Guest guest Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Great post Janie You summarized everything really well. I just wanted to add a few things that I've learned recently from my new doctor and from a biochemist I've been consulting with - I'm hoping it might help others: When it comes to optimizing other health factors, such as ferritin, you should have your vitamin D and progesterone levels checked. The 3 hormones (yes, vit D is really a hormone) all share the same receptor site on your body's cells; when one is unbalanced (thyroid in our case) the other two are often negatively effected as well. You can be at the optimal dose of thyroid hormones and still not feel 'great' w/ inadequate Vit D and low progesterone levels. With progesterone the case is often too much estrogen, or Estrogen Dominance. The ratio between estrogen to progesterone changes once we get older, after our mid 30s. Our bodies continue to manufacture estrogen, but progesterone falls dramatically. Fixing this helps thyroid hormones work better. Vit D deficiency has been linked to depression and autoimmune disease, something hypothyroids deal with by and large. Vit D is also necessary for the manufacture of thyroid hormones and for allowing both progesterone and T3 to bind to receptor sites on cells. The proper test for Vit D is called 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D and optimal values are 45-50 ng/ml or 115-128 nmol/l. Supplementing with D should always be done in the form of D3, cholecalciferol, which is the same as that our bodies make from sunlight. The synthetic form of vitamin D is called D2 (ergocalciferol) and it is much more likely to cause problems with toxicity. Supplementing with doses as high as 10,000 IUs of D3 have shown, via blood testing, to be non-toxic. Unless you live in a very sunny (year round) climate supplementing with 1,000 IUs of vit D3 is recommended. I can provide a few links if that's permitted here Nat > > For those who are new to our list, and/or new to natural dessicated > thyroid hormones: > > 1) Armour is the most well known of the Natural Dessicated Thyroid > meds and oldest on the market--since the late 1800's! But there is > also Westhroid, Naturethroid and prescription generic Thyroid such > as by Time Cap Labs. All come from pigs, and all are supposed to > have their thyroid powder meet the stringent guidelines of the US > Pharmacopia. > > Natural Dessicated Thyroid contain the same hormones that your own > thyroid would produce--T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin, and that's why > natural thyroid is SO superior over T4-only meds. They meet the > stringent guidelines of the US Pharmacopoeia and are approved by the > FDA. > > 2) There is also OTC natural thyroid, such as Nutri-Meds and others. > These are not regulated, and the potency may be less than Armour and > others, so you may have to take more than the FDA-approved brands > for the same effect. This may also be true for any " generic " thyroid > preparations---they appear to be weaker than the name brands > mentioned above. > > 3) The most biologically effective and direct way to take Natural > Thyroid is sublingually. i.e. you place the tablet between your gums > and inner check, or where the least amount of saliva is in your > mouth, and forget about it. Either way, it is absorbed by the > millions of capillaries that line your inner mouth--taking the > hormones straight to your blood, bypassing the stomach and liver. > Armour has a touch of sucrose in it, making it more palatible. > > Natural Thyroid meds CAN be swallowed, of course, and since those > like Nature Throid do not have the suitable taste like Armour does, > it can be necessary. But it will be important to avoid iron, > estrogen and calcium supplements at the same time, since both bind > the thyroid hormones to some degree. Swallowing also brings stomach > acid into contact with the Calcitonin in Armour, and you may lose on > some of it's benefits to your bones. But it's OK if you have to > swallow your meds!! You'll get great benefits! > > 4) Many folks find dividing their dose to at least twice a day, if > not more, is optimal for them. It contains T3, which is short- lived, > and peaks about 2 hours after you take it. An example is taking 2/3 > in the morning, and the other 1/3 in the early afternoon. Some folks > dose 3-5 times a day. A few even do it once in the morning, and find > that to be very effective. But most folks seem to notice a > difference when they multi-dose. Experiment to find what is best for > you. > > 5) Before labs were developed, doctors treated patients solely by > symptoms....and successfully. This is still an ideal way to treat-- - > by symptoms. But in today's world, labs play a disappointingly huge > role in treatment. Top docs in the thyroid field are recommending > that your free T3 be in the upper part of the range, if not above. > But you have to figure out where it is great for you, based on > symptoms. When you get your free T3 at the top, (or when you dose > yourself to eliminate all symptoms) you will often have a TSH quite > low. Many of us on an optimal dose (i.e. a dose which eliminates > symptoms) have a TSH LESS than one. The TSH is less important once > you start treatment, and just because one's TSH can get lower than 1 > while getting the free T3 up there, does NOT mean you have become > hyper. Many docs are uninformed about this, so be prepared. > > 6) Armour et. al is bar-none superior to T4-only meds treatment > (Synthroid, Levoxyl, etc) because it is natural (your body accepts > most ALL of it), it contains direct T3 (the most active hormone and > necessary for every cell in your body), and it also contains T2, T1 > and calcitonin. T2 has some role in metabolism. Calcitonin keeps the > calcium in your bones, and certain docs have noticed improvement in > bone density with folks on natural thyroid. > > 7) Most docs are very ignorant about the efficacy and safety of > natural thyroid. If you want to find a smart doc, use Armour's > LOCATE-A DOC in the LINKS section of this site. But be careful! You > will STILL need to CALL and make sure this doc prescribes Armour > REGULARLY, checks the FREE's, and pays attention to SYMPTOMS over > labs. > > Another option is to visit a large pharmacy in your area and ask the > pharmacist if anyone prescribes Armour. And note that it is not > uncommon to drive great distances to find a knowledgeable doc. > > 8) It is not uncommon to discover that you need more natural > dessicated thyroid than you realize. An amount that gives you > excellent energy may not be quite enough to stop hair loss, etc. Or > vice versa. Before the TSH lab came into existence (and played a > huge part in ruining good thyroid care), most folks were on 3 grains > and more. This is not to say that you will need that much, but it > does speak to the reality that you may need more than you realize, > or more than lab-obsessed docs will allow. > > ALSO NOTE THAT THE