10 Signs You Have A Thyroid Problem

It's estimated that as many as 25 million Americans have a thyroid problem, and half of them have no idea that they do.Hypothyroidism, or an under-active thyroid, accounts for 90% of all thyroid imbalances.

The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the center of your neck, is the master gland of metabolism. How well your thyroid is functioning is inter-related with every system in your body. If your thyroid is not running optimally, then neither are you.

Here are 10 signs that you could have an underactive thyroid:

1. Fatigue after sleeping 8 to 10 hours a night or needing to take a nap daily.

2. Weight gain or the inability to lose weight.

3. Mood issues such as mood swings, anxiety or depression. 

4. Hormone imbalances such as PMS, irregular periods, infertility and low sex drive.

5. Muscle pain, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, or tendonitis.

6. Cold hands and feet, feeling cold when others are not, or having a body temperature consistently below 98.5.

7. Dry or cracking skin, brittle nails and excessive hair loss.

8. Constipation.

9. Mind issues such as brain fog, poor concentration or poor memory.

10. Neck swelling, snoring or hoarse voice.

How does you thyroid gland work?

Thyroid hormone production is regulated by a feedback loop between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and the thyroid gland. Hypothalamic thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates pituitary thyrotropin (TSH) synthesis and secretion. 

In turn, TSH stimulates production and release of T4 and T3 from the thyroid gland. When enough T4 is produced, it signals to TRH and TSH that there is enough thyroid hormone in circulation and not to produce more.  

About 85% of the hormone produced by our thyroid gland is T4, which is an inactive form of the hormone. After T4 is made, a small amount of it is converted into T3, which is the active form of thyroid hormone.

The role of Reverse T3 is not well known, however, I do see it elevated in persons under extreme stress...

To complicate matters, T3 also gets converted into either Free T3 (FT3) or Reverse T3 (RT3). It's the Free T3 that really matters in all of this, since it's the only hormone that can attach to a receptor and cause your metabolism to rise, keep you warm, keep your bowels moving, mind working, and other hormones in check. The role of Reverse T3 is not well known, however, I do see it elevated in persons under extreme stress and those who have mercury toxicity.

And finally, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease, is the most common form of hypothyroidism and its numbers are rising annually. An autoimmune disease is one in which your body turns on itself and begins to attack a certain organ or tissue believing its foreign. 

I routinely screen all of my patients for autoimmune thyroid disease by ordering Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb). 

Why is hypothyroidism so under diagnosed in the USA?

Many symptoms of thyroid imbalance are vague and most doctors spend only a few minutes talking with patients to sort out the cause of their complaint. 

Most conventional doctors use only one or two tests

Most conventional doctors use only one or two tests (TSH and T4) to screen for problems. They are not checking FT3, RT3 or thyroid antibodies.

Most conventional doctors use the ‘normal’ lab reference range as their guide only. Rather than listening to their patients symptoms, they use ‘optimal’ lab values and temperature as their guide.

Which lab tests are best to determine if you have a thyroid problem?

I check the below panel on each of my patients. Make sure your doctor does the same for you.

• TSH
• Free T4
• Free T3
• Reverse T3
• Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb)
• Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb)

What are the ‘optimal’ lab values for thyroid tests?

In my practice, I have found that the below are the ranges in which my patients (and myself) thrive.  I listen to my patients as well and take how they are feeling into account.

• TSH 1-2 UIU/ML or lower (Armour or compounded T3 can artificially suppress TSH)
• FT4  >1.1 NG/DL
• FT3 > 3.2 PG/ML
• RT3 less than a 10:1 ratio RT3:FT3
• TPO –
• TgAb - < 4 IU/ML or negative

What are 10 things you can do to improve your thyroid function?

1. Make sure you are taking a high quality multivitamin with Iodine, Zinc, Selenium, Iron, Vitamin D and B vitamins.

2. Take a tyrosine and iodine supplement to help with the FT4 to FT3 conversion.

3. Go gluten-free! If you have Hashimoto’s, try going completely grain and legume free.

4. Deal with your stress and support your adrenal glands. The adrenal glands and thyroid work hand and hand. I recommend restorative yoga and adaptogenic herbs, which support the adrenal glands in coping with stress.

