Iodine cured EMF sensitivity for me!

Hi,

This kelp salt seasoning sounds really interesting. Can somebody please give the website that is best to order it from?

Since it was brought up about kelp being helpful, I did notice that I can stay on the computer a little longer these days without feeling sick. I started to take kelp awhile ago and wonder if there is a connection. Possibly. It would be great if I could get over getting sick on the computer as then I could go back to work. Hard to find anything these days that doesn't require computer use. Sometimes I was getting sick within 5 minutes of using it. Now I can stay on longer - but not unlimited as I used to be.

Thanks,

Cheryl

--- On Sun, 8/21/11, KathyB <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: KathyB <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [eSens] Re: Iodine cured EMF sensitivity for me!
To: [hidden email]
Date: Sunday, August 21, 2011, 10:15 AM







 



 


   
     
     
      Evie,



I'm glad you pointed out the product has glutamic acid.  I have not been eating much meat to keep the balance from GABA & glutamate on the GABA side for anxiety issues.



 I'm sure many of us are low in glutamine. I'm gonig to try this too. 



Kathy

-



From: Evie <[hidden email]>

Subject: Re: [eSens] Re: Iodine cured EMF sensitivity for me!

To: [hidden email]

Date: Saturday, August 20, 2011, 7:31 PM



 



Hi, Marc and Jacqueline???



Sorry, I forgot the newbie's name who sent the info about the Kelp salts seasoning she was using which helped her ES.  That is a very interesting formulation!  Marc wrote all it was said to contain from the site where it was sold, and the site went on to say:  "Kelp also contains a natural substance, glutamic acid...."



This is particularly interesting info because glutamic acid is a product of glutamine, which celiacs are told to take to heal their tight junctions in their intestines and BBBs!  (Which, it is likely, ESsers also would need!)



Very interesting product.  I am going to order some myself.



Thanks so much, Marc, and Newbie!  And welcome to the forum!



Diane



From: Marc Martin <[hidden email]>



Subject: Re: [eSens] Re: Iodine cured EMF sensitivity for me!



 



> I've only used the kelp granules so your right, it would be the kelp and other things in not just iodine.



As for what you used, I checked the manufacturer's website and found the following details:



"Laminaria digitata



Low sodium Kelp Granules, in bulk lots or as a sprinkle-on Sea Seasonings 1.5 oz shaker, are a convenient way to get your sea veggies. Kelp granules are "salty" yet low sodium, thanks to the rich complement of potassium, magnesium, and other mineral salts. Kelp granules are an especially rich source of potassium, iron, iodine, Vitamin B-6, Riboflavin, and dietary fiber. Kelp also contains a natural substance, glutamic acid, that enhances flavor and tenderizes. Phytochemicals in kelp have been shown to absorb and eliminate radioactive elements and heavy metal contaminants from our bodies. Sprinkle on soups, salads, tofu, pasta, stir-fries, dressings, dips, sauces, breads, tabouli. Get the nutritional benefits of sea veggies, and skip the table salt."



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Cheryl,

I'm glad you're noticing a difference. I hope I do. I thank Dianne for pointing the glutamic acid.

Check the cheapest on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Maine-Coast-Sea-Vegetables-Alternative/dp/B0007SMLUM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1313965998&sr=8-2

 Maine Coast Organic Kelp.

I ordered some today.

Kathy



<[hidden email]> wrote:
Re: Iodine cured EMF sensitivity for me!















 
 



 


   
     
     
      Hi,



This kelp salt seasoning sounds really interesting. Can somebody please give the website that is best to order it from?



Since it was brought up about kelp being helpful, I did notice that I can stay on the computer a little longer these days without feeling sick. I started to take kelp awhile ago and wonder if there is a connection. Possibly. It would be great if I could get over getting sick on the computer as then I could go back to work. Hard to find anything these days that doesn't require computer use. Sometimes I was getting sick within 5 minutes of using it. Now I can stay on longer - but not unlimited as I used to be.



Thanks,



Cheryl



-



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I found some cheaper at
Vitacost.com
















 
 



 


   
     
     
     

Cheryl,





Check the cheapest on Amazon.



http://www.amazon.com/Maine-Coast-Sea-Vegetables-Alternative/dp/B0007SMLUM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1313965998&sr=8-2



 Maine Coast Organic Kelp.



I ordered some today.



Kathy



<[hidden email]> wrote:

Re: Iodine cured EMF sensitivity for me!



 



Hi,



This kelp salt seasoning sounds really interesting. Can somebody please give the website that is best to order it from?



Since it was brought up about kelp being helpful, I did notice that I can stay on the computer a little longer these days without feeling sick. I started to take kelp awhile ago and wonder if there is a connection. Possibly. It would be great if I could get over getting sick on the computer as then I could go back to work. Hard to find anything these days that doesn't require computer use. Sometimes I was getting sick within 5 minutes of using it. Now I can stay on longer - but not unlimited as I used to be.



Thanks,



Cheryl



-



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





   
     

   
   


 



 










[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> Interesting that you can eat Kombu--the concentration must be really
> high in modifilan!

Or the seaweed source for Modifilan isn't as unpolluted/pure as what
you get in the health food store... or Modifilan's extraction process
uses chemicals which are left behind, etc.

> So, Marc, did you ever take Provigal???

Nope... :-)

Marc

Well that may explain alot for me. I am dependant on thyroid & adrenal hormones. I wonder if Kelp would do anything for me since those organs don't function. Loni

--- On Tue, 8/16/11, Elizabeth thode <[hidden email]> wrote:


From: Elizabeth thode <[hidden email]>
Subject: RE: [eSens] Iodine cured EMF sensitivity for me!
To: [hidden email]
Date: Tuesday, August 16, 2011, 10:07 AM



Dear Chris,

Your story is an inspiration to behold!
Thank you for sharing that.