Synthroid-to-Armour conversion charts are VERY > inaccurate. You will need more than stated. > > 9) Often, there are other areas that need assistance when you are > treating yourself with Armour. For one, many folks need to optimize > their Ferritin level (storage iron), which is low in many with hypo. > Why, we don't know yet. But low Ferritin can cause very similar > symptoms as being hypo, OR can cause you to have hyper-like symptoms > when you try to raise the Armour. > > If upon starting Armour, you have very strange symptoms, including > anxiety, insomnia, shakiness, it's a strong sign that you may need > adrenal support. You might need to stop the Armour and get on that > support for a few weeks before starting the Armour again. There are > several adrenal supplements listed in the ADRENALS file on the site-- > all are used by different folks here. It is strongly recommended > that you get an adrenal test though. ZRT labs does a good 24 hour > saliva test. See LINKS. > > 10) Take a Selenium tablet with your thyroid. Helps with the T4 to > T3 conversion. L-Tyrosine helps, too. Zinc and Vit. C may play a > role. There are many other supplements we are all taking. Check out > the supplement recommendations in the FILES section of this site. > > 11) If you are able to buy a large quantity of Armour, keep it the > freezer or refrig to preserve it's potency, pouring out about 1-2 > months at a time. Armour does have a long shelf life, though. > > 12) And finally, if you find you have to self-treat, be prudent and > wise. Many start on less than one grain, and check it out for 2 > weeks or so, then they raise, a little at a time. Some folks can go > up fairly quickly, but others have to be more careful in case there > is an adrenal problem....or low Ferritin....or other. > > As a general rule, once you get up to 2-3 grains, it may be wise to > hold for at least 5 weeks to allow the T4 to show it's effect, and > rise on small amounts. The T3 is more immediate and potent. If you > have any heart issues, the T3 can initially aggravate palps. A few > folks also need to be on good adrenal support for a few weeks before > they can even tolerate T3, but you usually know that a lot earlier. > Others may need to optimize their Ferritin levels. Again, the bottom > line is wisdom, being prudent, and patience. > > Hang in there!! Natural Thyroid works!! ) > > Janie > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormones/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Great post Janie You summarized everything really well. I just wanted to add a few things that I've learned recently from my new doctor and from a biochemist I've been consulting with - I'm hoping it might help others: When it comes to optimizing other health factors, such as ferritin, you should have your vitamin D and progesterone levels checked. The 3 hormones (yes, vit D is really a hormone) all share the same receptor site on your body's cells; when one is unbalanced (thyroid in our case) the other two are often negatively effected as well. You can be at the optimal dose of thyroid hormones and still not feel 'great' w/ inadequate Vit D and low progesterone levels. With progesterone the case is often too much estrogen, or Estrogen Dominance. The ratio between estrogen to progesterone changes once we get older, after our mid 30s. Our bodies continue to manufacture estrogen, but progesterone falls dramatically. Fixing this helps thyroid hormones work better. Vit D deficiency has been linked to depression and autoimmune disease, something hypothyroids deal with by and large. Vit D is also necessary for the manufacture of thyroid hormones and for allowing both progesterone and T3 to bind to receptor sites on cells. The proper test for Vit D is called 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D and optimal values are 45-50 ng/ml or 115-128 nmol/l. Supplementing with D should always be done in the form of D3, cholecalciferol, which is the same as that our bodies make from sunlight. The synthetic form of vitamin D is called D2 (ergocalciferol) and it is much more likely to cause problems with toxicity. Supplementing with doses as high as 10,000 IUs of D3 have shown, via blood testing, to be non-toxic. Unless you live in a very sunny (year round) climate supplementing with 1,000 IUs of vit D3 is recommended. I can provide a few links if that's permitted here Nat > > For those who are new to our list, and/or new to natural dessicated > thyroid hormones: > > 1) Armour is the most well known of the Natural Dessicated Thyroid > meds and oldest on the market--since the late 1800's! But there is > also Westhroid, Naturethroid and prescription generic Thyroid such > as by Time Cap Labs. All come from pigs, and all are supposed to > have their thyroid powder meet the stringent guidelines of the US > Pharmacopia. > > Natural Dessicated Thyroid contain the same hormones that your own > thyroid would produce--T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin, and that's why > natural thyroid is SO superior over T4-only meds. They meet the > stringent guidelines of the US Pharmacopoeia and are approved by the > FDA. > > 2) There is also OTC natural thyroid, such as Nutri-Meds and others. > These are not regulated, and the potency may be less than Armour and > others, so you may have to take more than the FDA-approved brands > for the same effect. This may also be true for any " generic " thyroid > preparations---they appear to be weaker than the name brands > mentioned above. > > 3) The most biologically effective and direct way to take Natural > Thyroid is sublingually. i.e. you place the tablet between your gums > and inner check, or where the least amount of saliva is in your > mouth, and forget about it. Either way, it is absorbed by the > millions of capillaries that line your inner mouth--taking the > hormones straight to your blood, bypassing the stomach and liver. > Armour has a touch of sucrose in it, making it more palatible. > > Natural Thyroid meds CAN be swallowed, of course, and since those > like Nature Throid do not have the suitable taste like Armour does, > it can be necessary. But it will be important to avoid iron, > estrogen and calcium supplements at the same time, since both bind > the thyroid hormones to some degree. Swallowing also brings stomach > acid into contact with the Calcitonin in Armour, and you may lose on > some of it's benefits to your bones. But it's OK if you have to > swallow your meds!! You'll get great benefits! > > 4) Many folks find dividing their dose to at least twice a day, if > not more, is optimal for them. It contains T3, which is short- lived, > and peaks about 2 hours after you take it. An example is taking 2/3 > in the morning, and the other 1/3 in the early afternoon. Some folks > dose 3-5 times a day. A few even do it once in the morning, and find > that to be very effective. But most folks seem to notice a > difference when they multi-dose. Experiment to find what is best for > you. > > 