Natural Approach??

[hilia]

Is Hyperthyroidism dangerous? Is there a natural remedy? If I fix my hyerthyroid with surgery wont I have hypothyroid for life? I have a multinodular goiter with hyperthyroidism and i dont know how I want to fix it just yet.I was leaning toward homeopathy cure because I feel like im too young to be on pills the rest of my life,and I want to keep all my body parts for as long as I can.Does anyone regret the surgery and wished they would have gone with a natural cure instead? Am I going to have to deal with this disease the rest of my life regardless of what  I choose?

[Red_Star]

The herbs I mentioned are anti thyroid herbs. For instance, Bugleweed has been shown to block TSH production, decrease peripheral T4 deiodinization, inhibit stimulating antibodies from binding to thyroid cells in people with Graves' disease, and may inhibit iodine metabolism.

[hilia]

I dont have either hashimotos or graves .I stopped going to the Dr.  When he mentioned surgery and radiation, because I became too scared for either option. Since then ive been looking for a naturalist.I know Its selfish of me to ignore my condition because I have 2 small children who need me to be healthy.

[Red_Star]

Conventional treatment options for Graves' disease include:

* Anti-thyroid medication:

In the US:
- Methimazole [brand name Tapazole]
- Propylthiouracil [PTU]

Approximately 30% with Graves' disease will have a remission after prolonged treatment with anti-thyroid drugs.

* Betablockers

The two following treatment options usually cause permanent hypothyroidism requiring lifelong thyroid hormone therapy:

* RAI therapy

* Surgery [most or all the thyroid gland is removed]

Note: there is the option of Endoscopic Axillary Underarm Thyroidectomy. The underarm endoscopic surgery involves very little bleeding, minimal incisions, and no visible scars in the neck.

***

Herbal remedies used to treat the symptoms of Graves disease include:

Bugleweed (Lycopus virginica)
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus)
Stephania root (Stephania tetranda)
Motherwort (Leonurus cardica)

Bugleweed is widely used in Europe as an herbal treatment for early stage Graves' disease, often in combination with lemon balm.  

Bugleweed may block the action of thyroid stimulating antibodies found in Grave's disease.*

*Auf'mkolk M, Ingbar JC, Kubota K, et al. Extracts and auto-oxidized constituents of certain plants inhibit the receptor-binding and the biological activity of graves' immunoglobulins. Endocrinology. 1985;116:1687–1693.

Selenium supplementation (200 mcg per day) can slow the progression of eye disease and improve quality of life in patients with Graves' disease with mild ocular involvement (Graves' ophthalmopathy).*  Dietary wise, brazil nuts have the highest selenium content. Each brazil nut contains between 50 - 90 mcg of selenium depending on the soil.

*Marcocci C, Kahaly GJ, Krassas GE, et al. Selenium and the Course of Mild Graves' Orbitopathy; New England Journal Of Medicine 2011; 364: 1920-31.

[Barb135]

Yes, hyperthyroidism can be dangerous.  No, there really isn't a natural remedy.  Do you know what's causing your hyperthyroidism?  Do you have Graves Disease or Hashimoto's?

Graves Disease is associated with hyperthyroidism, but not all hyperthyroidism is Graves Disease.  Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is most often associated with hypothyroidism, but in the early stages it can be characterized by periods of hyperthyroidism alternating with normal and/or hypo.  

Hashimoto's produces antibodies that attack healthy thyroid tissue and as the attack progresses the thyroid produces less and less hormones and the patient eventually ends up hypo.  If you have your thyroid removed, you will still end up hypo and have to be on medication. You end up in the same boat, either way.

Taking the daily thyroid medication is no different from taking a daily vitamin.

If your hyperthyroidism is caused by either Graves or Hashimoto's, yes, you will have it the rest of your life.

There's no "cure" for autoimmune thyroid disease, homeopathic, or otherwise, but with a good thyroid doctor it can be managed, without too much hassle.

I'm sure some people might regret having their thyroid removed, but, again, since there's no cure, natural or otherwise, they don't really have much choice.