“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.”
~ Chuang Tzu
Your Guide to Treating Hypothyroidism with Natural Desiccated Thyroid
Hypothyroidism
When you're hypothyroid, you don’t have enough thyroid hormone. You may not make ENOUGH thyroid hormone, because:
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You have autoimmune Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
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You're iodine deficient
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You’re taking a medication that causes hypothyroidism (i.e., lithium)
That makes you a “Low Producer.”
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You may not make ANY thyroid hormone, because:
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Your thyroid was surgically removed
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You had radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation treatment
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You were hypothyroid from birth
That means you're a “Non-Producer.”
When you're hypothyroid, you may not have enough of the active T3 hormone, because:
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You’re not converting enough T4 into T3
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You convert T4 into too much Reverse T3
That makes you a “Poor Converter.”
Causes of Poor Conversion of T4 to T3
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The most common causes of poor T4-to-T3 conversion include:
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Common genetic defects, called polymorphisms
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Nutritional deficiencies
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Physical and emotional stress
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Surgical removal of the thyroid gland, radioactive ablation of the thyroid, and atrophy due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
The thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test can give a general picture of thyroid function. Levels that are high-normal or high can indicate hypothyroidism.
Triiodothyronine (T3) and Free T3
Total T3 and Free T3 levels that are low, or low-normal can show hypothyroidism, and poor conversion from T4.
Reverse T3 (RT3)
High-normal and high Reverse T3 levels can leave you with insufficient levels of active T3 hormone.
The Treatment for Hypothyroidism
The treatment for hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone replacement medication, to provide the thyroid hormone you’re missing. The treatments include:
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Levothyroxine (synthetic T4)
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Liothyronine (synthetic T3)
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Natural Desiccated Thyroid (natural T4 and T3)
