Thyroid

Summary

Thyroid The thyroid is a small gland in the neck just below the Adam’s apple. Its primary function is to produce hormones that influence most of the metabolic functions of the body. Three primary problems can occur for a variety of reasons and with a variety of symptoms.

Hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid, not producing sufficient hormones may lead to obesity, joint pain, infertility, and heart disease. This disorder is most common among women, over 50. The unbalance in the body from an underactive thyroid can develop slowly and initially be unnoticed but left unattended over time can lead to more serious situations. Symptoms can include tiredness, depression, lack of concentration, feeling cold, constipation, muscle cramps, weight gain, increased menstrual flow, more frequent periods, itchy skin, thinning hair. Causes of hypothyroidism are identified as:

• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – This is an autoimmune disease wherein the body attacks the tissue of the thyroid. The resulting inflammation and damage to the tissue results in reduced amounts or cessation of the hormones normally generated by the thyroid. This is the most common of hypothyroid disorders and occurs primarily in middle aged females but is also seen in men and children.

• Thyroid removal – The thyroid may be surgically or chemically removed to correct hyperthyroidism and hormonal balance must be achieved by other means.

• Iodine exposure – Exposure to excessive amounts of iodine and damage thyroidal tissue and result in hypothyroidism. Iodine can come from many medications for heart, cold, and sinus conditions as well as those use for some X-ray procedures.

Hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid, this can significantly accelerate the body's metabolism, causing sudden weight loss, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating, and nervousness or irritability. Symptoms can include insomnia, anxiety, irritability, bulging eyes, weakness in arms/legs, shaky hands, frequent bowel movements, weight loss, racing heart beat, premature grey hair, lighter menstrual flow, less frequent periods. Various forms of hyperthyroidism include:

• Graves' disease - This is also an autoimmune disorder wherein there is too much production of the thyroid hormone. It is more prevalent among females and is the most common thyroid disorder among children and adolescents.

• Toxic adenomas - Over activity may also come from nodules forming that secrete excess thyroid hormone or an inflammation may occur that causes the gland to “leak” the excess. Goiters that form may contain several nodules.

• Subacute thyroiditis – This is a temporary inflammation of the thyroid that causes excess hormones and is usually temporary lasting a few weeks to a few months.

Thyroid nodules themselves may form. They may be solid or fluid filled lumps that form within the thyroid. Most nodules are not serious and may even go unnoticed. Small percentages are cancerous and require serious attention.

[search help: chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, hashimoto, hashimotos, graves ]

Oils, blends & products recommended:

Oils & Blends: Balance, clove, Deep Blue, geranium, lemongrass, myrrh, peppermint

Essential oils based products: GX Assist, Life Long Vitality supplements, PB Assist

Also consider:

Suggested protocols:

Start with strengthening the body systems with any thyroid issue:

• GX Assist for cleansing

• PB Assist to rebuild probiotics

• Lifelong Vitality supplements

• The AromaTouch Technique is an additional way to strengthen and balance the body

Hypo or Hyper thyroidism

• Balance and geranium

• Lemongrass and myrrh

• Alternate the above two combinations weekly. Apply them directly to the thyroid area, the reflexology points on the feet (great toes), and on the wrists multiple times per day

• Some also suggest peppermint and clove

Nodules

• Sandalwood applied topically to the thyroid area

Symptomatic relief

• Pain - dilute Deep Blue and apply topically

• Tiredness and depression - Elevation, citrus oils, peppermint

• Anxiety and irritability - Balance and melissa

Consistency of application is important.

Experiences and Testimonials of others

Sheen - A friend of mine has been told that she must have her thyroid removed in four months. There is a calcified tumor with other tumors growing on and around it on her thyroid. I would love for her to be able to reverse this before she has surgery. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Kathy – The cancer protocol and frequent AromaTouch techniques augmented with sandalwood and frankincense. Sandalwood reduces and/or dissolves tumors and the cancer protocol and AromaTouch techniques strengthen the body's ability to heal itself.

Debbie - Does anyone have any testimonials on what they have done for thyroid issues?

Christi - Hopefully soon I'll be a "testimonial" for both - I have hypothyroid and rheumatoid arthritis. I did the GX assist and am now on the PB assist and plan to start the LLW (Life Long Wellness supplements) pack as soon as I'm done and continue this process for a few months. I'll let you know how it goes!

Debbie - Thanks Cristi. It sounds like you are on the right track. Those were my thoughts to share with my friend who is asking for help. THANKS and good luck to you!

