Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism

Thyroid hormones regulate the metabolism in every cell of your body. For that reason, having too little of the hormones, a condition known as hypothyroidism, can have a profound impact.

Symptoms include lethargy, depression, headaches, low body temperature, unusual sensitivity to cold, decreased libido, difficulty losing weight, dry skin, painful menstrual periods, slow reflexes, goiter and recurrent infections.

Hypothyroidism varies in intensity from very minor and almost unnoticeable symptoms to a severe and life-threatening condition known as myxedema. Many so-called allergic diseases may in fact be due to thyroid disorders.

The thyroid gland is located in the neck just behind and below the Adam's apple. Its hormone production depends on three things: the availability of the mineral iodine, the health of the gland itself and the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) circulating in the body. TSH is released by the pituitary gland, which is located in the center of the brain. Ordinarily, as TSH levels increase, the levels of thyroid hormones in the body increase accordingly to reach a balance. If the thyroid is not functioning properly, the pituitary releases more TSH in a vain effort to correct the situation.

Thyroid disease affects more than six million Americans. Women are eight times more likely than men to have hypothyroidism, and it is especially prevalent among older women.

If your thyroid gland is not functioning properly, you need to have a doctor diagnose the problem and prescribe appropriate medication.

Green Pharmacy for Hypothyroidism

I do not recommend herbs as the primary treatment for any thyroid condition. Natural approaches, however, can be valuable supplements to medication. In addition to whatever your doctor recommends, you might consider several natural remedies.

My top herbal recommendations are bugleweed, lemon balm (also known as melissa), self-heal and verbena. Amazingly enough, these same herbs also help with Graves' disease, a condition that involves too much thyroid hormone, because they seem to have the ability to normalize thyroid hormone levels regardless of whether there's too much or too little. (For other details about these helpful herbs, see page 225.) Here are some other natural approaches for fighting hypothyroidism.

Gentian (Gentiana officinalis). Herbal pharmacologist Daniel Mowrey, Ph.D., author of The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine and Herbal Tonic Therapies and an herbalist I respect, says that gentian "provides bitter principles known to normalize the functioning of the thyroid." He suggests gentian as the main ingredient in his own thyroid formula, a combination of gentian, red pepper (cayenne), Irish moss, kelp and saw palmetto. If I had hypothyroidism, I would not hesitate to take this combo.

Kelp (Fucus vesiculosis). Kelp is high in iodine, a key mineral that the body must have in order to produce thyroid hormones. Urologist James Balch, M.D., and his wife, Phyllis, a certified nutritional consultant, strongly recommend sea kelp for treating hypothyroidism.

Working kelp into your daily diet isn't likely to hurt. You can buy powdered kelp in health food stores to sprinkle over your food as a seasoning. You might also try putting a little kelp in your soups, or go to a Japanese restaurant and order sushi, the veggie or raw fish and rice treat that's wrapped in kelp.

Mustard (Brassica nigra, Sinapis alba and others). In addition to having a high iodine content, thyroid hormones are made from the compound tyrosine. Mustard greens are the best source of tyrosine I know, with 1.9 percent on a dry-weight basis. Several other foods that include tyrosine, in descending order of potency, are velvet bean seeds, carob, winged beans, bean sprouts, lupines, soybeans, oats, peanuts, spinach, watercress, sesame seeds, butternut squash, chaya, chives, fava beans, lamb's-quarters, pigweed, pumpkin seeds, snowpeas and cabbage.

Along with iodine from kelp, the tyrosine in any of these plants might contribute to increased production of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. I could see making a tasty soup with kelp, mustard greens, spinach, sesame seeds, squash and beans. Or try a salad with mustard greens, spinach, lamb's-quarters, bean sprouts, radishes, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds.

Radish (Raphanus sativus). Radishes have long been used in Russia for treating both types of thyroid problems, according to medical anthropologist John Heinerman, Ph.D., author of Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs. Russian researchers told him that one chemical in radishes, raphanin, helps keep levels of thyroid hormones in balance. With enough raphanin circulating in the blood, the gland is less likely to overproduce or underproduce these hormones.

St.-John's-wort (Hypericum perforatum). Like many pharmaceutical antidepressants, this herb is a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor. Depression is a common symptom of hypothyroidism, and MAO inhibitors can help elevate mood. Although this herb addresses a common symptom of hypothyroidism, not the condition itself, it might help if you have depression. (For other helpful herbs for depression, see page 156.)

People who are taking MAO inhibitors or using herbs that contain MAO inhibitors on a regular basis need to avoid certain foods--alcoholic beverages and smoked or pickled foods--and some medications, including cold and hay fever remedies, amphetamines, narcotics, tryptophan and tyrosine. Also, pregnant women should not take St.-John's-wort, and everyone should avoid intense sun exposure while using it, since this herb can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight.

Walnut (Juglans, various species). In Turkish folk medicine, walnuts are used as remedies for various glandular disorders, including thyroid problems. It looks like there's something to it. In one study, the fresh juice of green walnuts doubled levels of thyroxine. A decoction of green walnuts, made by boiling them for about 20 minutes, boosted thyroxine at least 30 percent.

You might get some benefit from walnuts simply by enjoying them by the handful, and you could also use walnut oil as a flavorful addition to salad dressings. But it's the green husks that are more likely to be effective, even though they are not pleasing to the palate.