What your temperatures mean- Dr. Rind

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Interpreting Results:

Interpreting the collected data is both a science and art. These are a few

of the basic principles.

Thermal activity reflects metabolic activity. A low temperature means low

metabolism and vice versa. For example, the temperature typically found in

someone who is old, frail, pale and weak is low and typically ranges from 95

to 97 degrees if no infection is present. A healthy person will have an

average temperature of 98.6 degrees, but may have a 100 degree or higher

temperature in a hyperthyroid state or as high as a 104 to 105 degree

temperature if there is a fever present ­ these are high metabolic states.

Wide variability in daily temperatures indicates a weak adrenal function

since the adrenal glands help the body maintain stability. Good adrenal

function produces a stable temperature. As adrenal function improves, the

temperature variability decreases and vice versa. As adrenals get stressed

(either from emotional stress, excess metabolic stimulation such as

excessive thyroid stimulation, or for other reasons), the variability

increases.

In a hypothyroid state, the day-to-day averages are low and very stable. In

a hypoadrenal state including adrenal exhaustion or adrenal stress, the

temperatures are low and unstable -- one day they may average 96 degrees and

one to two degrees higher the next day.

If the temperature graph is the road map, the explanatory notes are the road

signs. Without them, the pattern changes become very difficult to interpret.

These notes provide context for the temperature data. They also reveal what

components of the treatment program are working and what components or other

factors are not.

Descriptions for typical patterns that one can observe include: Diagram

Explanation:

Stable. Seen in excellent health or hypothyroid.

Unstable. Poor adrenal function.

Contraction pattern. The temperature variability decreases in a cyclic

fashion that encompasses one or more days per cycle. It shows a pattern that

is stabilizing, implying that the adrenals are not as stressed as before.

This happens either because they are stronger or because a burden has been

lifted from them such as less thyroid stimulation or a successful end to a

stressful situation.

Rising pattern. This pattern is seen when there is improvement in the

metabolic energy. The pattern can be stable or unstable, but the movement is

in an upward direction.

Expansion pattern. The variability increases. It shows a pattern that is

becoming less stable implying greater stress on the adrenals and a decreased

ability to handle the current (adrenal) burden. It is often seen within the

onset of stress (e.g., the in-laws are moving in for a month) or increased

metabolism beyond adrenal tolerance (e.g. taking slow-release T-3, 30 mcg

taken twice a day when the patient can only tolerate 15 mcg twice a day

safely, or plain T-3, such as Cytomel, 25 mcg taken once a day which causes

wildly fluctuating T-3 blood levels that are high in the morning and drop

rapidly during the day producing a unstable metabolic state and thus a

challenge to the adrenals) .

More stable and lower temperature. This is often the end result of an

expansion pattern and is seen at the end of the expansion pattern. The body

temperature drops to lower level that is more easily sustained or tolerated

by the adrenals.

Fever pattern. A sudden rise in the temperature usually lasting one or more

days and then dropping back down to the original baseline. A prolonged

infection can produce a long lasting temperature elevation.

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