5) Before labs were developed, doctors treated patients solely by > symptoms....and successfully. This is still an ideal way to treat-- - > by symptoms. But in today's world, labs play a disappointingly huge > role in treatment. Top docs in the thyroid field are recommending > that your free T3 be in the upper part of the range, if not above. > But you have to figure out where it is great for you, based on > symptoms. When you get your free T3 at the top, (or when you dose > yourself to eliminate all symptoms) you will often have a TSH quite > low. Many of us on an optimal dose (i.e. a dose which eliminates > symptoms) have a TSH LESS than one. The TSH is less important once > you start treatment, and just because one's TSH can get lower than 1 > while getting the free T3 up there, does NOT mean you have become > hyper. Many docs are uninformed about this, so be prepared. > > 6) Armour et. al is bar-none superior to T4-only meds treatment > (Synthroid, Levoxyl, etc) because it is natural (your body accepts > most ALL of it), it contains direct T3 (the most active hormone and > necessary for every cell in your body), and it also contains T2, T1 > and calcitonin. T2 has some role in metabolism. Calcitonin keeps the > calcium in your bones, and certain docs have noticed improvement in > bone density with folks on natural thyroid. > > 7) Most docs are very ignorant about the efficacy and safety of > natural thyroid. If you want to find a smart doc, use Armour's > LOCATE-A DOC in the LINKS section of this site. But be careful! You > will STILL need to CALL and make sure this doc prescribes Armour > REGULARLY, checks the FREE's, and pays attention to SYMPTOMS over > labs. > > Another option is to visit a large pharmacy in your area and ask the > pharmacist if anyone prescribes Armour. And note that it is not > uncommon to drive great distances to find a knowledgeable doc. > > 8) It is not uncommon to discover that you need more natural > dessicated thyroid than you realize. An amount that gives you > excellent energy may not be quite enough to stop hair loss, etc. Or > vice versa. Before the TSH lab came into existence (and played a > huge part in ruining good thyroid care), most folks were on 3 grains > and more. This is not to say that you will need that much, but it > does speak to the reality that you may need more than you realize, > or more than lab-obsessed docs will allow. > > ALSO NOTE THAT THE Synthroid-to-Armour conversion charts are VERY > inaccurate. You will need more than stated. > > 9) Often, there are other areas that need assistance when you are > treating yourself with Armour. For one, many folks need to optimize > their Ferritin level (storage iron), which is low in many with hypo. > Why, we don't know yet. But low Ferritin can cause very similar > symptoms as being hypo, OR can cause you to have hyper-like symptoms > when you try to raise the Armour. > > If upon starting Armour, you have very strange symptoms, including > anxiety, insomnia, shakiness, it's a strong sign that you may need > adrenal support. You might need to stop the Armour and get on that > support for a few weeks before starting the Armour again. There are > several adrenal supplements listed in the ADRENALS file on the site-- > all are used by different folks here. It is strongly recommended > that you get an adrenal test though. ZRT labs does a good 24 hour > saliva test. See LINKS. > > 10) Take a Selenium tablet with your thyroid. Helps with the T4 to > T3 conversion. L-Tyrosine helps, too. Zinc and Vit. C may play a > role. There are many other supplements we are all taking. Check out > the supplement recommendations in the FILES section of this site. > > 11) If you are able to buy a large quantity of Armour, keep it the > freezer or refrig to preserve it's potency, pouring out about 1-2 > months at a time. Armour does have a long shelf life, though. > > 12) And finally, if you find you have to self-treat, be prudent and > wise. Many start on less than one grain, and check it out for 2 > weeks or so, then they raise, a little at a time. Some folks can go > up fairly quickly, but others have to be more careful in case there > is an adrenal problem....or low Ferritin....or other. > > As a general rule, once you get up to 2-3 grains, it may be wise to > hold for at least 5 weeks to allow the T4 to show it's effect, and > rise on small amounts. The T3 is more immediate and potent. If you > have any heart issues, the T3 can initially aggravate palps. A few > folks also need to be on good adrenal support for a few weeks before > they can even tolerate T3, but you usually know that a lot earlier. > Others may need to optimize their Ferritin levels. Again, the bottom > line is wisdom, being prudent, and patience. > > Hang in there!! Natural Thyroid works!! ) > > Janie > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormones/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Great post Janie You summarized everything really well. I just wanted to add a few things that I've learned recently from my new doctor and from a biochemist I've been consulting with - I'm hoping it might help others: When it comes to optimizing other health factors, such as ferritin, you should have your vitamin D and progesterone levels checked. The 3 hormones (yes, vit D is really a hormone) all share the same receptor site on your body's cells; when one is unbalanced (thyroid in our case) the other two are often negatively effected as well. You can be at the optimal dose of thyroid hormones and still not feel 'great' w/ inadequate Vit D and low progesterone levels. With progesterone the case is often too much estrogen, or Estrogen Dominance. The ratio between estrogen to progesterone changes once we get older, after our mid 30s. Our bodies continue to manufacture estrogen, but progesterone falls dramatically. Fixing this helps thyroid hormones work better. Vit D deficiency has been linked to depression and autoimmune disease, something hypothyroids deal with by and large. Vit D is also necessary for the manufacture of thyroid hormones and for allowing both progesterone and T3 to bind to receptor sites on cells. The proper test for Vit D is called 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D and optimal values are 45-50 ng/ml or 115-128 nmol/l. Supplementing with D should always be done in the form of D3, cholecalciferol, which is the same as that our bodies make from sunlight. The synthetic form of vitamin D is called D2 (ergocalciferol) and it is much more likely to cause problems with toxicity. Supplementing with doses as high as 10,000 IUs of D3 have shown, via blood testing, to be non-toxic. Unless you live in a very sunny (year round) climate supplementing with 1,000 IUs of vit D3 is recommended. I can provide a few links if that's permitted here Nat > > For those who are new to our list, and/or new to natural dessicated > thyroid hormones: > > 1) Armour is the most well known of the Natural Dessicated Thyroid > meds and