The thyroid is sometimes considered the key or most important endocrine gland. You balance the endocrine system as the thyroid affects the whole system, That is the overall concept here. An endocrine gland is a gland that secretes a hormone into the blood that effects the body in various ways. There are a main group of endocrine glands. The thyroid is an H-shaped gland in the mid to lower front of the neck. On the back of the thyroid gland are 4 smaller glands called the parathyroid glands. Both of these glands are involved with calcium metabolism. The thyroid pushes calcium into the bones and hormones from the parathyroid glands and pulls calcium out of the digestive tract into the blood stream. These 2 glands maintain a balance of calcium metabolism. All of the endocrine glands work to keep metabolism in balance. The boss of the thyroid is the pituitary gland. On your standard blood test the level of pituitary hormone called TSH or thyroid stimulating hormone is used to check thyroid function. If TSH is on the high side of normal or above this indicates low thyroid function. If TSH is very low this indicates hyperthyroid. Low thyroid is much more common. The thyroid is sometimes considered the key endocrine gland. Symptoms of sluggish thyroid are weight gain, mental dullness, hair and skin symptoms, lowered temperature as cold hands and feet, numbness and tingling sensations, brittle or ridged fingernails. Hyperthyroid symptoms include fast heartbeat, tremors particularly of the protruding tongue, sweating or tendency to moist skin, weight loss, vertigo, and personality stability problems such as frightened appearance, and hyper-irritability.
In my practice numerous people over the years come in taking thyroid hormone supplements. the most common one is called Synthroid. It is synthetic thyroid hormone.The other best-known medication for low thyroid is pig thyroid gland which contains thyroid hormone useable by the human body. If you are going to take one of these I recommend the pig thyroid one called Armour Thyroid.
I have never seen either really handle the thyroid thoroughly. We use certain supplements that do a very good job. I won’t tell you what they are and I doubt you will guess. Iodine is a mineral for the thyroid though most people get enough particularly people along the coast who get seafood and kelp in their diets.
In addressing a thyroid problem you may also have to balance other parts of the endocrine system. There are certain reflexes that can shut off and need to be turned back on that affect the thyroid as well as each of the other endocrine glands in their ability to get adequate blood flow or the ability to detox fully.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mike Spearman
