Thyroid Imbalance Epidemic

February 1, 2011

Sharing a post from Dr. Gary Gordon, emphasizing the importance of diagnosing and treating thyroid imbalances.  At our office, we have found  Thyroflex to be an excellent way to assess the functioning of the thyroid gland. We also test the blood for the active hormones and find that the results from our Thyroflex readings are more accurate and more valuable in terms of adequately treating thyroid imbalances.  The result is that our patients feel more energy, are able to maintain their desired weight, and experience a stronger immune system and a more positive attitude.

Here’s to supporting your body’s ability to heal itself, and regaining energy, vitality and a greater sense of well-being.

In health,

Dr. G

Thyroid Support Epidemic

February 1, 2011 by Dr. Garry Gordon

There is an epidemic of patients who need thyroid support! The attached Pubmed report shows how thyroid can protect pregnancies from untoward outcomes.

Nonetheless, the current January 2011 Townsend Newsletter reports that the Oregon Medical Board is attacking a licensed MD there for prescribing thyroid, because the indicated T4 and TSH target levels were not present. They are ignoring all of the overwhelming clinical evidence that the patient needed, and benefited by, the thyroid prescription. As one nutritional therapist and patient of this doctor declares, the Oregon Medical Board should emulate the doctor – not pursue internal complaints.

This is very sad since subclinical hypothyroidism is EPIDEMIC in our toxic world. Just consider the levels of Fluoride and Bromide present today that induce iodine deficiency in our population, as one cause of suboptimal thyroid function. For many other causes please consider owning the new text on Nutritional Medicine by Dr. Alan Gaby with nearly 30,000 references behind it.

View the report below on levothyroxine and infertile women with hypothyroidism. How many miscarriages or other pregnancy problems would be eliminated if doctors were not living in fear of their medical licenses? Read Dr. Broda Barnes’ book on thyroid disease, ‘Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness’ (later reviewed by Dr. Stephen Langer), and then the book ‘Hypothyroidism Type 2: The Epidemic’ by Dr. Mark Starr.  These will bring the rationale for diagnosing borderline or subclinical hypothyroidism into clear focus.

We should err on the side of more thyroid support for patients since there are so many contributors to low thyroid function, instead of putting doctors (and their patients) in harm’s way for practicing real medicine.

Garry F. Gordon MD,DO,MD(H)
President, Gordon Research Institute
www.gordonresearch.com

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Fertil Steril. 2010 Dec 28. [Epub ahead of print]

Effect of levothyroxine treatment on in vitro fertilization and pregnancy outcome in infertile women with subclinical hypothyroidism undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Kim CH, Ahn JW, Kang SP, Kim SH, Chae HD, Kang BM.
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether levothyroxine (LT4) treatment has beneficial effects on IVF results and pregnancy outcome in infertile patients with subclinical hypothyroidism undergoing IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

DESIGN: Prospective, randomized trial.

SETTING: University-affiliated infertility clinic.

PATIENT(S): A total of 64 infertile patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, defined as an elevated serum TSH level associated with a normal free T4 level and without frank symptoms of hypothyroidism.

INTERVENTION(S): Patients were randomized into an LT4 treatment group or control group. For the LT4 treatment group, 50 μg LT4 was administered from the first day of controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF/ICSI.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Results of IVF and pregnancy outcome.

RESULT(S): There were no differences in patient characteristics between the two groups. Total dose and days of recombinant human FSH used for controlled ovarian stimulation were also similar. The number of grade I or II embryos was significantly higher in the LT4 treatment group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rate per cycle between the two groups. However, the miscarriage rate was significantly lower in the LT4 treatment group than in the control group. Embryo implantation rate and live birth rate were significantly higher in the LT4 treatment group. In the control group, both thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyroglobulin antibody levels were significantly higher in the miscarried subgroup than in the delivered subgroup.

CONCLUSION(S): LT4 treatment can improve embryo quality and pregnancy outcome in subclinical hypothyroid women undergoing IVF/ICSI.

Copyright © 2011 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PMID: 21193190 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_s=21193190


The Potential of Resveratrol-is it Worth Adding to your Health Regimen?

August 20, 2009

grapeResveratrol is a naturally occurring chemical found in the skins and seeds of red grapes, peanuts and in Polygonum, a popular and well respected herbal medicine from the Far East.  Currently, the research on Resveratrol is promising as a protective chemical against the damaging effects of toxins, synthetic estrogen and xenoestrogens, inflammation, and the process of aging.  It has specific actions on the brain, immune system, and heart.

In my practice I will use between 200 and 500 mg per day of Resveratrol as part of a treatment protocol. This typically is added to a protocol after a patient has been tested to determine if he or she has a deficiency of antioxidants or an imbalance of free radicals relative to antioxidants in the body.  All too often patients come into my practice with a huge bag of supplements, with no idea of what is working, what is not working and still battling the same symptoms that led him or her down the path of supplementation.

