Dr. Jacques Hertoghe, M.D. - Armour Thyroid is Best

World renowned endocrinologist Dr. Jacques Hertoghe M.D. explains that in his extensive experience, dessicated thyroid extract--not a synthetic T4 drug--is the better choice for treating hypothyroidism.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Hertoghe
• Thyroid
• hypothyroidism
• armour
• t4
• dessicated
• thyroid

[DerekChaunessey]

My thyroid ultrasound indicated my thyroid was 26.5cm cubed, and apparently a normal thyroid size is 12-14cm cubed. Two thyroid doctors said it was enlarged and two did not. I just bought a desiccated thyroid gland supplement, but how long will it take to reduce the goitre? My thyroid hormones came back normal, too. Also, is desiccated better than just consuming iodine foods like seaweed and seafood?

[videozenith]

Well first, I would strongly suggest you should be supervised by a doctor experienced with dessicated thyroid--if you can find one. Balancing the thyroid is a delicate thing, and the adrenals need to be monitored etc. For education, I suggest you buy and watch the DVD videos on the web site of drbrownstein (dot com), on iodine and thyroid, very helpful on this topic.

[DerekChaunessey]

I hear you, but why can't I just do the natural approach and consume fish, dairy, or seaweed and get iodine that way. Yes, desiccated thyroid is natural but not as natural, if that makes sense. My thyroid suplement, Thyroid Caps by Solaray, that I bought from Whole Foods Market has 150mg Thyroid Substance (gland) per serving, and says to take up to three per day. I've read Dr. Gaby's rebuttal on Iodoral and I would have to agree that such high doses of iodine are based on a calculation error.

[videozenith]

I agree that getting to the root cause and allowing the thyroid to restore again would be ideal. Some people are able to wean off it, but most not. Why not? I suspect it has to do with the long and delicate chain of things that need to go right for the thyroid system to function. In our environment are a long list of things that inhibit thyroid function e.g. fluoride in water/food, bromide, DDT, mercury from fillings,  pesticides etc. It could be our systems are overwhelmed from it all.

[videozenith]

Another thing is that many people have trouble converting T4->T3 (mostly in liver and kidneys), and T3 is the active hormone. If you have trouble with conversion for whatever reason (selenium, iron, cortisol deficiency, or a defective 5'iodinase enzyme), then apparently, even if your thyroid has enough iodine it won't restore you thyroid system. That is why many people to better on T4/T3 combination meds according to Hertoghe and others..

[videozenith]

About Brownstein and Gaby: I respect both doctors enormously and I read the whole debate on iodine. (it when back and forth several times). By the end of it I felt Dr. Brownstein did a pretty good job of defending his position & I suggest you give Dr. Brownstein a second chance. I've seen some people have detox reactions at first with taking Iodine, but then in the long run have no problems. Also I've seen a large goiter disappear on a friend after taking Iodine (Lugols) and nodules shrink!.

[Sereena111]

Its time the medical profession woke up and started to treat hypothyroidism with thyroid extract. I've only just started it, but already I am getting over colds in a quarter of the time that I usually would, I feel better, sleep better. Its just totally insane to treat with T4 alone. I felt no different on T4. Yet, here in Aus, I have had such a hard time trying to find a doctor who prescribes thyroid extract! Its ridiculous...

[DerekChaunessey]

My desiccated thyroid from Whole Foods is thyroxin-free, too. I called the company and they said thyroxin/T4 is a drug so it can't be sold over the counter. Probably some FDA shenanagins preventing this here.

[videozenith]

A couple other thoughts:

1. Many experienced thyroid/adrenal doctors establish the adrenal state with a lab test: the 4 point salivary cortisol test. Perhaps ask your doctor about it?

2. Many thyroid patients are talking about the fact that Armour has been recently reformulated and patients who were happy on it are now claiming to not be doing as well.

3. Are in the UK? perhaps go see Dr. Durrant-Peatfield as a patient?

4. Never give up. Keep searching for answers until you're better.

[videozenith]

My experience, and that of many other thyroid patients (I'm not a doctor) is that when you have trouble adjusting to the thyroid dose-and are still clinically hypothyroid--it is usually because the adrenal support is not sufficient. I would highly recommend: "Your Thyroid and how to keep it healthy" 2nd Edition by Dr. Durrant-Peatfield. On page 119, he addresses that exact problem. Apparently some people do OK with adrenal glandulars, but others need Hydrocortisone (small doses).