I am on a journey in treating Graves Disease with alternative medicine
Graves Disease - Alternative medicine - Thyroid UK
Graves Disease - Alternative medicine
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Angel20
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helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK
Angel20's profile explains quite a lot more. 
You may find this interesting.
Registration - Thyroid Reset Summit
Thank you ever so much I will check it out.
Hi Angle20, welcome to the forum.
Which antibodies do you have?
TSH receptor antibody 13.5 raised
OK, that's high. I'll be interested to see how you progress.
mmm yes high!.. although I feel very well. I am seeing another holistic medical doctor next week.. the interesting fact is I have been treating myself since the antibody test.. I need another blood test very soon to determine what is happening whether there is any improvement. I will post as I go along.
Have you checked out Anthony Williams Thyroid healing?
thank you Jellywobble, no I have not. I am seeing a holistic and medical doctor in London next week - it will be interesting to get his views in treating Graves
Hi Angel, I've read your profile n think you're taking great steps. I wish you luck with the natural route. I too had no symptoms n treated it naturally entirely the first time I got graves and for 18 months of my remission. I'd also recommend checking out Elaine Moore's website if you haven't already. She explores all the options - natural, traditional medicine, alternative medicines etc n has lots of excellent information.
Thank you Cat4health. I have explored all the sites including Elaine Moore's website, I have not left a stone unturned. My knowledge of Graves Disease is very good.. my own approach to go natural healing is my first choice, I owe it to myself to try and heal.
Today I had blood taken to test TSH Free T3 Free T4 and for TSH receptor antibody.. will get results hopefully by Friday.. I will then compare the last set of Thyroid tests with the new ones.. keeping my fingers crossed
I received blood test the TSH receptor antibodies were 13.5 slightly down to 13 there is a slight improvement. Tomorrow I will be seeing another Holistic and Medical doctor for his opinion .. I have ruled out Carbimazole anti-thyroid tablets suggested by the Endo 10mg per day going back now 3 weeks ago. The reason is that I believe it is the auto immune that needs to be fixed hence the thyroid issues the Carbimazole covers symptoms only and since I do not have symptoms I do not see the point in taking Carbimazole anti thyroid tablets. Your views are welcomed
I had a lengthy discussion with the Holistic and Medical doctor regarding Grave's disease - The holistic doctor has prescribed Iodum 30c powder for hyperthyroidism to be taken by mouth once a week only for 6 weeks and we have a scheduled appointment for me to see him second week of April 2019. Prior to my visit will have blood test results. Although I do not have severe symptoms such as palpitations for example, I found my hair is not that good, I started today taking Silica 200mg made from bamboo gum - 3 times a day this should help with hair growth.
Overall I feel very good regardless of the antibodies !
I had a hospital appointment in March 2019 but I had to put it on hold for another 6 months before I will consider taking Carbimazole and only if and when my condition gets to the stage where I must take them. I am not in any hurry too soon to do this, because I feel well. I go to the gym at least 4 times a week and lift weights. From December time my weight was 47kg and today I am 51.5 kg. I am eating healthy and exercise.
I will keep you posted
I wish you luck, we all have to do what we feel is right for ourselves.
Just to say that I was treated for Graves 14 years ago. I tried diet and Chinese medicine neither of which did anything to help. I was on carbimazole for 18-24 months (can’t remember exactly how long now). I didn’t have any side effects and I’ve been in remission ever since I stopped taking it. So for me, it was the right thing to do.
I also have antibodies showing hashis and for the last few years my TSH usually tests around 3 or 4 and T4 at 11-13. So whilst all is not well with my thyroid, I feel well enough.
Just to mention I also have pernicious anaemia, diagnosed 4 years ago, another auto immune disease. That’s under control and I’m feeling generally fit and well.
Its been 3 months since I have updated. I took Iodum 30 and did not work for my hyperthyroidism. I am now on Iodum 200c one tablet once a day for one month to see whether my TSH rises above 0.2 . Its my second week the tremor in my hands are settling down. Apart from this I feel well. I am due to see Medical/homeopathic doctor end of this month. Prior I will have blood test and I will know whether Iodum200c has done its job. Fingers crossed.