You know your body better then anyone else… you have been living in it your entire life!  You may have a sense of what is causing your symptoms and you also may have a sense for what medicines are helping or harming you.  To help confirm that sense, and develop a balanced approach to solving your health challenge, I encourage getting lab testing completed through a qualified Naturopathic Medical Doctor who has access and has experience with taking objective measured to get to an underlying biochemical cause for your symptoms.  And at that point, adding a powerful antioxidant such as Resveratrol to your protocol, and then re-testing after 3-6 months, this will let you know for certain if what you are taking is actually helping to balance your body!

In health,

Dr. Gina


Reminder: The Mother’s Act is Headed to the Senate… Please Act Now

April 14, 2009

I previously posted on the Mother’s Act. This Act would mandate  that all new mothers be screened for mental healthStop! challenges based on a subjective analysis.  This is a concerning issue that appears to serve Big Pharma rather than new moms.  Please act now to protect new mothers from unnecessarily being prescribed psychiatric medications that can cause an addiction that is difficult to overcome later on.

Oftentimes post-pregnancy depression is associated with a deficiency of progesterone, low adrenal gland function, and some specific nutrient deficiencies that can easily be tested for and treated naturally.

Below I have reprinted a plea from Sheila Matthews of http://www.ablechild.org regarding the significance of this Act and what you can do today to help prevent it from coming into law.

In health,

Dr. Gina

A sweeping government policy for all new births in the United States has just passed the House of Representatives and is now headed to the Senate.  The Mother’s Act, if passed, will mandate that all new mothers be screened by means of a list of subjective questions that will determine if each mother is mentally fit to take their newborn home from the hospital.   Just imagine that after your child is born, you are told that you can’t take them home since a multiple choice questionnaire wasn’t answered correctly.  Just imagine being told that the only way you can take your child home is if you or your spouse goes into treatment or on anti-depressants which we know causes psychosis, delusions, and even homocidal thoughts.  It just doesn’t make sense.  Unfortunately, this bill is on a fast track–No public debate, no public disclosure of the broad impact on our society and that is why we need you to act now!

The Mother’s Act violates our Constitutional right to privacy and your right to liberty and it is just outright dangerous.  That is why we need you to help stop this.  We urgently need you to call and email each Senator on the HELP Committee and tell them you STRONGLY OPPOSE the MOTHER’S ACT and that you are OUTRAGED that there was NO public debate or disclosure on the impact this would have on our society as a whole.

Send a letter by going here:  http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1918/t/7870/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26855

Please call the following Senators on the HELP Committee and tell them that you want the Mother’s Act to die in committee.

Lisa Murkowski, R: 202-224-6665, AK

John McCain, R: 202-224-2235, AZ

Christopher Dodd, D: 202-224-2823, CT

Johnny Isakson, R: 202-224-3643, GA

Tom Harkin, D: 202-224-3254, IA

Pat Roberts, R: 202-224-4774, KS

Edward Kennedy D: 202-224-4543, MA

Barbara Mikulski D: 202-224-4654, MD

Richard Burr, R: 202-224-3154, NC

Kay Hagan, D: 202-224-6342, NC

Judd Gregg, R: 202-224-3324, NH

Jeff Bingaman, D: 202-224-5521, NM

Sherrod Brown, D 202-224-2315, OH

Tom Coburn, R 202-224-5754, OK

Jeff Merkley, D 202-224-3753, OR

Bob Casey, D 202-224-6324, PA

Jack Reed, D 202-224-4642, RI

Lamar Alexander R 202-224-4944, TN

Orrin Hatch R 202-224-5251, UT

Bernard Sanders, I: 202-224-5141, VT

Patty Murray, D, 202-224-2621, WA

Michael Enzi, R, 202-224-3424, WY

Thank you so much for caring enough to call and take action!  Remember “We The People” are in charge!

Respectfully,

Sheila Matthews

Cofounder http://www.ablechild.org


Your Body Has the Ability to Heal Itself

January 26, 2009

painLast week I was interviewed for an upcoming PBS Series on Naturopathic Medicine. The topic was chronic pain. Throughout the interview I found myself repeating the notion that “the body has the ability to heal itself,” provided you give it what it needs and you remove the barriers to cure.  What the body needs can range from a particular combination of nutrients, herbs, and natural hormones, to more positive emotions.  Some of the most prevalent “barriers to cure” that I see in my  practice are stress, food allergies, and toxin overload.

Most people suffering with chronic pain are handed a prescription for pain killers and muscle relaxants and/or advised to get psychological help.  The Naturopathic approach to chronic pain involves identifying the cause of the pain; be it emotional, physical, stress-related, toxin-related or hormone-related. Then treatment is individualized to suit the patients’ unique situation. No two treatment protocols are the same.  My experience has been that by addressing the cause of the chronic pain at the emotional, mental and physical levels brings about the most successful long term results and allows for freedom of movement and a pain-free life.

The most important message here is that if you are experiencing chronic pain, you do not need to suffer.  There is a way to find relief. One of the best ways to find that relief is by addressing the underlying cause(s) of the pain rather then chronically masking the symptoms with medication…and allowing your own body, in its innate wisdom, to heal itself.

