Fran

[Guest guest]

Hi Fran,

Graves' can be treated with alternative means, but active Graves' is

life-threatening and requires a good practitioner. Alternatives to

antithyroid meds include herbs like bugleweed, strong iodine

solution, and energy techniques like NMT. At the least a practitioner

is needed to run blood tests.

Remission can be attained more easily and maintained longer by

avoiding iodine and stimulants, which rev up the thyorid, and also

avoiding sugar and saturated/animal fats, which hamper the immune

system. When hyper, people often have an elevated heart rate, so

exercise may not be a good idea. Some people with Graves' are also

sensitive to wheat; this can be tested for. I'm not aware of any

problems with honey except that it's a sugar. (I get most of my info

from Elaine 's Graves' Disease: A Practical Guide and the

ithyroid.com site.)

Many people in this group have been on a low dose of antithyroid

medication for many years. It is a means of slowing antibody

production, which is the cause of the Graves' symptoms. That's a much

less invasive approach than destroying the thyroid gland. (A final

option is surgery, which seems to cause less problems than radiation.)

Does your brother have labs to post? Perhaps the first step might be

to get symptoms under control with the proper use of antithyroid meds

(dosing three times a day and controlling iodine and stress at the

same time). My point is that there is a range of options between RAI

and total alternative care.

Best wishes,