Yes, what you said about the Iodine supporting the the thyroid, which in turn helps the adrenal glands is true.
Here is another connection. The adrenal glands play a large role in the body's electrical system.
So if the electrical system is out of balance, the body is unable to "ground" itself..and thus becomes more sensitive to fields of emf's...
For some, correcting nutritional deficiencies may greatly improve ES symptoms.
For others, it may be they are living/working in buildings with strong fields, faulty wiring, high ele/high magnetic fields/ wireless...this is not so easy to correct.
Below is an article that I found very useful.
Blessings and thanks again for sharing your wonderful story!
Lizzie




Eighteen Overlooked Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue 

www.naturalnews.com/024985_cortisol_blood_fatigue.html - CachedSimilar- Block all www.naturalnews.com results



Not helpful? You can block www.naturalnews.com results when you're signed in to search.www.naturalnews.comDec 2, 2008 – As the salt is excreted by the kidneys, water follows leading to electrolyte imbalance and dehydration. Those with adrenal fatigue should ...





To: [hidden email]
From: [hidden email]
Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:55:25 +0000
Subject: [eSens] Iodine cured EMF sensitivity for me!


 



Hi everyone!

I hope this can help someone else as I know how hard it is deal with EMF sensitivities.

I suffered for 2 1/2 years from EMF sensitivities. It was triggered when I purchased a refurbished computer. After a few weeks I began getting electric shocks on my fingers using the mouse and it progressed rapidly to feeling like electricity was surging in my body, especially up my spine, dizziness, anxiety from feeling scared of the symptoms, difficulty with driving (mostly when stopped at stop lights, heavy intersections were the worse), stings in the brain etc. Just being in my kitchen made me feel ill and this was so hard because I enjoyed and loved cooking for my family. The kitchen is loaded with EMF. Even a dishwasher not in use sent my EMF meter off the charts as did the stove top when in use, fridge, coffee pot and counter radio with digital clock. I eventually learned to unplug some appliances but it didn't help with the massive ones causing the problems still.

Symptoms happened everyday for me and as a mom it was very hard to manage through life but luckily I did find the strength to do so. No one except my husband knew I was suffering with this. I am the type of person who always likes to help others but feels independent and never asks for help myself. I don't like pity either. This is not something I made up in my head for attention. I hated that my husband knew but I had no choice but to tell him because he would see me almost pass out or how drained I look after a simple trip to the grocery store. With this disorder I felt so helpless because I had no way of controlling it. Yes, I could limit my exposure to things but in my life there was no way to get away from it. I still had to drive, my kids still had the right to watch TV (on the big large plasma TV my husband would never get rid of) or play video games, I still had to sleep in our electric water bed, I still had to use the stove to cook on, the
 fridge still needed to be on, I still had to go to the grocery store and buy food for my family under the intense electric energy of AC, lights, freezers etc. I could never get away from electricity in my daily life, it would be impossible. I had no choice but to live with these sensations and put on a smile for my kids even though my quality of life had gone so downhill.

After the earthquake happened in Japan there was a lot of news about taking iodine for the radiation. I never paid attention to this nutrient and so I did some research. I could see that I lacked it in my diet since I never salt my food and because I'm the type to skip meals and not eat a lot of one particular food I didn't consume iodine rich foods often. The fact that iodine was being used by medical community to protect against a form of "radiation"...and that EMF sensitivity is also form of radiation...AND I was lacking this essential nutrient all made sense that maybe, especially with my sensitivity my body was begging for it. I'm sure the two forms of radiation are completely different but that was my thinking anyhow.

I purchased Maine Coast Sea Seasonings Organic Kelp on Amazon.com and began sprinkling it on one meal a day, everyday (I do it for breakfast so I start my day with it). You don't need a lot of this stuff...1/4 tsp provides 2150% of iodine. So just a tiny sprinkle will do, you can't even taste it.

I honestly didn't expect it to help, but even so made sure I consumed it everyday because it was an important nutrient I now knew I was deficient in. In less then a month I started noticing an entire day could go by without having one dizziness or electric sensation in my body / head. I was driving again and not feeling sick while doing it. I could be at a stop light and not feel the surge of energy in my foot on the pedal. Every symptom I had was going away!

I started consuming the organic kelp granules in April 2011. As of May I am now completely free of suffering the symptoms of EMF sensitivities! I feel so free and thankful to feel normal again and enjoy life again! Everything I did and everywhere I went I always had to fear the symptoms and stopped doing many things that I once had so much fun doing. I know what it feels like to live with this and I hope by sharing what worked for me it may help another person as well!

If you have any health problems (besides EMF sensitivities) or take medicine it would be a good idea to check with your doctor and make sure increase levels of iodine (through consuming nature's Kelp, not pills) will not interfere with your health. Iodine can interact with some medicines I read. Google and do your own research and determine if it you feel it is okay for you to try. The kelp granules are a natural version no different then if I decided to start eating kelp for dinner on a regular basis. Too much of a good thing is not good though and iodine is powerful so if your going to use remember you only need a tiny bit! That's a lot of iodine for just 1/4 teaspoon! I never use that full amount, just a pinch daily has worked for me. Be safe:)

I noticed another topic on here about masking the problem and stress / adrenal glands. It may not be the iodine helped protect against emf radiation for me but instead strengthened my thyroid / adrenal functioning to have a better defense against the EMF attacks on my body? Iodine has direct impact on our thyroid / adrenal functioning of the body and by making sure it is in our diet is one way we can help to heal instead of masking.

Good luck!

-Chris




                         

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Loni:  which thyroid and adrenal hormones are you on.
Just found out today, that my TSH went up again.  It was normal,
for a while.  

Very  strong hypo symptoms at the mo, but
can't tolerate Armour or Thyroxine etc..  Any tips much appreciated!!