oldest on the market--since the late 1800's! But there is > also Westhroid, Naturethroid and prescription generic Thyroid such > as by Time Cap Labs. All come from pigs, and all are supposed to > have their thyroid powder meet the stringent guidelines of the US > Pharmacopia. > > Natural Dessicated Thyroid contain the same hormones that your own > thyroid would produce--T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin, and that's why > natural thyroid is SO superior over T4-only meds. They meet the > stringent guidelines of the US Pharmacopoeia and are approved by the > FDA. > > 2) There is also OTC natural thyroid, such as Nutri-Meds and others. > These are not regulated, and the potency may be less than Armour and > others, so you may have to take more than the FDA-approved brands > for the same effect. This may also be true for any " generic " thyroid > preparations---they appear to be weaker than the name brands > mentioned above. > > 3) The most biologically effective and direct way to take Natural > Thyroid is sublingually. i.e. you place the tablet between your gums > and inner check, or where the least amount of saliva is in your > mouth, and forget about it. Either way, it is absorbed by the > millions of capillaries that line your inner mouth--taking the > hormones straight to your blood, bypassing the stomach and liver. > Armour has a touch of sucrose in it, making it more palatible. > > Natural Thyroid meds CAN be swallowed, of course, and since those > like Nature Throid do not have the suitable taste like Armour does, > it can be necessary. But it will be important to avoid iron, > estrogen and calcium supplements at the same time, since both bind > the thyroid hormones to some degree. Swallowing also brings stomach > acid into contact with the Calcitonin in Armour, and you may lose on > some of it's benefits to your bones. But it's OK if you have to > swallow your meds!! You'll get great benefits! > > 4) Many folks find dividing their dose to at least twice a day, if > not more, is optimal for them. It contains T3, which is short- lived, > and peaks about 2 hours after you take it. An example is taking 2/3 > in the morning, and the other 1/3 in the early afternoon. Some folks > dose 3-5 times a day. A few even do it once in the morning, and find > that to be very effective. But most folks seem to notice a > difference when they multi-dose. Experiment to find what is best for > you. > > 5) Before labs were developed, doctors treated patients solely by > symptoms....and successfully. This is still an ideal way to treat-- - > by symptoms. But in today's world, labs play a disappointingly huge > role in treatment. Top docs in the thyroid field are recommending > that your free T3 be in the upper part of the range, if not above. > But you have to figure out where it is great for you, based on > symptoms. When you get your free T3 at the top, (or when you dose > yourself to eliminate all symptoms) you will often have a TSH quite > low. Many of us on an optimal dose (i.e. a dose which eliminates > symptoms) have a TSH LESS than one. The TSH is less important once > you start treatment, and just because one's TSH can get lower than 1 > while getting the free T3 up there, does NOT mean you have become > hyper. Many docs are uninformed about this, so be prepared. > > 6) Armour et. al is bar-none superior to T4-only meds treatment > (Synthroid, Levoxyl, etc) because it is natural (your body accepts > most ALL of it), it contains direct T3 (the most active hormone and > necessary for every cell in your body), and it also contains T2, T1 > and calcitonin. T2 has some role in metabolism. Calcitonin keeps the > calcium in your bones, and certain docs have noticed improvement in > bone density with folks on natural thyroid. > > 7) Most docs are very ignorant about the efficacy and safety of > natural thyroid. If you want to find a smart doc, use Armour's > LOCATE-A DOC in the LINKS section of this site. But be careful! You > will STILL need to CALL and make sure this doc prescribes Armour > REGULARLY, checks the FREE's, and pays attention to SYMPTOMS over > labs. > > Another option is to visit a large pharmacy in your area and ask the > pharmacist if anyone prescribes Armour. And note that it is not > uncommon to drive great distances to find a knowledgeable doc. > > 8) It is not uncommon to discover that you need more natural > dessicated thyroid than you realize. An amount that gives you > excellent energy may not be quite enough to stop hair loss, etc. Or > vice versa. Before the TSH lab came into existence (and played a > huge part in ruining good thyroid care), most folks were on 3 grains > and more. This is not to say that you will need that much, but it > does speak to the reality that you may need more than you realize, > or more than lab-obsessed docs will allow. > > ALSO NOTE THAT THE Synthroid-to-Armour conversion charts are VERY > inaccurate. You will need more than stated. > > 9) Often, there are other areas that need assistance when you are > treating yourself with Armour. For one, many folks need to optimize > their Ferritin level (storage iron), which is low in many with hypo. > Why, we don't know yet. But low Ferritin can cause very similar > symptoms as being hypo, OR can cause you to have hyper-like symptoms > when you try to raise the Armour. > > If upon starting Armour, you have very strange symptoms, including > anxiety, insomnia, shakiness, it's a strong sign that you may need > adrenal support. You might need to stop the Armour and get on that > support for a few weeks before starting the Armour again. There are > several adrenal supplements listed in the ADRENALS file on the site-- > all are used by different folks here. It is strongly recommended > that you get an adrenal test though. ZRT labs does a good 24 hour > saliva test. See LINKS. > > 10) Take a Selenium tablet with your thyroid. Helps with the T4 to > T3 conversion. L-Tyrosine helps, too. Zinc and Vit. C may play a > role. There are many other supplements we are all taking. Check out > the supplement recommendations in the FILES section of this site. > > 11) If you are able to buy a large quantity of Armour, keep it the > freezer or refrig to preserve it's potency, pouring out about 1-2 > months at a time. Armour does have a long shelf life, though. > > 12) And finally, if you find you have to self-treat, be prudent and > wise. Many start on less than one grain, and check it out for 2 > weeks or so, then they raise, a little at a time. Some folks can go > up fairly quickly, but others have to be more careful in case there > is an adrenal problem....or low Ferritin....or other. > > As a general rule, once you get up to 2-3 grains, it may be wise to > hold for at least 5 weeks to allow the T4 to show it's effect, and > rise on small amounts. The T3 is more immediate and potent. If you > have any heart issues, the T3 can initially aggravate palps. A few > folks also need to be on good adrenal support for a few weeks