Measuring Basal Body Temperature.

[Guest guest]

I found this to be a good read full of good info. Looks like even

after you reach you right dose of Armour it can take up to a year for

your Basal Body Temp's to come up.

Phil

http://www.healthy.net/asp/templates/article.asp?

PageType=Article & ID=528

Measuring Basal Body Temperature

Instructions for taking basal body temperatures are relatively easy.

Use an oral glass thermometer. Shake the thermometer down before

going to bed, and leave it on the bedside table within easy reach.

Immediately upon awakening, and with as little movement as possible,

place the thermometer firmly in the armpit next to the skin, and

leave it in place for 10 minutes. Record the readings for three

consecutive days. Menstruating women must only take the basal

temperature test for thyroid function on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th day

of menses(preferably beginning on the 2nd day). Males, pre-pubertal

girls, and post-menopausal or non-menstruating women may take basal

temperatures any day of the month. Women taking progesterone should

not take it the day before and the days that the basal temperatures

are taken.

Most of the information on the manifestations of hypothyroidism, its

diagnosis, including the technique for measuring and interpreting

basal temperatures, and the treatment to be discussed was compiled

and described by the late Dr. Broda O. . He is the author of

the book Hypothyroidism: the Unsuspected Illness. His work is

disseminated to physicians and the public by the foundation bearing

his name, which is located in Trumbull, Connecticut.

How does one interpret the results of the basal body axillary

temperature test? If the average temperature is below 97.8

Fahrenheit, then the diagnosis of a low functioning thyroid system is

likely. An average temperature between 97.8 and 98.2 is considered

normal. An average temperature above 98.2 is considered high and

might reflect an infection or a hyperthyroid condition.

Treatment of Hypothyroidism

Once a pattern of hypothyroid symptoms is established and the basal

body temperatures are found to be low, the next step is a therapeutic

trial of thyroid hormone. Dr. , his physician followers and

many patients have found that the most effective thyroid medication

is Armour Desiccated Thyroid Hormone. This medication is derived from

the thyroid gland of the pig. It most closely resembles the human

thyroid gland. It is dried or desiccated and processed into small

tablets. In contrast, most conventional physicians prefer to use the

synthetically produced thyroxine or T4. In my experience and the

experience of many other physicians using Dr. ' protocol, the

synthetic T4 is not as effective as the desiccated thyroid.

How can we monitor the results of treatment if the blood tests are

inadequate to the job? We do this by how the person feels, whether or

not the thyroid symptoms and signs have improved or disappeared,

whether or not symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland have

developed, and by monitoring the basal body temperature.

Generally, the dosage of Armour thyroid is best started at a low

dose, with a gradual increase every week or two, until the optimal

therapeutic dosage is reached. It may take four to six weeks at the

optimal dosage to feel the full therapeutic benefits. In my practice,

I generally start the patient on 1/4 grain or 15 milligrams daily.

Every week or two, I increase the dosage by 1/4 grain per day until 1

to 2 grains daily are reached. Usually, the optimal dosage is in this

range, provided that the patient is doing the other adjunctive

necessary things, which I will discuss in a moment. Occasionally, the

dosage may need to be 2 and a half grains daily or more. Full

therapeutic benefits many not be fully realized for months and the

basal temperatures may not come up to normal for a year or more. The

dosage for infants is usually 1/8 to 1/4 grain daily and from one to

six years old, the dosage is usually 1/4 grain. From 7 years to

puberty, 1/2 grain is usually used, but it may need to be increased.