5. Get 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night.

6. Have a biological dentist safely remove any amalgam fillings you may have.

7. Watch your intake of cruciferous vegetables. There is a bit of a debate surrounding this.

8. Get fluoride, bromide and chlorine out of your diet and environment.

9. Heal your gut. A properly functioning digestive system (gut) is critical to good health. To learn more, click here. 

10. Find a functional medicine doctor in your area and have them run the above laboratory test and work with you to find our root cause of the thyroid imbalance.

Source: EatLocalGrown

Read more about -- Herbs that can heal your thyroid here:
http://www.naturalcuresnotmedicine.com/2013/12/herbs-for-thyroid.html

Herbs for the Thyroid

Unless you suffer from a thyroid condition, it is easy to ignore the function of the thyroid gland. Although small, this endocrine gland – situated just below your neck – plays a big role in regulating metabolic processes in your body. With a dysfunctional thyroid, the functioning of almost all your organs is likewise disrupted. Thyroid disorders generally fall under 3 categories: an overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism, an under-active thyroid or hypothyroidism and an enlarged thyroid characterized by the presence of nodules.

Herbs For Thyroid

Unfortunately, thyroid conditions are usually misdiagnosed as most of their symptoms (such as weight gain or loss, chronic fatigue, depression, skin and hair dryness, constipation or diarrhea and menstrual irregularities) can be quite similar to those of other disorders. To make things even more confusing – the 3 types of thyroid disorders can even have overlapping characteristics.

Therefore before embarking on any treatment, whether herbal or medicinal, it is important to have a medical professional diagnose your symptoms and identify the disorder first. Likewise, it is important to use remedies with an understanding of the mechanisms involved in promoting thyroid health. For instance, while some herbs improve overall thyroid conditions, some herbs can only benefit hyperthyroidism but conversely may be detrimental to its extreme counterpart, hypothyroidism and vice-versa.

Either way though, most herbs for thyroid are not like pharmaceutical medications that attempt to replace thyroid hormones, decrease hormone production or the size of the thyroid gland. Instead, they are regarded as being able to provide the appropriate thyroid support – acting preventative and facilitating the healing process. Although some clinical studies do not find evidence of traditional herbal medicine being able to totally treat thyroid conditions, herbs are however thought by some to contribute to lower relapse rates, less adverse effects, relief of symptoms and improvement of thyroid antibody conditions and thyroid functioning. Here are 10 herbs thought beneficial for the thyroid:

10 Herbal Remedies for Thyroid Health

Echinacea

A popular herb used to boost the immune system, echinacea is considered helpful for those suffering from hyperthyroidism or thyroiditis. One expert who has over 20 years of experience with autoimmune conditions gives the roots of echinacea to his patients and has rarely encountered any major adverse issues.

Licorice

This herb is important in maintaining a balance among glands so that thyroid patients who often suffer from fatigue have improved energy. Moreover in 2011, the Institute of Biosciences and Technology in Texas isolated synthetically derived constituents of triterpenoid glycyrrhetinic acid, a major component of licorice and found it to inhibit the growth of highly invasive thyroid cancer cells. This demonstrates licorice’s potential in clinical treatment of thyroid cancer and other endocrine-related disorders.

Bugle

In a 2013 study involving 403 patients with mild hyperthyroidism which assessed the effects and safety of an extract of bugle in tablet or drops form, scientists observed statistically and clinically significant improvements in the symptoms of those given the tablet. These improvements were noted without any major side effects. Because of bugleweed’s effectiveness in alleviating mild hyperthyroidism, some experts believe it can gradually replace regular taking of maintenance medications like methimazole or PTU.

Ashwaganda

This is an herb with antioxidant properties that directly works on the thyroid by producing just the right amount of hormones. Aside from hormonal balance, ashwaganda is known to help the body fight stress by improving the immune system and has been found to have anti-inflammatory effects.

Bacopa

Researchers confirm the potency of bacopa as a thyroid stimulating drug to fight hypothyroidism. It has been found to regulate thyroid hormone concentrations by as much as 41% without adverse reactions.

Eleuthero

Popular as Siberian ginseng, eleuthero is considered a wonder herb for people suffering from hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Siberian ginseng is believed to be effective in treating hypothyroidism by regulating the levels of hormones in the body. Furthermore, this potent herb contains substances that assist in the normal functioning of the thymus and adrenal glands.