Kookie

--- In [hidden email], Loni <loni326@...> wrote:

Let me jump in here.
If the adrenals are low, they don't make enough of the hormones needed to USE/metabolise any thryoid meds, be it Armour or whatever.
Many times when people think they are reacting the thryoid meds, because they end up feeling like KRAP, its actually because the thryoid hormones get built up in the body (the t3's) because they are NOT being used...as they build up, the person tends to feel worse.
Once they get the adrenals supported, THEN the thryoid is able to take UP the Armour.
These two glands, the thyroid AND the adrenals, work together! They are like best friends. If one goes into distress, the other jumps in to try to help., IF no one hears them screamng, they BOTH go down.
Lizzie
 



To: [hidden email]
From: [hidden email]
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 22:33:40 +0000
Subject: [eSens] Re: Iodine cured EMF sensitivity for me!


 




Loni: which thyroid and adrenal hormones are you on.
Just found out today, that my TSH went up again. It was normal,
for a while.

Very strong hypo symptoms at the mo, but
can't tolerate Armour or Thyroxine etc.. Any tips much appreciated!!

Kookie

--- In [hidden email], Loni <loni326@...> wrote:



     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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Hi Kookie !
 
I am on Armour Thryoid and have been for many years 60 Mg.  I am on 30 to 35 mg of Cortef which is the adrenal steroid.  Iodine always helps the thyroid.   Loni

--- On Mon, 8/22/11, furstc0404 <[hidden email]> wrote:


From: furstc0404 <[hidden email]>
Subject: [eSens] Re: Iodine cured EMF sensitivity for me!
To: [hidden email]
Date: Monday, August 22, 2011, 3:33 PM


 




Loni: which thyroid and adrenal hormones are you on.
Just found out today, that my TSH went up again. It was normal,
for a while.

Very strong hypo symptoms at the mo, but
can't tolerate Armour or Thyroxine etc.. Any tips much appreciated!!

Kookie

--- In [hidden email], Loni <loni326@...> wrote:







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I found this older post and wanted to share my own theory on why I now believe the thyroid is the common denominator in EHS and possibly MCS etc...

I found a terrific article (will paste and add link) that has me convinced my own thyroid was working against me and has been for perhaps my entire life.

I was a low energy kid and easily tired and wanted to be indoors, mostly from extreme cold intolerance.  
My family thought I might have a thyroid problem.  Well, lo and behold test after test for all of my childhood and teens no problem found.  "Her thyroid levels are in range."

Finally at about 25 they found a lower level and said Ok, you are hypothyroid.  I was put on Synthroid and have taken a thyroid rx ever since.  

The discovery I made is that EVEN blood tests can show OK levels of the hormone, but the BODY may not be able to UTILIZE it.   I believe I am a classic Type 2 Hypothyroid (non converter).  A doctor has suggested this and I see the new Endocrine doc next month.

The symptoms almost mirror EHS.  And because SO many people test normal they NEVER know they have an issue to be treated, or they take Synthroid or Tirosint and their labs show they are OK and nothing changes,  Their bodies are STARVED for the thyroid hormone and their faulty receptors cannot use it.  

I believe there are many many undiagnosed hypothyroid who are EHS.  Just because the labs say you are not low, you could be if your thyroid is shot, due to heavy metals or other defects.  

The solution is to try either a compound of T3 AND T4 or the better recommendation is to take desiccated full spectrum pig thyroid made by Armor.  There really ISN'T a test to show if your body uses the hormone... its more of communication and careful observance of your symptoms by the doctor.

This should be read by everyone even if you think you have no thyroid issue.

https://www.townsendletter.com/Dec2008/hypothyroid1208.htm

Hypothyroidism Type 2:
A New Way of Looking at an Old Problem
by Nenah Sylver, PhD


The Basics of an Epidemic
What do chronic pain, diabetes, heart disease, menstrual difficulties, and sleep apnea have in common? As physician Mark Starr points out in his extensively researched book, Hypothyroidism Type 2: The Epidemic, there's an excellent chance that this apparently disparate collection of disorders – among literally dozens, if not hundreds – indicate abnormally low thyroid function.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located at the throat that produces numerous related hormones: thyroxin (also known as T4), liothyronine (also known as T3), T2, and T1. T4, the most well known of all the thyroid hormones, heats the body and speeds metabolism (of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates) and heart rate. T3, the most active form of thyroid hormone, also heats the body and speeds metabolism and heart rate. At best, T4 is only about one-quarter as potent as T3, and in any case, most is converted into the more active T3 by the liver, kidneys, and other body cells. T2 stimulates metabolism, while one animal study showed that T1 cools the body and slows the heart. Together, all four of these related hormones probably act synergistically in ways that are not yet fully understood.
Thyroid underactivity, commonly called hypothyroidism, was first reported in London in 1875. According to many reliable sources, including doctors Broda Barnes, David Derry, Jacques Hertoghe, and James Howenstine, at least one-third to one-half of the US population suffers from slight to severe hypothyroidism.

 (Images did not paste)
  Before and after dessicated thyroid therapy
Source: Hertoghie, Eugene. The Practitioner. Jan. 1915, Vol XCIV, No. 1. Reprinted with permission.
In his book, Starr explains the differences between Types 1 and 2:
• With Type 1 Hypothyroidism, the thyroid does not produce sufficient amounts of hormone to maintain "normal" blood levels of hormones, which in turn will maintain normal blood levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) produced by the pituitary. (I will say more about TSH a little later.)
• With Type 2 Hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland produces "normal" amounts of hormone, but the cells are unable to utilize the hormone properly. Some experts call this thyroid hormone resistance (which may be regarded as similar to insulin resistance).
Laboratory tests showing inadequate bloodstream levels of thyroid hormone make it easy to diagnose Type 1 hypothyroidism. However, lab tests fail to detect Type 2 hypothyroidism, because despite adequate bloodstream hormone levels, the cells are unable to accept and utilize that hormone (for a variety of reasons, which I'll address in a moment). Since the main problem lies with the cells that are actually utilizing the hormone, a different approach needs to be taken when testing for – and to a certain extent, when treating – Type 2 hypothyroidism.
Since many more people suffer from Type 2 than Type 1 hypothyroidism, and because Type 2 is widely misunderstood and misdiagnosed, this article will focus on Type 2: its manifestations, the best way to diagnose it (it's not with lab tests), and its treatment. For this article, I have drawn heavily from Mark Starr's book, Hypothyroidism Type 2: The Epidemic.
Dr. Starr became interested in the subject for both personal and professional reasons. More than a dozen years ago, he embarked on a quest to heal his own chronic pain, fatigue, and allergies after receiving no relief from the majority of physicians with whom he consulted. Professionally, while treating thousands of people who suffered chronic pain alongside a wide range of disorders, he discovered a pattern. The underlying cause or contributing factor to their pain was low thyroid function. Dr. Starr's book is the result of over a decade's worth of intensive research and writing about the history, problems, politics, personnel, literature, case studies, and treatment related to hypothyroidism. I had the opportunity to visit Starr's new clinic, which is near my home, so at the end of this article, I will also give a brief description of his practice.

