Can you treat thyroid disease with alternative medicine?

Can you treat thyroid disease with alternative medicine?

Can a person skip medications and rely on alternative medicine to treat thyroid disease? This may depend on the severity of the illness. If the person has a goiter on the thyroid, they may need and want a plastic surgeon to remove the goiter as part of treatment. This would be a very rare case. Most cases of thyroid disease can be improved and treated with alternative medicine.

The most serious type of thyroid disease is Hashimoto's disease. This is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system goes into overdrive and attacks the thyroid. The natural treatment for this and other forms of autoimmune disease is to take large amounts of the amino acid NAC, or N-acetylcysteine. It is anti-aging and fights the formation of free radicals in the body. It requires selenium and vitamin E for complete assimilation in the body. This amino acid is very good for your liver. Tyrosine is another amino acid that helps your thyroid.

Treating and curing thyroid disorders with alternative medicine therapy, acupuncture, herbs, orthomolecular medicine, animal gland supplements and bioidentical hormones is possible. Amino acids, vitamins, minerals and botanicals are affordable and used in therapeutic doses much higher than levels normally found in nature. The concept of orthomolecular medicine is based on the use of very large doses of vitamins, minerals, amino acids or plant extracts for cell repair. Alternative medicine includes many therapies that can benefit people with thyroid disease.

Porcine thyroid or desiccated thyroid can be found in prescription medications such as Armor Thyroid, Nathroid and Westhroid. Enzymatic Therapy makes a product that is organic thyroid supplement. There are various organic brands available in the form of bovine and porcine. These are quite affordable and should be taken long term. Low thyroid function can lead to other health problems, including secondary infections such as sinus or bronchitis, brain fog, concentration problems, poor memory, infertility problems, fatigue, depression, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and weight problems. Long-term thyroid problems often overwhelm the adrenal glands. Adrenal function may need to be supported with an adrenal gland product for three months.

Chinese medicine is very good at treating thyroid disorders. Acupuncture and moxa can be used to treat hypothyroidism. Chinese herbal patent formulas for treating thyroid or hypothyroidism include Tou Gui Wan, Si Ni Tang and Zhen Wu Tang. This therapy will take at least a few months to balance your endocrine system. Orthomolecular medicine can also treat hypothyroidism with ginseng, reishi, royal jelly, peony, ginger, astragulus, and ashwaganda.

Chinese herbal formulas are good for treating Yang excess hyperthyroidism with Yin deficiency heat. The patent formulas for high thyroid include Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan and Zhi Zi Qing Gan Tang. Chinese medicine focuses on the heart and kidney to treat thyroid disease. Acupuncture is wonderful at calming the hyperactive symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Orthomolecular medicine may also use kava, St. John's wort, and valerian to treat hyperthyroidism.

Dietary changes can be very important in treating thyroid disease. Include seaweed and fresh seaweed in your diet at least three times a week along with cold water fish. Avoid foods with MSG and food additives. Reduce nicotine and alcohol in your diet and increase fresh juice. Fresh watermelon juice and spinach juice are very healthy choices. Increase potassium-rich foods. Do not eat very large amounts of kale, Brussels sprouts, or other cruciferous vegetables.

In orthomolecular medicine, various nutritional supplements are used to improve thyroid function, including zinc, vitamin E, selenium, vitamin C, iodine, and B vitamins. Individual herbs, amino acids and herbal formulas require the right nutrients as cofactors to properly treat symptoms.

© Dr. R. Stone, MD-India