THYROID DISEASE AND ITS HEALING

by Lawrence Wilson, MD

© January 2010, The Center For Development

Thyroid imbalance is one of the most common condition in the Western world today. The causes include copper and mercury toxicity, deficiencies of zinc, selenium and other minerals, and frequently adrenal imbalances. Iodine deficiency due to the presence of iodine antagonists is another important cause. Finally, autonomic system imbalances with exhaustion of the sympathetic nervous system is another very important cause.

Treatment with replacement thyroid hormones, even natural hormone replacement, is not a very good solution to hypothyroid conditions, in my experience. In fact, it is usually not needed, and usually gets in the way of deeper healing of thyroid conditions.

Instead, hair mineral testing offers excellent information about thyroid activity. It is sometimes very different information than blood tests provide. This is particularly the case with hyperthyroidism or Grave’s disease, a condition that responds beautifully to nutritional balancing without the need for surgery or radioactive iodine treatment or RAI. Drug therapy may be needed for a few months in severe cases.

Before discussing how to help most thyroid conditions, here is a brief review of how the thyroid gland works.

THYROID PHYSIOLOGY

Thyroid metabolism involves four important stages:

1) Hormone Production. To produce thyroxine (T4) requires manganese, iodine, selenium, tyrosine, cyclic AMP, vitamin C and B-complex, and other micronutrients.

It also requires that the pituitary gland secrete the right amount of TSH or thyroid stimulating hormones. These cause the thyroid to secrete thyroxine. Anything that upsets the delicate feedback system of the body, such as taking too much thyroid medication for example, or some other drugs, perhaps, can upset the pituitary regulation of thyroid activity.

It also requires excellent circulation to the thyroid gland. This is needed so that all the required nutrients and enough TSH can find their way to the gland. One problem in some women, in particular, is that tension in the neck area may impair nerve innervation to the thyroid, and might even impair blood circulation to the area.

Another interesting problem is that tension in the neck can overstimulate or irritate the nerves going to the thyroid gland. This leads to excessive hormone production for a short while, and then the gland begins to ‘burn out’ of nutrients, eventually causing a sluggish thyroid. Just giving nutrients does not really fix this problem, though it will help, of course. One must also release the tension on the nerves leading to the thyroid that are in the neck and cervical spine area. Otherwise, the gland will not function properly.

Radiation toxicity, excessive oxidant stress or toxic chemicals can block hormone synthesis. Mercury and copper toxicity may sometimes stimulate hormone synthesis, but in other cases these and other toxic metals may inhibit or interfere with hormone synthesis. Among the worst offenders are fluorides, chlorine compounds and bromides found in breads. These can directly antagonize or compete with iodine uptake, preventing proper hormone synthesis. This is a terrible problem today as we are all exposed to these chemicals.

2) Hormone Release. Secretion of thyroid hormones requires sympathetic nervous stimulation. Many people have exhausted adrenals or other autonomic imbalances that may affect the sympathetic nervous system.

3) Absorption into the Cells. Once released into the blood, T4 must be absorbed into the body cells. For this to occur, the cell membranes must function properly.

Accumulation of biounavailable calcium and magnesium excessively stabilize cell membranes and reduce cell permeability. Deficient calcium and magnesium cause excessive cell permeability.

Oxidant stress or impaired fatty acid metabolism such as a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids or other damage to cell membranes can also block absorption of thyroxine.

Copper affects absorption by altering calcium and potassium levels. Cadmium or nickel toxicity affect hormone absorption by affecting the levels of calcium, sodium and other critical minerals.

4) Conversion to T3. Once inside the cells, thyroxine must be converted to T3 and utilized in the mitochondria. This conversion requires selenium and other nutrients. A newer syndrome has been identified in which people do not convert T4 to T3 adequately. It is called Wilson’s syndrome. In my experience, if a person eats well, and removes his toxic metals, this is not a concern.

If the conversion does not go properly, however, the body may form another substance called Reverse T3. According to many holistic doctors, this is due to mercury toxicity, and this problem goes away when mercury is removed from the body.

5) Utilization in the Mitochondria. Potassium plays a role in sensitizing the mitochondria to thyroid hormone. The mitochondria, however, require many other nutrients such as B-complex vitamins, iron, copper and many others to produce ATP in the glycolysis and carboxylic acid cycles in the mitochondria. If these co-factors are missing or toxins block steps in the pathway, thyroid hormone will be ineffective in increasing energy production.

Once ATP is formed in the mitochonidria, the body cells must also be able to use it properly to respond to thyroid hormone stimulation. Here again, many nutrients may be involved in the process of utilizing ATP, converting it to ADP, and then converting it back or recycling it back to ATP. Any nutrient deficiency or toxic insult at any step of the way will affect the cellular response to thyroid hormones.