before > they can even tolerate T3, but you usually know that a lot earlier. > Others may need to optimize their Ferritin levels. Again, the bottom > line is wisdom, being prudent, and patience. > > Hang in there!! Natural Thyroid works!! ) > > Janie > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormones/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2005 Report Share Posted March 6, 2005 Thank you so very much for this. It will definetly help me in my quest to help my son. Eileen > > For those who are new to our list, and/or new to natural dessicated > thyroid hormones: > > 1) Armour is the most well known of the Natural Dessicated Thyroid > meds and oldest on the market--since the late 1800's! But there is > also Westhroid, Naturethroid and prescription generic Thyroid such > as by Time Cap Labs. All come from pigs, and all are supposed to > have their thyroid powder meet the stringent guidelines of the US > Pharmacopia. > > Natural Dessicated Thyroid contain the same hormones that your own > thyroid would produce--T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin, and that's why > natural thyroid is SO superior over T4-only meds. They meet the > stringent guidelines of the US Pharmacopoeia and are approved by the > FDA. > > 2) There is also OTC natural thyroid, such as Nutri-Meds and others. > These are not regulated, and the potency may be less than Armour and > others, so you may have to take more than the FDA-approved brands > for the same effect. This may also be true for any " generic " thyroid > preparations---they appear to be weaker than the name brands > mentioned above. > > 3) The most biologically effective and direct way to take Natural > Thyroid is sublingually. i.e. you place the tablet between your gums > and inner check, or where the least amount of saliva is in your > mouth, and forget about it. Either way, it is absorbed by the > millions of capillaries that line your inner mouth--taking the > hormones straight to your blood, bypassing the stomach and liver. > Armour has a touch of sucrose in it, making it more palatible. > > Natural Thyroid meds CAN be swallowed, of course, and since those > like Nature Throid do not have the suitable taste like Armour does, > it can be necessary. But it will be important to avoid iron, > estrogen and calcium supplements at the same time, since both bind > the thyroid hormones to some degree. Swallowing also brings stomach > acid into contact with the Calcitonin in Armour, and you may lose on > some of it's benefits to your bones. But it's OK if you have to > swallow your meds!! You'll get great benefits! > > 4) Many folks find dividing their dose to at least twice a day, if > not more, is optimal for them. It contains T3, which is short- lived, > and peaks about 2 hours after you take it. An example is taking 2/3 > in the morning, and the other 1/3 in the early afternoon. Some folks > dose 3-5 times a day. A few even do it once in the morning, and find > that to be very effective. But most folks seem to notice a > difference when they multi-dose. Experiment to find what is best for > you. > > 5) Before labs were developed, doctors treated patients solely by > symptoms....and successfully. This is still an ideal way to treat--- > by symptoms. But in today's world, labs play a disappointingly huge > role in treatment. Top docs in the thyroid field are recommending > that your free T3 be in the upper part of the range, if not above. > But you have to figure out where it is great for you, based on > symptoms. When you get your free T3 at the top, (or when you dose > yourself to eliminate all symptoms) you will often have a TSH quite > low. Many of us on an optimal dose (i.e. a dose which eliminates > symptoms) have a TSH LESS than one. The TSH is less important once > you start treatment, and just because one's TSH can get lower than 1 > while getting the free T3 up there, does NOT mean you have become > hyper. Many docs are uninformed about this, so be prepared. > > Another excellent way to know if you are taking enough is by taking > your temp--preferably with a mercury thermometer which is more > accurate. Generally, you want your morning temp (before rising) to > be 97.8 to 98.2, and your afternoon temp to be around 98.6. > > 6) Armour et. al is bar-none superior to T4-only meds treatment > (Synthroid, Levoxyl, etc) because it is natural (your body accepts > most ALL of it), it contains direct T3 (the most active hormone and > necessary for every cell in your body), and it also contains T2, T1 > and calcitonin. T2 has some role in metabolism. Calcitonin keeps the > calcium in your bones, and certain docs have noticed improvement in > bone density with folks on natural thyroid. > > 7) Most docs are very ignorant about the efficacy and safety of > natural thyroid. If you want to find a smart doc, use Armour's > LOCATE-A DOC in the LINKS section of this site. But be careful! You > will STILL need to CALL and make sure this doc prescribes Armour > REGULARLY, checks the FREE's, and pays attention to SYMPTOMS over > labs. > > Another option is to visit a large pharmacy in your area and ask the > pharmacist if anyone prescribes Armour. And note that it is not > uncommon to drive great distances to find a knowledgeable doc. > > 8) It is not uncommon to discover that you need more natural > dessicated thyroid than you realize. An amount that gives you > excellent energy may not be quite enough to stop hair loss, etc. Or > vice versa. Before the TSH lab came into existence (and played a > huge part in ruining good thyroid care), most folks were on 3 grains > and more. This is not to say that you will need that much, but it > does speak to the reality that you may need more than you realize, > or more than lab-obsessed docs will allow. > > ALSO NOTE THAT THE Synthroid-to-Armour conversion charts are VERY > inaccurate. You will need more than stated. > > 9) Often, there are other areas that need assistance when you are > treating yourself with Armour. For one, many folks need to optimize > their Ferritin level (storage iron), which is low in many with hypo. > Why, we don't know yet. But low Ferritin can cause very similar > symptoms as being hypo, OR can cause you to have hyper-like symptoms > when you try to raise the Armour. > > If upon starting Armour, you have very strange symptoms, including > anxiety, insomnia, shakiness, it's a strong sign that you may need > adrenal support. You might need to stop the Armour and get on that > support for a few weeks before starting the Armour again. There are > several adrenal supplements listed in the ADRENALS file on the site- - > all are used by different folks here. It is strongly recommended > that you get an adrenal test though. ZRT labs does a good 24 hour > saliva test. See LINKS. > > 10) Take a Selenium tablet with your thyroid. Helps with the T4 to > T3 conversion. L-Tyrosine helps, too. Zinc and Vit. C may play a > role. There are many other supplements we are all taking. Check out > the