natural remedies for hyperthyroidism

[kalasyn]

I want to try curing or managing my hyperthyroidism naturally.  Does anyone have suggestions for what supplements I can take?  At the moment, I take evening primrose oil, vitamin C and I eat lots of peanut butter because I read somewhere that it is a goitrogen (inhibits thyroid function).

[kackymarie]

If someone does know anything, let me know, because my mother also was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism (as opposed to hyper) and I have had it for over 10 years, and she did tons of research for this and came up empty.  She hates to take medication and prefers natural remedies and supplements.  Thanks,
Kat

[stella5349]

Geez - truthfully I am not comfortable writing on this method. and I have absolutely no proof on this finding.

But this is what I read:

The herb Bugleweed (Lycopus virginicus) has long been used in Europe for treating hyperthyroidism. Bugleweed can be used alone for mild conditions or in combination with anti-thyroid drugs. It works by inhibiting iodine uptake and metabolism, reducing the amount of hormone produced by active cells and it reduces the activity of TSI, the antibodies responsible for Graves' disease. The leaf extract of bugleweed is more active than root extracts. A tincture (alcohol extract) equivalent to 20 mg of the drug is more effective than a tea. If bugleweed is used as a tea, amounts as high as 1-2 grams daily can be used. Lycopus is often used in combination with Melissa officianalis (lemon balm). Although the effects of herbal preparations are mild compared to anti-thyroid drugs, herbs such as bugleweed should not be withdrawn suddenly. As with anti-thyroid drugs, herbs should be weaned with steadily decreasing doses as improvement is noted. The variety Lycopus europaeus (gypsywort) is reported to be as effective as bugleweed."



I strongly suggest that if this natural way you choose to go is what you want to do - get a good naturalpath and MD to work together in some theories.

I was a Graves patient prior to Western Medicine traditional RAI to ablate the thyroid. I can't look back anymore b/c what I went through was permanent damage to the thyroid gland and now I am hypoT for life.

[stella5349]

KAT

This search was not designed for HYPOthyroidism. DO not follow this theory.

[redheadaussie]

Let me explain something to you in a really nice way...there is nothing that can 'naturally cure' hyperthyroidism. The thyroid is a very complex little gland and works with the pituitary gland to help us live a wonderful life. When it starts to fail either hypo or hyper, sadly there is really nothing the 'alternatives' can do to provide for it.
  Yes, you can try to eat the way many advocates tell you to...BUT Peanut butter in excess is full of fat! Not really a good thing for a hyperthyroid to be battling to 'fix'.
  If you were asthmatic,and suffered horrendously from breathing difficulties, would you avoid taking medication? Or a cardiac patient with arrythmia ( heart beat gone crazy) would you avoid any intervention that may save your life?
  I am VERY much into natural remedies, am a Greenie, never take any aspirin, let alone prescribed drugs! Yet, I am all too aware of how delicate our endocrine systems are. My sister in law is a case in point...she had severe Graves....being a vegetarian she believed she could cure it...and so did not take the prescribed thyroxine....she got so bad she had to have her thyroid removed. Had she done the right thing, she would be BETTER!
Those itty bitty white pills are a pain in the butt to take every day, but seriously...they are NOT an addictive substance, rather, they are replicas of a natural hormone we need to keep us alive!
  I am sorry for going on like this, but you are talking to a person who drinks cola to ease a headache than take a tablet which wrecks the kidneys...so do the right thing and look after your precious body and take the right medication, and get lots of love and support from all of us who go through all this daily!

[stella5349]

I knew I would get a head bashing on that RED..

I did stress to speak to her doctor.

Good advice though.

[kalasyn]

redheadaussie, i know you are just trying to be kind but i truly believe there is nothing that can't be cured.  I'm sorry your sister-in-law has had such a hard time.
When I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2005, I was told it was incurable and I would have to take pills for life.  I refused and within 6 months my thyroid was functioning normally.  It was monitored throughout my recent pregnancy and was fine the whole time.
It's kind of bizzare that I've now gone hyperthyroid but I'm sure that I can fix it.

[redheadaussie]

What you are going through with going form hypo to hyper is the thyroids way of trying to cope....it isn't an instant thing.. it takes years...This may go on for many more years till the thyroid gives up. Being pregnant is actually one of the few times the thyroid behaves itself.
I am actually not trying to be kind, but warning you...it is NOT something you can hope and see that it will fix itself. The thyroid does that, it goes up and down and THAT is the warning sign....Time is sadly an easy way of forgetting the symptoms, but as time goes on it will get worse...
   Of course, that is entirely your choice, I too really kicked and screamed and carried on about taking a tablet, but for me I didn't get a choice, I had to have my thyroid removed. I did tell the doctors something wasn't right, but never got believed.
  I am sure it will all work out for you, but please at least keep what I have said in the back of your mind...

