Please note the information and statements made below are not intended to replace the advice or treatment by your health care professional. The Finchley Clinic Ltd does not dispense medical advice, prescribe or diagnose illness.

Hypothyroidism is an extremely common condition which apart from causing well known symptoms like fatigue, overweight (though 40% of hypothyroid subjects are underweight), and sensitivity to the cold, it ensures that almost every system in the body is at a low ebb. The list of possible symptoms include (but are not limited to):-

• weight gain
• heat and / or cold intolerance
• headaches and migraines
• low motivation and ambition
• irritability, anxiety and panic attacks
• depression
• fluid retention
• decreased memory and concentration
• unhealthy nails, brittle nails,
• low sex drive
• insomnia
• hives
• asthma
• allergies
• slow wound healing
• acne
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• low blood sugar
• attention deficit disorder (ADD)
• pancreatitis (from hypothermia)
• adrenal exhaustion from excess secretion of adrenaline
• gallbladder disease (six times higher in women with excess estrogen or on birth control pills or ERT)
• female problems (fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, PMS, cramps, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, spontaneous abortion, cyclic seizures, dry vagina and infertility)
• osteoporosis (from excess eostrogen leading to excess adrenaline and then to excess cortisol).
• poor appetite
• intestinal symptoms which can include irritable bowel syndrome, dysphagia (swallowing problems); poor digestion (low acid and pancreatic enzymes, decreased gall bladder motility); nutrient malabsorption; gas and wind; colic; decreased peristalsis; and especially chronic constipation.

The Thyroid and Diabetes

Dr Broda Barnes demonstrated in the early 70's that supporting the thyroid improved diabetes symptoms (but not the blood sugar imbalance), namely improved wound healing, weight loss, energy levels improve, and most importantly of all atherosclerosis.

Rabbits, on a vegetarian (i.e. cholesterol free) diet have been shown to develop atherosclerosis if their thyroids are removed. If given thyroid hormone the atherosclerosis was prevented. Led by the 'heretic' doctor Barry Durant Peatfield (who has greatly irritated some of his colleagues in the medical profession), a number of doctors maintain that the same is true of humans and that the primary cause of atherosclerosis is thyroid deficiency, made far worse by the revolting habit of cigarette smoking.

The Barnes Temperature Test

According to Dr Peatfield, the Barnes Thyroid Temperature Test (originally developed by another heretic doctor - Broda Barnes) sometimes will pick up a sluggish thyroid that was not spotted by a blood test.

Underarm temperature should be recorded for ten minutes before arising in the morning. This means as soon as you wake up. Not after making a cup of tea, or having a shower! This procedure should be followed for at least three mornings in a row (seven would be better) and the average temperature calculated. The correct temperature should be within the range 97.8 - 98.2 degrees Fahrenheit (36.6 - 36.8 degrees Celsius). An average temperature of below 97.8 degrees Fahrenheit (36.6 degrees Celsius) may suggest hypothyroidism. A mean temperature of below below 96.4F (35.8C) usually may suggest a more severe hypothyroidism.

Note for women: Premenopausal women should not perform this test during their periods when their temperature is higher than normal.

Although it is not proof, failing the temperature test + having about 5 or more of the typical low thyroid symptoms may indicate hypothyroid.

The underarm temperature test can be used to monitor progress and the goal of treatment is to normalize this temperature. Bear in mind that this condition does not come on overnight and is not resolved overnight. Be willing to give this product 8-12 weeks minimum. Please note if you are taking conventional thyroid medication (thyroxine) you should not stop or reduce it, unless you have discussed it with your doctor and he has has advised you to do so.

Natural help for the Thyroid

In many cases our herbal product, Kelp Formula provides stand-alone support. We have received reports of weight losses of one stone in 6-12 weeks on this product, as well as a tremendous sense of well-being. For others it may be necessary to treat any related candida problem and / or support the adrenal glands since hypothyroidism is sometimes secondary to hypoadrenia. with Licorice Formula or Licorice Formula A . This is because adrenal exhaustion can make worse or even cause the thyroid to under perform. For further help, the amino acid Tyrosine found in Thyroid Support Formula may also be useful for both the thyroid and the adrenal glands (tyrosine may also help some cases of depression).

Problems with thyroid blood tests.

Quite often laboratory tests will demonstrate that the thyroid is within the "normal" range yet the person will show all the signs of hypothyroidism. Please note the following in relation to this paradox:-

1) The first point to make here is, as Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield states in his book "The Great Thyroid Scandal", the tests might be wrong. Dr Peatfield has been villified by his colleagues as heretic for stating in his book that the tests can be so inaccurate that they "should be placed where the sun doesn't shine" (at least he doesn't mince his words). For the most part the conventional test of choice is the test for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, not the thyroid itself. If it is normal it is inferred that the thyroid function is OK. But, as Dr Peatfield explains, this does not always appear to be reliable. Some hapless victims have had the same test repeated 4 to 5 times before a low thyroid has been indicated, sometimes over several years.

2) The normal figure may be at the lower end of the normal range. So the patient is told they are 'normal' when it might have been borderline.

3) Thyroxine itself is metabolically inert, and must be converted to tri-iodothyranine (T3) before it does anything. This conversion requires zinc, copper, and iron, and a deficiency of these nutrients can produce hypothyroid symptoms. (Please note Thyroid Support Formula contains these nutrients). Further, this conversion is blocked by mercury toxicity, so this must be dealt with if relevant.

4) Candida binds thyroxine, thereby inactivating it. Indeed it has long been appreciated that some 90% of Candida victims have low thyroid function, and this may well be an important mechanism. It is therefore important to treat candidiasis if that is part of the problem.

Kelp Formula suggested dosage:-

3 capsules twice a day for the first month (its better with food, but this is not vital).
Then take 2 capsules twice a day for at least another 3 months.
Continue for as long as is needed.

We regard anything less than 3 months on any herbal regimen to be a waste of time and money. Herbal remedies are not drugs and they work gradually.

Contains 60 vegan capsules. Therefore at the reccomended dosage you will need 3 bottles for the first month, then 2 bottles for the remaining period.

Ingredients: Nettles, damiana, siberian ginseng, parsley, Irish Moss, mistletoe, kelp.

We now have a product designed to support Kelp Formula. Whilst Kelp Formula is a herbal remedy which may encourage rejuvenation of the thyroid gland, our new product Thyroid Support Formula contains the primary amino acid (tyrosine), vitamins and mineral needed to help create thyroid hormones.

Please note, some cases of low thyroid are caused by Hashimoto Thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune illness. If you have been diagnosed with this condition or are suspected of having it, please do not use this product without the approval of your doctor.