Saturday, November 22, 2008

Natural Thyroid Medicines

What are natural thyroid medicines? Exactly what the term implies; medication from natural substances as opposed to those synthetically engineered. Natural medicines are derived from plant leaves, stems, roots, and sometimes the entire plant. The benefit of natural remedies is the fact that plants draw their unique medicinal properties from natural sunlight, untreated rain water, and the fertile soil of the earth we inhabit. It stands to reason that as humans, since we also draw energy from the sun and eat the fruits of the earth, our bodies will respond better to a treatment that includes these elements rather than man-made substances manufactured in a laboratory.

The two prominent types of natural thyroid therapies comes from plants and diet. There is a third called glandular or 'protomorphogen' therapy. The process uses desiccated thyroid tissue from cattle to provide the human host with the needed iodine and necessary nutrients to promote healthy thyroid action.

Natural thyroid medicines such as herbal remedies include the use of Bugleweed which is steeped into a tea, and decreases excessive activity of the thyroid. Motherwort, a member of the mint family, has been tried successfully for reducing hyperactivity and easing abnormal heart rhythms. Other remedies include the use sea plants. A type of alga known as Bladderwrack is a superior remedy for an under active thyroid. This seaweed is mildly antibacterial and has been known to reduce an enlarged thyroid or goiter. Nori is another seaweed that has been consumed in Chinese and Japanese diets for centuries and is touted for its abundant nutritional qualities. Nori contains high concentrations of iodine which is vital for proper thyroid function. Since nori is so nutritious, it is often referred to as "sea vegetables".

Diet plays an important role in managing thyroid conditions. When dealing with hyperthyroidism you should avoid foods rich in iodine and stimulating beverages like coffee and cola. For hypothyroidism, where iodine intake is crucial, vegetables from the cabbage family should be eaten regularly and in good quantities. These include turnips, kale, broccoli, and limited amounts of brussels sprout.

There are many kinds of natural thyroid medicines mostly in the form of herbs and plants as well as natural thyroid medications which are superb alternatives in the form of dietary supplements. A thyroid supplement rich in nori seaweed is ideal for hypothyroidism because it is abundant with iodine which is essential for treating hypothyroidism.

No comments: