Naturopathic Treatment

[Hyperthyroid]

Recent hyperthyroid diagnosis and want to explore naturopathic remedies to find root cause - any advice about how to find someone with experience of treating Graves and Hyperthyroidism?

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

If you ask Thyroid Uk Admin to send you the list it does include some Naturopaths and Nutritional Therapists 🤗

[RedApple Administrator]

You can fill in this form to get a list of various practitioners. There may be someone on it with an interest in this. thyroiduk.org/contact-us/ge...

Have you been prescribed any conventional medication by your doctor?

[Hyperthyroid in reply to RedApple]

Thank you - yes taking Carbimazole waiting to see Endo!

[arTistapple]

Are you thinking of going with only naturopathic support?No hormones? Having survived many Hashi flares over many years with no hormones (no diagnosis for me), I would not recommend a naturopathic route, especially for Graves. Far too uncomfortable. Bad enough with Hashi’s. Luckily it’s still a relatively free world and you can make your own educated choices. However do remember that ‘alternative practitioners’ as well as private endos etc do not do emergencies. You will have to rely on the NHS for that.

[Hyperthyroid in reply to arTistapple]

Thank you - will keep that in mind - on a fact finding journey!

[PurpleNails Administrator]

There are not many success stories of effective natural remedies for controlling high thyroid levels long term. It’s important to control high levels as high levels long term isn’t good for health.

Careful management with anti thyroid medication is the only safe way to stabilise your thyroid levels long term.

I have previously found a couple of sites which suggest some additional / complementary remedies which you could research further.

stlukes-stl.com/health-cont...

healthline.com/health/hyper...

I & most would not advise multivitamins which one site suggest as they will often contain least absorbable forms or nutrients, or nutrients which shouldn’t be taken unless deficient eg iron, calcium & iodine. Iodine can behave in unpredictable ways with thyroid. If deficient it’s helpful. Otherwise excess iodine can often worsen thyroid issues.

Don’t add too many remedies / supplements in one go. 1 type a fortnight in case you react to any ingredients.

A popular choice for hyperthyroid is Lemon balm (eg in a tea) this is reported to have healing and stress relieving properties. It said to help with digestive complaints and aid sleep (ie the symptoms not the source of the symptoms)

Acetly L cartinine can be helpful and enhances carbimazole treatment - as it reduces FT4:FT3 conversion. Previously I alternated between bottles of acetyl l-cartinine and l-Cartinine forms, but the effect wears off after months. They usually sold in 500mg capsules as maximum daily dose over the counter. Some have taken higher but that should really be under medical supervision.

There are some things you can do to help like ensuring key nutrients are good and many find this difficult with thyroid conditions despite good diet. Start by testing folate. Ferritin, B12 & vitamin D and supplementing to optimal levels.

Many find strictly gluten free help as gluten allergy / intolerance common with thyroid autoimmune.

Lastly, was your Graves confirmed? Doctors often assume Graves if TSH low & FT4 & FT3 high. Hyper can be transient. Testing thyroid antibodies is first stage to investigate cause.

TPO & TG antibodies indicated autoimmune (both hashis & Graves)

TSI & TRab positive levels confirms Graves.

Share any blood tests results you have for thyroid function.

What dose of carbimazole have you been prescribed?

[Hyperthyroid]

thanks - lots to think about there!

[pennyannie]

Hello Hyperthyroid and welcome to the forum :

I presume you have been diagnosed with Graves Disease which is an auto immune disease for which there is no cure and some thing has triggered you immune system to turn and attack your body rather than defend it,

There can be a genetic predisposition to Graves - but no two people have the same journey with Graves which is why it is poorly understood and badly treated in mainstream medical though stress and anxiety seem to be common triggers.

Graves is said to be life threatening if not medicated and an Anti Thyroid drug is prescribed and all this does is put you into a 'holding position ' much like a plane waiting to land while we wait for your immune system response to calm down and your thyroid hopefully reset itself withot the need for any medication.

The Carbimazole is an AT drug which semi-blocks your own new daily thyroid hormone production of T3 and T4 and slowly you should find your over range T3 and T4 fall back down into range and your symptoms relieved.

Can you share your original blood tests results at diagnosis of a TSH Free T3 and Free T4 readings and ranges and which antibody was found positive and over range and the medical proof of diagnosis.

The most recent research we have is suggesting the longer the patient stays on the AT drug the better the longer term outcome is for the patient :-

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/338...

You might like to read around on Elaine Moore's website elaine-moore.com as there is a section on more holistic and alternative treatment options

P.S. There is an alternative to Carbimazole if you find you can't tolerate it - please read the Patient Information Leaflet - I was advised to go straight to A & E if I developed a sore throat - I didn't and was very well on the Carbimazole - anyway the alternative is Propylthiouracil - PTU - for short.

If your eyes are involved - dry, gritty, painful, streamin please ensure all treatment options are Preservative Free - even those prescribed by the NHS.