Natural Treatment and Remedies For Thyroid Problem

Thyroid is a gland which is located below the thyroid cartilage in the front party of the neck. This gland is responsible to produce thyroid hormone which regulates the metabolism of our body. It also regulates the energy of the body, growth and maturation of the tissue of the body and also the use of vitamins and hormones by our body.
Thyroid gland is affected in two conditions. Either it produces too little hormone or it produces too much hormone. The condition in which the thyroid gland produces too little hormone, that condition is termed as hypothyroidism. The condition in which our gland produces too much hormone than this condition is termed as hyperthyroidism.
Causes of the problem of thyroid vary in hypothyroid and hyperthyroid.
Causes of hypothyroidism are loss of tissue, present from birth, anti thyroid antibodies, due to some medications and due to some defect caused in the production of thyroid hormone.
Causes of hyperthyroid are grave's disease, multinodular goiter which is toxic, due to induction of some drug, pituitary adenoma and also due to thyroiditis.
Symptoms of thyroid vary according to hypothyroid or hyperthyroid. The symptoms are different in infants, children and in adults. Some of its common symptoms are poor growth, fatigue, nervousness, excessive tiredness, poor tolerance to cold as well as hot temperatures, constipation, weight gain in hypothyroid and weight lose in hyperthyroid, depression, puffiness around the eyes, lack or irregular menstrual periods and also it leads to worsen intellectual ability. Some natural remedies are available which must be followed regularly to reduce the affect of thyroid.
1. Make use of coconut oil in the preparation of your daily food. You will observe the effective result.
2. Doing exercise or practicing yoga especially the position of sarvangasna is very helpful in the treatment of thyroid.

3. After consulting your primary physician make a routine to add guggul extract to your diet. It will really help you in reducing the affect of thyroid. But be sure to consult some physician because it may have negative effect on many persons.
4. Intake of dairy and wheat products must be avoided.
5. Make a habit to eat lots of raw fruits and vegetables. It will give some positive effect on your body and you will feel fresh.
6. A hot ginger tea is very effective for the treatment of thyroid. So if possible drink lots of ginger tea.
7. Salty foods have negative effect on the people suffering from thyroid. So it is best to avoid the salty foods.By Ryan Mutt 

14 Functions of the Thyroid Gland

The thyroid, rather than being a separate "part" of the endocrine system is a major player of the whole endocrine system which regulates metabolism, growth, development and puberty, tissue function and moods. It does this by secreting thyroid hormones that regulate the speed in which body's chemical functions proceed (metabolic rate).

Technically speaking, the thyroid gland regulates or in some way participates in the process of the following 14 body functions:

- regulates basal metabolic rate

- regulates body temperature

- regulates appetite

- promotes expulsion of glucose for energy

- stimulates protein synthesis

- increases lipolysis

- regulates cholesterol levels

- maintains standards for cardiac function

- promotes normal neuronal development in

the fetus and infants

- promotes normal neuronal function in

adults

- enhances effects of sympathetic nervous

system

- promotes body and skeletal growth

- promotes development of muscles and

muscle function

- regulates standards for female

reproduction and lactation

For as small as the thyroid is in physical size, it does quite a bit for our bodies. So just how does it do all this?

The thyroid gland is located in the front of your neck just below the Adams Apple. It is wrapped around the trachea (windpipe) and has a shape similar to that of a bow tie or butterfly. Its only purpose is to produce hormones which are introduced through the blood effecting metabolism throughout our entire body. The thyroid gland produces its two most important thyroid hormones, thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), from iodine which it gets from a diet of seafood and salt. Although the thyroid produces more T4 than T3 hormones (approximately 10:1 ratio) the T3 hormone is the more biologically potent of the two. Once introduced into the blood from the thyroid gland, a large portion of the T4 hormone is then converted into T3 hormone. The T3 hormone is the actual hormone affecting the body's metabolism.

The thyroid gland works in conjunction with two other glands, the hypothalamus gland (the area of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger and thirst) and the pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain, which acts as a regulator to the output of the thyroid glad. Hormones produced from each gland signals the next gland to produce its hormone. So the hypothalamus gland produces a hormone called TRH which sends a signal to the pituitary gland to produce a hormone called TSH which in turn signals the thyroid to produce T4 and T3 hormones. In addition to the signal from the TRH hormone from the hypothalamus gland, the pituitary gland senses the levels of T4 and T3 hormones in the blood and signals the thyroid gland by the amount of TSH hormone it releases to either increase or decrease the production of T4 and T3 hormones.