[Venora Moonwind]

I really have to say some more about the " natural " to add to redheads comments.
Everything we have in this world comes from nature.The meds,the fillers. they make for us come from nature. Oil comes from nature.Even "natural" herbs and supplements carry risks and those risks arent as well documented as our FDA regulated meds have to be. Whho knows what filler and such they are using in them as they are considered food and dont have to be regulated( yet) For example I can  take echinacea but my best friend is extremely allergic to it
I know alot of people especially over at the Stop the Thyroid Madness website are really big into the armour and I am happy that it works for them and anyone else that chooses to take it and it works for them. To me it isnt natural to have little piggy hormones floating around me.But that is me and I am happy on levothyroxineThe only side effect from it is that I am not hypothyroid any more.
We have this same discussion over on the bi polar forum "But I want to treat my bi polar naturally' In my humble opinion if it could be done that way we would be doing it
Its really just like Redhead said. I too kicked and screamed at my taking my bi polar meds. Then I fussed about having to take a thryoid med.But really Its no big deal. To not take them is worse than to take them. So I take my 3 little lifelong pills and get on with life.

Love Venora

[stella5349]

You know I love you friend and I totally respect you and Red.

Thanks for being you and telling that side.

If it works -- it works ..... right?

"quality of life"

that to me is the key.

[tpaulson]

my mom has hyperthyroid. she had it removed via radition. she is on pills to regulate her, but they keep having to increase it. she is so unhappy. she feels so pissed off, shaky, can't sleep, cries all the time. i want to find help for her. has anyone been through this and come out okay? any, .. any advise?

[mirabella45]

I wont mess around. I am taking my meds that my endo dr. prescribed.  There are too many things that could happen with having hyperthyroid.

[LittleEd]

I really did like Motherwort. "Mother" tucked me in and helped me sleep, but I was afraid of mixing it with the Tapazole and other drugs at the time. It's a very potent herb, like bugleweed. I also did lemon balm tea... and loved it... but, again, I didn't feel comfortable mixing it with all the meds. They seemed to  HELP the symptoms--and if you talk to the naturalists they'll tell you to eat the right diet so the herbs can bring the body back into balance--but for me it was a matter of not having time to experiment to find out what was working. For example: I woke up one morning and felt VERY wrong. Couldn't walk straight, was lightheaded, sick, felt really BAD. I felt like my heart had stopped because I couldn't find a pulse. I called 911 and later called back wanting to cancel it. Haha. Well.. when they got me on the ambulance they couldn't find a pulse or blood pressure either. I heard one of the girls say, "Oh my God! No wonder!" My heart was rockin' and rollin' about three times faster than it should. Then I went into A-Fib and they had to use cardizem (?) a couple times. Then, at the hospital there were so many more drugs and tests and blood thinners.. I was there a day and a half. The only thing that "verted" me was when they gave me a big dose of the thyroid blocker I had taken before but was told to stop taking by Endo #1. It was a pretty "stormy" episode. I was later told that if I hadn't made the call and went on to work, I could have died that day.

So, as much as I like doing all natural...I don't know enough about it. I think finding alternatives to hypo treatment would be easier than hyper, though, but....it's a matter of how much experimenting and waiting around can person afford to do? While some things did seem to HELP, it seems only RAI or surgery are the options for someone who is VERY hyper. Even the doctor's drugs, like Tapazole, only worked for me for a while. As soon as I come off of them....Zooooom!!! Right out the roof again.

[betgemini]

thanks for the imput.it help to know someone is going thru the same things

[pituitarymama]

I read these comments and I am so sad......

I have had a pituitary adenoma since 1989 - had the privilege of having four children (yes, amazing) and the prolactin-secretion stopped in January of 2000 to manifest in the TSH-secreting tumor instead.......so it has been hyperthyroidism for the last 12 years....

I am refusing surgery and gamma knife. I've NEVER met a person that underwent those procedures that came out normal or had a great life afterwards...

So I became a clinical nutritionist to learn what to do for my own condition first.........too scared to get maimed......

You CAN manage the symptoms of hyperthyroidism well. You DON'T have to permanently damage your body and live with this.......

I am VERY hyper, am functioning well, and my cardiac symptoms are all under control. I go to bed at night taking Bugleweed, lemon balm and motherwort + lysine and Valerian.........

You can do it!

