Margaret was uncommonly dazzling, charismatic and constitutionally unfit for frumpy clothes. Nothing she wore matched exactly, yet it all worked together quite nicely because it was draped on her body with her patrician sensibilities.
She summered at Martha’s Vineyard, her long tan legs attracting onlookers. . . mostly men, but women, too. I can’t say in public what the men would think but I’m sure Margaret knew. It gave her permission to flounce her hair incautiously. The result was a kind of male chaos that fell in her wake. She was the sort of woman who reveled in her ever-changing relationships, amending them simply because the challenge was entertaining.
But then, one weekend after a friend’s opening in Soho, something snapped. Instead of her usual deftness in her daily routine, she began to experience weariness. It moderated her usual steady vitality with a chronic longing for naps. Before long, she also recognized that her easy confidence and flippant air had dwindled and was being replaced by a diminished, subdued version of her old self. And she began to lose more hair than she cared to think about.
At first, her symptoms were mild, but by the time she entered the doctor’s office, she was agitated and alarmed. “It feels like I have a chronic touch of the flu, and worse, I’ve put on twenty pounds.” The latter symptom troubled her the most.
The doctor considered hypothyroidism and subsequent tests indicated Margaret’s TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) was indeed low, so he advised a medication. This wouldn’t cure her, of course, but it would manage the problem.
Margaret began to question the decision to follow through since the side effects were written in the drug pack she was handed, albeit in print so small she literally needed a magnifying glass to make out the words. But, it was indeed as clear as day…anxiety, mood swings, hair loss, weight gain, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, seizures. She already had suffered some of these symptoms and the drug only promised more!
Next Margaret visited a psychiatrist, because of the angst she was experiencing. He too proposed drugs. “No thanks,” she thought. She could have submitted without a struggle and simply taken the prescriptions, but that wasn’t Margaret’s style. In fact, even her best friend asked her, “What’s wrong with taking medicine?” “No,” Margaret insisted, “I must find a bona fide solution.”
And so Margaret wore her hair in a sweeping fashion that concealed the loss that honestly only she noticed. She was driven by her innate tenacity to unearth an alternative solution. A colleague who had been relieved of thyroid nodules with a special homeopathic preparation suggested the name of her reputable homeopath. So, Margaret scheduled a phone consultation because the homeopath lived two states away.
After this initial consultation, Margaret was comforted. She was not told her hypothyroid condition would be cured, but the homeopath put it in a different way. “Your body is responding to an imbalance which causes symptoms. We will use the symptoms to determine which homeopathic remedy is best suited to antidote or address your specific imbalance. Once the energy of the illness is met by the energy of the remedy, it will be unnecessary for the body to react. Instead, the reactions to the disease or symptoms will be antidoted.”
Margaret was inspired by the word “antidote” and within a week from taking the remedy Iodum, her fatigue began to fade. “Is this iodine?” she asked the homeopath. The answer she received was fascinating. The homeopath explained that we know that iodine is key to thyroid health, but to use it in gross form can sometimes be imprudent. Instead, in homeopathic formula, which is greatly diluted according to a specific mathematical procedure, any problems relating to iodine are eliminated, leaving only beneficial results. Since homeopathy is a medical paradigm used the world over, including European hospitals and clinics, and by homeopathic MDs, we have plenty of research to conclude that this method not only has merit, but is safe.
Margaret didn’t really care about the studies; her focus was on how well she began to feel. First she noticed that there was no longer a tangled mass on her hair brush. Then, her zeal returned. This happened within the first month of taking the homeopathic preparation. However, the most remarkable restoration was when she observed the pounds slowly melting and the fatigue eliminated.
Symptom by symptom, the disease seemed to dissolve. It was so natural and not unlike the way she felt before being struck with hypothyroid disease. Months later, her thyroid hormone was again measured and the proof was revealed. Her levels were indeed within the range of normal! It was about this time that, while at the theatre, she inadvertently ran into Alphonso, a handsome Italian friend from back in grad school. He squeezed her hand and whispered, “Sprezzatura!”
