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Welcome
to my email newsletter. I hope you will find it interesting
and beneficial |
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Thyroid gland disorders Do you suffer from poor energy and tiredness? Are you overweight and just cannot shift those pounds? Are you constipated? Do you have cold hands and feet? Do you suffer from hair loss or puffiness of the face,
especially around the eyes? Do you feel down or even depressed? If you answer yes to several of these questions then you may
suffer from a thyroid gland disorder. What does the thyroid gland do? The thyroid gland is situated at the front of your neck and it
is responsible for regulating your metabolic rate. This means that it
regulates the speed at which chemical reactions happen in your body. It does
so by producing thyroid hormones (thyroxin) which act as messengers to inform
all body cells to carry out their work at a certain speed. Effects of a slow thyroid gland The most common disorder is called hypothyroidism and this is
the condition in which the thyroid gland is underactive, ie not producing
enough hormones. This causes all body cells to work at a slower pace than
necessary to function healthily. For us, the most striking effect of this
slowdown is a constant lack of energy. We also take longer to digest and
assimilate our food. Consequently we actually need less food than we consume,
and so we begin putting on weight. Our gut moves slower, making us constipated,
and no energy is available to warm our hands and feet. Even our brain
chemistry slows down, causing a generally depressed mood. In children, an underactive thyroid gland can cause severe
developmental disorders of body and mind. In adults – depending on the
severity of the condition - it may seriously impair the quality of life
because its effect is so universal in our bodies. Our hormones The thyroid gland is intimately connected to all of our
endocrine system. This means that there is a two-way connection between the
hormones the thyroid gland produces and all other hormones which circulate in
our bloodstream. For example, there is a two way connection between our
reproductive hormones and the thyroid gland, each influencing and regulating
the other. In the same way our blood sugar balance is linked to the thyroid
gland Who is affected? As you can imagine, the female body is particularly vulnerable
to hormonal disturbances because of the intricate dance of hormones that
govern our cycles and our fertility. The thyroid gland plays an important
part in all this and so it comes as no surprise that it often begins
malfunctioning at times when our female hormones are struggling to regain
balance. This is why in women problems with the thyroid gland often start
after childbirth or at menopause. Hypothyroidism is less common in men, but it may still happen.
In those cases it may be due to a severe trauma such as witnessing physical
violence, bereavement or complete loss of financial security. In children thyroid problems are mostly congenital. Help your thyroid gland symptoms naturally Iodine Iodine is needed by the gland to manufacture thyroxin. Iodine
is present in all foods originating from the oceans and so a diet containing
fish, seafood and seaweed on a weekly basis may supply enough to keep your
thyroid gland's iodine at optimal levels. Fluoride One of the worst enemies of the thyroid gland seems to be fluoride. This
mineral acts as a competitor to iodine. It may be taken up by the
thyroid gland in place of iodine. The problem is that it cannot be used to
carry out the same function as iodine. Subsequently thyroxin production may be
reduced because the uptake of iodine is blocked by fluoride. One important action you may take to protect you and your
children from an underactive thyroid is therefore to avoid ALL fluoride from
unnatural sources such as toothpaste, other dental treatments and from
the water supply. Natural foods supply enough fluoride to ensure an adequate
supply for the strengthening of our tooth enamel and our bones. In many
countries the fluoridation of the water supply has been stopped because there
was no evidence that it improved the dental health of the population. Nutrition To help or prevent symptoms of an underactive thyroid you may need to optimise
your metabolic rate by exercising regularly, reducing chronic stress and
consuming a diet which may reduce sluggishness and accumulation of water, fat
and wastes in your system. It may help to reduce the consumption of dairy produce and grains
dramatically; (an occasional treat is fine of course). Please refer to my
newsletter/website on weight loss or seek specialist advice from a nutritionist.
However, dietary measures may work better in conjunction with a therapy like
homeopathy which addresses underlying factors causing the problem. Homeopathy Homeopathy for thyroid gland complaints may be used to
help an underactive thyroid gland directly. The therapy is aimed at
supporting the cells of the gland in a way that may stimulate them to
gradually produce enough thyroxin by itself. In this way it may be possible for
people to reduce their medication (in agreement with their doctor) and improve
their general sense of well-being. Weight loss and an increase of energy are other
possible effects of the therapy and may take place gradually overe the course of several months. Non-dietary factors involved in causing symptoms of an underactive thyroid
such as chronic stress as well as hormonal imbalances and emotional trauma
may also be helped with homeopathic therapy. Take action If you have an underactive thyroid gland, please do not feel
that it is something you have to live with. As long as your thyroid gland is
producing at least a small amount of thyroxin by itself, it may be possible to revive it. If you have a thyroid problem please contact me to discuss any
further questions you may have and to book an appointment. Wishing you a lovely summer…. |
