Please refer to the image left of a typical slow metaboliser profile of a person who is complaining of constant tiredness. What you see is elevated Calcium, depressed magnesium, sodium and potassium. Iron and manganese are also low relative to calcium. These are the signs of a person who is suffering from fatigue related ailments, including poor, unrefreshing sleep and lack of energy throughout the day.
Showing posts with label thyroid - underactive. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thyroid - underactive. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 06, 2015
Why is Chromium needed when the Hair Tissue Analysis results show high chromium?
Please refer to the image left of a typical slow metaboliser profile of a person who is complaining of constant tiredness. What you see is elevated Calcium, depressed magnesium, sodium and potassium. Iron and manganese are also low relative to calcium. These are the signs of a person who is suffering from fatigue related ailments, including poor, unrefreshing sleep and lack of energy throughout the day.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
About drug interactions and debilitating joint pain
I am 63 -- female & very active (cardio & lift moderate to light weights). In the past year I have noticed more debilitating pain in my right knee & shoulder & lower back. X-rays show osteoarthritis & degenerative disc in lower back. I am also on levothyroxine for hypothyroid & zoloft for depression (& once monthly Boniva).
Which of your products is best for me & will not interact with my prescription meds (or cause weight gain!)? I will await your answer.
_____________________________
Gary:
There are several issues going on here that need to be addressed. Simply taking a supplement on its own for joint pain will have disappointing results.
Thyroid
When the thyroid is functioning poorly, there is a loss of calcium from the bone and this tends to be deposited into the soft tissues, including the joints. This shows up as progressive loss of bone density, arthritis, including spurring of the joint margins, muscle pain, fatigue and the calcification of the blood vessels (arteriosclerosis). There is always an adrenal fatigue component which impacts directly on thyroid function. Prescribing a thyroid medication may partially alleviate matters but not entirely because the other glandular factors are being ignored. Thyroid problems are often preceded by events of significant stress and poor eating.
Depression is closely associated with adrenal fatigue and associated thyroid dysfunction. Medicating for depression does not address these underlying drivers.
Notice how slick drugs marketers use uplifting names for these poisons to lull people into a false sense of safety and security: Boniva Bon = good or well and iva = uplifting.
Which of your products is best for me & will not interact with my prescription meds (or cause weight gain!)? I will await your answer.
_____________________________
Gary:
There are several issues going on here that need to be addressed. Simply taking a supplement on its own for joint pain will have disappointing results.
Thyroid
When the thyroid is functioning poorly, there is a loss of calcium from the bone and this tends to be deposited into the soft tissues, including the joints. This shows up as progressive loss of bone density, arthritis, including spurring of the joint margins, muscle pain, fatigue and the calcification of the blood vessels (arteriosclerosis). There is always an adrenal fatigue component which impacts directly on thyroid function. Prescribing a thyroid medication may partially alleviate matters but not entirely because the other glandular factors are being ignored. Thyroid problems are often preceded by events of significant stress and poor eating.
Zoloft
Taken for depression, Zoloft may give some relief during the first month after which any benefits to mood are mostly lost due to habituation. From thereon, the drug is taken just to be able to continue to function during the day, let alone to feel "good". Due to its messy effects on nerve neurotransmitters the user may suffer increasing fatigue, joint and muscle pain and blood pressure may fluctuate wildly. Depression is closely associated with adrenal fatigue and associated thyroid dysfunction. Medicating for depression does not address these underlying drivers.
Boniva
Boniva is a bisphosphonate drug that I consider to be one of the most awful drugs that are commonly prescribed. It works by killing off healthy bone. It is so toxic that it can only be taken once a month and the person may not lie down after taking the drug otherwise it will burn out the oesophagus! In my opinion, these drugs should be banned. How a doctor can continue to prescribe these drugs when there is so much evidence of serious harm, is beyond me.Notice how slick drugs marketers use uplifting names for these poisons to lull people into a false sense of safety and security: Boniva Bon = good or well and iva = uplifting.
- User Reviews of Boniva Prepare to be shocked.
- I have written about 30 articles about these drugs in a effort to get the warnings out to the public. Please go here and read more about bisphosphonates.
What to do:
- Stop taking the Boniva immediately. This can be done safely with the only side effects of doing so being feeling much better.