When she got home that night, she paged through her Italian dictionary and was delighted to discover that the beautiful word means “the art of nonchalance in effortless elegance.” Ahhh … the confirmation that her life was back.
SIDEBAR
Homeopathic Remedies for Thyroid Problems
The link between iodine and the thyroid gland is well established; therefore, it is no surprise that homeopathic iodine has been used homeopathically for many decades. In its original state, elemental iodine can actually cause thyroid pathology. This is why in the much diluted methods of homeopathic preparation it can instead rouse the body to address the very problem it can sometimes cause. This capacity reveals the very essence of homeopathy, which is ruled by the law “like cures like.”
In the case of Margaret’s sufferings, this remedy was chosen because it suited not only her specific symptoms, but her personality as well. What caught the homeopath’s attention, in this case, was her uncharacteristic weight gain and subdued behavior that was so unlike her when in health. Since the need for Iodum is characterized by these features, it proved to be just the right fit for Margaret.
However, Margaret had a colleague for whom the remedy choice was quite different. A common remedy for thyroid nodules, whether accompanied by hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, is Sepia. But again, the choice of Sepia depends on the entirety of the person suffering the problem. Margaret’s colleague had just had a baby when she developed her thyroid issues. This put her in a reproductive state that would need to be considered for the totality of symptoms to match. For example, she too experienced weight gain, but it was accompanied by mood swings and sleeplessness. Since Margaret’s hormones were not those of a new mother, Sepia would have been unsuitable for her.
A man suffering from hypo- or hyperthyroidism would indeed be subject to the same differentiating criteria, but the hallmark of his sufferings might include chronic perspiration of the head, easy weight gain that was particularly flabby and an overall sluggish disposition. There might also be anxiety and an overwhelmed sensation from his many responsibilities. This would point squarely in the direction of Calcarea carbonica, a homeopathic remedy most noted for these symptoms. Thus homeopathy is person-specific, not disease-specific and anything less would be a mediocre, polyester, one-size-fits-all choice. In the quest for authentic health, this will never do.
This article appeared in Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts, the quarterly journal of the Weston A. Price Foundation, Summer 2009.
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Why can’t big medicine see this?
As a woman who has been hypothyroid for about 15 years and taking a prescription for it, I have yet to be completely normal. I wish the pharmaceutical companies would realize that it’s not about treating the symptoms it’s about solving the problem. I will be giving homeopathic medicine a renewed look. Thank you
It is not that they do not see it. They bend backwards ti hide it from people.For letting the public know this makes cheap & HEALING traetment available universally. There is NO MONEY FOR ANYONE WHO MATTERS. & Trust me, the only people who benefit are the likes of you & me…& we DO NOT COUNT…
It is good for me and I thanks to you
Homeopathy doesn’t bring the money chemicals bring. Just like many situations…follow the money. It’s usually greed.
Why don’t you use the natural thyroid medication called Armour. There are no bad side affects and it might be just what you need. Many people have changed from the pharma medicine Levothyroxine or Snythroid to the natural Armour thyroid and found it much better. I take Armour and like it. I found that I also had adrenal fatigue and system yeast/fungus which you may also suffer from they seem to go together. Best to have these also checked. An Allopathic doctor probably won’t put you on the Natural Thyroid they are against all the natural medicines but you can go to an Ostepathic Doctor who will.Good luck.smilies/kiss.gif
didn’t you read the article???
Do not take armour! Someone above said to take it! It has been reformulated andno longer works!
Forget it! And forget nature throid!
And why would anyone go on western meds if homeopathy could fix it?
Plain stupid!
Go for the meds from Thailand called thYroId yes it’s spelled wrong.
It’s a great medication if you need one.
Was diagnosed w/hyperthyroidism about 18 years ago. Treated by radioactive iodine and never told there was an option. Have been on ever-increasing dosages ever since with what appears to be a ‘stabilization’ in the numbers over the past 2 years.
If I had known, I never would have done the iodine thing! But that being water under the bridge…Is there anything diet-wise I can do now rather than meds? I not only hate the side-effects, I hate HAVING to take a medicine…The big ‘What-If’ being, “What if something happens and for some crazy reason, it’s no longer available?”
why not Armour?
