Thyroid Problems
Q: My thyroid is out of whack. I really need some help. My doctor says I'm within "normal" limit, and that my symptoms couldn't possibly be from hypothyroidism. Yeah, right. I'm gaining weight, I feel cold all the time when no one else does, I am totally exhausted by noon each day, and by 6 PM I can barely hold my eyes open. I'm sluggish and lethargic, have puffiness around my face and eyes, have aches and pains in my muscles and joints, back, and feet, my menstrual cycle is all over the place. I'm depressed, restless, have mood swings, don't care much about daily stuff like I forget to brush my teeth, I have messy house syndrome, I feel worthless, I can't concentrate (I forget what is being said in mid-sentence or I can't find the word I want, I'm irritable, forgetful, no sex drive, occasionally short of breath, my eyes are extremely sensitive to light, I have ringing in my ears and am dizzy most of the time. I am 43 years old and have been generally healthy. My TSH levels are just barely in the normal range of .4 to 6 (I'm at 4.2). I have asked for additional thyroid tests and will get the results next weeks. I'm pretty sure there must be some herbal remedies that could help me with this problem.
A. You certainly have many symptoms that could be related to thyroid dysfunction. I think it's a very good idea to continue getting tests to hopefully determine the problem. When thyroids "go", they usually don't stop working all at once. That's why you may be getting a normal TSH result. So you should keep getting it checked periodically, unless you find a physician who is willing to give you a trial dose of thyroid replacement medication to see what happens if the symptoms justify that. You did not mention if your thyroid gland was enlarged, and if it is, that is a good indication of hypothyroidism. Until you determine the cause of your symptoms, you should probably not take any herbal remedies that will affect the results of the lab tests.
However, there are some things you can do to help you to feel better. For your mood, you can take standardized St. John's Wort, available at supermarkets or places like Walmart, 2-3 times a day. In the morning, you could also take some Chinese or Korean ginseng (not American or Siberian) along with angelica (dong quai) for energy. Black cohosh is also good for menstrual problems, and because of your age, may give you estrogen support if you are beginning peri-menopause. Be sure to tell you physician that you are using herbs.
Make sure you get some exercise every day, even if you don't feel like it. Walking is one of the best over-all exercises for the symptoms you describe. Yoga, tai chi and qigong are good exercises also, and will help balance your hormones and body condition. You may want to find a Reiki and/or qigong practitioner for treatment to balance your body and improve your energy and body function. The exercise will help you sleep better, and if you give yourself a foot massage before you go to bed, that will also help you to sleep better and balance your body. Also exercise increases oxygen to the brain.
You may also want to seek some short term counseling to determine if there are some emotional reasons for your symptoms, or to support you while you are going through this frustrating and uncomfortable time. Cognitive therapy is very helpful for learning to cope with illness. If you are unable to go to a mental health practitioner, online counseling is an option. However, be sure to carefully check the credentials of an online counselor.
There is an herbal remedy that supports hypothyroid, but I encourage you to get a medical diagnosis first. Then you and your practitioner can discuss a recommended treatment program, as well as alternative medicine approaches. If you would like more information about this herbal product, please contact me again and we can discuss it further.