In health,

Dr. Gina


PBS Documentary on Naturopathic Medicine

January 12, 2009


PBS TO AIR DOCUMENTARY FOCUSING ON NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE FEATURING DR. GINA NICK

Windsor Broadcast Productions, well known for its long running PBS series American Health Journal is producing a documentary focusing on Naturopathic Medicine. The documentary will be comprised of seven 30 minute segments on such topics as Mental Health, Adult Allergies, ADD & ADHA. The documentary will initially run on PBS in the greater Orange County, California area sometime in March 2009 and is expected to reach a nationwide audience later in the year.herbs2

One of the segments features Dr. Gina Nick and her naturopathic approach to dealing with Chronic Pain.

Some of the key messages highlighted throughout the series are:

* Naturopathic Doctors are trustworthy, credible, and a qualified choice for healthcare

* Naturopathic medicine offers a continuum of care

* Naturopathic medicine is the “new norm” for health and healthcare

* Naturopathic doctors believe in the power of the human being to regain greater health

Dr. Nick and LTP Natural Medical Center specialize in the prevention of dis-ease, optimizing overall health and providing a sense of well being.

Knowledge is power. LTP Natural Medical Center hopes you will tune-in to this very exciting documentary series and empower yourself with knowledge about the natural approach to your health.


Beyond Thyroid Medication

November 6, 2008

Dead Tired

A number of my patients come into my office with a low functioning thyroid gland.  Typically they have symptoms including fatigue, weight gain that is difficult to overcome, thinning hair and mental “fog.” Nine times out of ten they have been prescribed Synthroid.  I will often re-test their blood levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH, T3 [active thyroid]) and TPO.  Additionally we have a medical test in our office called Thyroflex that tests the actual functioning of the thyroid gland.  I will then often switch my patients from Synthroid to Westhroid which is a natural alternative. One product I find beneficial for my patients who are not responding well to prescription Westhroid or who need additional support is Thyroid Support by Gaia Herbs.

I also find that patients with hypothyroid symptoms tend to have a vitamin B12 and iron deficiency, which is verified through blood tests we perform in our office.  Once that is treated, patients truly begin to feel better and their energy level, clarity of thought, and weight loss efforts dramatically improve.

And finally, for those patients that still do not feel fabulous after addressing thyroid function, I take a look at adrenal gland function and will test cortisol and DHEA levels in saliva to find out if the adrenal glands are playing a role, because adrenal gland function and thyroid function are interrelated.

In health,

Dr. G


Wyeth’s Nutritional Supplement Claims Under Investigation

September 18, 2008

Wyeth, manufacturer of synthetic hormones for women is under investigation for making a false claim that it’s Centrum Cardio is the only complete supplement that lowers cholesterol.  That’s interesting because in my medical practice we use several different high quality nutritional supplements to lower cholesterol, that do not contain harmful binders, dyes, and things like hydrogenated oil, found in some Centrum products. One of the most profound treatments for lowering cholesterol levels that I use in my practice is a detoxification program that I researched, formulated and published a book about, entitled Clinical Purification.  I test my  patients’ blood before and after the program.  Patients who have been on statin medications for 10 years are able to discontinue them, with full blessing from their primary care doctor and cardiologist. Nature cure at its best.

Dr. G


The Value of Estriol for Women

August 27, 2008

Many women rely on the benefits of compounded, bio-identical hormones that include estriol, the safest and most protective form of estrogen that is naturally made by the body.  In January of this year, the FDA ordered pharmacies to ban the use of estriol even though 80% of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy prescriptions use it, and estriol is a hormone that is naturally manufactured by the human body.  The FDA feels that estriol is a “new and unapproved drug” and hence its safety is unknown.  However, according to the HOME coalition, the FDA has admitted that no adverse event involving compounded bio-identical estriol has ever been reported.  A research study supported by the Department of Defense followed 15,000 women for 40 years, monitoring their estriol levels. This landmark study found that the women with the highest levels of estriol had a 58% reduced risk of developing breast cancer.  And women whose estriol levels rose the highest during pregnancy (up to 1,000 fold) had the lowest risk of breast cancer.  It is also interesting to note that, as a group, Asian women have some of the highest levels of estriol in their body, and the least incidence of breast cancer.  The lead researcher for this study, Dr. Pentii K. Siiteri, PhD,  remarked that the finding from this study “suggests that estriol might be an effective option for either breast cancer prevention or treatment regimens.”

As a practicing Naturopathic Medical Doctor that sees countless women with hormone deficiencies in my practice, I am in full support of the use of estriol in some women, particularly those who are deficient in the hormone as revealed through laboratory testing.

Some of the main benefits women report with the use of Estriol in Bio-identical Hormone Therapy include:

  • Renewed sex drive
  • Healthier, more elastic skin
  • Improved mood
  • Better sleep
  • More energy
  • Greater sense of vitality

To help protect your freedom to access this safe and effective hormone please take a moment to visit www.homecoalition.org.

Dr. Gina