My gut feeling since I found out I have Grave's disease is not to take Carbimazole the toxic tablet that can induce so many other issues within our bodies. I was prescribed Iodum 200c to take one tablet a day.. been taking this just over 2 weeks and I stopped it myself, I felt my hands were more shaky. I am taking L-carnitine 500mg twice a day Vitamin D3 Magnesium. Selenium, Biotin on alternative days and also Silica for my hair. My hands are far more stable so I will continue. I am against Carbimazole because of the awful side effects and potential health issues this drug can cause. I am experimenting with herbs and vitamins, time will tell whether I am on the right track. I also feel the Medical/homeopathic doctor is going by the homeopathic protocols it is a trial and error basically and perhaps a Chinese medicine doctor could be the answer but first I will continue with my method.
It is interesting as I conducted my own research on alternative medicine for Grave's I literally exhausted the internet, although there is pointers of the type of herbs that may help there is non commitment to actually say how much one should take it is all very vague. Many have made lots of money by publishing the alternative medicine and yet in reality there are thousands of people that need this information but must pay for it. Well if I am successful with my methods, I will publish it so every one can benefit.
Wishing you all the best in your journey. I was on Tapazole for only 2 years because I was asymptomatic with Graves for 23 years - unfortunately I had a large toxic goiter that was crushing my vocal cords and windpipe, so I needed a TT 13 weeks ago. But I had absolutely no side effects on Tapazole- my liver enzymes and white blood cell count were always normal, so I was very lucky. And I did have severe symptoms, and the Tapazole allowed me to function. Not everyone has that experience, of course.
I hope this natural approach works for you! Sending positive thoughts!
Thank you. I am fortunate that I do not have severe symptoms, we shall see how well I will do and on the other hand I have nothing to loose by not trying. I wish you well.
I have been abroad to Greece for 4 months. I have Grave's Disease I am hyper. Whilst I was staying in Greece I discovered the sun, sea, good med food helped me tremendously. As you may know from my posts that I do not want to take the medical conventional medicines. When I first arrived in Greece I had hand tremor not severe but it was noticeable when I was carrying a cup of coffee. Over the next for 4 months my hand tremor stopped. I put on weight as I was eating well and swimming almost every day. I was very happy. The stress that can play havoc with Grave's Disease was not apparent. I want to make you aware that the higher the stress Grave's disease worsens. I experienced this myself my last week in Greece when I had bad news of my mother being in hospital and she was seriously ill. Literally overnight I had the tremor in my hands felt tired worn out in fact and yet I did not exert myself. The less stress we go through our daily life is a must for us who suffer from Grave's Disease. I was 55 kg in Greece I actually put on weight - after the bad news within one week I had dropped down to 46 kg in weight. It has demonstrated to me that personally I must not stress but to deal with matters in a different calmer way. The more calm one is Grave's disease can be managed to a level where there are hardly any bad symptoms.
My mum is making a good recovery. Now its time for me to get back to reality and start helping myself again. I do not take medicines I have gone the Chinese way with their herbs and twice a week I have a stress relieving massage. I go to the gym min 3 times per week. Right now after the stress levels are not completely back to normal but I am getting there.
It is true that Stress is a contributor to illnesses
My journey began with a Consultant a medical doctor I refused to take his tablets. I then moved on to a Holistic and Medical doctor his medicine did nothing for me so I stopped seeing him. My third choice is the Chinese medicine to balance my hormones and to gradually heal my body. The tablets is the Eight Form - Easeplus Form and Hairgrow Form. Part of this treatment is acupuncture and body message to relieve stress. I have noticed the difference and will continue. Since I have been away to Greece no blood tests were done and will do so. Diet is also important. I do not eat much meat very little once in a while. Lots of vegetables, salads and fruit. My symptoms remain the same. Fine tremor in my hands, the hair loss is minimal no bulging eyes I am lucky and a none visible goiter in the neck.
When I was first diagnosed in Greece I was told it was Thyroiditis there was no mention of Graves Disease there is a contradiction between the Greek diagnosis and the UK diagnosis. Whatever it is the hyperthyroidism is active in both cases. More when I get blood test done.