- Do not stop taking the other two without first consulting your doctor. If your Dr is not supportive of a staged withdrawal, first of the depression drug and then the thyroid medication (given you have not had your thyroid removed or irradiated), then consider finding another doctor.
- While you are at it you might like to amuse yourself by testing the knowledge of your health professional.
- Please read these articles about adrenal fatigue.
- Commence an adrenal and thyroid support programme by first doing this assessment then emailing me your scores. We will then take things from there. An adrenal and thyroid support programme will not interfere with your current medication but will prepare you for a safe withdrawal from them later on.
_______________________________________
About this website
The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness. Please give me your support by subscribing to my free email updates. Please shop at my Online Store. Please encourage your family and friends to do the same. While we may not always be able to compete with the big operators on price, we aim to more than compensate through personal service! Sunday, January 23, 2011
Advice for an exercising peri-menopausal ex-smoker who is gaining weight
Gary
I have become pre-menopausal in the last year and in May 19 last 2010 I quit smoking. I have been exercising more (did my first tri and did not come last ) walk to and from work plus do yoga and core work most days. I have also been watching my food intake a I was aware of the potential to put on weight when giving up smoking and going in to menopause.
My question is why am I gaining weight??
____________________________________
Gary:
While the hormonal changes associated with menopause may be a contributor to your weight gain, I feel the main cause may be due to the adrenals and thyroid being on a "low".
I understand that you are in a stressful occupation. Your occupation, plus other life stressors hammer the small adrenal glands that simply are not designed to handle the constant stress of modern life. It is inevitable that these hard-working glands will eventually tire and begin to fail.
The adrenals produce over 90 different steroidal hormones. The main one is cortisol. Others include estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.
As an aside: With menopause, the ovaries steadily reduce production of the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Interestingly, the adrenals, when in good health, step up their production of these hormones, thus reducing the severity of menopausal symptoms. If the adrenals are in poor health, menopausal symptoms tend to be much worse, to the point of unbearable.
What has all this to do with weight gain? Its indirect.
The adrenals secrete a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol potentiates thyroxine, so a drop in cortisol production means the thyroid has to work harder than ever to do its job of keeping metabolism on an even keel.
Another action of low adrenal function is copper retention due to the adrenals having less of a stimulatory effect on the liver. Copper reduces thyroid function. Please read this article for more about copper and thyroid function. And this article is relevant.
Low thyroid = Weight gain, especially about the hips and waist
Tobacco contains a stimulant called nicotine. The stimulation from nicotine may offset any depressing of metabolism from reducing adrenal and thyroid activity. When a person gives up smoking, the low adrenal and thyroid activity may be revealed in the form of persistent weight gain no matter what.
Going on a low fat, low calorie diet will make matters worse because the calorie deprivation is sending signals to store food and not burn it.
A diet that is low in fat is, by default, deficient in the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. These vitamins, along with cholesterol, are necessary for hormone production. Hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, cortisol and thyroxine.
Sounds like a recipe for excessive menopausal symptoms and weight gain!
The solution is to undertake an adrenal fatigue and thyroid recovery programme. You will need to correspond directly with me about this because it is by prescription only.
_______________________________________
About this website
The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness. Please give me your support by subscribing to my free email updates. Please shop at my Online Store. Please encourage your family and friends to do the same. While we may not always be able to compete with the big operators on price, we aim to more than compensate through personal service! Advice regarding a woman suffering from chronic pain
An inquiry from a physiotherapist working in an orthopaedics institute.
"Dear Gary
I have been learning a lot about rehab in orthopaedis and then I got to know your website research about hallux rigidus. Here they do a lot of surgery for Valgus also and it results in a hallux rigidus.
I would like to know if you could help me on finding some criteria to identify the pain of a patient.
Female, 63y.o. felt on september 2009, sitting position, where she injured the coccix, no fracture. 8 months later had herpes zoster in right toracic region. At the first signs, she went to a neuro, took the meds and was ok.
After 3 months the pain came back very strong.
She took a 3D MRI from lumbo-sacro column. It was shows a little bone (like a sesamoid bone) between L4-L5-S1, considering no damage on affecting nerves. MRI normal.
