by Lawrence Wilson, MD

HYPERTHYROIDISM OR GRAVE’S DISEASE

Ó April 2011, The Center For Development

Hyperthyroidism is a very common health condition today. It is most common in women between the ages of about 20 to 55. Nutritional balancing science is excellent for this condition, and usually resolves it within 6 months with no need for surgery or radioactive iodine (or RAI) treatment. These medical treatments are quite barbaric and should never be necessary in my experience.

CAUSES FOR HYPERTHYROIDISM

In my experience, the following are the most important factors causing most cases of Grave’s disease or hyperthyroidism:

1. A toxin in the pituitary gland. This does not show up on any traditional medical test, and it may not show up on hair mneral analyses. The toxin is often a toxic mineral, such as mercury, biounavailable copper, lead, arsenic or some other. It could also be a chemical toxin or possibly even an infection.

Fortunately, in all cases, so far, that I have worked with, it seems able to be removed with a proper healing program. It may come out quickly, or in some cases it takes several years to slowly be removed using a nutritional balancing program. Sauna therapy and coffee enemas may be needed.

2. Stress. An acute stress of some kind is often a secondary or even a primary factor in Grave’s disease. It may be family or social stress, too much exercise in a few cases, or something else. Stress is a very individual matter, so what may not seem too stressful for one person can be extremely stressful for another. Stress reduction is always an important consideration with Grave’s disease.

3. Slow oxidation with copper toxicity. This also seems to be present in most cases, so far. Slow oxidation is discernable only with a properly performed hair mineral analysis, since the patient may not have the typical signs of slow oxidation such as fatigue or depression. Also, the copper toxicity is almost always hidden, so one must use the hidden copper toxicity indicators to find it. These are described in the article on this website entitled Copper Toxicity Syndrome. They include such factors as a low hair potassium, an elevated hair calcium, a low hair zinc or elevated hair mercury level. Rarely, none of these are present, but most of the time one or even more are visible on a first hair mineral analysis that is performed properly.

4. Mercury or other toxic metal poisoning. This is not always the case but may contribute to the situation. Often, iodine is low and the thyroid is toxic with bromine, chlorine or fluorine. This is not discernable from any test, however, and is more of an empirical or theoretical consideration. The effect is to weaken the thyroid gland.

5. Other personality factors. Many with hyperthyroidism are “take charge” types of people who are willful and active people. This type of personality can be a factor in some cases, and may be why slowing down and reducing stress is so helpful in many cases.

A PARTIALLY FAILED STRESS RESPONSE

The hair analysis patterns found in those with Grave’s disease are often consistent. They tend to reveal:

· Slow oxidation. This means that at a cellular level, they all have adrenal exhaustion and low thyroid gland effect at a cellular level.

· Hidden copper toxicity. Elevted copper is usually not showing, with the hair level usually between about 1 and 1.5 mg%.

· A low phosphorus level (less than about 15 mg%).

· Many have an aluminum level less than about 0.7 mg% on their initial hair mineral tests unless they use anti-perspirants that contain aluminum. A low aluminum appears to be a lowered vitality indicator.

· A potassium of 4 mg% or less. This pattern is called sympathetic dominance.

· Often a normal or slightly high sodium/potassium ratio, with the ratio between 2 and 5.

· A normal or slightly high calcium/magnesium ratio, often between 7 and 9.5.

· Mercury toxicity is also common, though it may be hidden and not revealed on the first hair mineral analysis.

These all point to a failed response to stress in the sense that too many thyroid hormones are secreted, but the thyroid hormones do not have the anticipated or desired effect at the cellular level. The excess hormones make the person anxious, nervous, and often cause tachycardia and other symptoms, but they do not normalize the oxidation rate as one would expect.

Possible reasons for the failure of the thyroid hormones to properly regulate the oxidation rate in these case are:

· Copper, mercury or some other toxic metal interferes with the effect of the hormones at a cellular level.

· High tissue calcium stabilizes the cell membranes and prevents the thyroid hormones from passing into some cells.

· There is a lack of coordination between the thyroid and the adrenal glands, which are also needed to mount a proper stress response. Everyone with Grave’s disease, so far, has shown adrenal exhaustion as well.

CORRECTION

In addition to a properly designed nutritional balancing program, a very helpful procedure for overcoming Grave’s disease is to use a near infrared light sauna once, or preferably twice daily. Each session should be from 20 to 40 minutes long. This will help reduce copper and mercury, reduce sympathetic dominance and relax the nervous system. One can also move the neck and thyroid area closer to the lamps during the sauna, which may help remove toxins from the thyroid gland.

Another very helpful procedure is meditation. Once again, this is to reduce stress, relax the autonomic nervous system, and thus to promote healing. We recommend only the Roy Masters meditation exercise, a Judeo-Christian type of exercise that is extremely grounding and centering. These are qualities needed by everyone with hyperthyroidism, in my experience. All other meditations are not as good and may not even be helpful at all.

The nutritional balancing supplement programs must also be modified, at least for a while, for cases of hyperthyroidism. The computer at Analytical Research Labs makes these changes, which are very important, but only if the patient notes that they have hyperthyroidism on the lab slip. Although most people are slow oxidizers, if not all of them, most cannot tolerate products that enhance the oxidation or metabolic rate such as Megapan and adrenal or thyroid glandular products. Kelp may or may not be tolerated.

Instead, they need fewer supplements to begin with including calcium, magnesium, zinc, a digestive aid, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D3 and perhaps other simple supplements depending upon the hair mineral ratios and levels. For more information, read Thyroid Disease And Its Healing.

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