Bladderwrack

Aside from hypothyroidism, bladderwrack is considered as an essential herb for many health conditions. This algae or seaweed contains high levels of natural iodine which is known to stimulate the thyroid gland. Bladderwrack contains substances that help in restoring the normal functioning of the thyroid gland as well as in reducing the size of thyroid goiters. It is thought to play a role in stimulating an increased production of thyroid hormones in order to prevent the development of thyroid diseases.

Flaxseed

Flaxseeds are known to be rich in essential fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acids, which is thought to be good for thyroid health. In a study conducted at the University of Maryland Medical Center, it was found out that consumption of foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, like flaxseed, helps in boosting the production of thyroid hormones. This results to reduced susceptibility to hypothyroidism.

Black Walnut

Aside from seafoods, black walnut is considered as one of the richest sources of iodine. Research shows, iodine is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in optimizing the health and functioning of the thyroid glands. Furthermore, it was found out that insufficient amount of iodine usually lead to a number of conditions which include chronic fatigue, depression, mental impairment, and goiters.

Lemon Balm

Coming from the mint family, lemon balm is an amazing herb that is considered beneficial to the thyroid glands. Research shows that this herb is useful in normalizing the activities of overactive thyroid glands. It reduces the production of thyroid hormones and eases the symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism.

Source: UndergroundHealth

A Must See! Who Knew Nature Could Do This?

A spectacular video from Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota demonstrates the incredible capabilities of nature.  

Manitoba, Canada

The footage is of snow getting pushed ashore in the spring.  This is called an ice shove or shoreline ice pile up.  It is a surge of ice from an ocean or large lake onto the shore. They are caused by ocean currents, strong winds, or temperature changes.  Ice shove’s usually are not this drastic.

Source: RealFarmacy, Youtube

Honey Spice Throat Drops Recipe – with Healing Essential Oils

Gracious Rain website shares a Honey Spice Throat Drops recipe – a delicious way to soothe a dry, scratchy throat.

This recipe has an old-fashioned taste and is really simple to make.

Honey Spice Cough Drops

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup butter

3-5 drops doTERRA *OnGuard Essential Oil

Put all the ingredients except OnGuard Essential Oil in a heavy pan and cook slowly over medium heat until it reaches the “hard crack stage.” Resist the urge to turn the heat up higher to speed up the process. It will burn unless you keep it on medium and check it often. Once you can drizzle a spoonful of the syrup into a cup of cold water and have it turn to brittle threads–take it off the heat immediately. Wait about 30 seconds to a minute and then add the OnGuard Essential Oil. Stir.

Pour into a buttered cookie sheet.  Fold edges of the candy into the middle until cool enough to handle.

Working quickly, pull and roll into long strips…

and cut into nickle size pieces.

Allow to cool completely and harden. If your drops have been cooked long enough, you’ll be able to store them in a ziploc bag.

If they are a bit soft and still sticky, wrap them in waxed paper squares and store in a ziploc bag.

Just wait until you tell your friends what you just did.

You’ll likely be worshiped as a Goddess of Health and Healing.

If you play your cards right, it’ll be true.

Honey Spice Cough Drops

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup honey
• ¼ cup butter
• 3-5 drops doTERRA *OnGuard Essential Oil

Instructions

1. Put all the ingredients except OnGuard Essential Oil in a heavy pan and cook slowly over medium heat until it reaches the “hard crack stage.”
2. Resist the urge to turn the heat up higher to speed up the process. It will burn unless you keep it on medium and check it often.
3. Once you can drizzle a spoonful of the syrup into a cup of cold water and have it turn to brittle threads–take it off the heat immediately.
4. Wait about 30 seconds to a minute and then add the OnGuard Essential Oil.
5. Stir.
6. Pour into a buttered cookie sheet.
7. Fold edges of the candy into the middle until cool enough to handle.
8. Working quickly, pull and roll into long strips…and cut into nickle size pieces.
9. Allow to cool completely and harden.
10. If your drops have been cooked long enough, you’ll be able to store them in a ziploc bag unwrapped.
11. If they are a bit soft and still sticky, wrap them in waxed paper squares and store in a ziploc bag.

Source: GraciousRain

Epilepsy Seizures Cured after Ingesting Cannabis Oil With High Counts of CBD

Epilepsy Seizures Cured after Ingesting Cannabis Oil With High Counts of CBD

Dravet syndrome is a severe myoclonic epilepsy whose onset occurs in infancy. Those with Dravet may have upwards of 100 seizures per day. The most intense episodes can last for 15 minutes to up to an hour. There is no known cure

. The best available treatment is to minimize seizures, which are precipitated by environmental stress.