Johanne

[Zealous7]

How do you feel now, Johanne? Where do you get your bugleweed and motherwort? I tried those but it cost an extreme amount of money for one thing, it seemed way too weak. I must not have found a good supplier. I would appreciate any advice. Thank you, Zealous7

[Mashenka]

I was diagnosed with Grave's last fall.  The usual - methimazole.  I would've been happy taking it - if it was not for side effects.  I could live with rashes - but the muscle and joint pain were so severe, i could not walk.  Dr's 'only' suggestion - RIA.  Or just cut it out.
I am now taking a combo of bugleweed, lemon balm, motherwort and passionflower extract, for the last 60 days, and truthfully, I have NO symptoms (from those listed as typical hyperthyroid ones).  However, my recent blood test showed TSH levels of 0.01 and Free Thyroxine 6.1.  Hmmm.  The doctor says it's the end of the world.  I feel just fine.
So, the question is, does bugleweed combo take time to bring the levels down?  What's the amount you use?

[MangoC]

Hi. I just told my dr today that I was going on the bugleweed combo and she freaked out. Johanne , I too would like to know what dose youre taking and whether you were on the chemical medications  prior to starting the bugleweed. If so, what dose of those were you on?

Mashenka, same questions.

I am also starting the homeopathic remedy Thyroidinum 9ch. 2 pills twice a day. Bugleweed combo 40 drops 3x daily. It worked for me when I was first diagnosed but I stopped taking it and things went to hell in a hand basket as they say. When I re-tried the natural stuff then, my levels were way too high to be helped by them. I have Graves and the out of control thyroid contributed to Graves opthamopathy. It scared me enough to go on the chemical medication. it's  been methimazole fo the last almost 4years and I've never felt worse, though my thyroid levels are at normal levels by taking 2.5 mg one day and 5 the next. I'm hoping now that I'm stabilized at a relatively low dose, the natural alternatives will work again.

[MangoC]

One thing I didn't think of was that the dosage depends on weight and age and what your thyroid functioning levels were , so I guess it would be difficult to compare doses of the tincture. But I would still like to know what your prescription medication doses  were prior to starting the bugleweed.

[wbrooks100]

I know that this is an old post...but I just wanted to say that drinking coke is not a good alternative to get rid of your headache!  Coke is bad for you.  Soft drinks are one of the unhealthiest things you can put in your body.  Read this:  http://nutritionresearchcenter.org/healthnews/what-happens-to-your-body-if-you-drink-a-coke-right-now/

[holistichealthcoach421]

You can heal your thyroid,  i have proof and in the process of healing mine as well.

I am reversing my diet so I can slow it down, with that being said,  i am referring my thyroid to a natural expert and in August going to  have my blood drawn and my mineral levels checked.

I highly advise anyone with this and am the opposite of hyper thyroid not to self diagnose themselves or anyone else who inquires of what to do as this should be handled by someone else who has studied this and can honestly prescribe to you the correct measures of supplements and food quantities.
It is more than eating broccoli, peanut butter and other foods that will calm the organ down.

[holistichealthcoach421]

You can heal your thyroid,  i have proof and in the process of healing mine as well.

I am reversing my diet so I can slow it down, with that being said,  i am referring my thyroid to a natural expert and in August going to  have my blood drawn and my mineral levels checked.

I highly advise anyone with this and am the opposite of hyper thyroid not to self diagnose themselves or anyone else who inquires of what to do as this should be handled by someone else who has studied this and can honestly prescribe to you the correct measures of supplements and food quantities.
It is more than eating broccoli, peanut butter and other foods that will calm the organ down.

[countach]

Actually, there are things that can naturally cure hyperthyroidism, depending on the cause. In the case of Graves, the cause is the autoimmune system overstimulating and attacking the thyroid. So the natural solution is to find out what is upsetting your immune system. Which could be stress, or something you are allergic to, or not getting enough sleep, or deficiencies in various things, iodine, magnesium, selenium, or myriad of other things.

If you are prescribed methimazole, you MUST take it. But then you should seek out natural improvements to your system both experimentally, and consulting doctors to diagnose your immune system and your allergies. If you track it down, improve your lifestyle, you MAY, if you are lucky, be able to wean yourself off the tabs.

[xmarissa25]

i ALSO have proof of hyperthyroidism curing itself. I was diagnosed about a year ago at my gynocologist and sadly forget if i ever took the information to my pcp. Therefore, I seriously forgot about the hyperthyroidism for a whole year. My gyno reminded me at my annual visit a few days ago, I got my blood tested again and it was gone!!! Dont ask me how because i dont know what i did to cure it..

[gimel]

On what basis were you diagnosed as being hyperthyroid?  Was it based on symptoms, or test results?  If test results, please post, along with reference ranges.

[Dminx]

I'm going to get in on this as I was just diagnosed with hyper as well and am freaking out. I've battled my weight all my life, OVERWEIGHT!!!! So I was completely surprised when they said I have Hyper. I was trying to find out if I was Hypo. So the reason why I am freaking out is because I don't want to GAIN weight. Which could on the methimazole. So opinions on weight gain on methimazole? Any info would be appreciated.