supplement recommendations in the FILES section of this site. > > 11) If you are able to buy a large quantity of Armour, keep it the > freezer or refrig to preserve it's potency, pouring out about 1-2 > months at a time. Armour does have a long shelf life, though. > > 12) And finally, if you find you have to self-treat, be prudent and > wise. Many start on less than one grain, and check it out for 2 > weeks or so, then they raise, a little at a time. Some folks can go > up fairly quickly, but others have to be more careful in case there > is an adrenal problem....or low Ferritin....or other. > > As a general rule, once you get up to 2-3 grains, it may be wise to > hold for at least 5 weeks to allow the T4 to show it's effect, and > rise on small amounts. The T3 is more immediate and potent. If you > have any heart issues, the T3 can initially aggravate palps. A few > folks also need to be on good adrenal support for a few weeks before > they can even tolerate T3, but you usually know that a lot earlier. > Others may need to optimize their Ferritin levels. Again, the bottom > line is wisdom, being prudent, and patience. > > Hang in there!! Natural Thyroid works!! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2005 Report Share Posted March 6, 2005 Coment below at the *. > For those who are new to our list, and/or new to natural thyroid > hormones: > > 1) Armour Natural Thyroid (and Westhroid, Naturethroid, and > Biothroid when it ever comes back) comes from pigs. It contains the > same hormones that your own thyroid would produce--T4, T3, T2, T1 > and calcitonin. It meets the stringent guidelines of the US > Pharmacopia and is approved by the FDA. It's been around for over > 100 years!! It works. > > 2) The most effective way to take Natural Thyroid is sublingually. > i.e. you place the tablet between your gums and inner check, or > under the tongue, and forget about it. Either way, it is absorbed by > the millions of capillaries that line your inner mouth, and it goes > straight to your blood, bypassing the stomach and liver, and more > effective and direct. Armour has a touch of sucrose in it, making it > more palatible. > > 3) Divide your optimal dose to at least twice a day. It contains T3, > which is short-lived, and peaks up to 2-4 hours after you take it. > One member here finds she does better taking her entire dose in the > AM; most others are dividing; a few others are doing it more than > twice a day. I take 1/2 in the morning, then the other half in the > early to mid afternoon. Experiment to find what you think is best > for you. > > 4) Top docs in the thyroid field are recommending that your free T3 > be in the upper part of the range, if not slightly above. But you > have to figure out where it is great for you, and not too much. When > you get your free T3 at an optimal area, you will often have a TSH > quite low!! And some docs freak out! Don't let them. The TSH is less > important once you start treatment, and just because one's TSH can > get lower than 1 while getting the free T3 up there, does NOT mean > you have become hyper. Pay attention to symptoms. > > 5) Armour is bar-none superior to T-4 only meds treatment > (Synthroid, Levoxyl, etc) because it is natural (your body accepts > most ALL of it), it contains T3 (the most active hormone and > necessary for every cell in your body), and it also contains T2, T1 > and calcitonin. T2 has some role in metabolism. Calcitonin > facilitates the entry of calcium into your bones from your blood. > All the above are exactly what your own thyroids would be producing! > * * * It is not a case that " most docs are ignorant " of the efficacy and safety of natural thyroid, as it is a case of them being bought or snookered by the Synthoid (and others). Big gifts and hearing the same lies over and over will blind them to the truth * * * * * > 6) Most docs are ignorant about the efficacy and safety of natural > thyroid. If you want to find a smart doc, check out the Top Doc > lists in the LINKS section of this site for your area, and read all > entries. When one looks promising, CALL and make sure this doc > prescribes Armour REGULARLY, and checks the FREE's. > > 7) Often, you need more than Armour. Armour, by itself, can turn > your life around. But most of us need help in other areas, too, > which may include adrenal support, DHEA, testosterone, iron > supplementation, female hormones......you have to find out your own > individual needs. > > 8) Avoid taking calcium or iron at the same time you do your Armour. > Both bind the thyroid hormones to some degree. This may be less of a > problem when you are doing your Armour sublingually..... > > 9) Take a Selenium tablet with your thyroid. Helps with the T4 to T3 > conversion. L-Tyrosine helps, too. There are many other supplements > we are all taking. Check out the supplement recommendations in the > FILES section of this site. > > 10) If you buy a large quantity of Armour (as I do so none of the > terrorist stuff will keep me from my Armour--nearly a year's worth), > keep in the freezer or refrig to preserve it's potency. I pour out > about 1-2 months at a time. > > 11) We welcome anyone who has thyroid problems to this site, even if > you are on synthetic only!! > > Janie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2005 Report Share Posted March 6, 2005 Coment below at the *. > For those who are new to our list, and/or new to natural thyroid > hormones: > > 1) Armour Natural Thyroid (and Westhroid, Naturethroid, and > Biothroid when it ever comes back) comes from pigs. It contains the > same hormones that your own thyroid would produce--T4, T3, T2, T1 > and calcitonin. It meets the stringent guidelines of the US > Pharmacopia and is approved by the FDA. It's been around for over > 100 years!! It works. > > 2) The most effective way to take Natural Thyroid is sublingually. > i.e. you place the tablet between your gums and inner check, or > under the tongue, and forget about it. Either way, it is absorbed by > the millions of capillaries that line your inner mouth, and it goes > straight to your blood, bypassing the stomach and liver, and more > effective and direct. Armour has a touch of sucrose in it, making it > more palatible. > > 3) Divide your optimal dose to at least twice a day. It contains T3, > which is short-lived, and peaks up to 2-4 hours after you take it. > One member here finds she does better taking her entire dose in the > AM; most others are dividing; a few others are doing it more than > twice a day. I take 1/2 in the morning, then the other half in the > early to mid afternoon. Experiment to find what you think is best > for you. > > 4) Top docs in the thyroid field are recommending that your free T3 > be in the upper part of the range, if not slightly above. But you > have to figure out where it is great for you, and not too much. When > you get your free T3 at an optimal area, you will often have a TSH > quite low!! And some docs freak out! Don't let them. The