Because of the wide influence the thyroid has to the rest of the body, it is essential that the thyroid be kept in good health at all times. A dysfunctional thyroid can escalate, causing further dysfunction and damage to other organs of the body, and in some cases, if left unattended, a dysfunctional thyroid can become fatal with a heart attach

By Dennis Earle

5 Ways Stress Can Worsen Thyroid Problems

Emotional stress is what everyone thinks of when "stress" is mentioned but stress comes in many different forms. It can be caused from over-exercising, lack of sleep, a fight with a boyfriend, or consuming too many sweets. The adrenal glands don't differentiate between any of these stressors. Whether it's too much coffee consumption or a final exam, the adrenal glands react the same way - by calling on the adrenal glands to secrete hormones.
Our adrenal glands actually secrete almost 50 hormones but we are most interested in the hormones called adrenaline, DHEA, and cortisol. These hormones work to keep our body's reaction to stress in check by having an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effect. These adrenal hormones get to work when there is swelling and inflammation, threat of mental or physical danger, infection, and in response to the presence of an autoimmune condition. But the adrenal glands have their limits. They run out of steam and produce less and less of their hormones as they are called on repeatedly by the body to help deal with chronic problems such as thyroid conditions.
When the adrenals cannot keep up, the effects can be far-reaching. Some symptoms and signs of adrenal fatigue are:
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Anxiety
• Autoimmune disorders
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Cravings for salty or sweet foods
• Recurrent coughs, colds, flu
• Fatigue
• Confusion, poor memory
• Hypoglycemia
• Insomnia
• Low sex drive
• Blurry vision
• Headaches
• Reliance on coffee or energy drinks
• Feeling bloated
• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Dizziness (positional - going from sitting to standing or from lying to sitting )
• Weight gain

Thyroid function is intricately tied to our adrenal health. Part of any thyroid treatment plan should include adrenal gland support for the following 5 reasons:

1. Adrenal fatigue causes the thyroid receptors on cells to lose their sensitivity to thyroid hormones
2. Adrenal fatigue can decrease the conversion of thyroid hormones T4 to T3
3. Adrenal fatigue weakens the immune system barriers in the intestines, lungs and the blood/brain barrier
4. Adrenal fatigue inhibits absorption of thyroid hormone into cells
5. Adrenal fatigue disrupts the interchange between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland with the thyroid gland

What Can You Do to Help Adrenal Fatigue?
Here are some "Do's" that can help you avoid or aid adrenal fatigue. Start by managing your blood sugar levels better by:

• Eat a protein-rich breakfast within one hour of awakening.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and energy drinks.
• Keep low-glycemic snacks nearby. We recommend yogurt, nuts, raw vegetables, olives, pickles, and hard-boiled eggs. Eat something every 2-3 hours whether or not you feel hungry.
• Avoid sweets
• Eat a food allergen-free diet

Exercise and the Adrenal Glands
Our adrenal glands need the right type of exercise. It's crucial to lowering high cortisol levels. Sports that require repeated short bursts of energy as in weight lifting burn sugar and actually can stress the adrenals even more.
The type of exercise that burns fat is called aerobic exercise. Examples of aerobic exercise are walking, long slow runs, rowing, and non-competitive cycling. Burning fat with these exercises can decrease cortisol levels.
The adrenal glands' health is vitally important in any thyroid treatment plan. Assessment of the adrenals is part of a functional medicine thyroid evaluation.

By Dr. Frank P Lanzisera

Great Tips For Women With Thyroid Problems

Thyroid difficulties can be caused by a number of different things. This gland is very important for regulating your metabolism. As a result, hypothyroid women (under-active gland) may find it very hard to lose weight. Women with hyperthyroidism (overactive gland) may find it difficult to gain weight and may experience muscle spasms and excessive sweating. Here are some great tips for women with thyroid problems that can make coping a little easier.

When you have hypothyroidism it is vital to be tested on a regular basis. Your doctor can send you for a simple blood test. This test checks your thyroid hormone receptors or thyroid stimulating hormone. If it is high the gland is not functioning properly. In some cases you will have to take medication and it may need to be periodically adjusted. This is why it is vital to have routine testing and examinations.

Hypothyroidism can make you may feel sluggish and it is important to keep up your energy. Try eating several small meals during the day. This will help you maintain higher energy levels. It also stimulates metabolism and this can make it easier to lose weight.

Make sure to discuss diet with your doctor. Find out if some foods, supplements, or medications will affect your medication. This will help to make your medication as effective as possible, and it may make you feel better.

You might be taking medication and still feel very tired and listless all the time. Try avoiding certain foods. Start by eliminating refined sugar for a week and see if it makes a difference. It also is a good idea to limit alcohol consumption as much as possible. If you like cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, make sure that they are cooked before eating. These foods can affect hypothyroidism negatively.

If you feel like you have no energy, start an exercise program. It may seem like the last thing you want to do, but you will be surprised how much it can help. Exercise is great for stress and can actually make you feel much better.

Maybe you are worn out during the day. You may need to get more sleep. Try to get to bed at least an hour earlier than usual. You may have to forgo that late night movie, but you may feel much better for it. You also might try taking a short nap during your lunch hour.

Perhaps you have an overactive thyroid gland or hyperthyroidism. Stay away from supplements that have iodine. If you love coffee or tea, make sure to drink decaffeinated versions. Eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables as this may actually help your condition.

Many women are told they have under-active or overactive thyroid glands and they feel like it is a life sentence. Although there may not be a cure, you do not have sit back and feel sorry for yourself. Take control of your health condition so it will not control you. These great tips for women with thyroid problems can make a big difference if you take them to heart.-By Jonathan J Washington