My five-year-old was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. But the problem has resolved itself, thanks to good medical care.
In the course of this adventure, we traveled down a series of blind alleys. But we also hit upon certain things that helped.
We saw some excellent holistic healers. With the help of God, we got to the root of the problem. I believe He led us to the right people who could help us.
My precious firstborn also had many signs of hypothyroidism. These included being easily fatigued and having cool hands. She had little resistance to infections. A cold lasted two weeks. It often developed into a secondary bacterial infection. She had severe ankle pains.
These would flare up periodically. Whenever she was exposed to the least amount of heat, her hair became matted with sweat.
Unhealthy people often suffer from thyroid problems. At least that’s what I was told by some of the wonderful holistic practitioners we met. Typically, this affects the adrenal glands, and vice versa. One can drain the other. It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact source of trouble.
Please understand I’m not a healthcare professional. So I can’t give medical advice. Nor can I promise that any natural remedy will help a specific condition, or solve your health problems. Everything in this article is written for the purposes of discussion, as I share my experience with getting the right type of care for my daughter. Please do not neglect getting medical care or disregard your doctor’s advice because of anything you read here.
TRH Test for Thyroid
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It was next to impossible getting my five-year-old diagnosed with thyroid disease. Her pediatrician tested her TSH level. It came back at the extreme high end of normal. So he told us not to worry.
But we did worry. We traveled far to find a doctor who’d administer a TRH-stimulation test. This used to be the standard, until it was abandoned for the less-sensitive TSH test.
My daughter’s symptoms increased after this test. It must have taxed her already weak thyroid. But we did get the medication we needed, which contained a compounded form of T3. This warmed her body up, and many of her other health problems disappeared.
I hate drugs. I was horrified my daughter might have to stay on medication forever. But, at that point, we had little choice.
Eventually, we were able to eventually wean her off. (With the help of holistic practitioners, homeopathy and a fluoride-free diet.) I need to stress that I’m not trying to encourage anyone to take themselves off of thyroid medication. This can have devastating effects. All I’m doing is telling my story of what happened with my daughter. During the years preceding her recovery, we worked with some excellent holistic healers. This is not a do-it-yourself process.
Adrenal Exhaustion Syndrome
Meanwhile, I’d also been trying to figure out what was wrong with me. My primary care physician thought it was a thyroid problem. Then, he retired and moved away. Maybe this worked out well, though, because I might have ended up on medication.
Instead, I started seeing holistic healers. That’s when my adrenal exhaustion was diagnosed. However, if you have this condition, your thyroid also suffers. Since I was going the natural route, I didn’t need a test to tell me my thyroid wasn’t working well. The thyroid gland affects virtually every cell in the body. So having insufficient levels of thyroid hormones has devastating effects.
Years later, I let myself get very run down again. My stress level was also out of control. Adrenal exhaustion returned, along with all the classic symptoms of fibromyalgia.
It has been a very long road back. But I’m able to function normally again.
Herbal Thyroid Remedies
My own condition is kept under control with a good diet, pure water and various natural remedies. There are various herbal remedies designed to help improve thyroid function or support the adrenal glands. Virtually anything that’s good for us is also good for our thyroid. But a few medicinal plants are exceptional.
In particular, herbs that are considered adaptogens are believed to help support both our thyroid and our adrenal glands. Adaptogens are plants that help us weather both physical and emotional stress. I plan to take adaptogens in some form, for the rest of my life.
If your thyroid levels are deficient, it’s safe to say your body is stressed. Oftentimes, a contributing factor is emotional trauma. Adaptogens are believed to work on both levels, to bring your body back into balance. Please understand I’m not claiming herbal remedies will heal your thyroid. But they do have a long history of use.
The formula shown below is a proprietary herbal blend created by the late John Raymond Christopher, one of America’s foremost herbalists. It is designed to support healthy thyroid function.
Foods Good for Thyroid
Various herbs and foods are said to be good for your thyroid. They have natural compounds that help the body produce health-sustaining thyroid hormones. This is an easy, and delicious, way to better health. Some of the plants rich in the amino acid tyrosine, critical for good thyroid function, include:
- Chives
- Sesame seeds
- Mustard greens
- Pumpkin seeds
Also, pay attention to what you drink. Fluoridated water is known to have a profound effect upon thyroid function. I believe eliminating this was a major factor in my daughter’s recovery.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
This article is written for discussion purposes only, and is not to be taken as medical advice. People with health concerns should discuss them with a doctor. The author assumes no responsibility for treatment decisions or outcome. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use herbal remedies, unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.
For Additional Reading
Dr Christopher Adrenal Fatigue
Will this work for hyperthyroidism ( graves disease)
Tracy, I don’t know the answer. I wish I did. But I’m not a doctor and I can’t give medical advice. But if it were me dealing with an autoimmune disease I would work with my regular doctor and if I could afford it I’d also see a really good naturopath. Plus I’d find a good homeopath. I’d also research a lot and see about dietary interventions and find out what foods can fuel the autoimmune process. I hope this helps.