Rehab, massage, capsicine creme on the area. Muscular relax pills. More than a year and not getting better.A lot of pain. She has some depression, mild.
Takng anti-depression medication because of the neuro doc prescription.
She can't relieve the pain on any position. The cycle is like 2-4 day with no pain than 2 with terrible pain.
Healthly, used to do yoga, walking 4 times a week for an hours - arround 5miles- 4km, used to be very active. She can do NO physical activities now cause of the pain.
Arthritis Deformatis on the hands and some on cervical spine.
I would appreciate your help and-or suggestions at this case.
Thank you very much."
C""
_______________________________________________
Gary:
Rheumatoid arthritis and copper retention
I assume she may have some degree of rheumatoid arthritis? People with rheumatoid arthritis frequently show low tissue copper. Chronic cases may show a high iron to copper ratio. If your patient was to complete an ICL Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis, we may see something along these lines going on with her.
However; she may have the opposite going on - Elevated copper levels are more the possibility as I will explain in the rest of this article.
Under active thyroid
We may see evidence of an underactive thyroid, even if blood tests do not indicate this. An underactive thyroid results in parathyroid gland dominance and this hormone imbalance drives calcium out of the bones and into the soft tissues resulting in joint and muscle pain, including joint degeneration and osteophytes. An excess of calcium in the soft tissues is associated with fatigue and depression. Elevated tissue copper is often seen with low thyroid and this will have an antagonistic effect on iron. If an iron deficiency develops, the thyroid will not function well. Copper also affects insulin through its antagonism of zinc, causing insulin to flood the blood.
These actions cause arthritis, chronic fatigue and chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia.
Copper and the adrenal glands
Most individuals with weak adrenals have high copper levels. Hormones from the adrenals normally stimulate the liver to remove copper from the body. Poor liver function is often seen in people with high copper levels.
Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
Elevated copper levels typically accompany viral infections. Elevated copper levels predispose the person to recurrent viral infections, such as shingles.
Medications
The main excretion of copper is through the intestinal tract via the liver and gall bladder. Medications can cause copper retention. The hormone estrogen, some psychotropic drugs, tranquilisers, and pain killers will interrupt this process of copper elimination. Several of your patient's drugs will be contributing to copper retention and may thus be contributing to her chronic health problems.
What to do next
The first thing your patient needs to do is have a hair tissue mineral analysis completed. Here is the test she needs to do. You can arrange this through me, no problem at all. It will just take longer, since you are in another country and we can review the report via a medium such as Skype.
Aim to have her progressively go off all medications. This is best done under medical supervision, especially due to the addictive powers of anti depressants. If this is not practical, or realistic right now, then I would wait for the hair analysis results to come in and then go from there using the report to guide the process.
If you feel she has elevated copper levels, then she can increase her intake of nutrients that antagonise copper such as zinc, vitamin C and vitamin A. As an aside, these three nutrients are renowned for their ability to reduce viral infections! If her symptoms improve with these nutrients, then you know you are on the right track. But please bear in mind that the medications she is taking may negate any benefit.
With regards to diet, have her avoid all foods that contain moderate to high levels of calcium and definitely no calcium supplements! Have a diet that is low in refined carbohydrates and no sugar. Eat vegetables and fresh fruit, nuts and dark berries. Have five small meals a day. Ensure there is quality protein in every meal, especially breakfast. Avoid all margarines, and foods with preservatives, colouring and flavouring (tough on the liver).
Get rid of stress from her life.
"Dear Gary
I have been learning a lot about rehab in orthopaedis and then I got to know your website research about hallux rigidus. Here they do a lot of surgery for Valgus also and it results in a hallux rigidus.
I would like to know if you could help me on finding some criteria to identify the pain of a patient.
Female, 63y.o. felt on september 2009, sitting position, where she injured the coccix, no fracture. 8 months later had herpes zoster in right toracic region. At the first signs, she went to a neuro, took the meds and was ok.
After 3 months the pain came back very strong.
She took a 3D MRI from lumbo-sacro column. It was shows a little bone (like a sesamoid bone) between L4-L5-S1, considering no damage on affecting nerves. MRI normal.
Rehab, massage, capsicine creme on the area. Muscular relax pills. More than a year and not getting better.A lot of pain. She has some depression, mild.