Endless Disease Conditions
Most people (correctly) regard the thyroid as responsible for proper metabolism. However, this gland plays a major role in hundreds of bodily functions. Here is just a sample of the many symptoms and conditions that can be caused, indirectly or directly, by an under-functioning thyroid gland:
• Appetite disruption (heightened or diminished)
• Autoimmune conditions, including allergies, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis
• Blood sugar disorders, such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, or a combination of the two
• Cancers, all kinds
• Cardiovascular abnormalities, including high cholesterol, poor circulation, heart palpitations, hypertension (high blood pressure), and hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Dental problems, including chronic gum infections, receding gums, and TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint dysfunction (clenching of the teeth, leading to chronic inflammation and pain in the temporomandibular joint)
• Fatigue and lethargy
• Gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome, and impaired digestion leading to constipation and nutritional disorders
• Heart conditions, including coronary artery disease from accelerated atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), abnormal blood pressure (either too high or too low), diminished cardiac output, weakness of the heart muscle, and congestive heart failure
• Hoarseness of voice, difficulty in swallowing, swollen enlarged tongue, and sleep apnea
• Immune response malfunction, leading to increased infections (including Candida albicans) in all parts of the body
• Mental and emotional problems, including difficulty in cognition, and anxiety, depression, memory loss, manic depression, psychosis, and schizophrenia
• Metabolism malfunctions, leading to weight gain (usually) or weight loss (occasionally)
• Muscular disturbances, including ataxia (lack of coordination), carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and weakness
• Neurological impairment, including but not limited to ear conditions (deafness, tinnitus, and vertigo), headaches and migraines, Multiple Sclerosis, and paresthesia (numbness and "pins and needles" in nerves)
• Pain in joints and muscles, including arthritis and fibromyalgia
• Perspiration reduction
• Reproductive disorders, including birth defects, cysts in breasts and ovaries, endometriosis, infertility, and menstrual disturbances
• Respiratory conditions, including asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, and chronic sinus infections
• Skin disorders, including acne, alopecia (hair loss), boils, dryness, eczema, hives, and psoriasis
• Sleepiness and sleep apnea.
• Slowed movement and speech
• Structural weaknesses/deformities and impaired ability to repair damaged tissues, manifesting in brittle nails, brittle or scant hair (including baldness), degenerating bones (osteoporosis), malformed bones (scoliosis), and thinning and loss of eyebrows, notably the outer third
 
• Temperature regulation malfunction: intolerance to heat, and excessive coldness, particularly in extremities.
• Urinary tract problems, such as urinary infections and especially kidney failure from shrunken, scarred kidneys

Why So Many Conditions?

How is it possible that the malfunction of one tiny gland can influence so many other functions that do not seem related to each other? Consider the most obvious effect of an underactive thyroid: reduced cell metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. This not only means inefficient transport of nutrients into the cell membrane, but also inefficient transport of wastes out. As holistic practitioners well know, inadequate nourishment and the buildup of toxins (regardless of the cause) can exacerbate or outright cause virtually all conditions that we call "disease." The more toxins engorge the cells, the more one becomes susceptible to infections and degenerative conditions. As it turns out, the mitochondria – microscopic energy-burning units of the cell responsible for about 90% of the energy production that our cells, tissues, and organs require for metabolism – are intimately affected by thyroid dysfunction. Starr writes:
Thyroid hormones are responsible for our metabolism. When thyroid hormones are given to animals, trillions of mitochondria increase in size and number. The total membrane surface of the mitochondria increases almost directly in proportion to the increased metabolic rate of the whole animal. My medical school textbook, The Textbook of Medical Physiology, states: "It seems almost to be an obvious deduction that the principal function of thyroxin [thyroid hormone] might be simply to increase the number and activity of mitochondria."
The beneficial symbiotic relationship between mitochondria and thyroid hormone works both ways. Adequate levels of thyroid hormone not only increase mitochondria number and function, but as Starr points out, "mitochondrial mutations appear to be largely responsible for the metabolic defects at the cellular level, which result in a hypothyroid-like condition.... Defects in mitochondria, as well as synthetic toxins, impair thyroid hormone metabolism at the cellular level." Not surprisingly, symptoms of mitochondrial disease are the same as symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Before and after desiccated thyroid therapy
Source: Lisser, H. and Escamilla, R.F. Atlas of Clinical Endrocrinology: Including Text of Diagnosis and Treatment. C.V. Mosby Company, 1957. Reprinted with permission.
 
