Herbal supplements

[Luci20]

Has anyone tried any natural supplements which have helped with the symptoms of hypothyroidism? I have really been struggling at the moment with fatigue, light headedness, numbness in hands and feet, painful body aches, swollen neck, acid reflux and eye floaters. I have tried ashwagandha and didn’t notice any benefits. I’m just really wanting some relief to my symptoms so that I can function more normally.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Luci20

No herbal supplement is going to replace thyroid hormone. You are on Levothyroxine but not enough if your TSH is currently 23.8 as mentioned here:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Your Hashi's complicates things as fluctuations in symptoms and test results are common with Hashi's.

You said:

I did have some vitamins retested. Vitamin D was 75-124. Folate was 12.2, ferritin 67 and B12 was 598.

When were these tests done and do you have reference ranges for Folate, Ferritin and B12. Also what is the unit of measurement for B12 - pg/ml or ng/L or pmol/L?

As for Hashi's:

Most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and know little or nothing about Hashi's and how it affects the patient, test results and symptoms. You need to read, learn, understand and help yourself where Hashi's is concerned.

Some members have found that adopting a strict gluten free diet can help, although there is no guarantee.

Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks.

You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily is said to help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

[Mostew in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hello , S S

Just want to point out Luci 20 didn’t ask for replacement of thyroid supplement.

Good you said her TSH is too high though

I am sure that taking a holistic approach is going to be of benefit

Xx

[Luci20 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi, thanks for your reply. I am still taking levothyroxine. I just want something to try to help manage my symptoms. I have had a dose change since my last blood results so hopefully this will help too. Folate reference range was [5.4-24 ng/L], Ferritin range was [10-322 ng/ml] and B12 range was [211/911 ng/l].

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Luci20]

Luci20

Vitamin D was 75-124.

Can you clarify that please? Was your level 75nmol/L when tested? That looks like a range you have put there.

ferritin 67 [10-322 ng/ml]

Ferritin is recommended to be half way through it's range, so that would be 166 with that range. However, I have read that 100-130 is a good level for females.

You can help raise your level by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, also liver pate, black pudding, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet

apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

Folate was 12.2[ 5.4-24 ng/L]

Folate should be at least half way through range which would be 14.7+

and B12 was 598 [211/911 ng/l]

ng/L is the same as pg/ml

According to an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:

"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".

"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."

I just want something to try to help manage my symptoms. I have had a dose change since my last blood results so hopefully this will help too.

The aim of a treated Hypo patient on Levo, generally, is for TSH to be 1 or below with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges.

So you need to optimise your thyroid levels and possibly improve your nutrient levels. A good B Complex will help with the B12 and Folate (consider Thorne Basic B or Igennus Super B). If you come back and clarify your Vit D result I can make a suggestion there too.

Ashwagandha can lower cortisol level so I'd be extremely careful about trying any herbal supplement, concentrate on getting the correct dose of Levo and optimising nutrients for now. And in particular stay away from iodine in any supplements.

[Luci20 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for the information. I have found out my Vitamin D Level now which was 93nmol/L

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Luci20]

Luci20

OK, so your Vit D level is close to the level recommended by the Vit D Council/Vit D Society - 100-150nmol/L.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As your last TSH was 23 you are obviously extremely under medicated

[Mostew]

So hard to self medicate . Have you spoken to a functional medicine practitioner?

Do hope you can start to feel better soon xx

[Luci20 in reply to Mostew]

Hi thanks for your reply. No I have not yet spoken to one. I just mainly need something to boost my energy levels and help with the muscle aches.