Takng anti-depression medication because of the neuro doc prescription.
She can't relieve the pain on any position. The cycle is like 2-4 day with no pain than 2 with terrible pain.
Healthly, used to do yoga, walking 4 times a week for an hours - arround 5miles- 4km, used to be very active. She can do NO physical activities now cause of the pain.
Arthritis Deformatis on the hands and some on cervical spine.
I would appreciate your help and-or suggestions at this case.
Thank you very much."
C""
_______________________________________________
Gary:
Please bear in mind that the following is partly speculative and can only be confirmed, one way or another, the completion of a hair tissue mineral analysis. The set of conditions you are describing often are associated with a period of unrelenting or severe stress within the previous 2-5 years. Severe stress may shut down the adrenal and thyroid glands. This is the root cause of most of these types of chronic health problems and no amount of drugs therapy or physical therapy is going to make any difference. In fact, as I explain later, most of the drugs treatments employed, such as anti depressants and anti inflammatories, will make matters even worse.
I assume she may have some degree of rheumatoid arthritis? People with rheumatoid arthritis frequently show low tissue copper. Chronic cases may show a high iron to copper ratio. If your patient was to complete an ICL Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis, we may see something along these lines going on with her.
However; she may have the opposite going on - Elevated copper levels are more the possibility as I will explain in the rest of this article.
Under active thyroid
We may see evidence of an underactive thyroid, even if blood tests do not indicate this. An underactive thyroid results in parathyroid gland dominance and this hormone imbalance drives calcium out of the bones and into the soft tissues resulting in joint and muscle pain, including joint degeneration and osteophytes. An excess of calcium in the soft tissues is associated with fatigue and depression. Elevated tissue copper is often seen with low thyroid and this will have an antagonistic effect on iron. If an iron deficiency develops, the thyroid will not function well. Copper also affects insulin through its antagonism of zinc, causing insulin to flood the blood.
These actions cause arthritis, chronic fatigue and chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia.
Copper and the adrenal glands
Most individuals with weak adrenals have high copper levels. Hormones from the adrenals normally stimulate the liver to remove copper from the body. Poor liver function is often seen in people with high copper levels.
Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
Elevated copper levels typically accompany viral infections. Elevated copper levels predispose the person to recurrent viral infections, such as shingles.
Medications
The main excretion of copper is through the intestinal tract via the liver and gall bladder. Medications can cause copper retention. The hormone estrogen, some psychotropic drugs, tranquilisers, and pain killers will interrupt this process of copper elimination. Several of your patient's drugs will be contributing to copper retention and may thus be contributing to her chronic health problems.
What to do next
The first thing your patient needs to do is have a hair tissue mineral analysis completed. Here is the test she needs to do. You can arrange this through me, no problem at all. It will just take longer, since you are in another country and we can review the report via a medium such as Skype.
Aim to have her progressively go off all medications. This is best done under medical supervision, especially due to the addictive powers of anti depressants. If this is not practical, or realistic right now, then I would wait for the hair analysis results to come in and then go from there using the report to guide the process.
If you feel she has elevated copper levels, then she can increase her intake of nutrients that antagonise copper such as zinc, vitamin C and vitamin A. As an aside, these three nutrients are renowned for their ability to reduce viral infections! If her symptoms improve with these nutrients, then you know you are on the right track. But please bear in mind that the medications she is taking may negate any benefit.
With regards to diet, have her avoid all foods that contain moderate to high levels of calcium and definitely no calcium supplements! Have a diet that is low in refined carbohydrates and no sugar. Eat vegetables and fresh fruit, nuts and dark berries. Have five small meals a day. Ensure there is quality protein in every meal, especially breakfast. Avoid all margarines, and foods with preservatives, colouring and flavouring (tough on the liver).
Get rid of stress from her life.
_______________________________________
About this website
The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness. Please give me your support by subscribing to my free email updates. Please shop at my Online Store. Please encourage your family and friends to do the same. While we may not always be able to compete with the big operators on price, we aim to more than compensate through personal service! Sunday, May 09, 2010
I have multiple health problems and feeling dizzy for the last six months
Hi Gary,
I had a look around your website and it seems you have an extensive knowledge. I have had a number of health problems since August last year.