In summary my journey so far.
Initially I was seen by an endocrinologist wanted me to start on a daily basis with 10mg Carbimazole for one year. I decided it was a no for met until I had fully exhausted the natural medicine options.
Second attempt. I was seen by a Natural medicine and Medical doctor. I was prescribed the Indian natural medicines. This did not work so I stopped.
My own attempt. L-carnitine, Vitamin D3, Magnesium, Biotin, Vitamin A, E200, Selenium, the latest addition is n-acetyl cysteine. I spread the vitamins out few in the morning and few lunch time not all at once. I have seen an improvement and will continue to take these.
Also weekly acupuncture and massage for stress. The more stress in ones it worsens the autoimmune disease and inflammation.
Latest attempt. Today I was seen my a Chinese natural medicine practitioner. We talked about how I first found out I have Graves Disease and all the symptoms luckily for me the Graves Disease symptoms are not severe. The practitioner will make up the medicine for me in powder form for Graves Disease, the powder is custom to you as an individual. In addition there are the herbs that need to be boiled for one hour then take the juice from the herbs and drink twice a day something that I will try after the powder. My custom medicine will be available over the next few days I will let you know how I am doing.
In addition twice a week acupuncture.
Once I try the Chinese natural medicine for 2 weeks or so, the next step is blood tests to see how well the medicine is working.
Watch this space.
One month ago I tried the Chinese natural medicine. To be honest it has not worked.
From a reputable supplier I bought bugleweed and motherwort. I have these as tea, basically one teaspoon of bugleweed in cup add hot water let it stand for 10 min strain into another cup let it cool then consume. Same with Motherwort. I have seen an improvement and now have decided to take Bugleweed and Motherwort tincture. It is stronger than the herbs. Depending on the strength of the tincture as there is a variation for example 1:2 1:3 1:4 1:5
Personally I selected the 1:3 for bugleweed and 1:4 for Motherwort. I am waiting for the delivery sometime this week.
With bugleweed herb is just as good however the process takes longer however it works. I had palpitations and these have gone completely.
I am doing this myself as mentioned before I went to three different so called professionals that had no idea how to treat Graves Disease.
Will update at a later date.
I have been treated for Graves' disease with PTU tablets 10 years ago I took them for about 3 months until my TSH went from 0.002 to 9 because my Consultant overdosed me on them! I stopped the tablets cold turkey against his advice and my TSH slowly rose to 0.70 and I went into remission for 4 years. I then had a under-active phase for 3 years where I self treated with Thyroid S which made me slightly over-active so I stopped it and then went into remission again. I did have a thyroid storm in July of this year and was admitted to hospital with a high heart rate, sweating and shaking my TSH was 0.54 which clearly was not right for me. I have a multi nodular goitre and I think it dumped a load of thyroxine into my blood stream which caused my body to react like that. I have recently had a blood test and my TSH is 0.70 which could be slightly higher but I feel well except for not sleeping much like now.
Why won't you take the drugs to rest your thyroid? I would not try alternative medicine myself and have only tried going gluten free which did not work and some selenium tablets which did not lower my extremely high antibodies which are now 4000 and have been for several years. My CRP is 9 which means I have high inflammation in my body and have no idea how to lower it but my GP seems unconcerned about this because my cholesterol level is 3.5.
I have had Graves' disease for 12 years now and I have had to accept there is no cure I'm afraid.
Doctors in the UK have no idea how to treat this disease and have even suggested I have my thyroid removed which I refuse to do because they also don't know how to treat women with hypothyroidism. The way women are treated with thyroid disease in this country and all over the world is simply diabolical!
Exactly what you said there is no cure for Graves Disease and by exposing myself to toxic western medicine it is the last thing I would do. I am fortunate enough for now at least not to feel unwell to reach for carbimazole. When I was first diagnosed this year January 2019 with Graves Disease the Endo wanted to start me on 10mg of Carbimazole. I threw them in the bin because I owed it to myself to really try alternative ways to treat Graves Disease. Now I am taking bugleweed and the heart palpitations have settled down, also with Motherwort it acts just like propranolol which is a beta blocker. I have time on my side will continue until I reach a point of cure or not whatever the case maybe.
