Following are selected posts to Holisticat on the subject of thyroid problems. There's a lot of information here, and the posts are arranged in ascending chronological order. If there is a particular word you're looking for, it's probably best to utlize the "Find in Page" function in your edit menu!
Happy hunting :)
<8/5/98 From: Yumi Re: Hyperthyroidism>
Judy,
I was looking for hyperthyroid documents on the net, and I found this piece. This is for people thyroid problem.
Yumi
yumig@
Too Much Iodine Can Cause Trouble
Some people are extra sensitive to too much iodine, which can cause their thyroid gland to make too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism). In the United States in general, people have plenty of iodine in their diet, not only directly from seafood, but also in bread, milk and meat.
Possible sources of too much iodine:
Diane wrote:
<<The link between CRF & hyperthyroid was explained to me
this way.... The hyperthyroid does not cause the CRF nor does the CRF cause
the hyperthyroid condition. Instead, the hyperthyroid condition causes
increased blood flow thru the kidneys which is very beneficial for kidneys
that are not functioning at 100%.>>
This is basically what I've been told as well. Hyperthyroidism speeds up ALL bodily functions so kidneys or other organs that aren't working at full capacity work faster in a hyperthyroid cat. It's the fact that they are working faster that masks their decreased efficiency. When the cat gets treatment for the hyperthyroidism all other bodily functions slow to their normal pace and kidney problems or other problems that were masked before become evident.
I've also been told that untreated hyperthyroidism can cause some internal organs to "burn out" from the extreme hard use they get when the cats metabolism is running fast so it's important to get hyperthyroidism treated as quickly as possible. Heart problems especially can fall into this catagory.
All this info is from a lecture at Tufts Vet School.
-Denise
GoForaSail@ wrote:
<< Professional Health Products hyperthyroid drops. Also add
L-carnitine. Keep going with the CoQ10 30 mgs 1/day on an empty
stomach. >>
Hi everyone,
Emily, what's in the Professional Health Products hyperthyroid drops?
I take it Doc J didn't mention anything about kelp? The vet says that she thinks Sammy is heading in the direction of hyperthryoidism, and I would really like to nip this in the bud, nutritionally.
Frazier, for hyperthryoidism recommends kelp, but she is the *only* referrence I can find that says that. All the rest say 'no iodine'.
Thanks
Judy
<< what's in the Professional Health Products hyperthyroid drops? >>
Judy-
They are homeopathic I believe. You could either contact Prof. Health Prods. themselves to find out or call the radio show yourself this Thurs at 3 pm EST and ask about Sammy yourself at 1-877-621-WALE or you could always call the Tree of Life Ctr directly and ask either Jane or Peter or Dr. J yourself. Their number is 508-336-4242.
In the past I have asked then about taking kelp myself. Ordinarily it is better to take it if you are hypothyroid as I bekieve it will speed up the thyroid but I know Dr. J thinks homeopthics are best for animals and children and have the greatest success with them.
Emily
Newport,RI
Hi Judy and all,
In Dr. Earl Mindell's "Live Longer and Feel Better with Vitmains and Minerals", he says this on page 68:
"Because of its natural iodine content, kelp acts on the thyroid gland to normalize it. Therefore thin people with thyroid trouble will gain weight by using kelp, and obese people with thyroid trouble may lose weight." Then he lists a whole bunch of great stuff that kelp can do like regulate metabolism etc.
David Hoffman in "The Holistic Herbal" on page 94 mentions the use of kelp or bladderwrack mostly for an underactive thyroid . But then he goes on to say "Through the regulation of thyroid function there is an improvement in all the associated symptoms." And also that people obese due to thyroid problems can benefit from this herb.
I suspect Booey is hyperthyroid too so may give him a teeny bit of kelp in his raw food every day.
Also, in "The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants" by Andrew Chevallier, he says Lemon Balm a.k.a. Melissa Officinalis is good for an overactive thyroid. Specifically, on page 111, he says "Lemon balm inhibits thyroid function". Hey this is cool - they also say this herb helps w/ the herpes virus. I know at least 4 people whose cats have goopy eyes due to this virus...can't wait to tell them!
