Can a person abstain from drugs and rely on alternative medicine to treat thyroid disease? It may depend on the severity of the disease. If the person has a thyroid goiter, he may need and want a plastic surgeon to remove the goiter as part of the treatment. This would be a very rare case. Most cases of thyroid disease can be improved and treated with some form of alternative medicine.
The most serious type of thyroid disease is Hashimoto’s disease. This is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system goes into overdrive and attacks the thyroid gland. The natural treatment for this and other forms of autoimmune disease is to take large amounts of the amino acid NAC, or N-acetyl-cysteine. It is anti-aging and fights the accumulation of free radicals in the body. It needs selenium and vitamin E present for its complete assimilation in the body. This amino acid is very good for the liver. Tyrosine is another amino acid that helps the thyroid gland.
It is possible to treat and cure thyroid disease with alternative medicine therapy, acupuncture, herbs, orthomolecular medicine, animal glandular supplements, and bioidentical hormones. Amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and botanicals are affordable and used in therapeutic doses far greater than levels normally found in nature. The concept of orthomolecular medicine is based on the use of very high doses of vitamins, minerals, amino acids or botanical extracts for cell repair. Alternative medicine encompasses many therapies that can benefit people with thyroid disease.
Porcine thyroid gland or desiccated thyroid can be found in prescription drugs such as Armor thyroid, Nathroid, and Westhroid. Enzymatic Therapy manufactures a product that is an organic thyroid glandular supplement. There are several organic brands available and they come in bovine and porcine forms. These are quite affordable and should be taken long term. Low thyroid can lead to other health problems, including secondary infections like sinusitis or bronchitis, brain fog, concentration problems, poor memory, infertility problems, fatigue, depression, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and weight problems. Long-term thyroid problems often put a strain on the adrenal glands. There may be a need to support adrenal function with an adrenal glandular product for three months.
Chinese medicine is very good for treating thyroid disease. Acupuncture and moxa can be used to treat low thyroid. Proprietary Chinese herbal formulas to treat low or hypothyroid include Tou Gui Wan, Si Ni Tang, and Zhen Wu Tang. This therapy will be necessary for at least several months to balance your endocrine system. Orthomolecular medicine can also treat hypothyroidism with ginseng, reishi, royal jelly, peony, ginger, astragus, and ashwaganda.
Chinese herbal formulas are good for treating excess Yang hyperthyroidism with deficient Yin heat. Proprietary formulas for high thyroid include Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, and Zhi Zi Qing Gan Tang. Chinese medicine focuses on the heart and kidney to treat thyroid disease. Acupuncture is wonderful for calming the hyperactive symptoms of hyperthyroid disease. Orthomolecular medicine may also use kava, St. John’s wort, and valerian to treat hyperthyroid disease.
Diet changes can be very important in helping to control thyroid disorders. Include fresh kelp and seaweed in your diet along with cold-water fish at least three times a week. Avoid foods that have MSG and food additives. Reduce nicotine and alcohol in your diet and increase fresh juice. Fresh watermelon juice and spinach juice are very healthy options. Increase foods rich in potassium. Don’t eat large amounts of kale, Brussels sprouts, or other cruciferous vegetables.
Orthomolecular medicine uses various supplements to improve thyroid function, including zinc, vitamin E, selenium, vitamin C, iodine, and B vitamins. Individual herbs, amino acids, and herbal formulas need the nutrients suitable as cofactors to adequately treat symptoms.
© Dr. R Stone, MD-India