The message is now loud and clear: STOP THE THYROID MADNESS!!! For decades, patients have unwittingly become victims to a thyroid treatment madness that involves treatment with an INADEQUATE medication called T4-only (aka Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid, Levothyroxine, etc), besides being HELD HOSTAGE to a lab called the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) with it’s erroneous and dubious “normal” range. The results: patients suffer from lingering hypothyroid symptoms, no matter how high they raise the T4 medications. Those lingering symptoms can include, but are not limited to, chronic low-grade depression, poor stamina compared to others, low energy levels, dry hair, dry skin, hard or small stools, high cholesterol, brain fog, digestive problems, chronic illness, other mental health issues…the list is long and pathetic.

I pointed out that anyone with thyroid deficiency over a period of time, especially if it is more than mild, is likely to have their deficiency accompanied by the Low Adrenal Reserve Syndrome. If this is not dealt with before providing supplementation, response may be disappointing, and there is a risk of a thyroid crisis. This occurs when the system becomes overwhelmed with thyroid replacement from the medication, which it is unable to deal with, and the patient may have violent palpitations, headaches or collapse. The obvious difficulty lies in knowing whether adrenal support is required. Well, the difficulty is more imaginary than real. Firstly, the history of the symptoms, the postural hypotension, the fainting attacks, the digestive upsets and other problems I mentioned in the last chapter, along with possible pointers from a blood test, are likely to make low adrenal reserve a strong possibility. Secondly, if there is any doubt, initial support must be given since there are real problems if it is needed and not given. Thirdly, prescribed in the way I am going to discuss in a few moments, there is no risk, since the amount of adrenal support is physiological (explained below). This means even if it isn't necessary, no damage is done, no risks are taken, and it can be withdrawn whenever tough appropriate.

Desiccated thyroid or thyroid extract, refers to porcine (or mixed beef and pork) thyroid glands, dried and powdered for therapeutic use. Pork, or mixed beef and pork, thyroid preparations were developed in the late 1800s, and are still used today to treat hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland). This product is sometimes referred to as "natural thyroid", "natural thyroid hormones", "pork thyroid", thyroid USP, thyroid BP, or by the name of the best-known brand, "Armour thyroid".

Many undertreated people suffer from tingling extremities, muscle pains and joint aches and swelling with their thyroid problem -- sometimes even getting the "diagnosis" of fibromyalgia or arthritis. A number of innovative doctors and practitioners believe that fibromyalgia is not a condition unto itself, but just a constallation of symptoms that reflect untreated or undertreated hypothyroidism and thyroid hormone conversion and usage problems.

The traditional approach is to use synthetic hormones like Synthroid/ Levoxyl/Levothroid (levothyroxine). These products only contain T4 hormone, they have no T3. When a patient attempts to ask their physician for the natural hormone they are usually ridiculed and made to feel stupid that they would request an inferior hormone product.

HYPERACTIVITY LINKED TO THYROID HORMONES Thyroid hormone may play a role in the hyperactive and impulsive symptoms of children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers say. Dr. Peter Hauser, professor of psychiatry, and Dr. Bruce Weintraub, professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, have found a positive correlation between elevated levels of certain thyroid hormones and hyperactivity/impulsivity in a selected group of patients. They report on their research in the February issue of the international journal Psychoneuroendocrinology.

Contents Thyroid Basics Causes of Hypothyroidism Risk of Hypothyroidism Associated Disease Symptoms of Low Thyroid Diagnosis: Standard Laboratory Test New Diagnostic Reference Standard for TSH Free T3 and Free T4 New Laboratory Reference of Hypothyroidism Treatment What to do if you are already on Synthroid Summary

Why Physicians Wont Prescribe This Safe, Inexpensive Hormone One of the most common (but often undiagnosed) causes of a variety of seemingly unrelated symptoms, is that of under active thyroid function, or hypothyroidism. Dr. Broda Barnes, a brilliant, intuitive physician and scientist, estimated that 40% of the adult population suffers from this condition. Hypothyroidism - A Clinical Picture Some of the most common symptoms caused by hypothyroidism include poor concentration, mental confusion, memory disturbances, cold hands and feet, overweight, difficult weight loss, menstrual problems, dry skin, thin hair, and low energy levels. Other symptoms include migraine headaches, hypertension, depression, hypoglycemia, atherosclerosis, diabetes, infertility, and even acne. In his book, Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness, Dr. Barnes described over 47 symptoms that may be related to poor thyroid function.

Although the normal thyroid gland secretes both levothyroxine (L-T4) and levotriiodothyronine (L-T3), normalization of serum TSH with L-T4-replacement therapy alone in hypothyroidism is generally believed to result in a normal serum L-T3 and to reflect a euthyroid state. However several recent studies suggest that this may not be the case. Accordingly, the relationship between serum free L-T4 and free L-T3 was examined in 20 normal individuals (group A) and in 53 patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, 18 with normal TSH on no L-T4-replacement (group B), and 35 with normal TSH on L-T4-replacement therapy for hypothyroidism (group C).

Dr. Rind's Metabolic Temperature Graph™ is a method for measuring and interpreting daily temperatures to gain insight into metabolic energy issues associated with both adrenal and thyroid function. To get a brief understanding of Dr. Rind’s approach towards identifying and correcting metabolic energy problems read his overview on Metabolic Therapy™.