TSH is less > important once you start treatment, and just because one's TSH can > get lower than 1 while getting the free T3 up there, does NOT mean > you have become hyper. Pay attention to symptoms. > > 5) Armour is bar-none superior to T-4 only meds treatment > (Synthroid, Levoxyl, etc) because it is natural (your body accepts > most ALL of it), it contains T3 (the most active hormone and > necessary for every cell in your body), and it also contains T2, T1 > and calcitonin. T2 has some role in metabolism. Calcitonin > facilitates the entry of calcium into your bones from your blood. > All the above are exactly what your own thyroids would be producing! > * * * It is not a case that " most docs are ignorant " of the efficacy and safety of natural thyroid, as it is a case of them being bought or snookered by the Synthoid (and others). Big gifts and hearing the same lies over and over will blind them to the truth * * * * * > 6) Most docs are ignorant about the efficacy and safety of natural > thyroid. If you want to find a smart doc, check out the Top Doc > lists in the LINKS section of this site for your area, and read all > entries. When one looks promising, CALL and make sure this doc > prescribes Armour REGULARLY, and checks the FREE's. > > 7) Often, you need more than Armour. Armour, by itself, can turn > your life around. But most of us need help in other areas, too, > which may include adrenal support, DHEA, testosterone, iron > supplementation, female hormones......you have to find out your own > individual needs. > > 8) Avoid taking calcium or iron at the same time you do your Armour. > Both bind the thyroid hormones to some degree. This may be less of a > problem when you are doing your Armour sublingually..... > > 9) Take a Selenium tablet with your thyroid. Helps with the T4 to T3 > conversion. L-Tyrosine helps, too. There are many other supplements > we are all taking. Check out the supplement recommendations in the > FILES section of this site. > > 10) If you buy a large quantity of Armour (as I do so none of the > terrorist stuff will keep me from my Armour--nearly a year's worth), > keep in the freezer or refrig to preserve it's potency. I pour out > about 1-2 months at a time. > > 11) We welcome anyone who has thyroid problems to this site, even if > you are on synthetic only!! > > Janie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2005 Report Share Posted March 6, 2005 Coment below at the *. > For those who are new to our list, and/or new to natural thyroid > hormones: > > 1) Armour Natural Thyroid (and Westhroid, Naturethroid, and > Biothroid when it ever comes back) comes from pigs. It contains the > same hormones that your own thyroid would produce--T4, T3, T2, T1 > and calcitonin. It meets the stringent guidelines of the US > Pharmacopia and is approved by the FDA. It's been around for over > 100 years!! It works. > > 2) The most effective way to take Natural Thyroid is sublingually. > i.e. you place the tablet between your gums and inner check, or > under the tongue, and forget about it. Either way, it is absorbed by > the millions of capillaries that line your inner mouth, and it goes > straight to your blood, bypassing the stomach and liver, and more > effective and direct. Armour has a touch of sucrose in it, making it > more palatible. > > 3) Divide your optimal dose to at least twice a day. It contains T3, > which is short-lived, and peaks up to 2-4 hours after you take it. > One member here finds she does better taking her entire dose in the > AM; most others are dividing; a few others are doing it more than > twice a day. I take 1/2 in the morning, then the other half in the > early to mid afternoon. Experiment to find what you think is best > for you. > > 4) Top docs in the thyroid field are recommending that your free T3 > be in the upper part of the range, if not slightly above. But you > have to figure out where it is great for you, and not too much. When > you get your free T3 at an optimal area, you will often have a TSH > quite low!! And some docs freak out! Don't let them. The TSH is less > important once you start treatment, and just because one's TSH can > get lower than 1 while getting the free T3 up there, does NOT mean > you have become hyper. Pay attention to symptoms. > > 5) Armour is bar-none superior to T-4 only meds treatment > (Synthroid, Levoxyl, etc) because it is natural (your body accepts > most ALL of it), it contains T3 (the most active hormone and > necessary for every cell in your body), and it also contains T2, T1 > and calcitonin. T2 has some role in metabolism. Calcitonin > facilitates the entry of calcium into your bones from your blood. > All the above are exactly what your own thyroids would be producing! > * * * It is not a case that " most docs are ignorant " of the efficacy and safety of natural thyroid, as it is a case of them being bought or snookered by the Synthoid (and others). Big gifts and hearing the same lies over and over will blind them to the truth * * * * * > 6) Most docs are ignorant about the efficacy and safety of natural > thyroid. If you want to find a smart doc, check out the Top Doc > lists in the LINKS section of this site for your area, and read all > entries. When one looks promising, CALL and make sure this doc > prescribes Armour REGULARLY, and checks the FREE's. > > 7) Often, you need more than Armour. Armour, by itself, can turn > your life around. But most of us need help in other areas, too, > which may include adrenal support, DHEA, testosterone, iron > supplementation, female hormones......you have to find out your own > individual needs. > > 8) Avoid taking calcium or iron at the same time you do your Armour. > Both bind the thyroid hormones to some degree. This may be less of a > problem when you are doing your Armour sublingually..... > > 9) Take a Selenium tablet with your thyroid. Helps with the T4 to T3 > conversion. L-Tyrosine helps, too. There are many other supplements > we are all taking. Check out the supplement recommendations in the > FILES section of this site. > > 10) If you buy a large quantity of Armour (as I do so none of the > terrorist stuff will keep me from my Armour--nearly a year's worth), > keep in the freezer or refrig to preserve it's potency. I pour out > about 1-2 months at a time. > > 11) We welcome anyone who has thyroid problems to this site, even if > you are on synthetic only!! > > Janie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 For those who are new to our list, and/or new to natural dessicated thyroid hormones: 1) Armour is the most well known of the Natural Dessicated Thyroid meds and oldest on the market--since the late 1800's! But there is also Westhroid, Naturethroid and prescription generic Thyroid such as by Time Cap Labs. All come from pigs, and all are supposed to have their thyroid powder meet the stringent guidelines of the US Pharmacopia. Natural Dessicated Thyroid contain the same hormones that your own thyroid would produce--T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin, and that's why natural thyroid is SO superior over T4-only meds. They meet the stringent guidelines of the US Pharmacopoeia and are approved by the FDA. 2) There is also OTC natural thyroid, such as Nutri-Meds and others. These are not regulated, and the potency may be less than Armour and others, so you may have to take more than the FDA-approved brands for the same effect. This may also be true for any " generic " thyroid preparations---they appear to be weaker than the name brands mentioned above. 