Take Pig Thyroid Every Day?

When you receive a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, you're told by your doctor that your thyroid is not producing enough thyroid hormone. Your TSH--thyroid stimulating hormone--may be high; it is working hard to get the thyroid to produce more hormone. So the higher the TSH, the lower the functioning of the thyroid gland.

While some hypothyroidism patients can help their thyroid by using diet and exercise (regular exercise helps with metabolism, while avoiding soy, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage can help the thyroid gland), others require a daily dose of thyroid replacement hormone to function well.

Common hypothyroidism symptoms include: weight gain, hair loss, decreased sexual interest, sensitivity to cold, constipation, "foggy" brain, fatigue, and a general sense of being not-quite-right. Depression is a common side effect of hypothyroidism; depression sufferers should always have a full thyroid test before going on anti-depressants, as anti-depressants can exacerbate thyroid problems.

The most common drugs used to treat hypothyroidism include Synthroid, Levoxyl, and Cytomel. Synthroid and Levoxyl are t4, one of the thyroid hormones that need to be replaced. Cytomel is t3, a different thyroid hormone that some hypothyroidism patients need as an added boost to the t4.

While these synthetic hormones are the most commonly prescribed prescription drugs for hypothyroidism, some patients find that they have side effects when taking the synthetic drugs. Some of the coatings in these drugs include lactose, which cannot be tolerated by some people. In other cases, the hormones have inconsistent levels; the FDA has issued warnings and recalls in the past on these synthetic hormones. in addition, taking only t4, or even t4 and t3, does not mimic the complexity of natural thyroid hormones. This is where Armour thyroid, or "natural" thyroid, comes in.

Armour thyroid is the name for dessicated pig thyroid. Yes--pig thyroid glands are harvested, dried,and then compounded into pills for thyroid patients to take. Armour thyroid is no longer under a patent--so prescription drug companies make no extra profit from the sale of Armour thyroid. For instance, a one-month supply of synthetic hormones can cost $22-29; one month of Armour thyroid runs $7-9.

Many endocrinologists will not prescribe Armouth thyroid, however; when synthetic drugs hit the market thirty years ago, they were touted as a superior option, and the use of Armour thyroid fell out of favor. However, many thyroid patients find that the side effects from synthetic drugs disappear when they take Armour thyroid. Older primary care physicians, and "natural" or integrative medicine doctors often prescribe Armouth thyroid, believing it to be safer, cheaper, and offering a wider array of thyroid hormones not found in synthetics.

If you suffer from hypothyroidism, knowing about natural thyroid options is important--it's another tool in your health toolbox. While eating pig thyroid every day sounds unappetizing, the health benefits are worth understanding and evaluating as you work toward thyroid health.