| Ever since Oprah's diagnosis of Hashimoto's it's been | | | | the thyroid cells go through various stages of |
| the buzz word with the low thyroid hormones | | | | inflammation throughout the day. |
| audience. | | | | Hashimoto's symptoms vary from one individual to the |
| Yet the majority of specialized endocrinologists are | | | | next, from hyper to hypo. Hashimoto's symptoms |
| unclear about the primary causes of Hashimoto's and | | | | cannot be used to diagnose Hashimoto's. Lab tests |
| the wide variety of Hashimoto's symptoms. Most | | | | are absolutely essential. |
| physicians also remain uninformed about effective | | | | If you have thyroid symptoms you MUST be working |
| Hashimoto's treatments which are clearly noted in our | | | | with a professional who uses lab testing and has the |
| medical research. | | | | most current knowledge including the most up to date |
| In this first article I'll explain the most plausible research | | | | research. |
| about the causes of Hashimoto's and the logics behind | | | | Now that you understand the underlying biochemistry |
| Hashimoto's treatments. | | | | that leads to Hashimoto's symptoms you can now |
| First, some essential biochemistry to help you | | | | grasp the goals of Hashimoto's treatment. |
| understand this autoimmune condition. | | | | Getting TSH to come down into the low range of |
| When thyroid hormones (primarily the one referred to | | | | normal is the foundation of Hashimoto's treatment. |
| as T4) decline in the blood stream your pituitary gland | | | | Lowered TSH will lower hydrogen peroxide production |
| produces a hormone called TSH (thyroid stimulating | | | | and inflammation. |
| hormone). TSH stimulates your thyroid to make more | | | | The second focus of Hashimoto's treatment is to |
| T4 and it does this by activating thyroid cells to make | | | | reduce the inflammation in thyroid cells. |
| hydrogen peroxide. | | | | Hashimoto's treatment is primarily through the use of |
| Hydrogen peroxide converts iodide into iodine which is | | | | trace minerals and vitamins, a specific dosing of a |
| an essential step in the making of T4 (the 4 stands for | | | | thyroid prescription, the avoidance of allergenic foods |
| atoms of iodine). | | | | including gluten, including antioxidants such as |
| As long as there is plenty of iodide your thyroid can | | | | glutathione and selenium, and to avoid iodine. |
| make plenty of T4. When this T4 enters your blood | | | | Of course the primary goal of Hashimoto's treatment |
| stream it will cause the production of TSH to slow | | | | is to reduce the thyroid antibody load far enough to |
| down. | | | | break the vicious cycle and to heal the thyroid. |
| BUT if there is not enough iodide the thyroid cannot | | | | Eventually complete recovery must involve the |
| make enough T4. This leads to low levels of thyroid | | | | introduction of iodine and potassium iodide. |
| hormones in the blood with more TSH being produced | | | | Iodine and potassium iodide are absolutely essential for |
| in an attempt to get the thyroid to make more T4. As | | | | optimal health including the prevention of breast |
| you can see, this is a vicious cycle. | | | | disease. Yet iodine must be avoided in the first stage |
| When TSH remains high the thyroid cells continue | | | | of Hashimoto's treatment since it stimulates the |
| making hydrogen peroxide which leads to inflammation, | | | | production of TSH. |
| scarring and some destruction of thyroid cells. | | | | More on this fascinating subject in future articles. |
| This leads to a variety of Hashimoto's symptoms as | | | | |