 There are scores of environmental toxins that interfere with every aspect of thyroid metabolism and cause the mitochondria to malfunction. These include petroleum and petroleum byproducts; pesticides, herbicides and fungicides; heavy metals, among them mercury, arsenic, lead, aluminum, barium, and cadmium; organic solvents, including benzene, toluene, trichloroethylene, and dichloromethane; and numerous other synthetic chemicals. Fat-soluble toxins lodge in the fat cells that lie beneath the skin and surround internal organs. Women, whose bodies contain more fat than men's, hold proportionately more toxins in their systems and thus, one might assume, suffer from hypothyroidism in much greater numbers than do men. Statistics show this to be true.
Faulty thyroid receptors on the cell membranes as well as mitochondrial mutations can cause a hypothyroid condition. "Defective thyroid receptors," Starr writes, "may prevent a sufficient supply of hormones that are circulating in our blood from reaching the mitochondria and other crucial sites such as the nucleus of the cell. The nucleus is where the thyroid hormones activate genes and stimulate protein synthesis, among a host of other tasks" [emphasis added]. This explains why so many people with underactive thyroids have brittle nails and hair, and even bone defects. If the body cannot utilize amino acids to create new, properly formed tissue, the cells will be imperfect and cause structural abnormalities.
Myxedema, which is the retention of mucin, can also occur when the tissues do not properly process and utilize thyroid hormone. (Myx is the Greek word for "mucin," and edema means "swelling.") Mucin is a compound comprised of sugars bound to a protein and in modest amounts is a constituent of connective tissue. (Connective tissue lines blood vessels, comprises nerve sheaths, is part of the fascial envelope surrounding muscles, and is in organs and glands, in the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts, and in the mucous membrane lining of the respiratory tract, including the sinuses.) By nature, jelly-like mucin absorbs water. When present in normal amounts, mucin is not a problem. But in excess, the hydrophilic (water- loving) mucin can cause serious problems wherever it accumulates in the connective tissue. Over half of the hypothyroid population (55%-60%) has abnormally high amounts of mucin, which accumulate more with age. In fact, the medical term for "hypothyroidism" used to be myxedema.
You can see how an underactive thyroid can be responsible for so many debilitating and apparently disparate health problems. Just a small sample includes heart disease, digestive disorders, liver malfunction, lupus, muscular pain, neurological impairment, sinusitis, and sleep apnea (caused by a swelling of the trachea and larynx). Also worth noting are Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) problems. These often accompany hypothyroidism due to slow contraction and relaxation of the muscles. Muscle spasms are common in hypothyroidism, as are arthritic changes and joint effusions (an abnormal buildup of joint fluid).
Inadequate thyroid hormone at the cellular level also negatively impacts other glands. "Without the crucial influence of thyroid hormones," Starr emphasizes, "proper maturation and function of the other hormone glands is not possible." To compensate for the weakness and low metabolism caused by inadequate thyroid hormone, other parts of the body overwork, including the adrenals and the

sympathetic nervous system. This may cause the subject to temporarily experience a rapid heartbeat and/or feel hyperactive, jittery, and restless – until exhaustion sets in from the unnatural attempts to compensate for low thyroid hormone levels. More often, though, the majority of sufferers simply feel fatigued and weak most of the time.
As you review the previous list of health conditions directly caused or heavily influenced by hypothyroidism, keep in mind the phrases poor utilization of thyroid hormone by the tissues, excess mucin, and inadequate function of other glands. Just these three descriptions can explain almost all of those symptom pictures.
Flawed Lab Tests
The biggest error in hypothyroid diagnosis is the medical profession's excessive reliance on laboratory tests only, to the exclusion of the subjects' symptoms. When hypothyroidism was first detected in the 1800s, physicians listened to the people who actually had the disorder and based their treatments on what they observed and on what their patients told them. There are many physical signs of hypothyroidism, among them puffy face and lips, hair loss, dry puffy skin, abnormally slow movements and speech, hoarse voice, and intolerance to cold. (Not only does the person subjectively feel chilly, but the hands and feet feel cold to another person's touch.) Mark Starr writes that in the early twentieth century,
...the ultimate test of whether or not a patient was hypothyroid was the patient's response to a trial of thyroid hormones. Confirmation depended upon improvement or resolution of their symptoms. . . . [But] the list of thyroid blood tests grew until there were scores of available tests. Unfortunately, they failed to improve the ability to detect Type 2 hypothyroidism.
Today, the overwhelming majority of doctors are taught to check only the patients' blood tests if they suspect hypothyroidism. If the tests are normal, the search begins for other possible causes of their problems. The vast majority of patients with hypothyroidism have normal thyroid blood tests, because the tests do not detect Type 2 hypothyroidism. Countless new syndromes, both mental and physical, have been adopted in [futile] attempts to explain the myriad symptoms related to hypothyroidism [emphasis added].
How ironic – though one must admit, not surprising! – that with the mechanization of medicine, along with its reductionist laboratory tests and synthesized pharmaceuticals, the person's own experiences and symptoms became secondary to the practitioner's theories. In the words of Starr, medical professionals have become "blinded by their devotion to the laboratory tests." Drawing on the groundbreaking (and commonsense) work of pioneer physicians – including Broda Barnes, Eugene Cohen, Jacques Hertoghe, Hermann Zondek, Hans Kraus, and Lawrence Sonkin (the latter two with whom he studied) – Starr analyzes in depth some common misconceptions about thyroid testing. The most commonly used blood test, which is based on the theory of the TSH-thyroid hormone feedback loop, contains a simple but major flaw. Since somany doctors rely on this test to make an accurate diagnosis, it's worth addressing.
 