3) The most biologically effective and direct way to take Natural Thyroid is sublingually or orally. i.e. you place the tablet between your gums and inner check, or under your tongue, or where the least amount of saliva is in your mouth, and forget about it. Either way, it is absorbed by the millions of capillaries that line your inner mouth--taking the hormones straight to your blood, bypassing the stomach and liver. Armour has a touch of sucrose in it, making it more palatible. Natural Thyroid meds CAN be swallowed, of course, and since those like Nature Throid do not have the suitable taste like Armour does, it can be necessary. But it will be important to avoid iron, estrogen and calcium supplements at the same time, since both bind the thyroid hormones to some degree. Swallowing also brings stomach acid into contact with the Calcitonin in Armour, and you may lose on some of it's benefits to your bones. But it's OK if you have to swallow your meds!! You'll get great benefits! 4) Many folks find dividing their dose to at least twice a day, if not more, is optimal for them. It contains T3, which is short-lived, and peaks about 2 hours after you take it. An example is taking 2/3 in the morning, and the other 1/3 in the early afternoon. Some folks dose 3-5 times a day. A few even do it once in the morning, and find that to be very effective. But most folks seem to notice a difference when they multi-dose. Experiment to find what is best for you. 5) Before labs were developed, doctors treated patients solely by symptoms....and successfully. This is still an ideal way to treat--- by symptoms. But in today's world, labs play a disappointingly huge role in treatment. Top docs in the thyroid field are recommending that your free T3 be in the upper part of the range, if not above. But you have to figure out where it is great for you, based on symptoms. When you get your free T3 at the top, (or when you dose yourself to eliminate all symptoms) you will often have a TSH quite low. Many of us on an optimal dose (i.e. a dose which eliminates symptoms) have a TSH LESS than one. The TSH is less important once you start treatment, and just because one's TSH can get lower than 1 while getting the free T3 up there, does NOT mean you have become hyper. Many docs are uninformed about this, so be prepared. Another excellent way to know if you are taking enough is by taking your temp--preferably with a mercury thermometer which is more accurate. Generally, you want your morning temp (before rising) to be 97.8 to 98.2, and your afternoon temp to be around 98.6. 6) Armour et. al is bar-none superior to T4-only meds treatment (Synthroid, Levoxyl, etc) because it is natural (your body accepts most ALL of it), it contains direct T3 (the most active hormone and necessary for every cell in your body), and it also contains T2, T1 and calcitonin. T2 has some role in metabolism. Calcitonin keeps the calcium in your bones, and certain docs have noticed improvement in bone density with folks on natural thyroid. 7) Most docs are very ignorant about the efficacy and safety of natural thyroid. If you want to find a smart doc, use Armour's LOCATE-A DOC in the LINKS section of this site. But be careful! You will STILL need to CALL and make sure this doc prescribes Armour REGULARLY, checks the FREE's, and pays attention to SYMPTOMS over labs. Another option is to visit a large pharmacy in your area and ask the pharmacist if anyone prescribes Armour. And note that it is not uncommon to drive great distances to find a knowledgeable doc. 8) It is not uncommon to discover that you need more natural dessicated thyroid than you realize. An amount that gives you excellent energy may not be quite enough to stop hair loss, etc. Or vice versa. Before the TSH lab came into existence (and played a huge part in ruining good thyroid care), most folks were on 3 grains and more. This is not to say that you will need that much, but it does speak to the reality that you may need more than you realize, or more than lab-obsessed docs will allow. ALSO NOTE THAT THE Synthroid-to-Armour conversion charts are VERY inaccurate. You will need more than stated. 9) Often, there are other areas that need assistance when you are treating yourself with Armour. For one, many folks need to optimize their Ferritin level (storage iron), which is low in many with hypo. Why, we don't know yet. But low Ferritin can cause very similar symptoms as being hypo, OR can cause you to have hyper-like symptoms when you try to raise the Armour. If upon starting Armour, you have very strange symptoms, including anxiety, insomnia, shakiness, it's a strong sign that you may need adrenal support. You might need to stop the Armour and get on that support for a few weeks before starting the Armour again. There are several adrenal supplements listed in the ADRENALS file on the site-- all are used by different folks here. It is strongly recommended that you get an adrenal test though. ZRT labs does a good 24 hour saliva test. See LINKS. 10) Take a Selenium tablet with your thyroid. Helps with the T4 to T3 conversion. L-Tyrosine helps, too. Zinc and Vit. C may play a role. There are many other supplements we are all taking. Check out the supplement recommendations in the FILES section of this site. 11) If you are able to buy a large quantity of Armour, keep it the freezer or refrig to preserve it's potency, pouring out about 1-2 months at a time. Armour does have a long shelf life, though. 12) And finally, if you find you have to self-treat, be prudent and wise. Many start on less than one grain, and check it out for 2 weeks or so, then they raise, a little at a time. Some folks can go up fairly quickly, but others have to be more careful in case there is an adrenal problem....or low Ferritin....or other. As a general rule, once you get up to 2-3 grains, it may be wise to hold for at least 5 weeks to allow the T4 to show it's effect, and rise on small amounts. The T3 is more immediate and potent. If you have any heart issues, the T3 can initially aggravate palps. A few folks also need to be on good adrenal support for a few weeks before they can even tolerate T3, but you usually know that a lot earlier. Others may need to optimize their Ferritin levels. Again, the bottom line is wisdom, being prudent, and patience. Hang in there!! Natural Thyroid works!! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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