How to measure Basal Temperature for Thyroid problems Ver 1

[Burren]

Sorry this is so long, but it’s mostly important background and tips on what not to do, the actual technique is simple enough. This is version 1, I will update if there are comments or if errors are spotted.

The aim is to make Basal core body temperature reading accurately, that is to within a tenth of a degree. The normal Basal temperature range, measured under-arm, is 36.5 – 36.7°C. Below this range indicates hypothyroidism, above the range indicates hyperthyroidism. The normal range is quite narrow hence the need for accuracy.

Is it worth it ?

Broda Barns spend years making complex metabolism function measurements for his thyroid patients in a hospital setting, only to discover that a relatively simple under-arm, basal temperature reading gave similar results, and could be done at home.

Personally I found it useful, as the temperature graph indicated an adrenal problem. A test found my cortisol to be sky high.

What not to do

1.Don’t place a digital thermometer under your arm, press the button and wait for the beep. This will give a reading up to 2 degrees below the actual value. This accounts for a lot of stuff on the internet from people saying “My temp is 34.1, I’m so cold !! “. This technique is useless, a better approach is given below.

2.Never use a mercury thermometer, if you think you have health problems now, just break a mercury thermometer and say goodbye to mental wellbeing. There are safe liquid metal thermometers available. See Equipment.

3.Don’t take mouth reading, although this technique is often recommended it has a few issues. Firstly, the Broda Barns method is under-arm only. Secondly under the tongue is full of blood vessels so it’s blood temp you are reading, but we want core temp, they are not the same as the blood is used to heat and cool the core so their temperatures must differ. Finally, with Covid and other bugs, oral reading is an unnecessary risk.

4.Do not use an ear or forehead scanning thermometer, they are excellent for fevers, but not accurate enough for this application.

Equipment

I use a simple Geratherm mercury free, liquid metal thermometer, it’s made in Germany and available from Amazon. The version I use is the “Classic”.

Always use the same thermometer, no thermometer is 100% accurate, but if you use the same one every time you will be consistent.

I do not recommend a digital thermometer as I could not get consistent measurements with mine. However, if you do not have sufficient wrist strength to shake down a liquid metal thermometer or if you find the scale is too small to read, consider the Braun Thermometer Digital PRT 1000, the only simple thermometer I could find that the manufacture claims to be calibrated. Ignore the included instructions, check out the special digital technique below. However, it’s a bit of effort to measure temperature every day, so to get the most out of it try an accurate liquid metal thermometer first.

Wrapping

You must wrap your arm area with a duvet or fleece. Sweating is the problem; it is amazingly efficient at cooling the skin even in hot weather. The smallest movement of air over the arm will cool it and give an artificially low temperature reading. This is easy to avoid by wrapping the arm area with a duvet or fleece, don’t use anything cotton. Don’t worry about overheating, the rest of the body can be out in the cold if necessary.

Basal Temperature Technique

1.The moment you awake, put the liquid metal thermometer under your arm with the minimum of movement. The thermometer must be placed “vertically” and be fully enclosed by the arm with no part sticking out.

2.Assuming the duvet is pulled over your arm, you will already have a nice steady temp, so start the timer. If not wrap the arm (see Wrapping above) and wait 15 minutes before starting the timer.

3.Timer should be set for 10 minutes. When it expires check the reading. Try to record to half a marking e.g. 36.60 or 36.45

Variation for afternoon reading

I have not found afternoon reading as useful as the morning Basal temperature. But if it suits the technique is the same as the Basal but wrap the arm ( see Wrapping above) for at least 15 minutes prior to starting.

Variation for digital thermometer

If you must use a digital thermometer (see equipment above) the steps are slightly different.

1.The moment you awake, put the digital thermometer under your arm with the minimum of movement. Do not turn on the thermometer. The thermometer must be placed “vertically” and be fully enclosed by the arm with no part sticking out.

2.Assuming the duvet is pulled over your arm, you will have a nice steady temp, so start the timer. If not wrap the arm (see Wrapping above) and wait 15 minutes before starting the timer.

3.Timer should be set for 15 minutes. When time expires, slip your hand in and turn on the thermometer. Wait another 1 min or until it starts beeping, then check the reading.

Interpreting the Basal temperature results

The normal Basal temperature range., measured under-arm, is 36.5 – 36.7°C. Below this range indicates hypothyroidism, above the range indicates hyperthyroidism.

Further information can be obtained if the daily results are plotted on a graph. Graph paper can be used, but if you know how Microsoft Excel or the free Google Sheets, they are handy and give a nice graph that can be emailed to a doctor.

The size of the temperature “oscillation”, easily see on the graph, gives an important indication of adrenal function. For details see Dr. Rind’s site drrind.com/metabolic-temper...

If the thermometers scale is too small to see

Try taking a photo with you phone. You can zoom in later and it is possible to keep a record this way as the phone records the date. Here is a few tips.

Hold the thermometer above a plain white background such as a bed sheet, this will stop the camera focussing on the background.

Twist the thermometer back and forth until you can see the blue bar on the screen. Then touch the image of the thermometer on the screen, this will get the camera to focus, and take the shot.

[diogenes Remembering]

This is all very nice, but the range of "normality" is wider than quoted. Generally accepted as:

Adults. Among adults, the average body temperature ranges from 97°F (36.1°C) to 99°F (37.2°C).

Adults over age 65. In older adults, the average body temperature is lower than 98.6°F (37°C).

Keep in mind that normal body temperature varies from person to person. Your body temperature might be up to 1°F (0.6°C) higher or lower than the guidelines above

. Make sure that there is no fever, otherwise temperature measurements are meaningless for thyroid action diagnosis.

[Burren in reply to diogenes]

Ok, that's your view. But for the many doctors and patients who like and use the Broda Barns method, it is interesting to share experiences. See Broda Barns wiki page en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broda....

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Burren]

His name was Broda Otto Barnes - with an "e".

The range you suggest, 36.5 – 36.7 C, does not seem to allow for the drop before ovulation and the rise at, or just after, ovulation in the pre-menopausal. Nor the temperature effects during menopause.