The doctors in the UK go by a standard protocol there is nothing else. There is no cure only remission unfortunately.
Thank you ever so much, I wish you well. x
What do you mean by toxic western medicine? Some medicines actually help ... my friends husband has melanoma of the mouth and has been treated with immunotherapy and is now in remission but his thyroid has stopped working so he is taking levothyroxine and doing very well. Sometimes we have to take "toxic western medicine" to save our lives.
I wish you well but I don't think you will ever be cured. Sorry but that is my honest opinion xxx
Many have taken anti thyroid tablets these tablets to me are toxic as can cause many side effects and may affect white cells
The alternative medicine does not give any side effects
There are many cases where anti thyroid tablets it’s the only solution for them however for me right now as I write to you I have a better choice to try with alternative medicine
I am gonna give it a go for a few months it is not going to be weeks but min 6 to 7 months in between taking the alternative medicine such as bugleweed and motherwort will have blood tests and hopefully my TSH will rise and T3 T4 will drop
As there is no cure for Graves’ disease I have nothing to loose I am confident in a few months time I will see a difference
Graves’ disease can only go into remission for months or years so therefore I can do this with herb medicine I owe it to myself to try this way first
X
Really interested in this Angel. What were your FT3 and FT4 levels when you were diagnosed? And how ill were you feeling ?
Just wondering, because my own thyroid levels were more than double the reference range, and I felt so awful I just wanted a quick fix (ok, not so quick that I was begging for RAI!) However, my thyroid levels still haven’t returned to normal, so perhaps it’s time to look at alternatives.
The main problem is, I absolutely don’t want to end up back at square one again.
Mine were double the reference range as well and my hair was falling out and my nails were lifting off their nail beds ... I felt really ill.
I took PTU for 3 months and it didn't harm me and I know others who have taken Carbimazole for years and are fine. Rarely it can affect your liver but then you would stop taking the drug immediately.
I admire your confidence because I have had this disease for 12 years and have not found anything that will help me yet.
12 years it is a very long time sorry to hear this
It will be interesting to hear from you what is your Endo doing for you I feel there must be something better than this
The question is are you still taking anti thyroid tablets and if yes you may want to discuss the bugleweed with your health caretaker
X
I don't have a Consultant Endocrinologist I walked out on him when he overdosed me on PTU so I had a TSH of 9. His solution was to offer me counseling or anti-depresents. I have said this before but why would a counselor want to listen to me talking about my hair dropping out, my nails lifting off their beds, my blurred vision, my dry skin, my night sweats, my inability to get out of bed in the morning?? Luckily when I went into remission all those symptoms disappeared. I have given up on the medical profession and have taken control of my own health with help and advice from this site and sites in the US.
I had no idea I had Graves Disease as I was symptom free except of a fine tremor in my hands to which I lived with this for 2 years not knowing what it was
When I was in Greece I went to the doctor there had blood drawn the results came back as Thyroiditis
The Endo here in the UK said I had Graves Disease
My hair it is not falling out in bunches just a few when I brush my hair
I am fortunate I do not have eye issues
My own GP asked for a scan on my thyroid there were contradictions the results showed Hashimoto Disease
But I was loosing weight lost some muscle and yet I went to the gym 4 times a week
My TSH in Greece was 0.05
In the UK 6 months ago TSH 0,01
I need to have blood tests done in the New Year to see where I am
It’s too early for blood tests as bugleweed and motherwort was started few days ago not enough time to make a big difference
Although previous I had non existent palpitations 4 weeks ago these were triggered by stress my thyroid went crazy
My dad has heart failure in its last stages it was a shock to my system and thyroid was tremendous
Stress for me it’s a no no it can trigger the thyroid to go crazy in turn makes me unwell
So I will come back with my new blood test results sometime January
Please ask me anything
Thank you x
I didn't have hair loss at first just wait until the disease progresses ....