The most common blood test for hypothyroidism depends on the following assumptions. The body tissues transmit their need for thyroid hormones to the hypothalamus in the brain, which sends a signal to the pituitary gland. In turn, the pituitary secretes thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which signals the thyroid gland to secrete more hormones. These hormones are then carried by the bloodstream to the tissues. The action of the thyroid hormones on the tissues reduces the tissue signals to the brain for more thyroid hormones, and the pituitary stops secreting TSH.
The problem with this scenario is that most of the time, the mitochondria in toxic and defective cells are unable to convey to the brain their need for thyroid hormone, even if it's urgently required. In fact, according to numerous studies, people whose mitochondria tested abnormal nonetheless had normal thyroid hormone levels in their blood. Modern thyroid blood tests, Starr reminds us, do not detect Type 2 hypothyroidism "because thyroid hormone levels [in the bloodstream] may be normal, but they are not high enough to stimulate the . . . defective mitochondria into normal activity" [emphasis added]. Nor are the blood thyroid hormone levels high enough to induce the resistant receptor sites on the cells to start accepting hormone. Any part of the cell can be involved in the failure to process and utilize thyroid hormone. "There is no scientific evidence," Starr bluntly states, after providing a detailed review of the literature, "to support the doctors' claim that the TSH test detects hypothyroidism in the vast majority of patients. The validity of the TSH [tests] has been [solely] established by word of mouth and [only] purportedly by the [flawed] studies I have presented." Unfortunately, few medical personnel appear to have read the literature upon which the presumed validity of the TSH test was based – or have read it with a careful enough analytic eye.
Before and after dessicated thyroid therapy
Source: Hertoghie, Eugene. The Practitioner. Jan. 1915, Vol XCIV, No. 1. Reprinted with permission.
 
   Before and after dessicated thyroid therapy
Source:Allbut, T.C. A System of Medicine, London, Macmillan and Company, 1901. Reprinted with permission. (Note: Photo on the left has been cropped.)
The Need to Observe Clinical Symptoms
I have already mentioned the clinical observation of numerous signs, such as puffy face and lips, thinning or lack of hair, the missing third of the outside of the eyebrows, swollen skin, lack of alertness, slowed speech, hoarseness, and cold extremities. And, of course, there's the common weight gain and tendency toward chronic infections.
There is also another very simple hypothyroid indicator that was developed by Broda Barnes, MD, PhD (he died in 1988). Barnes told his clients to take their armpit temperature before rising every day, usually over a period of weeks. If the temperature averaged lower than 97.8o F, the person was considered hypothyroid. Starr points out that the basal temperature test for hypothyroidism is "not infallible" – for example, someone might be hypothyroid but have a near-normal basal temperature, suggesting that the higher-than-expected temperature readings may be due to chronic inflammation in the lungs or elsewhere. Nevertheless, Barnes's temperature test is still an effective and accurate diagnostic tool in most instances.
Again, I refer the reader back to the extensive list at the beginning of this article. By now, it should be clear that hypothyroidism is fairly easy to detect, once you know what to look for. One more thing: a prominent research study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology found that some people with severe biochemical hypothyroidism exhibited only mild clinical signs, whereas others with minor biochemical changes exhibited severe clinical signs.
These are the last "before" and "after" pictures concerning hypothyroidism treatment that Dr. Starr has seen in any endocrinology textbook. With all of the subjects, the only thyroid hormone treatment
Top left: Woman with abdominal fluid (ascites) before dessicated thyroid therapy.
Top right: The same woman, no longer with

ascites, after three months of desiccated thyroid hormone therapy.
Middle left: Person wioth enlarged heart before desiccated thyroid therapy.
Middle right: The same person with a successful resolution of congestive heart failure - a normalized heart - after three months of desiccated thyroid hormone therapy.
Bottom left: Person with enlarged and inflamed colon before desiccated thyroid therapy.
Bottom right: The same person, now with a normal colon, after three months of desiccated thyroid hormone therapy.
Source: Lisser, H., and Escamilla, R.F.. Atlas of Clinical Endocrinology: Including Text of Diagnosis and Treatment. C.V. Mosby Company, 1957. Reprinted with permission.
Treatment for Type 2 Hypothyroidism
1. Replacement Hormone
Whether the person's thyroid gland is not producing enough hormone or the cells are unable (for whatever reason) to process what the gland is producing, the treatment is the same: replacement hormone. From the perspective of conventional medical training, flooding the system with thyroid hormone, in amounts greater than what laboratory blood tests might indicate are useful or prudent, may seem questionable. But consider the highly dysfunctional state of the mitochondria and/or cell receptors. If you saturate the tissues with enough hormone, for a long enough period, even malfunctioning mitochondria and stubborn receptor sites will start processing and utilizing the hormone. Once the body begins to function correctly, it has the potential to self-correct. Then, conceivably, the hormone dosage can be reduced. This points to the need for careful monitoring of people with Type 2 hypothyroidism. It's easy to assess a body that is starting to heal, Starr maintains. "The increased basal temperature that results from administering desiccated thyroid is a direct result of enhanced mitochondrial activity."
What type of pharmaceuticals work best? Up until the 1960s, people suffering from hypothyroidism were given desiccated thyroid derived from pigs. This means the entire dried gland and its contents – all four forms of thyroid hormone, RNA, DNA, and other co-factors. But by the 1970s, isolated thyroxin (T4) was introduced as the "gold standard" of thyroid medications. By definition, thyroxin is only a portion of the thyroid hormone complex. Since it does not contain the synergistic effects of the entire glandular material, not surprisingly, it proved less
 