I mention all these steps to show just how complex thyroid regulation is, and how simplistic the medical approach to it tends to be. Just measuring the circulating levels of T3, T4 and TSH is just touching the tip of an iceberg, when it comes to correcting thyroid imbalances.

THYROID PROBLEMS

Imbalances can occur at any stage of the production or utilization of thyroid hormone. The concepts of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are incomplete and often misleading as they only relate to hormone production and release.

One person might have inadequate hormone production due to radiation damage. Another produces enough hormone, but has an autonomic imbalance preventing its release.

Another cannot transport enough hormones into the cells due to low cell permeability. Still another person might have adequate hormone production but be unable to utilize the hormones in the cells due to manganese deficiency or fluoride toxicity.

Another may have excess hormone production due to copper or mercury toxicity and at the same time have inadequate cell permeability, causing a mixture of hypo- and hyperthyroid symptoms.

Blood tests simply do not assess most of these factors. As a result, they miss many problems, and, at times, they may indicate a problem where none exists or may indicate one imbalance when the opposite condition exists at the cellular level.

Most commonly, serum thyroid tests are normal but a thyroid imbalance is present. This may occur because the normal ranges of the blood tests are too large. TSH should not be above 3.5, yet many doctors still use 5 as the upper limit of normal. In other cases, however, the blood tests cannot detect deficiencies and toxins affecting thyroid activity.

MAJOR THYROID IMBALANCES

HYPOTHYROIDISM

This is an extremely common problem. Confusion often arises because standard serum thyroid evaluations measure circulating hormones (T3 and T4) and pituitary stimulation of the thyroid (TSH). Hair mineral testing measures the cellular effect of the thyroid and other parameters, which is very different. This accounts for differences in these test results.

When we can correctly assess the thyroid, correction often is not difficult with natural methods of treatment. The use of corrective hormones is rarely needed if we can figure out the physiological imbalances and correct them.

Often serum thyroid tests are within normal limits. However, a hair mineral analysis will reveal a slow oxidation rate. About 80% or more of the population has a sluggish oxidation rate, and millions have a very slow oxidation rate, indicating hidden thyroid problems. In many of these cases, the thyroid effect at the cellular level is woefully low. All the reasons for this are explained above.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism. Most people have some of the following symptoms: fatigue, dry skin or hair, weight gain (though in some cases one is very thin), cold intolerance, a pasty skin color, often some depression or apathy, and low energy. The symptoms are more common in women, but plenty of men suffer with them as well. Broda Barnes, MD and others attribute many other problems to thyroid imbalances, such as heart palpitations, heart attacks, cancers and many others.

Hair analysis findings. In almost all cases, slow oxidation is present on a hair analysis. This means the calcium and magnesium levels are high relative to the sodium and potassium levels. However, in a few cases, fast oxidation is present. This aberration is discussed later.

Correction. Nutritional balancing usually takes care of all these symptoms, along with others, as the oxidation rate is balanced and the autonomic nervous system is balanced as well. This is important in many thyroid cases, as many of the sufferers have a sympathetic dominance pattern or tendency on a hair mineral analysis.

A wonderful food supplement for almost everyone today that would help prevent many thyroid difficulties is to take 3 to 6 660 mg kelp capsules from Nature’s Way or Solaray, perhaps, every single day. This would help prevent the replacement of iodine in the thyroid with iodine antagonists, which are discussed elsewhere in this article.

HYPERTHYROIDISM OR GRAVE’S DISEASE

This is the next most common thyroid disorder. It is quite common today in young women, and in some men as well. It is not found in children that I am aware of. Serum levels of T3 and T4 are often elevated. TSH may be high, normal or low.

Symptoms. The patient will have symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as anxiety, heart palpitations and tachycardia. In some cases, the eyes bulge out. This is called exothalmos. Yet one is often fatigued as well.

Hair analysis findings. In every case, so far, a hair analysis reveals a slow oxidation rate, often with a very high calcium level. This indicates hidden copper toxicity, which is present in all cases. Often the sodium and potassium levels are very low, as well, although usually the sodium/potassium ratio is normal or even elevated. In only one case, was it low.

Another possible cause for Grave’s disease besides a copper imbalance, which can stimulate the thyroid, is low cell permeability. This occurs when the hair and tissue calcium becomes too high, and is a feature of slow oxidation. In some cases, a low tissue potassium level may impair the sensitivity of the tissues to thyroid hormone. In response, the body may elevate T4 and/or T3 production as a compensation.