The longer a person has an epileptic attack, the higher the likelihood that prolonged damage could occur. Dravet seizures are so intense and long that brain development is delayed. In severe cases, a seizure may cause cardiac arrest. Each day can vary drastically for those with Dravet. There are a variety of pharmaceutical anticonvulsants available, but none of them eliminate seizures and all have side effects.

Recently, a group of families affected by Dravet have turned to CBD-rich cannabis as a treatment for their children. These families have formed a Facebook group with close to 200 members that allows members to provide support, compare notes, and to share experiences. Some had initial reservations about using cannabis on their children, but were eager to try alternatives to conventional pharmaceuticals.  The prospect of less- psychoactive cannabis piqued their interest, especially in light of the anticonvulsant and anti-inflammatory properties of CBD.

Suzie Engelhardt, mother of Regan (age 7), said that pharmaceutical medications left her daughter “like a zombie” and did not properly control seizures. Jason David, whose son Jayden is 5 and was featured on “Weed Wars”, reported that his son was having 100-300 myoclonic seizures per day despite taking 12 different pharmaceutical drugs. Rebecca Hamilton Brown’s son Cooper is 14 and has been using cannabis since last year. Brown describes her son as “highly functional” as a result, and explains, “parents of children with Dravet often get to a point of feeling scared and desperate… they tend to be open to alternatives.”

All of the families have reported improvement in their children’s health after using CBD cannabis. Cooper Brown is virtually seizure free since he has been using 3:1 CBD/THC oil capsules. His mother reports that his overall mood is much improved and his appetite has increased. Rebecca says that even though Cooper is not completely seizure free, the CBD cannabis regimen has “improved the frequency and severity of [his] seizures”.

After experimenting with different strains and CBD ratios, Regan Engelhardt’s daily seizure frequency fell from 50 seizures per night down to five. Before cannabis, her seizures dramatically altered her ability to walk, sleep, eat, or drink (she had been hospitalized for dehydration as a result). According to her mother, the pharmaceutical medications delayed her ability to walk until the age of 2 and left her “catatonic.” Currently, Regan’s cannabis medicine has allowed her to be weaned off one pharmaceutical medication, has increased focus, and is able to sleep through the night. “You see so much more light back in her eyes” her mother Suzie says. “Just a couple of weeks ago I wondered if she would ever come back.”

Jayden David has made vast improvements as well. His father reports that his walking is better (Jayden was previously non-ambulatory). He can now swim, an activity he adores, without having a seizure. Jason says that Jayden’s eye contact is “100 times better” and his “comprehension has greatly increased”.

All of the families interviewed have been using CBD strains with varying ratios and forms. Each has had to use trial and error to find what is most beneficial for their child. Jason David says that he “has to play doctor” for his son by experimenting with countless CBD/THC ratios for Jayden, finally settling on a CBD glycerin tincture. It has been a constant struggle to pin down the right strain and keep a steady supply for his son, despite living in California.

Maintaining a reliable supply is invaluable to families. “You see results” says Suzie Engelhardt, “and you want to keep it that way.” All the families have faced similar challenges and have to cope with the ebb and flow of plant material for their child’s treatment.

All of the families interviewed live in medical cannabis states (California, Michigan, and Washington) with functioning analytical labs. The parents interviewed report that dispensaries’ supply of CBD medicine is problematic, if they carry CBD medicine at all. Suzie Engelhardt called over 100 dispensaries seeking plant material with above a 3:1 CBD/THC ratio, even having to resort to looking for CBD medicine on Craigslist!

None of the families have noted any criticism of their decision to use cannabis for their children. Rather, the public has been supportive and understand Dravet families simply want to do anything that will help affected children. As Brown puts it, “my kid is [virtually] seizure free, how can you argue with that?” Luckily these families have mutual support and the encouragement of the medical cannabis community. The next step is to ensure reliable access to CBD medicine.

Source:
http://www.thehealthcure.org/2013/05/epilepsy-seizures-cured-after-ingesting-cannabis-oil-with-high-counts-of-cbd/

How to Start a Fire With Water

If you’re ever lost in a survival situation here’s a little trick you’re going to be so glad you know.

