Herbal Awareness Month: What do you do in thyroid exhaustion

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Herbal Awareness Month: What do you do for thyroid exhaustion?

One of the most common topics women ask about when they visit herbalists is what to do about their slowing thyroids as they pass menopause.

Latest News on the So-Called Thyroid 'Epidemic' in the Media, Foods, Environmental Toxins in Tap Water, and Stress

What herbs are helpful for the common problem of older women to have low thyroid or hypothyroidism?

Did you know eating too many strawberries, too many cruciferous vegetables, or too much soy products stresses and overstimulates your thyroid? So does eating too much sugar.

According to an article in the July 26, 2010 issue of For Women First, magazine, "Dr. Oz's thyroid cure," hypothyroidism has become an epidemic. More than 27 million Americans have either an overactive or underactive thyroid, according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, but only half of them know it.

Sites on herbal remedies for thyroid problems usually tell you to see your doctor for testing to find out what your body lacks, for example too much or too little thyroid hormone. But what if your thyroid issues are being caused by toxins in your tap water, too many of the wrong foods, stress, or exhaustion?

In the article, chronic stress is attributed to hypothyroidism as the trigger of symptoms. It's because the hormone, cortisol affects how thyroid cells work. The main problem besides stress are two thyroid-slowing toxins, tricolsan, an antibacterial agent that inflames thyroid cells. But tricolsan is found in some soaps, deodorants, lotions, and toiletries. That chemical also is found in various types of towels, clothing, and even on some cutting boards you use for preparing food.

Another toxin that messes up your thyroid is perchlorate, found in some types of drinking water. It's rocket fuel residue found in the tap water of 43 states. It's also found sometimes in your leafy-green vegetables and watermelon. When your thyroid cells absorb this chemical, it replaces the iodine, and you end up with thyroid problems. You can read the CDC study that shows perchlorate exposure "is a predictor of low thyroid hormone levels in women--but not in men." See the site, New Study Suggests Perchlorate is Thyroid Danger to 44 Million Women. Also see, CDC - NER - Chem Info - Perchlorate.

Recommendations is to increase your vitamin D3 intake, steam cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. Make sure you have enough magnesium and calcium and B-complex vitamins in your food. 

Steam your vegetables for 3-5 minutes because the light steaming gets rid of the goitrogens that hinder your body's ability to make thyroid hormone.

That's why eating only raw vegetables isn't as healthy as it seems. Goitrogens are substances that suppress the function of the thyroid gland by interfering with iodine uptake, which can, as a result, cause an enlargement of the thyroid. Instead of eating a lot of iodine, consider that doing this might cause an autoimmune attack on your thyroid or cause inflammation. So go lightly on the sea vegetables. If you eat eggs, iodized salt, or dairy, a few times a week, you're probably getting iodine.

Vegans have a problem unless they're eating sea vegetables or taking multivitamins that contain a little iodine. Interestingly, the article, "Dr. Oz's thyroid cure," mentions thinning eyebrows as one symptom of possible low thyroid hormone and another symptom, high LDL cholesterol. So get yourself tested by an endocrinologist if your LDL cholesterol is high and/or your eyebrows are thinning at the outer edges, near the outer corners of your eyes. It's one of the first signs of low thyroid hormone, which in many people leads to heart disease risk.

Rarer is hyperthyroidism, too much thyroid hormone production, which could leave to Graves' disease. When Barbara Bush came down with hyperthyroidism, the first step the White House took was to check the water coming into the White House for toxins. Hypothyroidism, or low thyroid hormone production is much more common, especially in women. So watch for thinning hair, especially starting with the outer corners of your eyebrows, and a high LDL cholesterol level, as first symptoms of low thyroid hormone production levels called hypothyroidism.

You also may have an exhausted thyroid. Another symptom that denotes inflammation of the thyroid is a slight neck bulge, or a goiter. 

What about herbal remedies for low thyroid that maybe caused by an exhausted thyroid or environmental toxins in your food or water? 

Remember the leafy green vegetables and watermelon containing those toxins that hurt your thyroid? Are your vegetables organic and actually tested for toxins?

Herbs for Hypothyroidism

First, get tested by an endocrinologist and treated if you need it. See the site, Hypothyroidism: Herbs to Take and Herbs to Avoid. Make sure you check with your health care provider before you use any herbs.

According to that article, hypothyroidism is a condition where your thyroid gland is not producing as much hormone as it should. This causes metabolic activities to slow. 

Undiagnosed hypothyroidism can make you feel run down, depressed, cold or tired. It can slow down your heart rate, make your hair dry and brittle, give you itchy skin, muscle cramps, infertility or menstrual disorders.

Extreme hypothyroidism can cause goiter (a lump in the neck that is actually the inflamed thyroid gland), facial puffiness also known as myxedema, yellow skin, weight gain and mental impairment. The condition is commonly treated by replacing the thyroid hormone that your body is not producing.

The most common treatment involves supplementing thyroxin and monitoring thyroid levels for life. But there are herbs that can help with the side effects of hypothyroidism, even though it is not recommended that people try to go without the hormone. Left untreated, in addition to all the symptoms listed above, hypothyroidism can cause elevated cholesterol levels and increase the rate at which plaque builds up in your arteries.

Some health food stores sell what is billed as a natural replacement for thyroid hormone. Because herbal remedies are not regulated as drugs, it is not known if these medicines are helpful or even safe. The best bet is to consult with your doctor about the level of hormone you need to take and supplement with professional formulated herbal products to give you a better quality of life.

Valuable Herbs for Hypothyroidism

Black Cohosh is especially good for treating menstrual problems associated with hypothyroidism. It's a popular treatment for menopausal women, treats symptoms of PMS and may help with infertility. Kelp is sometimes given to people with hypothyroidism because iodine deficiency is linked to the disorder in some parts of the world. (The only problem is that studies of black cohosh have linked it to changes in heart beat rate.)

St. John's Wort could be helpful if you suffer from depression a symptom that often accompanies low thyroid function. 

Cayenne supplements can help with blood circulation and making the heartbeat stronger. An improvement in circulation can alleviate the cold extremities that are common with hypothyroidism.

Herbs to Avoid

Some studies indicate that there are certain herbs, foods and drugs that should be avoided if you have hypothyroidism. It is thought that stimulating the immune system in the early stages of the disorder can cause the thyroid to deteriorate at a faster rate, so avoiding those herbs can help you hang on to what thyroid function you have.

Which are these herbs?

Ginseng, astragalus, bamboo, burdock, echinacea, ginger and lemon balm are among the herbs that you should avoid in the early stages of hypothyroidism. 

There are other herbs that are recommended to be avoided as well as certain foods and medicine. 

Certain foods can overstimulate your thyroid. For example, sugar, wakame seeweed, soy products, and some vegetables if taken in too large amounts, can overstimulate your thyroid.