Stress. Very often, extreme stress is the trigger that causes Grave’s disease. The person may push hard in some way, causing an incomplete stress reaction. The presence of toxic metals, nutrient deficiencies and a mental tendency to be very willful all seem to combine to cause the symptoms.

Correction. Grave’s disease responds excellently to nutritional balancing in most cases. Drugs may be needed for a few months to control symptoms, and then they can be discontinued. Surgery and RAI (radioactive iodine treatment to destroy the thyroid gland) are never needed in my experience, so far, with probably over 100 cases. These are both barbaric treatments for a disorder that the medical doctors simply do not understand.

Cautions with Grave’s disease.

1. Stress, if present, must often be reduced a lot for full correction to occur. Then metabolic correction often works well and rapidly to correct this imbalance. Avoid all extra stress, including even exercise until the condition stabilizes.
2. Nutritional balancing program modifications: Do not give Megapan, Hi-B, Thyro-complex or Endo-dren. Also, give more Paramin (calcium and magnesium) if needed to calm the person down. GB-3 in high doses of 2-2-2 or more is excellent if possible without diarrhea. Limcomin or Endopan or Zinc should be okay.

The person should drink 3-4 quarts of distilled water daily and rest and sleep a tremendous amount.

3. Sauna therapy with a near infrared light sauna is not only safe, in these cases, but absolutely marvelous in our experience. Perhaps it is because it can reduce the stress response of the autonomic nervous system that is driving the thyroid. It also helps to remove toxic metals such as copper and mercury that often play a role. It is also just very relaxing.

For more on this condition, read the article on this site entitled Hyperthyroid Interview With Dr. Wilson.

GOITER, HASHIMOTO’S THYROIDITIS, CYSTS, TUMORS AND OTHER THYROID CONDITIONS

A goiter is an older medical term that simply means an enlarged thyroid gland. These used to be common in certain parts of America and elsewhere in the world, usually due to iodine deficiency in the diet. Today it is relatively rare, but may occur due to a problem with the absorption or utilization of iodine, and rarely for other reasons. We do not have a lot of experience with this, so I will not comment further upon it.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is another less common thyroid coniditon. Medical science calls it an auto-immune disorder. I do not like this terminology, but I understand their reasoning. Regardless of the cause, thyroiditis, in our view, is mainly toxic metal poisoning and it usually responds very well to nutritional balancing science and our programs.

Other thyroid conditions are even more rare, and include various types of cysts and tumors. Another rare condition is called cretinism. It is due to an iodine deficiency in a pregnant woman that causes a severe form of mental retardation and growth delay in a baby. This is also quite uncommon today, although subclinical cases may exist and are missed because physicians today do not look for them. A mild case may give rise to some of the cases that are today diagnosed as persistent developmental delay, or PDD, or other types of growth or mental retardation. We have less experience with these conditions, so I will not comment upon them here.

THYROID HORMONES DANGEROUS WHEN FAST OXIDATION IS PRESENT

When hair tissue calcium and magnesium are low, as in fast oxidizers, cell membranes are more permeable. This may cause a more rapid uptake of thyroid hormone into the cells. As a result, the serum T3 and T4 may actually be a little low.

The patient may also present with fatigue or other symptoms suggestive of low thyroid activity. This may be because other factors besides hormonal ones such as vital nutrient deficiencies and toxic metals, are impairing energy production.

Physicians who only measures serum hormone levels (T3 and T4) or TSH might conclude that the patient needs thyroid hormone. While this may give symptomatic relief, this will make the patient's condition much worse by moving the patient even further into fast oxidation. This can be quite dangerous and lead to cancer and other problems.

We do not advise going against the orders of your doctor. However, anyone who is taking thyroid hormones who is a fast oxidizer may wish to reconsider taking these hormones.

OTHER HAIR ANALYSIS INDICATORS FOR THYROID IMBALANCES

· The hair calcium level is an approximate thyroid effect indicator because thyroid hormone lowers calcium in the body. The higher the level of hair calcium, in general, the lower the effective activity of the thyroid gland. For example, it is known that hyperthyroidism can cause tetany, or muscle contractions that are due to low serum calcium.

· The potassium level, according to Dr. Eck’s research, is associated with sensitivity of the tissues to thyroid hormone. A lower hair potassium may thus be associated with reduced sensitivity of the mitochondrial receptors to thyroid hormone.

o Even if circulating hormone levels are normal and hormones can be absorbed into the cells, when tissue potassium is low they may not be utilized, resulting in a low thyroid effect. This commonly contributes to thyroid problems in slow oxidizers.

o Potassium supplements may help a little, but their effect is temporary. The problem is a loss of potassium due to kidney dysfunction and electrical imbalances at the cellular level.