Sandy
Hi all
<<Kathy, I found a site on Bugleweed at: http://www.healthy.net/library/books/hoffman/materiamedica/bugleweed.htm
Hope it helps, Kat (New Jersey)>>
Kat, Sandy, thanks for the info! Kat, this is a great site. I have questions,
for any of you who may be able to answer. What is a
vasoconstricter? How is it different from a vasodilator? The site has
a lot of good info about bugleweed, says it's somewhat normalizing for
the heart, has a tonic, astringent action. Good for the lungs as well,
especially in cases of constriction. Another question: it's got a "mild
narcotic" action. Can't tell if that's another way of saying sedative (which
is also mentioned on the site) or if it's really enough to make one stoned.
I'm going to fax this info to my homeopathic vet, see what she has to say.
The info at the site compares its sedative action to aconite and says it
may be used with valerian. Sandy, I'm sorry to hear about Boo's coughing.
The site also says it works on the heart similar to digitalis but without
the side effects (in another place it says "without the cumulative effects").
I don't know anything about digitalis, does it exert the kind of heart
action you want? It sounds like an interesting herb (the bugleweed, that
is) and I'm going to do some more investigating.
Thanks guys!
Take care
Kathy and the cats
kashmir@
Hi all
Anwered my own question. A vasoconstricter is "an agent that narrows the blood vessels and *raises blood pressure*. Sandy, with Boo's high bp that might not be the best herb to try....
I found lots of other sites that talk about bugleweed, and one from the same source as the one Kat listed.
That one deals specifically with hyperthyroid and says that bugleweed
is a specifically hyperthyroid herb. Site is at
http://www.healthy.net/LIBRARY/Books/Hoffman/Immune/hyperthyroid.htm
There's another good one, but very scientific at http://www.pagansonline.com/lycopus.htm
The home page there also has a huge database of journal abstracts for different herbs. Something I found interesting is that bugleweed is registered medicinally as Thyrotrophin, Thyroxine, Triiodothyronine. Kashmir's homeopathic vet suggested Thytrophin (yup, diff. spelling, slightly), which doesn't list lycopus or bugleweed or anything like it as an ingredient.
Another site at http://www.chatlink.com/~herbseed/buglewee.htm
And one at http://www.mystherb.com/uses/a/bugleweed.htm
And this is only a small selection. If I keep going I'll find lots more.
Take care all
Kathy and the cats
kashmir@
Since there has been a few posts here lately about thyroid troubles, I thought that this paragraph in Billinghurst's book would be of interest. (if you're on Wellpet or K9 Cuisine, you've already seen this)
>From Give Your Dog A Bone, pg 186
**Note: Do not give your dogs [animals] excessive amounts of the cabbage family - raw. Large amounts of cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, and brussel sprouts, etc. over a long period can depress the functioning of the thyroid gland. Similarly, beans and peas should only be fed raw in limited amounts.
Release.....
kristy at the muddy paw
Since this is always one of those topics that seems to pop up, I thought
I'd take a minute and send this info along.
**
Thyroid problems:
If an animal has a 'hypO' thyroid problem, please head Dr Billinghurst's suggestion:
>From Give Your Dog A Bone, pg 186
**Note: Do not give your dogs [animals] excessive amounts of the cabbage
family - raw. Large amounts of cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, and
brussel sprouts, etc. over a long period can depress the functioning
of the thyroid gland. Similarly, beans and peas should only be fed
raw in limited amounts.
**
If the animal has a 'hypER' thyroid problem, feeding these veggies
*may* help to suppress an overactive thyroid. Consult a vet (holistic
preferrably) for advice. The thyroid is nothing to experiment with.
According to the Merck Vet Manual:
Primary Hyperparathyroidism results from excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) by an abnormal (usually neoplastic) parathyroid gland(s). Persistent hypercalcemia is characteristic. This disease is reare in dogs and cats.
Clinical Findings:
Polydipsia [drinking a lot], polyuria [peeing a lot], anorexia [not eating], lethargy [tired], and depression are the most common signs, but many animals are asymptomatic. Constipation , weakness, shivering, twitching, vomiting, stiff gait, and facial swelling are less often reported.
Diagnosis:
Hypercalcemia, normal to low serum phosphorus, and low urine specific
gravity are the most consitent findings. Azotemia commonly develops
as a consequence of moderate to severe hypercalcemia. In hypercalcemic
animals that still have relatively normal renal function (normal serum
creatinine and BUN concentrations), determination of serum PTH is helpful
in diagnosis. The finding of high-normal to high serum PTH concentrations
in hypercalcemic animals with normal renal function is
consistent with primary hyperparathyroidism, whereas the finding of
low PTH concentrations is consistent with hypercalcemia of malignancy.
**
Fibrous Osteodystrophy (Rubber Jaw Syndrome)
In Primary Hyperparathyroidism, there is excess production of parathyroid hormone (PTH) by an autonomous functional lesion in the parathyroid gland. The normal control mechanisms for PTH secretion by the concentration of blood calcium are lost, and the parathyroid produces excess PTH despite increased levels of blood calcium. This disease is encountered infrequently in older dogs, and it does not appear to be a sequela of renal secondary parathyroidism.
PTH acts on cells of the renal tubules initially to promote the excretion
of phosphorus and retention of calcium. A prolonged increased secretion
of PTH results in accelerated osteocytic bone resorption. Mineral
is removed from the skeleton and replaced by immature fibrous connective
tissue. Fibrous osteodystrophy is generalized throughout the skeleton
but is accentuated in local areas such as the cancellous bone of the skull.
The increased PTH levels also inhibit the renal tubular
resorption of phosphorus.
The lesion in the parathyroid gland in dogs is usually an adenoma, occasionally a carcinoma, composed of active chief cells. Usually, adenomas are single, light brown-red and located in the cervical region near the thyroid gland.
Clinical Findings:
Lameness follows severe osteoclastic bone resorption, and fractures of long bones occur after minor physical trauma. Compression fractures of weakened vertebral bodies may exert pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, resulting in motor and sensory dysfunction.
Facial hyperostosis with partial obliteration of the nasal cavity (by poorly mineralized woven bone and highly vascular fibrous connective tissue) and loss or loosening of teeth has been seen in dogs. This may result in an inability to close the mouth properly and development of gingival ulcers. The maxillae and rami of the mandibles often are coarsely thickened by the excess woven bone. Bones of the skull are markedly thinned by the increased resorption and have a characteristic "moth-eaten" appearance [on x-ray]. In advanced cases, the mandible can be twisted gently due to loss of osteoid and sever fibrous osteodystrophy-hence the name "rubber jaw syndrome".
Lesions:
Histologic demonstration of a rim of normal tissue and a partial to
complete fibrous capsule in an enlarged parathyroid suggests an adenoma
rather than focal hyperplasia. Chief cell carcinomas tend to be larger
than adenomas and fixed to the underlying tissues due to local infiltration
of neoplastic cells.
******
Other causes of Hypercalcemia (*according to the Merck Manual):
*Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's)- see post on Addison's and Cushing's
*Renal Failure- rare in animals with renal failure.....may be present in acute renal failure during the polyuric phase.
*Rodenticides and Hypervitaminosis D - Rodenticides containing cholecalciferol are a fairly common cause of hypercalcemia in dogs and cats. Hypercalcemia is often severe and hyperphosphatemia is common.....Prognosis depends on the degree and duration of toxicity.
*Iatrogenic Vitamin D overdosage - Vit D intoxication has been reported after administration of vit D products. Use of ergocalciferol (vit D2) or cholecalciferol (vit D3) may cause hypercalcemia
*Houseplants - ingestion of certain houseplants (eg: Cestrum diurnum [the dayblooming jasmine], Solanum malacoxylon, Triestum flavescens) may contain a substance similar to vitamin D that may cause hypercalcemia
*Granulomatous Diseases - A number of ganulomatous diseases (eg, systemic fungal diseases, sarcoidosis, and tuberculosis) have been associated with hypercalcemia.
*Osteolytic Lesions - Hypercalcemia resulting from tumor invasion or metastasis to bone develops only rarely. Primary bone tumors (eg, osteosarcoma) and neoplastic cells within the bone marrow (eg, multiple myeloma) may occasionally produce hypercalcemia.
Principle treatments of hypercalcemia [allo-meds]:
Some of the important vitamins and supplements listed in the Prescription
for Nutritional Healing (by the Drs Balch - a book for people) are:
(these are people doses)
For hypER condition, eating the cruciferous veggies mentioned earlier
by Dr Billinghurst can help (but care must be taken to avoid excess gas
buildup in the stomach, especially with bloat prone dogs) as well as avoiding
dairy products for at least three months.
**
I hope this helps.
Release....
Kristy T
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