I Will Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night: An Alternative Approach For Hyperactive Thyroid

A Thyroid Revolution

Who would have thought my favorite poem would end up being my fight song, but I will not go gentle into that good night. The last time I wrote about my wellness journey, it ended with the comment to stay tuned to find out what happens next. That was in December 2021. I was looking forward to an appointment with a doctor of Chinese Medicine and hoping for more improvement regarding my health situation. This article will detail my progress with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and other alternative methods to treat the thyrotoxicosis associated with Grave’s disease.

Limited Medical Solutions for Hyperthyroidism

It will be 7 years in September 2024 since I walked into the emergency room thinking I was having a heart attack. In my previous article for Hormones Matter, “I’ll Sleep when I’m Dead”, the official diagnosis was thyrotoxicosis with nodule. My heart was reacting to a hyperactive thyroid, which was being fueled by an autoimmune condition called Graves’ disease. The recommendations were to utilize a radioiodine scan and uptake test to determine the breadth of the damage and to take a variety of medications to treat the associated symptoms of a hyperactive thyroid. I refused the radioiodine scan, due to its potential to increase cancer, and while I initially utilized the prescribed medications, ultimately, the negative side effects forced me to investigate more holistic options.

Medications and Medication Reactions

Initially, I was prescribed a medication called methimazole, along with blockers to combat the heart-related effects of a hyperactive thyroid. Neither of these medications affected thyroid hormone levels. They are intended to lessen symptoms of hyperthyroidism, such as a tremor, rapid heart rate and heart palpitations. Sometimes, health care providers prescribe them to ease symptoms until thyroid hormones decrease sufficiently.

I struggled with the prescribed medications. I took the beta blocker for one night, but I slept for only two hours and decided against it. I took the methimazole for three months because my T3 was extremely high, and then my liver enzymes became alarmingly high as well. Liver damage is a reported side effect of this medication but when I expressed my concern that this medication had caused the liver problems, my doctor became combative. She argued that my liver enzymes were high, not because of the methimazole, but because there was an unidentified cancer lurking that had now spread to the liver. She said that this was a result of my refusal to do the radioactive iodine test.  With a family history of cancer, cancer is a huge concern for me, and it is exactly why I refused the radioiodine test, as it can increase the risk of cancer.

Taming the Sympathetic Overdrive: The Non-traditional Route

With a hyperactive thyroid, I live in a constant state of fight, flight or freeze. The automatic threat response in order to evade danger and return to a calm state is compromised repeatedly. My sympathetic system was in overdrive. I have compared this to a nightmarish roller-coaster ride that doesn’t end. Since the options for treatment offered by conventional medicine were fraught with problems, I sought a variety of non-traditional options that included nutrient support and TCM/acupuncture.

Nutrition

During this time, I supplemented with a number of vitamins and minerals. With a hyperactive thyroid, my body was running on a continuous loop and that was depleting me of vital nutrients to maintain mitochondrial function and energy production. The ultimate goal with the extra nutrition was to provide my body with what it needed during this hyperactive state, so that ultimately, my nervous system could settle down and switch over to the rest and digest portion of autonomic function.

I relied on a modality called muscle testing, scanning, or what is best known as the Feldenkrais Method to identify what my body was missing or lacking. I had been using muscling testing since 2003 and so this was not new. After my diagnosis though, it became more important and evolved while I studied Pranic Healing. The muscle testing made the task of figuring out which of the 90 essential minerals and vitamins I would need to replenish daily much easier. Some of the supplements I utilized included grass fed liver to give my body the basic minerals such as copper, iron, zinc, phosphorus, and selenium, B vitamins, along with additional B1 and Vitamins A, D, E, K. I also cooked mostly from scratch and avoided gluten. This seemed to help, but by the end of the day my energy gas tank was still empty.

Potassium Iodide

Perhaps, if I could slow the thyroid output, I might be able to recover. For that, I learned that potassium iodide could be used to treat hyperthyroid, this was in 2018. The effectiveness of potassium iodide (KI) was evaluated in hyperthyroid patients who experienced side effects to thioamides, i.e. methimazole. Since my liver enzymes were significantly elevated after taking methimazole, I decided to try to potassium iodide. A high dose of potassium iodine would be an integral piece to remission of the Grave’s disease.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

As I mentioned above, the impact of hyperthyroidism on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is destructive and while the potassium iodide and other nutrients were helping, I wasn’t fully recovered. After more research, I found Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Studies show that acupuncture positively influences autonomic nervous system functions.

I began TCM in January 2022. Traditional Chinese Medicine dates back to over 3,000 years ago. It was influenced by Taoism and Buddhism, which orients towards a holistic goal in order to achieve wellness. To my surprise and benefit, research shows that the benefits of acupuncture plus herbal medicine with drug therapy for the treatment of hyperthyroidism, more effective than the typical medication approach using propranolol and methimazole.