All you need is 2 things:

• a water bottle full of water 
• and some material that ignites easily, such as dry paper, leaves, pine needles, or grass. 

This is how you do it:

Guess How Many Side Effects the Average Pharmaceutical Drug has

Jonathan Cho | Natural News

Image: naturalnews.com

It’s become a running joke that every pharmaceutical drug commercial ends with a quickly spoken laundry list of side effects that are often worse than the condition itself that the drug is supposed to treat.  That laundry list, however, is actually much longer than what’s stated on commercials.

A study found that the average drug is labeled with 70 negative side effects on average.  More disconcerting, the most commonly prescribed drugs averaged 100 negative side effects each, with antiviral drugs, antidepressants, restless leg syndrome drugs and Parkinson’s disease medications topping out the pharmaceuticals with the largest number of side effects.

Many of these listed side effects are very unlikely to occur.  However, because many drugs often go to market without adequate independent testing, pharmaceutical companies have a vested interest in ensuring that they have a form of legal protection against lawsuits filed by people who suffered as of yet unknown drug-related harms.

Due to the plethora of natural, side-effect free alternatives, which often work more effectively than the drugs themselves, it can be prudent to compare all the available options before turning to prescription medication. Independent, scientific studies have been conducted on the vast majority of natural supplements on various aspects of health, and the results are widely available with a simple internet search.

 Sources:
http://blogs.naturalnews.com/drugs-average-70-negative-side-effects-each/

http://www.livescience.com/14293-drug-label-side-effects.html

http://naturalsociety.com/drug-labels-contain-70-negative-side-effects-on-average/

Wisconsin family discovers 50-Year-Old, fully-stocked, fallout shelter in back yard

For more than a decade after they moved into their house in Neenah, Wisconsin, the Zwick family knew they had a Cold War bunker in their backyard. 

It was not until 2010 that anyone thought to open the heavy steel hatch, climb down the ladder and explore the 8-foot-by-10-foot chamber that the home's previous owner had built to protect his family from a nuclear attack. 

Floating in five feet of water that had seemed into the bunker were sealed U.S. Army boxed packed with all of the supplies a family would need to survive two weeks underground.

Hidden treasure: Metal bulkhead doors protect the entryway into the underground fallout shelter in the Zwick family's backyard in Neenah, Wisconsin

Preserved: The previous owner of the shelter packed away candies, raisins, Hershey's syrup and other sweets - likely as treats to get through the long weeks underground

Locked up: The family clear away the bushes the had grown over the cover of the shelter and unlocked the chain that secured the doors closed

'We assumed it was just this empty space,' homeowner Carol Hollar-Zwick told the Appleton Post-Crescent. 

The boxes, old military ammunition crates, contained markings that suggested there might be explosives inside, so the family called the local branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. 

Agents opened the crates to find... Hawaiian Punch.

'It was all of what you would expect to find in a 1960s fallout shelter. It was food, clothing, medical supplies, tools, flashlights, batteries - items that you would want to have in a shelter if you planned to live there for two weeks.'

Everything remained remarkably well-preserved, thanks to the airtight containers the supplies were kept in. 

The family donated all of the items to the Neenah Historical Society, which has curated an exhibit about the Cold War and the fear of the Soviets using 'the bomb.'

Down, down, town: The muddy ladder leading to the bunker reveals that the underground shelter has endured years of flooding

The rusted military supply boxes preserved the contents remarkably well

Even these paper towels were freshly sealed after 50 years

'It’s interesting that you can open up something and find 1960 inside of it,' Mrs Hollar-Zwick told the Post-Crescent. 

The home's previous owner was Frank Pansch, a local surgeon, built the shelter in 1960 - two years before the Cuban Missile Crisis had Americans across the country digging their own 'fallout shelters' in their backyards. 

The idea of a fallout shelter was not to protect from a nuclear blast, but rather from the radiation that would likely contaminate the surrounding area. 

It's unknown what fallout  the late Dr Pansch was expecting in Neenah. The small Wisconsin city is 100 miles from Milwaukee and nearly 200 from Chicago - the population centers that might have been targeted by the Soviets.

Supplies: Candles, a garden hose and a funnel were dozens of items that were stashed in the bunker

It's unknown why the past owner decided he needed to store a phone directory in his fallout shelter

Source: DailyMail