Anony, I am curious as to why you don’t recommend Armour. I am currently using the lowest dose instead of using Synthroid. I would love to get off it. What do you take? I am hypothyroid. I have gained about 30 lbs in the last 2-3 years that I need to get off and think that should help. Is there a diet you are on to help? Thank you so much!!
Kelly
Hi, you could try the Cura Romana weightloss plan by Leslie Kenton (from Amazon),read the book first! I have done it 7 times and now understand how my body gains weight and what I can do to keep the weight off, I have lost 3 stone in 3 years (up and down) and am keeping it off with her recomndations (steak/wild slamon day) once a week or so. I think I am hypothyroid and have started taking a homepthaic remedy from Ainsworth homepathic pharmacy called ‘Flor De Piedre 12C’ this includes iodium and thyroidinum, I also take calc carb 30 nce a day as my thyroid seems to press on my throat and this solves it.
Good luck, it is possible to lose weight with some effort and guidance.
Read Dr. Guy E. Abraham’s article “The Safe and Effective Implementation of Orthoiodosupplementation
In Medical Practice” in The Original Internist, March 2004, http://www.optimox.com/pics/Iodine/pdfs/IOD05.pdf. He makes a very convincing argument against the use of hormone replacement and recommends supplementation with Lugol’s Solution (inorganic iodine/iodide) instead. It makes a lot of sense!
Anything & anyone can “MAKE A CONVINCING ARGUMENT” But just because an argument is “convincing” does not make it true too…
what about a person that thier thyroid has completely shut down? that is my problem, I do not like taking perscription meds never have. is there any suggestions for this condition? I have also a very big weight problem always have, where I will lose weight , not very easily, and then gain it back faster. I have not changed anything in my diet as I am a vegetarian always have been, would really like to be able to lose this weight soon and have my thyroids working again. I have hair loss also. would like some suggestion as to what to do.
Please try to take 12x or 6c of calcarea carb.Do not touch the medicine,do not chew or bite or swallow the medicines.do not eat or drink about 25 minutes before and after taking the medicines.
Also, hold the pills under your tongue till they are totally dissolved. The absorption is the best there. It takes onlt 2-3 minutes at most/ William, just one question. Isn’t Calcarea Carb a biomedical salt & not a homeopathic tincture? Both are a part of the Homeopathic syatem, but the biomedical salts are not affected by mild handling. This is my understanding. Could you please educate me on this? I know the globule fom of medication is to be handled the way you have just told us in your post.
Question
I have been taking levothyroxin for 1 year, have had dizzy spells from the begining. Now I have sore gums and lips. could this be from the medicine. I would rather be on homeopathic. I would appreciate if anyone had this effect.
Thank you
Great Medicine
I was very ill in my early 30s and turned to homeopathy after being told by a few MDs that it was all in my head. My energy was so low that all I could do was get up in the morning and go sit on the couch for most of the day. Within a month, I was much better and a few months later I was as good as new…or better. Some problems I didn’t mention went away too. They were so minor compared to what else I had going on that I didn’t even think of them. I continue to use it when needed and it has also helped my mother who has Alzheimers.
I too was treated with radioactive iodine for a diffused toxic goiter when I was 15. Naturally, this destroyed my thyroid and I have been taking synthroid/levothyroxine since then. Can anything help at this poing in the game??
“The doctor considered hypothyroidism and subsequent tests indicated Margaret’s TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) was indeed low, so he advised a medication. This wouldn’t cure her, of course, but it would manage the problem.”
Low TSH usually suggests hyperthyroidism… And vice-versa. And as a pharmacist I must say that reading something like “he advised a medication” doesn’t mean much with thousands of pharmaceuticals/vitamins/supplements/nutraceuticals available. Please check your story and proof read your texts before scaring people away from their MDs. Apart from that I love all the nutrition info on this site, thanks.
I also commented on the low TSH meaning hyperthyroidism (not low). I think it was a typo and what was meant was HIGH TSH. Nevertheless, many doctors even get it wrong!
