormone.  Sufficient progesterone is necessary to carry a pregnancy full term.  What oral contraceptives do is suppress ovulation, and this will have an impact on these hormones.

Taking Oral Contraceptives Can Lead To Estrogen Dominance

By taking oral contraceptives, this will result in a progesterone deficiency, which is great for preventing a woman from becoming pregnant most of the time, but it can lead to a condition know as estrogen dominance.  This is a condition which leads to many different symptoms, and is common in people with both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions.

In fact, whenever I consult with a patient who has a history of taking oral contraceptives, I suspect that estrogen dominance could be a factor.  Although I don’t always recommend a female hormone panel right off the bat, for many people I do.  If they have certain accompanying symptoms then usually I will recommend such a test to be obtained.  And the reason for this not only has to do with relieving these symptoms, but if someone has estrogen dominance and the cause isn’t addressed, it will be extremely difficult to restore their thyroid health back to normal.

Can Thyroid Health Be Restored While Taking Oral Contraceptives?

It’s not uncommon for me to consult with a patient who is currently taking “The Pill” and wants to follow a natural treatment protocol.  While these people can still benefit from following a natural treatment protocol, it is definitely more challenging.  In order to counterbalance the effects of the oral contraceptives, these people need to be put on a specific type of natural protocol.  And while I’m not a big fan of bioidentical hormones, many women who insist on taking oral contraceptives and at the same time want to follow a natural treatment protocol will need to take natural progesterone.

However, those women who take a more aggressive form of birth control which stops them from menstruating probably won’t receive much benefit from following a natural treatment protocol.  These types of birth control really do create much more havoc with the endocrine system than “The Pill”.  So while I would prefer for women to not be taking any type of oral contraceptives, I realize that many women will be taking them regardless of what I recommend, and those taking “The Pill” can still benefit, while those women taking a more aggressive form of oral contraceptives most likely won’t receive satisfactory results.

IUDs and Copper Toxicity

Some people reading this might wonder whether a different form of birth control might be better, such as an IUD.  There are consequences to taking just about any type of birth control.  There are a few different types of IUDs, and the ones which use the hormones can also potentially cause a hormone imbalance.  On the other hand, the copper IUDs can lead to a copper toxicity, which without question can impact thyroid health.  So it really is a no-win situation when it comes to deciding between taking oral contraceptives and using an IUD.

Plus, let’s not forget that many people take oral contraceptives for reasons other than birth control.  So while an IUD might be another option for birth control (which comes with its own set of risks), as mentioned earlier, some people take oral contraceptives to help “regulate their cycle”, help with PMS symptoms, etc.  Of course the goal of a natural treatment protocol is to correct these problems without the need to take synthetic hormones.

In summary, taking “The Pill” and other oral contraceptives without question can affect your thyroid health.  And for anyone looking to restore their health by following a natural treatment protocol, continuing to take oral contraceptives will make it more difficult to receive optimal results.  For more information on the risks associated with oral contraceptives, along with natural alternatives, I highly recommend reading the book “The Pill…Are You Sure It’s For You”, which was written by Jane Bennett and Alexandria Pope.  This is an excellent book that anyone who is taking oral contraceptives really needs to read, even if they have no intentions of following a natural treatment protocol.

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.