Sorry if that alarmed you but I had the disease for 2 years or maybe longer because Doctors thought it was the menopause and gave me hormone patches which I did not use because my mum died of breast cancer. I became very ill before I was treated and kept going back to my GP time and time again and asking him what was wrong he said it was my age because I was 48, he then referred me to a Dermatologist who also didn't spot my TSH was suppressed at 0.002 . I hope your bugleweed works but I would not try it myself.
Time will tell for me whether the natural medicine will do anything for my Graves Disease. I am positive in my outlook. If everything fails then obviously would need to look at the Western medicine however it wont be any time too soon.
Right now I do not feel too bad for me to start taking Carbi need to give myself time for Bugleweed to start working. For the moment I am using Bugleweed as a tea it is not strong. The tinctures however are stronger will probably start with 5ml of bugleweed and take it from there.
There are options and different routes we can take to cure diseases. In the longer term Western medicine such as Carbimazole will do far more harm than good and does not cure Graves Disease.
The reason I am also reluctant using Carbimazole the Endos are too keen to overdose with a higher dosage that can make a person Hypo introducing other health problems.
Endo's should assess each person individually, look into the trigger the source of Graves Disease, unfortunately they do not do this because it is not their job to do so. Their job is to follow the Gold Standard for both Graves and Hashimoto's and dish out high dosage tablets to start off with.
Endocrinology currently does not offer any other mind blowing medicine, it is a standard to fit all !
Bugleweed just for information it is not toxic and can be tolerated well unlike Carbimazole. x
I probably had Graves Disease coming up to 3 years and had no idea apart from a fine hand tremor. My hair has been affected that's for sure, but not in an alarming way and the thing is even if someone is not loosing their hair starting Carbi will make hair fall out in bunches.
I am still using alternative ways to treat my Graves Disease although I have been to see the Endo at the hospital January 2020.
This is what's in the pipeline
Thyroid ultrasound scan waiting for an appointment
Results of blood tests
Follow up appointment with the Endo May 2020.
Anti thyroid tablets not prescribed
Currently this is what I am taking
L-carnitine and Acetyl L-carnitine
Vitamin A - twice a week
Magnesium
Vitamin D3
Hawthorn
Selenium
Biotin
CoEnzyme Q10
Zinc
I have now introduced
Omega3 Fish Oil - for eye irritation
Iron and Vitamin C tablets
Immune Support tablets
I do not take the above all in one go - I alternate the vitamins
I am feeling ok symptoms are not there, sometimes I may have a very fine tremor in my hands hardly noticeable
The Hawthorn helps with palpitations
Omega3 Fish oil for eyes
Selenium is for eyes too
As I do not eat hardly meat I need vitamin A
L-carnitine and Acetyl l-carnitine I take every single day at a low dosage max 1000 mg I alternate the two.
When I was first diagnosed with Graves Disease January 2019 I had bad tremor heart racing, loosing weight faster than I was eating food. My hair was thinning. My eyes are not affected feel slightly irritated especially when I wear make-up
My Graves Disease started 2017 I lived with the bad symptoms and gradually these have subsided. I was diagnosed January 2019 the Endo wanted me to start with 10mg Carbimazole without doing further investigations scans, etc.
I did not take the tablets to this day I have not taken Carbimazole I am not any worse for not taking them.
What is my intention.
Follow up hospital appointment after ultrasound scan to discuss further
The Endo is not pushing me to take tablets it is my choice as he stated ' your body got used to Graves Disease' what does it really mean I don't know.
Whilst I am feeling ok with myself I see no reason in taking Carbimazole although the Endo did agree I should start at the very lowest dosage.
Furthermore, I am seeing the Endo mid May and I fly out end of May. Lets just say I start taking carbimazole as we all know the symptoms may not show up immediately and I find myself abroad without NHS it is very expensive to see doctors and especially Hospitals.
My gut feeling is saying hold on and wait.
Your thoughts are appreciated
Thank you
Which country are you going to? Some countries do have a good health service as long as you have insurance. My friend's husband had a heart attack when they were in Florida and luckily she had insurance or it would have costs thousands.
Greece, its all private for us visitors
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