effective clinically than the desiccated thyroid.
 One such study on the superiority of desiccated thyroid over thyroxin was conducted in Belgium and was published in 2001 by endocrinologist Jacques Hertoghe and his colleagues in the Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine. Subjects showed marked improvement when they began taking desiccated thyroid instead of only T4. The hallmark symptoms of low thyroid – constipation, headache, joint and muscle pain, muscle cramps, depression, cold intolerance, and fatigue – were reduced by 70% after they switched from T4 to desiccated thyroid. "Symptoms of the patients already taking T4," notes Starr, reviewing the study, "did not differ from those of the group of untreated patients" [emphasis added].
Occasionally, Dr. Starr has found, some people require compounded T3 or T4 only or combinations of the two, because they are either allergic to, or unable to tolerate, desiccated thyroid. Or, they don't want to take the desiccated pork product for religious reasons. Whatever replacement hormone product is used, it's crucial that the client be monitored on a regular basis. This includes self-monitoring. The doctor must be willing to work closely with the client as well. And the client must be willing and able to detect physiological changes that indicate too little or too much hormone and regularly report to the doctor.
Significantly, as one's metabolism becomes more efficient, perspiration will increase, allowing for the elimination of more toxins. As more toxins are eliminated, the better the cells – including the mitochondria and hormone receptor sites – will function. This suggests that mitochondrial defects can be corrected, given enough time, patience, and dedication. (See below.)
2. Detoxification
Some of the most significant stressors of mitochondria are heavy metals. Mercury is particularly insidious, as it's everywhere in our environment and affects the system in devastating ways. It can also be difficult to eliminate. Intravenous chelation therapy has proven effective, but is expensive and time-consuming. Less expensive but effective alternatives include the oral ingestion of broken cell wall chlorella, liquid zeolite, alpha lipoic acid, and certain amino acids in the correct proportions, often in combin ation with each other.
The fact that a good portion of the T4 to T3 conversion takes place in the liver also points to the need for a good detox liver protocol, as this organ is primary in converting systemic and environmental poisons into less noxious, more easily excretable substances. An overall excellent – and easy – means of detoxifying is sweating. Sweating reduces the waste removal burden on the kidneys, liver, and eliminative organs. Numerous studies have shown vastly decreased levels of mercury and other toxins after even only a few weeks of regular sauna therapy. In fact, subjects have been known to blacken their towels with the metals excreted through the skin during sweating. My book, The Holistic Handbook of Sauna Therapy, discusses sauna protocols in depth: the mechanism of sweating; the three types of heat, including details on far infrared; what types of heating elements and sauna building materials are best for people with particular sensitivities and needs; how to take a sauna and avoid heatstroke; which medical conditions can be relieved by sweating; when one should not use the sauna at all; and when one may

use the sauna with medical supervision; pregnant women and children in the sauna; and specific detox protocols.
Be aware that sauna therapy can achieve opposite effects with regard to medication. On the one hand, some medication may be sweated out of the system. On the other hand, the elimination of toxins increases the metabolic efficiency of the cells, which means that in many cases a drug is more efficiently absorbed into the cell – and therefore will be needed in reduced amounts. Whatever detox protocol you use, it needs to be consistent. Sometimes it can take longer than desired to eliminate toxins from deep inside the tissues.
3. Nutritional Support
Iodine is essential for proper thyroid function. Potassium iodide is absorbed directly by the thyroid gland, whereas iodine tends to be more heavily concentrated in the breasts, reproductive organs, and respiratory tract (including the sinuses). Both forms of iodine are necessary for optimal functioning. Some types of seaweed added to the diet, such as dulse, provide large quantities of iodine.
To assist in the conversion of T4 to T3, supplementation with selenium, zinc, and vitamins E and B6 are usually indicated. Manganese, known to protect the thyroid and liver, is sometimes called the "anti-pear nutrient," so named because it helps eliminate the faulty weight distribution pattern common with hypothyroid people. Thyroid hormone increases the enzyme levels in the body. Since vitamins are essential constituents of both enzymes and co-enzymes, increased thyroid hormone levels require a higher intake of vitamins.
4. Glandular Support
Adrenal and thyroid function are intricately related. Sometimes, hypothyroid subjects are unable to tolerate even sub-therapeutic amounts of thyroid hormone due to adrenal fatigue. (In their attempt to raise the energy of the body and compensate for the under-activity of the thyroid gland, the adrenals have overworked and are now exhausted.) Therefore, support for the adrenals, other glands, and even the hypothalamus may be indicated during or even before beginning thyroid hormone therapy.
Dr. Mark Starr's Clinic
In early 2008, Dr. Mark Starr left his established and thriving pain clinic in Atlanta, Georgia, to relocate to Phoenix, Arizona. In his spacious, comfortable, and conveniently located Paradise Valley office, Starr continues to practice his specialty: the elimination of pain and the treatment of hypothyroidism, usually with desiccated thyroid hormone. (Some people are allergic to pork, are vegans, or have religious objections to pork, so they take the compounded pharmaceuticals.) Starr also specializes in sports injuries, using FDA-approved and FDA-cleared electromedical devices that include a state-of-the-art laser and the Tennant Biomodulator®.
As an author in the holistic health field who specializes in electromedicine, I was very impressed with the range of therapies available in Dr. Starr's clinic. I was also impressed with Starr's knowledge, obvious passion, caring, and dedication to helping people regain their health. Having dealt with his own hypothyroid issues and been obliged to dig for answers that at the time were not readily available, Dr.
 
Starr makes an excellent advocate for those seeking competent medical treatment.
Summary
Dr. Mark Starr's extensively researched book, Hypothyroidism Type 2: The Epidemic, is essential reading for both professionals and laypersons. The book cites long-term studies, involving thousands of subjects, showing that hypothyroidism is rampant. Starr's book also explains how Type 2 hypothyroidism develops and describes the best treatments for it. Physicians in all specialties who want to augment the efficacy of their care should read Dr. Starr's book. The many photographs in the book of hypothyroid people, before and after treatment with thyroid hormone, reinforce the differences between hypothyroidism and normalcy in an unmistakable and striking way. Anyone who looks at these "before" photographs is bound to recognize someone they know – someone who could have been helped to overcome a debilitating condition, if only they or their doctors knew about it.
Unfortunately, hypothyroidism is often the last possibility considered for those who are unwell. Since thyroid hormones are intricately related to virtually every bodily function, hypothyroidism can cause or exacerbate an almost unlimited number of conditions that initially might not seem related to each other. This points to the importance of applying an integrative approach to how the body functions, instead of perceiving various conditions as discrete "diseases."
Laboratory tests for hypothyroidism miss the vast majority of sufferers. The most commonly performed, "gold standard" tests do not reveal what is occurring at the cellular level. If the cells are unable to utilize and process thyroid hormone, even with normal bloodstream thyroid hormone levels, the person has hypothyroidism – in this case, Type 2, which is pervasive in a large percentage of the population and unrecognized by mainstream medicine.
The client's history and clinical exam are the best diagnostic tools for hypothyroidism: in fact, they are the basis of good medicine. If the person's clinical picture improves when he or she takes thyroid hormone, then he or she is hypothyroid! This simple concept can be difficult for some professionals to grasp, especially if they insist on ignoring their clients' symptoms at the expense of erroneous theories. As Dr. Thomas Boc remarks: "There are countless thousands of people who are in failing health because their doctors are not listening to what the patient is trying to tell them about their illnesses. They [the doctors] have been trained to rely on blood tests more than on the history and examination of the patient."
Desiccated thyroid is more effective than T4 (levothyroxin) for treating hypothyroidism. Prominent studies prove that heavy metals, especially mercury, interfere with thyroid hormone uptake and utilization. Therefore, detoxification protocols such as chelation and sauna therapy are indispensable. So is proper nutrition, including supplementation with iodine and other minerals like selenium, without which thyroid hormone cannot be utilized and converted into a form useable by the tissues. As the body eliminates toxins and nutrient absorption is improved, the thyroid hormone dose may need to be decreased. Thus, care must be taken to monitor the client's responses.
 