Hypothyroid & Calcarea Carbonica
I was diagnosed with hypothyroid a few months after giving birth. I started with levothyroxine 50. My lab numbers dropped to normal values, but my symptoms didn’t disappeared (constant fatigue, weak memory). Then, upon my doctors suggestion I changed to synthroid. Not only the symptoms remained, but also I started getting the most painful headaches, like twice a week. Throwing up or sleeping wouldn’t ease the headache.
Then, I discovered homeopathy and found out that my constitutional remedy is Calcarea Carbonica. Self-prescription isn’t recommended for chronic illnesses, but whenever I read a description of Calcarea Carbonica person, I thought the author just talked about me. So I gave it a try.
I took Calcarea carbonica 6c only once and boom! The headaches disappeared as if magically. Besides I became more energetic than I’d felt for a long time. My sleeping got better, my fears vanished, I felt more confident in myself, and my memory improved. It’s amazing. But I still take my hypothyroid medication. I’m planning to go to a certified homeopath and hopefully I won’t have to take any more medications.
Story
Does anyone else think this story is very strange?
Not at all. Homeopathy cured my chronic fatigue, environmental illness, migraines and hyperthyroid….plus corrected multiple emotional imbalances. The stuff is amazing.
What did you take? For hyperthyroidism and the fatigue?
i started feeling that my energy level was going low. By ten o’clock i feel dizzyness and extermely tiredness. Complete errectile dysfunction, hairloss, memory loss and lack of enthusiasm. I am male 59 years old. not overweight. i avoid taking allopatic medicine. I use homeopathic medicines always. I concluded that my thyroid glands are not functioning well. Either i am suffering from hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. So, i tried Iodum 30 results are fantastic.
My hair loss problem is gone, i am no more tired, my digestion system improved, clear motion in the morning, memory regained, confidence level also elevated. And the best part is i have regained my enthusiasm and no more errectile dysfunction.
The medicines used for Hypothyroidism are:
Bromium 6
Thyroidinum 200
For Hyperth,yroidism the following medicine provides the requisite relief from most of the symptoms and if applied over a period of time usually cures:
Iodum 200
What specific homeopathic remedies would be recommended for someone with Hashimoto’s, showing a globulin count of 54 and Iodine of 43 in a recent blood test?
I plan to start on a very low dose of Iodoral to bring up the Iodine levels, but instead may try a homeopathic remedy approach.
Is the Bromium 6 to detox from the Bromine in the body?
Are you talking about 6 in x form or cc or what, please be specific on the exact dose
for Iodum, Bromium, etc.
Also, I am already on Armour Thyroid and greatly improved and stabilized, but still quite low on Iodine.
Look forward to hearing from someone with the knowledge in homeopathy.
Sorry I forgot to post my message as a direct reply, please see my reply below.
Anil asthana ji I m also diagonised by thyroid problems. Please do let me know treatment what u took
Teresa
With homoeopathy there are no specific remedies for specific diseases. As was mentioned earlier by another messenger, you need to take a ‘constitutional remedy’. What this means is that a remedy needs to be prescribed which not only matches the symptoms of the disease, it also needs to match you as a person. This means that your personality and general physical symptoms would also be taken into account as well as your life experiences and medical history.
It would be better if you consult a qualified and registered homeopath.
Joette, can Iodum be prescribed for both Hashimoto’s and Graves?
I am a patient of thyroid goiter, has difficulty in loosing weight.Now a day I feel pinching pain in my hand fingers and pain in the legs below knee joints while walking. The doctor has advised me to take five drops of opium 1M on 12, 13 and 14 th of the moon, I am waiting for the dates to come, is it ok
Iodum 1M
About 4 months ago I took two single doses (three weeks apart) of 10M CalcareaCarbonica for tinnitus. I also am hypothyroid. Within weeks of taking it, it was discovered – via ultrasound- that I had two thyroid nodules. Could the possible overdose of calccarbonica caused the nodules, and is there an antidote that would help resolve them? Thanks!
No, it wouldn’t cause but a potency that high should not be repeated too often. See a homeopathic practitioner!
is willmar schwabe medicine jodum 200 for thyriod problem???