Chinese Medicine

[greenmug]

Has anyone done this in conjunction with treatment for underachieve thyroid? I recently had several treatments and took herbs to see if it helped but it didn't seem to change things and possibly made things worse.

I had a fast resting pulse (nearing the 100's and over once or twice) and shortness of breath, but I don't know whether it was from raising my thyroid supplements or from the TCM.

I stopped taking the herbs, won't go back for acupuncture for the time being and also cut down on my thyroid supps.

My resting heart rate is back down in the 70's so I added another thyroid sup back in yesterday and today and will see what happens. I suspect that, as usual, I was trying too many things at once and the combination of stimulating herbs and nutrients were too much for my system.

[shaws Administrator]

I wonder if the herbs etc contained iodine as I think many believe additional iodine helps but if we are taking levothyroxine, we should avoid anything with iodine.

Before adding supplements, except for those you have a deficiency, i.e. B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate make sure your thyroid hormones are optimum, i.e. towards the top of the ranges particularly the pro-hormones B12 (1,000) and Vit D, nearer top and all others near the top of the ranges..

[greenmug in reply to shaws]

Thank you Shaw. Part of the problem with the herbs was that I had no idea what was in them! It makes sense that there was iodine though as the practitioner was trying to give me energy. I was diagnosed with a kidney deficiency fwiw and they said that it was better to look at the whole picture rather than just treating two two systems in isolation. It made sense to me so I went back a few times.

I was hopeful that being treated holistically might be a solution for my symptoms or at least be faster than by supplementing my thyroid and adrenals alone, but it seems to have complicated things and put me back instead of helping.

I was tested about five months ago for all of the levels that you have mentioned and they came back in range, but definitely not towards the top. I am still working on optimising my hormone levels and don't quite seem to be there yet.

How often should levels be tested?

[shaws Administrator in reply to greenmug]

You can post your last test results with the ranges you've had on a new post for fresh responses.

I haven't had a test for ages as I feel well with no symptoms so I'd get a yearly one.

If symptoms appear then I'd have a refresher blood test as sometimes we need a slight adjustment.

[greygoose]

Do you know why you are hypo? Do you have Hashi's? Did you get tested for iodine deficiency before starting on any of this?

Sorry for all the questions, but you don't give us much information, there. As you said, the trouble with herbs is that you don't know 'what's in there'! And, it's not just iodine that is the problem - and I find the idea of taking iodine for energy a little ludicrous, you lack energy because you are hypo, and taking iodine is not going to help unless you are iodine deficient. There are other herbs that are bad for thyroid.

The worst thing you can do to a sick gland, is try to stimulate it. It's not stimulation it lacks, the TSH does that. And stimulation can just make it burn out faster.

Acupuncture is a lovely, temporary relief treatment. But, it doesn't fix anything. And, there again, can be used to stimulate the thyroid, which is the wrong thing to do.

Thyroid support concoctions are a load of rubbish, too. They don't support, they stimulate - so your gland has been having an awful lot of stimulation, lately! So, not surprising if you feel bad. If I were you, I would give them all up, and get your vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested, and just take what you need in accordance with the results. Nutritional deficiencies are going to make you feel worse, and will affect your bodies ability to use thyroid hormone. The above four all need to be optimal, not just in range.

[Hidden]

With a goitre and much fatigue I took several types of Eastern medicine (can't remember what they were) and they did no good at all. Also had acupuncture and was told that it proved there was something serious wrong but nothing they could do about it. At least I tried and the "doctor" was quite honest; suggest you forget about acupuncture.

[greenmug]

That's interesting Panda321and I think that I am going to stop. I usually give a new therapy three tries and continue if its working, or stop if it's not.

This is falling into the category of not working. I liked the practitioner, and wanted it to be helpful, but it doesnt seem like a good match unfortunately. Sorry that they weren't able to help yo either.