BTW, I don't know what your exercise abilities are, but I have had inherent thyroid issues. However, I'm doing well now. I do believe the oils and LLW are great keys and were certainly very helpful, but for me personally, "running" is what totally got me off thyroid medication. Even walking didn't quite do it. Again, the best to you!

Pat - There are quite a few testimonials in the archives of everythingdoterra, I will give you the bullet points of them:

For the Thyroid, regardless of the type and even when it affects the Adrenal I would suggest applying Balance and geranium to the big toe, the thyroid areas and the wrist all during the day and alternate the next week with lemongrass, peppermint, myrrh and clove as a blend to the same areas. Also dropping frankincense under the tongue, 2 drops, 2-3 times a day. I would also suggest the GX Assist cleanse followed by the PB Assist and then go on the LLW (Lifelong Wellness supplements).

cnrb78 - I'm new to essential oils and to doTERRA. My friend has recommended that I join this group and ask questions for "recipes" for oils. Here are a couple of the main problems that I "suffer" from: hypothyroid, hormone problems (no ovulation) and infertility. What oils would you recommend to help these things? Also, I have skin "issues" - I still get hormonal acne at age 31. Any help would be appreciated!

Pat - Hypothyroid is an autoimmune condition. You could try the GX Assist for a cleanse that helps auto immune diseases. You should also follow up with PB Assist. I would continue the GX Assist and the PB Assist for three months if it were I.

You could also apply myrrh and peppermint topically on the thyroid area. I would also suggest you look into the LLW for stabilizing your nutritional needs. This would also help with your female problems along with clary sage. There are a number of things that will help with the skin issues. The GX Assist will be one, but you can also try melaleuca on the adult acne cyst type condition and geranium on the affected areas. Just test them and see what works best for you.

Linray - What will help a thyroid condition??

jcm - First of all, you need to know what kind of thyroid problems you are addressing. Hyperthyroid, Hypothyroid, Thyroid hormone deficiency. What kind of symptoms are there?

• In Hyperthyroid: Anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, premature grey hair, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, vitiligo-skin pigment(Michael Jackson).

• In Hypothyroid - autoimmune condition: low blood sugar, fatigue, candida, lack of energy, reduced immune function, poor resistance to disease, recurring infections.

Some oils that might be helpful are:

• For both: Myrrh and lemongrass plus the Lifelong Wellness pack.

• Hypothyroid: myrtle, peppermint, clove.

• Hyperthyroid: Deep Blue. Topical: DILUTE 50-50, apply 3-5 drops over thyroid, 1-3 times a day. apply 1-3 drops on the thyroid Vita Flex points of the feet.

AnnMarie - I recently read somewhere that guggul, made from a tree resin, is helpful for hypothyroidism. When I looked it up online at pubmed.com, there was mention that it was related to Myrrh. I could not find much information on the doTERRA site about Myrrh. Does Myrrh have the same properties and is it useful for thyroid problems? How would it be administered? Thanks.

Editor’s note: Commiphora myrrha or the myrrh doTERRA uses is sourced in Ethiopia and guggul, also called false myrrh or Indian bdellium, and scientifically known as Commiphoa mukul, is a variety of the Myrrh tree. Some suggest that it has similar or related properties although not as potent.

Pat - I know of two people who use myrrh on their Thyroid issues. It has been helpful for them and they use it with frankincense, lemongrass, and lavender.

April - My mom's friend has had her thyroid removed due to cancer. The doctors have been trying and are not able to find the correct amount of medication (or the right medication, for that matter) to give to this poor woman to balance her out. One day she will be extremely tired, the next extremely hyper! I know that frankincense is fantastic for the thyroid, but would that still work since the thyroid has been removed?

Pat - Here are a few protocols that have worked for others:

1. Do a master cleanse or just cleanse with the lemon oil in water and rub frankincense and sandalwood topically of the thyroid area.

2. This person found some success applying balance and geranium to thyroid and lymph node areas, the big toe on each foot and each wrist. Do it day and night. Rotate weekly with lemongrass and peppermint, myrrh and clove to the same areas.

She could also go on the lemon, melaleuca and oregano protocol for general internal clean-up. 5 drops lemon 5 drops melaleuca 3 drops oregano. Put into a gel cap and take every morning.

Editor’s note (5/25/2010): This protocol has since been improved with the prepared GX Assist product followed by the PB Assist and supplemented with the Lifelong Vitality pack.

I can also tell you that if she would get on the supplements (Lifelong Wellness supplements) she would be amazed at how much better she would feel. It would get her balanced.

Julia - Does anyone have any experience with hypothyroid...are there any oils that can assist with this? Has anyone had direct experience ... if so, do share.