It's critical that health practitioners learn how to diagnose and treat Type 2 hypothyroidism. The ability to work with this condition indicates a caring, open- minded, and competent professional who is free from rigid and antiquated notions that do not reflect the lives, suffering, or medical conditions of real people. Clients fortunate enough to obtain proper treatment for hypothyroidism enjoy a vastly improved quality of life – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Proper Thyroid Supplementation Prevents Heart Attacks
[In 1948], the National Heart Institute began the Framingham Study, officially named "The Heart Disease Epidemiology Study." The objective: to determine why heart attacks were rapidly reaching epidemic proportions.
Over 5,000 adult residents of Framingham, Massachusetts volunteered to participate in the long-term medical study. The group underwent thorough physical exams. All were free of heart disease initially. Participants were examined at two-year intervals. People who later suffered heart attacks helped determine the so-called “risk factors” that became associated with the illness. Risk factors included high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, increasing age, and having a family history of heart attacks. Men were found to be at higher risk of heart attacks than women.
In 1950...Dr. [Broda] Barnes began a long-term study to determine if proper treatment of hypothyroidism would prevent heart attacks.... Dr. Barnes intended for his study to parallel the Framingham Study.... [His] research included 1,569 patients who received treatment for their hypothyroidism. A minimum of two years of thyroid therapy was required to be included in the study.... An individual patient’s symptoms, response to the hormones, and basal temperatures determined their dosage of thyroid hormones....
The Framingham Study would have predicted that 72 of Dr. Barnes’s patients should have suffered heart attacks. Only four occurred.... Dr. Barnes purposely did not attempt to control cholesterol, smoking, exercise, or other variables among his study group. He wanted the only variable between his patients and those from the Framingham Study to be the use of thyroid hormones....
Over 90% of predicted heart attacks from the Framingham Study were prevented.... Dr. Barnes predicted that our massive effort to control heart attacks would fail, unless we recognized and properly treated hypothyroidism.
– Mark Starr, MD(H) Hypothyroidism Type 2: The Epidemic (2007), 34-35
   
 To contact Dr. Starr:
Mark Starr, MD(H)
21st Century Pain & Sports Medicine 10565 North Tatum Boulevard, B115 Paradise Valley, Arizona 85253 480-607-6503 www.21centurymed.com
Notes:
1. Starr M. Hypothyroidism Type E: The Epidemic. Irvine, CA: New Voice Publications; 2005, 2007: 55.
2. Starr 59, 69.
3. Starr 61.
4. Starr 1.
5. Starr 63–64. 6. Starr 71.
7. Starr 59.
8. Starr 70.
9. Starr 137. 10. Starr 59. 11. Starr 175. 12. Starr xvi
© 2008 by Nenah Sylver, PhD
Nenah Sylver, PhD
P.O. Box 74324
Phoenix, Arizona 85087-4324
nenah@nenahsylver.com www.nenahsylver.com

 

It's funny to see all these posts here...

Kelp is more than iodine, Marc is right, and besides is absorbs heavy metals!!!

As for the test Marc refers to it's called KPU or HPU.
I was also tested, as I'm a typical case of kryptopyrrolurie, said my doctor, but it came NEGATIVE.

I had all the symptoms, but I came negative, which does not mean, you are actually negative (said dr K.)
I tried to take the treatment, and again, I had HORRIBLE reactions to zinc supplements. All of them.

Only NOW, certainly more than a decade trying to take zinc, I finally found ONE supplement I can take: zinc sulfate (liquid), recommended by Anthony William!!
I take it daily, without problems.

Before, my last attempt was a zinc supplement from Heildeberger Chlorella. I opened the zinc capsule and took 1/6 of the capsule, 2x a week. My daughter would suffer with the same symptoms with all zinc supplements....

Anyway, it's all past now.

As for the thyroid, everyone in this forum has probably thyroid problems.
Why? If you got CFS, your thyroid and adrenals are probably affected.

Anthony William says herpes viruses attack the glands, aiming to control your body's function, such as body temperature. The body may fight back trying to encircle the viruses, creating lumps, cysts, even cancer....

The only way out is to kill the viruses, detox heavy metals, etc.

Anthony's main remedy against heavy metals is Atlantic dulse! Plus barley grass, spirulina, wild blueberry and cilantro.

The guy taking kelp and feeling cured probably got some heavy metals cleaned, some of his thyroid hormones boosted, and iodine is also antimicrobial!!!

And the salt present in kelp or any sea weed is very beneficial to ground the person.
Unlike just table salt, or rock salt, that load the liver negatively.

The salt in plant/ sea plants is living salt, it has wonderful effects due to nourishment and electrolytes, all combined!

We try to solve the puzzle with chemistry and drugs, but I guess Mother Nature has already many of the answers for many of our problems!!!