I have been diagnosed with a slighly underactive thyroid for which I am taking thyroxin now. I was also told that my cold hand and feet (also turning blue) was Raynauds disease. I researched this, but disagree since for me its not attacks as such, but rather a constant blueness in color of my feet and also any wounds. I came to the conclusion that it must be acrocyanosis instead.
My other problems inlude dizziness, tiredness and I developed swelling of the lips, eyes and itchy skin in the last few months and I suspect it must be some kind of food allergy. I also suffer from acne and dandruff. The latest health scare I got was re-occuring blood after I have sex, not very much, but enough to scare me.
I had a look around your website and it seems you have an extensive knowledge. I have had a number of health problems since August last year.
I have been diagnosed with a slighly underactive thyroid for which I am taking thyroxin now. I was also told that my cold hand and feet (also turning blue) was Raynauds disease. I researched this, but disagree since for me its not attacks as such, but rather a constant blueness in color of my feet and also any wounds. I came to the conclusion that it must be acrocyanosis instead.
My other problems inlude dizziness, tiredness and I developed swelling of the lips, eyes and itchy skin in the last few months and I suspect it must be some kind of food allergy. I also suffer from acne and dandruff. The latest health scare I got was re-occuring blood after I have sex, not very much, but enough to scare me.
Friday, May 08, 2009
The downsides of antihistamines for allergies and other allergic reactions
Hi Gary,
The most common side effects for Loratidine (H1 anatagonist) are drowsiness, headache, psychomotor impairment and other effects such as urinary retention, dry mouth, blurred vision, and gastrointestinal disturbances. Although Schering (the manufacturer) make claims that this drug has "side effects similar to placebo" this is far from the truth.
Most patients I see on anti-histamines report drowsiness and fatigue, and many also eventually develop gut complaints most probably due to the anti-histamine effect in the digestive system. H1 anatagonists can even effect GABA receptors (GABA being an inhibitory neurotransmitter) and cause anxiety, panic attacks carbo cravings, cold/clammy hands, palpitations, PMS, trembling/twitching and more.
It is good to have patients off this garbage if possible, and clean the IgE stimulatory foods out of their diet. IgE can be very responsive in a person prone to taking an anti-histamine. Basically work with a "low allergy diet" and you will get a good result.
The AF Program is excellent with allergy patients, because as their cortisol levels go up, their reactivity goes down.
Eric Bakker B.H.Sc.(Comp.Med) ND
Note: AF refers to Adrenal Fatigue. The Herbal Detoxification Programme by Brett Elliot (Refer my website store) is my favourite for a safe and practical low allergy diet (The booklet that accompanies the programme is full of delicious NZ recipes)
_______________________________________
Gary comments:
Antihistamine medications such as Loratidine and Claratine are dished out like lollies for conditions like hayfever and sinusitis. Many people do not regard these as "medications" and often omit them when I ask them to list all medications being taken.
Oral antihistamines are not benign medications. They have serious side effects if taken for more than a week or so. The principal effect, as outlined above by Eric Bakker, is to shut down the metabolism, causing all kinds of mental and physically distressing problems.
When metabolism is shut down like this a person can suffer a disturbing weight gain made up of fat and fluid retention.
Do you have an underactive Thyroid?
The person on antihistamines may be diagnosed as having an underactive thyroid - a direct adverse effect of the antihistamines. The outrageous response of many, if not most doctors, is to prescribe a synthetic thyroid hormone rather than wean the person off the antihistamine! Prescribing an endogenous thyroid hormone causes the thyroid to further shut down, causing addiction to this additional drug. The end result is dependency on two drugs.
Antihistamine shuts down the metabolism while throxine revs it up
Now how dumb is that? It is akin to driving along the motorway with your foot flat to the boards while holding the handbrake on. How long will your car stand this kind of abuse? How long will your body hold out?
Stopping any of these drugs does not lead to an overnight restoration of normality. If you, or a person you love, is on these kinds of medications, please consult an exeprienced natural health practitioner about how to safely wean off these. Whatever you do; don't stop suddenly. Wean off under qualified supervision.
Do you have a question?
Email Gary: gary at myotec.co.nz (Replace the "at" with @ and remove spaces). Please include any relevant background information to your question.
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