BK - I have thyroid issues, I actually had my thyroid removed, and I am hypothyroid. I also have adrenal problems that usually come with thyroid problems. I'm still working on the best way to address things, but have found some success and would recommend you apply Balance, and geranium to thyroid and lymph node areas, the big toe and wrist day and night. Rotate weekly with lemongrass, peppermint, myrrh, and clove as a blend to the same areas.

Also, take your supplements (Lifelong Wellness supplements)!

Pat - We need some help for a thyroid tumor that has started to shrink and now is in a holding pattern. We would like to give it a jump start and would like some feedback on what to do. To date she has taken the lemon, melaleuca and oregano for 1 month, then took away the oregano and substituted thyme for 1 month, internally. She has been alternating frankincense, helichrysum, geranium and sandalwood for a topical application. Any help you can give is appreciated. An interesting side note, she does not put the internal oils in a capsule, but rather in a small amount of water and drinks it. Now that is a Real Woman.

Samara - My thyroid didn't have a tumor, so I'm not sure this will help, but I use Balance topically on my thyroid.

BK - I would go on the master cleanse for a week or two with simple daily topical application of frankincense and sandalwood.

Dian - I do not have a tumor. But I hold up clary sage or basil to my throat to see which one will "calm down" the throbbing. Then I use about a drop of which ever my throat asks for that day.

Protocols folks recommend for children

Diet and Nutritional complements to essential oils

What Science & Research are saying

Summary from www.About.com on stress and cortisol.

Cortisol is an important hormone in the body, secreted by the adrenal glands and involved in the following functions and more:

· Proper glucose metabolism

· Regulation of blood pressure

· Insulin release for blood sugar maintenance

· Immune function

· Inflammatory response

Normally, it is present in the body at higher levels in the morning and at its lowest at night. Although stress isn’t the only reason that cortisol is secreted into the bloodstream, it has been termed “the stress hormone” because it’s also secreted in higher levels during the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response to stress, and is responsible for several stress related changes in the body. Small increases of cortisol have some positive effects:

· A quick burst of energy for survival reasons

· Heightened memory functions

· A burst of increased immunity

· Lower sensitivity to pain

· Helps maintain homeostasis in the body

While cortisol is an important and helpful part of the body’s response to stress, it’s important that the body’s relaxation response to be activated so the body’s functions can return to normal following a stressful event. Unfortunately, in our current high-stress culture, the body’s stress response is activated so often that the body doesn’t always have a chance to return to normal, resulting in a state of chronic stress.

Higher and more prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream (like those associated with chronic stress) have been shown to have negative effects, such as:

· Impaired cognitive performance

· Suppressed thyroid function

· Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia

· Decreased bone density

· Decrease in muscle tissue

· Higher blood pressure

· Lowered immunity and inflammatory responses in the body, slowed wound healing, and other health consequences

· Increased abdominal fat, which is associated with a greater amount of health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body. Some of the health problems associated with increased stomach fat are heart attacks, strokes, the development of higher levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL), and lower levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL) which can lead to other health problems!

The following research is reported in Psychiatry Research (www.psy-journal.com)
scientifically confirming the benefit of lavender and rosemary essential oils in reducing stress and related health problems.

Smelling lavender and rosemary increases free radical scavenging activity and decreases cortisol level in saliva.

Atsumi T, Tonosaki K. Department of Oral Physiology, Meikai University, School of Dentistry, 1-1, Keyaki-dai, Sakado-shi, Saitama 350-0283, Japan. tosi@dent.meikai.ac.jp

Free radicals/reactive oxygen species are related to many biological phenomena such as inflammation, aging, and carcinogenesis. The body possesses various antioxidative systems (free radical scavenging activity, FRSA) for preventing oxidative stress, and saliva contains such activity. In the present study, we measured the total salivary FRSA induced after the smelling of lavender and rosemary essential oils that are widely used in aromatherapy. Various physiologically active substances in saliva such as cortisol, secretory IgA, and alpha-amylase activity were found to be correlated with aroma-induced FRSA. The subjects (22 healthy volunteers) sniffed aroma for 5 min, and each subject's saliva was collected immediately. FRSA was measured using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. The FRSA values were increased by stimulation with low concentrations (1000 times dilution) of lavender or by high-concentrations (10 times dilution) of rosemary. In contrast, both lavender and rosemary stimulations decreased cortisol levels. A significant inverse correlation was observed between the FRSA values and the cortisol levels with each concentration of rosemary stimulation. No significant changes were noted in sIgA or alpha-amylase. These findings clarify that lavender and rosemary enhance FRSA and decrease the stress hormone, cortisol, which protects the body from oxidative stress.