NATURAL THYROID 101

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For those who are new to our list, and/or new to natural thyroid

hormones:

1) Armour Natural Thyroid is the most well known and oldest on the

market. There is also Westhroid, Naturethroid, Biothroid (when it

ever comes back), and prescription generic Thyroid. All come from

pigs. They contain the same hormones that your own thyroid would

produce--T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin. They meet the stringent

guidelines of the US Pharmacopia and are approved by the FDA.

(Some folks wonder if the generic is less potent.)

2) There is also OTC natural thyroid, such as Nutri-Meds and others

These are not regulated, and the potency may be less than Armour and

others, so you may have to take more than the FDA-approved brands

for the same effect.

3) The most effective and direct way to take Natural Thyroid is

sublingually. i.e. you place the tablet between your gums and inner

check, or where the least amount of saliva is in your mouth, and

forget about it. Either way, it is absorbed by the millions of

capillaries that line your inner mouth--taking the hormones straight

to your blood, bypassing the stomach and liver. Armour has a touch

of sucrose in it, making it more palatible.

Natural Thyroid meds CAN be swallowed, of course, but it will be

important to avoid iron and calcium supplements at the same time,

since both bind the thyroid hormones to some degree. Estrogen also

does the same.

4) Divide your optimal dose to at least twice a day, if not more. It

contains T3, which is short-lived, and peaks about 2 hours after you

take it. An example is taking 1/2 in the morning, and the other 1/2

in the early afternoon. Some folks dose 3-5 times a day. Experiment

to find what is best for you.

5) Before labs were developed, doctors treated patients solely by

symptoms....and successfully. The minimum optimal amount of Armour

was 3 grains and more. This is still an ideal way to treat---by

symptoms. But in today's world, labs play a huge role in treatment.

Top docs in the thyroid field are recommending that your free T3 be

in the upper part of the range, if not slightly above. But you have

to figure out where it is great for you, based on symptoms. When you

get your free T3 at the top, you will often have a TSH quite low.

Many of us on an optimal dose (i.e. a dose which eliminates

symptoms) have a TSH at one and LESS. The TSH is less important once

you start treatment, and just because one's TSH can get lower than 1

while getting the free T3 up there, does NOT mean you have become

hyper. Many docs are uninformed about this, so be prepared.

6) Armour et. al is bar-none superior to T4-only meds treatment

(Synthroid, Levoxyl, etc) because it is natural (your body accepts

most ALL of it), it contains T3 (the most active hormone and

necessary for every cell in your body), and it also contains T2, T1

and calcitonin. T2 has some role in metabolism. Calcitonin keeps the

calcium in your bones, and certain docs have noticed improvement in

bone density with folks on natural thyroid.

7) Most docs are ignorant about the efficacy and safety of natural

thyroid. If you want to find a smart doc, check out the Top Doc

lists in the LINKS section of this site for your area, and read all

entries. When one looks promising, CALL and make sure this doc

prescribes Armour REGULARLY, checks the FREE's, and pays attention

to SYMPTOMS over labs.

Another option is to visit a large pharmacy in your area and ask the

pharmacist if anyone prescribes Armour. And note that it is not

uncommon to drive great distances to find a knowledgeable doc.

8) It is not uncommon to discover that you need more Armour than you

realize. An amount that gives you excellent energy may not be quite

enough to stop hair loss, etc. Or vice versa.

9) Often, there are other areas that need assistance when you are

treating yourself with Armour. That may include adrenal support,

DHEA, testosterone, iron supplementation, female hormones......you

have to find out your own individual needs.

10) Take a Selenium tablet with your thyroid. Helps with the T4 to T3

conversion. L-Tyrosine helps, too. There are many other supplements

we are all taking. Check out the supplement recommendations in the

FILES section of this site.

11) If you are able to buy a large quantity of Armour, keep it the

freezer or refrig to preserve it's potency, pouring out

about 1-2 months at a time.

12) And finally, if you find you have to self-treat, be prudent and

wise. Some start on one grain, and let that stand for a few weeks

before raising. The T3 is potent. If you have any heart issues, the

T3 can initially aggravate palps. Some folks also need to be on good

adrenal support for a few weeks before they can even tolerate T3.

Again, the bottom line is wisdom, being prudent, and patience.