When I began with TCM, the first order of business was to balance the kidney and liver energy. According to TCM: “The liver affects the thyroid by receiving signals from the thyroid to produce glycogen. The pituitary produces TSH, which tells the thyroid to make T4; T4 then goes to the peripheral tissues (mostly the liver, kidneys, and muscles) and turns into the much more active T3. The liver also makes proteins that bind and carry thyroid hormone in blood and helps the body break down thyroid hormone.”

To that end, with acupuncture and TCM herbal remedies, my health began to improve slowly. Unfortunately, my eye sight was worsening.

To See or Not To See, That Is the Question

In March of 2022, issues with eyes became problematic. Grave’s disease, it turns out, can lead to something called Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). The excessive thyroid hormone negatively affects the muscle and fatty tissue behind the eyes, increasing intraocular pressure and reducing eye sight. It makes the eyes feel dry and gritty, which also reduces vision. Since traditional ophthalmology seemed reticent to treat and offered little help, I once again turned to TCM. Studies have shown promising results using TCM to reduce the thyroid-related eye symptoms.

In November 2023, I decided to try a drastic approach to alleviate eye pressure. I began using Sananga eye drops. Sanaga is a plant medicine, which is made from the roots of the Tabernaemontana undulata tree in the Amazon rainforest. I was given a referral to a website called Four Visions. It was not an easy decision. After reading that there would be some pain involved and it is known to cause a burning sensation to the eyes. They warn that it may be uncomfortable for certain people.

At one point, I had to stop using it due to extreme headaches. I wasn’t sure if it was from the eye drops, but I suspected so. Although the Sananga eye drops were painful, my recent appointment with my eye doctor March 2024 showed that the pressure had reduced in my eyes. The bad news is, I now had the beginnings of cataracts in both eyes. Back to the drawing board.

I found a Chinese formula that addresses eye pressure as well as hypertension. Because of my hyperactive thyroid, my heart rate and blood pressure are elevated. We had already implemented the Chinese formula Zhi Can Cao to lower my heart rate. Remember, conventional treatment uses the drug Propranolol for this purpose, but I could not take it. After a month on this remedy my blood pressure began to decrease. I also implemented a liver cleanse recommended by my acupuncturist. It is made by a former chemist. The ingredients include: Milk Thistle, Burdock, Yellow Dock, Dandelion, and Licorice. In TCM, the eyes are the sense organ relating to the liver. The liver supports our eye health and is vital in governing the capacity for vision in our lives.

Luo Bu Ma Formula was added in September of 2024, and after only one day of taking it, I noticed an increase in energy. I am looking forward (pun intended) to seeing (another pun) how this new formula can reduce pressure as well as continuing with the Sananga.

Electrostim Acupuncture For Thyroid Health

In addition to the herbs, I was pleasantly surprised to find an article about applying electromagnetic frequencies to increase telomere length. Telomere length is a major determinant of health and as we age telomeres shrink. At 66 years old, I am on the downward slope of telomere length, but I wondered if adding electromagnetic frequencies to acupuncture points would improve my health and ultimately help my waning eyesight. There is some research to suggest that that using transcutaneous electrical stimulation or TENS on acupuncture points helps with pain, but it is not clear whether it would help with hyperthyroidism more generally or the associated eye issues more specifically. Nevertheless, I thought it was worth a try.

According to my acupuncturist, the best area to set this up would be on the liver points. Hyperthyroidism and liver dysfunction are not uncommon. Autoimmune conditions especially with Graves’ Disease set the stage for preexisting liver disease and my goal is to avoid, prevent, or minimize liver dysfunction. This protocol would enlist the help of a Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS unit.)  I’m in my second month but can’t wait to see my results.

Progress So Far

To summarize, here are my observations thus far adding acupuncture, minerals and vitamins in order to treat the thyrotoxicosis associated with Grave’s disease and restore my health. First and foremost, pain management improved significantly. Prior to the TCM, my pain levels could reach a 10, but now, I have zero pain.

My body is now producing energy, not just using energy reserves. I can now walk every day and still accomplish daily tasks of grocery shopping, household chores and even attend family events. Whereas before, I would struggle to do just basic everyday tasks.

The double vision is better to where I can drive now. The pressure in the eyes has greatly diminished, they are no longer gritty or dry, and they don’t get as tired.

My blood pressure and my heart rate have gone down.

All in all, I am doing much better. It was a long road, as TCM is not a quick fix, but gradually and over time, I have begun to regain my health. I still have a ways to go, but I am confident that I made the right decision to pursue an alternative approach to restoring my health.

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Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash.