[HonestBabe]

in reply to: Do any natural/alternative treatments work? #1063327

Thanks to Bobbi and Kimberly. Just so you know, I am protecting myself: My T3 and T4 are within normal range and always have been normal; I take a beta blocker daily to protect my heart; I eat whole food calcium every day and am very careful about diet; I take magnesium, Vit D and K. I’m proceeding with acupuncture and Chinese herbs. My Endo is very good and working WITH me on this regimen for the next 8 weeks when I will test again. Western and Eastern or natural treatments do not have to be opponents; it’s not either/or. They can support each other with safe and effective results. But I can’t absolutely prove it to you in terms of clinical Western medicine, although there are plenty of medical journal articles on the benefits of alternative methods now, including herbals and acupuncture.

Bobbi, your post about your friends … this sounds like a scare tactic to me, although I’m sure you have everyone’s best interests at heart here. Who really knows the medical details of your friends’ situations? What would you have me say, Bobbi … "OMG, look what happened to Bobbi’s friends. I better rush to my Endo and get traditional treatment right away." That would be making a major decision from a very narrow perspective: fear. I’ve often found that fear can be a misdirection because it’s so highly emotional. We need facts, accurate information and calm clear-headedness. My Endo did NOT dismiss my 1/100 of a point decrease after using herbs and supplements, especially in view of the previous weeks where my TSH level dropped from .09 to .03 when I wasn’t taking anything. So, yes, this is a test for a short period of time. Some of us are willing to go this distance. I want a cure with no side effects. Maybe Western traditional medicine will ultimately be my answer. Maybe a combination of East and West will be my answer. I don’t know yet. But please, wish me well on this journey. HonestBabe.

[HonestBabe]

in reply to: Do any natural/alternative treatments work? #1063324

I’m really glad to learn this info about diet and going vegan. I want to post some information about my recent experience with alternative remedies. Let me first be clear: my diagnosis is hyPERthyroidism due to toxic nodules; at this time my test for Graves Disease/autoimmune diseases was negative. In October, I consulted with a Naturopathic Doctor and she put me on a thyroid support supplement called "Thytrophin PMG" by Standard Process, and a herbal formula by WiseWoman "Thyroid II" for hyperthyroid (bugleweed, motherwort, lemon balm, night blooming cereus, passion flower, lavender oil). Six weeks later, my recent TSH blood test showed a minor decrease from .03 to .02. Just 1/100th of a point. (You need to know that the previous 9 weeks test show a TSH decrease from .09 to .03.) So, one could say (and my Endo did) that this recent very small TSH decrease appears to be an improvement. I did not lose any more weight either, so clearly by body is changing to some degree. But I don’t know if this supplement/herbals will actually get my TSH levels up. So, in my exploration of alternative medicine, I decided to add acupuncture to my regimen. He’s an M.D. and tells me that his treatments of hyper patients has been quite successful. He’s got me on Chinese herbs as well. I post this to document information only. I will update further results at the end of my acupuncture /Chinese herbals treatments in 8 to 10 weeks. I hope there is no harm in letting people on this site know my experience. We all need to proceed with caution with Western and/or Eastern medical treatments. HonestBabe.

[HonestBabe]

in reply to: Do any natural/alternative treatments work? #1063320

For Loris and Bobbi,
Bobbi, you make some important comments. Thanks for that. I wonder … is not eating any animal protein (including dairy) so radical? I mean vegetarians avoid all animal protein don’t they? They get their protein from beans, maybe fish? I do see that there’s some criticism of The China Study and yes, we should read carefully and approach with caution.

May I ask you, Loris, just what do you eat? Are you doing the typical vegetarian diet of beans, veggies, fruits, and grain? No animal protein, no dairy, no fish either? I think it’s very significant that the diet made such a difference in Loris’s health. I’m off all diary now because it’s quite high in iodine which is bad for hypers. Drinking almond milk and feeling better. Sometimes just a diet adjustment can be helpful. Lori, can you give us some info on what you eat? THanks. HonestBabe.

[HonestBabe]

in reply to: Do any natural/alternative treatments work? #1063317

Question for Loris, and thanks for your post … Let me see if I understand you … since the year 2000 when you were diagnosed, and since being on The China Study diet, your thyroid disease has gone into remission? With no medications or treatments? I will take a look at The China Study. Thanks. You sound like you’re managing quite well, and it’s encouraging to know that looking at or trying sensible options are worthwhile. I wish you the best! HonestBabe.

[HonestBabe]

in reply to: Do any natural/alternative treatments work? #1063314

Thanks, Ski. Yes, I do have 2 hot nodules (one cold nodule and biopsied as clear)and my blood tests for Graves came up negative. I’m hearing mixed reports about the RAI treatment for hot nodules. My endo says I should do the RAI with the expectation that I will become hyPO instead of hyPER and likley have to go on Sinthroid permanently. I’m also hearing mixed things about being on Sinthroid, and Armour too, so I’m really at the crossroads of choosing which treatment. And I’m considering methimazole as an option too. I’m not struggling with symptoms. In fact, I feel quite normal. Thanks for all the good thoughts. I’ll post as things go along. This is a great site and I value all the input. HonestBabe.

[HonestBabe]

in reply to: Do any natural/alternative treatments work? #1063312

Thanks Ewenme. I appreciate your good thoughts. I’m not against the traditional methods, just not sure they are the only ones I should look at. I consulted with a surgeon and he advised me to look at all the options, including integrative medicine, before making such an important decision. I think when it comes right down to it, I pray that God guides me to the right path to health. Joy and health to you too! HonestBabe.

[HonestBabe]

in reply to: Do any natural/alternative treatments work? #1063310

Thanks, Bobbi. Very helpful. Yes, I’m aware there are no clinical trials out there that prove acupuncture/herbals heal thyroid issues. But I like to remain cautiously open-minded on that issue. That’s why I posted the question out to the community. I don’t see much good in taking Chinese herbs/acupuncture along with another "proven treatment" since that really won’t give me any clear information on what is really giving me results. For my situation (which is mild hyper at the moment but with nodules), the endo doctors are telling me to do RAI to kill the nodules, which effectively trades off hyper symptoms for hypo symptoms and then take hormones. That’s not a cure. That’s treating the disease. Call me crazy, but I’m looking for a cure. The body can heal and does heal all the time. Forgive me, but I sometimes don’t get this idea that we have no alternative but to kill something in order to get healthy. My husband had a stent put in his major artery in his heart. Over the years, the stent slowly collapsed and his heart grew several healthy bypass arteries around the problem area of the heart. Amazing! I could hardly believe it when the cardiologists explained to me how the body has these remarkable and beautiful healing abilities that demand respect. Who would have thought the body can grow more arteries spontaneously when one artery is in trouble. So, that’s why when my M.D., who does acupuncture, says that he’s had ‘quite good success’ with healing hyper thyroid patients doing acupuncture with Chinese herbals, I don’t want to close the door because it’s unproven in a medical journal. I want to find out more information. I want to think positively, proceed cautiously. Anyone out there that is following this, please post your thoughts or experiences. If I end up choosing acupuncture/herbals, I’ll update you with my results. HonestBabe.

[HonestBabe]

in reply to: Hyperthyroidism: natural supplements or RI? #1063542

Hi Everyone:
Thanks for all the great thoughts. I did get my latest blood test back and it confirmed no Graves Disease at this time. I had a biopsy this morning and will know the results by end of week. My TSH is still very low (.03) but my FreeT4 is still within normal range (.90). I realize that traditional medicine vs. alternative/natural medicine is always a challenge. It wasn’t so long ago that traditional medicine bashed acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments as hocus pocus and now there are studies and trials that say there is real healing going on, patients are getting better, and even the insurance companies are paying for these alternative treatments.

The Thytrophin PMG, as I understand it (with the thyroxine removed for a hyper thyroid) is based on ‘like heals like healing.’ Something that is also called ‘oral tolerization.’ The PMG (ProtoMorphoGen) action is for cellular regulation. I look at this as feeding my thyroid healthy thyroid elements. I don’t claim to understand all the engineering about this but then I don’t understand the mechanism of how Tylenol works either. And there’s other research on this ‘like heals like’ in diabetes and arthritis too. So, I’m going to test the waters here and see what happens. I will post again as things progress. Again, thanks to all. HonestBabe.

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