· Manganese deficiency can reduce thyroid activity. Manganese is required for T4 production. Manganese deficiency or biounavailability are very common today.

o Deficiency is associated with a hair manganese level less than 0.04 mg%, although the hair is not a very reliable indicator. Dr. Eck felt that most people are manganese deficient today, and I agree. A level greater than 0.07 mg% often indicates biounavailability of manganese, another problem that might be related to thyroid imbalances.

o Adrenal exhaustion causes manganese to become biounavailable as the binding protein, transmanganin, is not produced in sufficient quantity.

· Hair calcium and magnesium levels are associated with cell permeability. Biounavailable calcium and magnesium stabilize cell membranes. This causes reduced cell membrane permeability that decreases thyroid hormone uptake into the cells. This might contribute to a cellular thyroid hormone deficiency even when the level of circulating hormones in the blood is normal or even high. This may account for the common finding that a person’s serum T3 and T4 levels are normal, but the person has many symptoms of hypothyroidism.

o This fact led Dr. Broda Barnes, MD and others to use the person’s morning temperature to assess thyroid activity. While it is better, and will detect some thyroid problems, I do not find it reliable enough.

·
* Copper is an important thyroid indicator. The key here is that one cannot use the hair copper level as the only copper indicator because copper often does not accumulate in the hair, but rather in the brain, liver and other organs. One must also not supplement copper simply on the basis of the hair copper level. The details of copper metabolism are in other articles on this website, such as Copper Toxicity Syndrome. Here I will just say that copper imbalance appears to be very important in most thyroid conditions.

· Other Toxic Metals and Imbalances. Energy production requires many nutrients, and can be blocked by toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Hair analysis may provide indicators of an impaired energy such as mercury or cadmium toxicity or perhaps zinc, magnesium or selenium deficiency that causes thyroid hormone to be ineffective in stimulating energy production.

· Autonomic Balance. Most slow oxidizers have depleted their sympathetic nervous systems and are in a pathological parasympathetic state. This can affect thyroid hormone release in complex ways, and may be responsible for some cases of Grave’s disease or other thyroid disorders.

THE BEST AND WORST FOODS FOR YOUR THYROID GLAND

The best. Among the best foods for the thyroid gland are any that contain iodine. This would include all fish, all sea vegetables and perhaps a few land- based foods that have a little iodine. However, land-based foods vary too much depending upon the soil on which the food was grown.

For this reason, the best source is usually sea products. However, most are loaded with mercury, so we don’t recommend them. The exceptions are sardines, and maybe occasional meals of other smaller fish such as salmon, but no larger. Other sea vegetables also have some mercury, but some dulse, nori, hijiki, wakame and other sea vegetabes are okay in small amounts.

Our favorite, by far, is kelp sold in capsules by Nature’s Way or Solaray, among the best brands. Some of the others are not as good for some reason. They seem to be higher in toxic metals. Kelp has a lot of alginates in it that help reduce the absorption of any toxic metals in the kelp. Kelp has other advantages such as a very good balance of trace minerals.

The worst foods for the thyroid.

Sugars, including even fruit sugars, fruit juices and many others. The reason is that sugars often cause a sympathetic nervous system reaction in the body. This is not helpful for the thyroid and adrenal glands at all.

Most soy products. Especially avoid all unfermented soy such as soy protein powders, Hamburger Helper, and many others. Tofu and tempeh are not quite as bad, but not highly recommended foods, either. They are lower quality protein foods that are fine once in a while, but not as staples.

Drinking any tap water at all. Drinking tap water, even carbon filtered tap water, will also increase your intake of toxic fluorides and perhaps some chlorine compounds as well. the only exception is drinking reverse osmosis water. However, this type of water does not seem to hydrate the body well, so we do not recommend it for most people.

Foods made with tap water. Another set of foods that are harmful are all prepared foods processed with tap water. This includes thousands of prepared items such as breads, all beverages in bottles and cans, and many, many others. The reason is they contain chlorides and usually fluorides in America that are direct thyroid (iodine) antagonists. This is a very important category of anti-thyroid foods.

Breads. Avoid most breads because they usually contain bromides. Pepperidge Farm claims not to use bromine in their flour. Most breads also contain bleaches that may contain chlorides and they contain water that contains chlorides and often fluorides. Breads have many other problems as well, such as added iron, often.

All refined and processed foods. These are low in many vital nutrients needed by the thyroid gland.

Raw cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and broccoli. These have a mild thyroid inhibitor in them. However, cooking these foods destroys this chemical and then they are superb foods for all parts of the body. I recommend cooking most vegetables, anyway, for many reasons that are explained in an article entitled Raw Foods.

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