There are a number of issues with thyroid disease:
- how to test for it
-how to test for iodine
-what are the causes of hypothyroidism (hint- toxic exposure like gluten and environmental chemicals)
-what to do about it.
Dr. Mercola interviews Dr. Jonathan Wright MD, a pioneer in cutting edge medicine in this segment. The article on the subject covers most of the basics, and has good references for books, for those who want to know more. Here is an excerpt (My Bold):
Thyroid disease is one of the most common health problems we face today. From a practical standpoint, there are many ways to approach this issue. In this interview, Dr. Jonathan Wright, a pioneer in natural medicine, shares his protocols for addressing thyroid dysfunction.
Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is a very common problem, and there are many reasons for this, including drinking chlorinated and fluoridated water, and eating bromated flour (no flour is bromated in Canada).
Chlorine, fluoride, and bromine are all in the same family as iodine, and can displace iodine in your thyroid gland.
Secondly, many people simply aren't getting enough iodine in their diet to begin with. The amount you get from iodized salt is just barely enough to prevent you from getting a goiter.
A third principal cause of hypothyroidism is related to elevated reverse T3 levels. Interestingly, 95 percent of the time, those with elevated reverse T3 levels will see their levels revert back to normal after undergoing chelation with EDTA and DMPS, which draw out cadmium, lead, mercury, and other toxic metals. In essence, heavy metal toxicity can cause a functional form of hypothyroidism.
"It's very well-known that lead and cadmium interfere with testosterone production," Dr. Wright says. "What's not so well-known is that reverse T3 is stimulated by toxic metals, so up it goes.
In effect, we can have levels that are so high, they way outnumber the regular T3. You're functionally hypothyroid even if your TSHs and free T3s happen to be normal."
I can't emphasize enough the importance of removing all chemical exposures that you can. You have a lot of control as to what products and services you buy that are with the lowest amounts of chemicals: body care products, "The dirty 15" foods should be bought or grown as organic foods, water should be as pure as possible, dental care should be from a biological dentist, and your physical environment should have as few chemicals as possible (low VOC paints, oil your wood furniture with flax oil, not petroleum products, tame insect pests with diatomaceous earth and so on).
Thyroid disease is one of the most common health problems we face today. From a practical standpoint, there are many ways to approach this issue. In this interview, Dr. Jonathan Wright, a pioneer in natural medicine, shares his protocols for addressing thyroid dysfunction.
Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is a very common problem, and there are many reasons for this, including drinking chlorinated and fluoridated water, and eating bromated flour (no flour is bromated in Canada).
Chlorine, fluoride, and bromine are all in the same family as iodine, and can displace iodine in your thyroid gland.
Secondly, many people simply aren't getting enough iodine in their diet to begin with. The amount you get from iodized salt is just barely enough to prevent you from getting a goiter.
A third principal cause of hypothyroidism is related to elevated reverse T3 levels. Interestingly, 95 percent of the time, those with elevated reverse T3 levels will see their levels revert back to normal after undergoing chelation with EDTA and DMPS, which draw out cadmium, lead, mercury, and other toxic metals. In essence, heavy metal toxicity can cause a functional form of hypothyroidism.
"It's very well-known that lead and cadmium interfere with testosterone production," Dr. Wright says. "What's not so well-known is that reverse T3 is stimulated by toxic metals, so up it goes.
In effect, we can have levels that are so high, they way outnumber the regular T3. You're functionally hypothyroid even if your TSHs and free T3s happen to be normal."
I can't emphasize enough the importance of removing all chemical exposures that you can. You have a lot of control as to what products and services you buy that are with the lowest amounts of chemicals: body care products, "The dirty 15" foods should be bought or grown as organic foods, water should be as pure as possible, dental care should be from a biological dentist, and your physical environment should have as few chemicals as possible (low VOC paints, oil your wood furniture with flax oil, not petroleum products, tame insect pests with diatomaceous earth and so on).
There are many ways to get information on how to clean up your environment. Get the toxic level information about your favourite products from www.ewg.org/skindeep . Go to the library and get books like "There is Lead in Your Lipstick", and so many more.
And ask your doctor to order reverse T3 tests to round out your thyroid assessment.
To Your Health
Dr. Barbara
