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FATIQUE - Even When Thyroid Drugs Fail

Dr. Bruce West

Do you suffer with a sluggish, low-energy life? Are you often cold and have problems with weight gain, poor memory, or sleep? Are you depressed or overly anxious, with low libido, blood pressure problems, or circulation problems? Is your skin dry? Do you have unexplained aches and pains, fibromyalgia, or headaches? Do you suffer from allergies? Do you have poor hair quality? Do you have digestive problems such as constipation or irritable bowel?

If so, join legions of others who suffer from low metabolic energy syndrome. With this condition, the body simply cannot make and supply enough energy, or else the body’s energy control system is not working properly. Most physicians rightfully think of thyroid, especially if your temperature is always low. Thyroid hormone is usually prescribed, but for some people, it just does not help. If this has happened to you, your exhaustion and symptoms are due to something else or something in addition to a thyroid problem.

Most often the least understood cause of all is a problem with the energy regulators of the body - the adrenal glands. If your adrenal glands are too weak to handle and control the energy your body needs, they will automatically slow down energy production — and your thyroid gland. This can result in all the symptoms listed in this article. So even if you take thyroid medication, hormones, and regular vitamins, if your adrenal glands are exhausted and weak, nothing will really help.

The major cause of energy problems and exhaustion is the combination of the thyroid gland and adrenal gland - and the way they work or do not work together. And since this is so poorly understood by most physicians, it explains why so many people simply do not get better with hypothyroid treatment, even though they are prescribed thyroid medication — no matter what type.

Other Causes

Other factors, such as low testosterone, too much estrogen, and severe diet restriction or nutritional deficiencies can contribute to low metabolic energy. But in most instances, low metabolic energy is caused by the thyroid/adrenal system. Whether you are taking thyroid medication or not, if this is your situation, feed your thyroid naturally by providing it adequate nutrition, including iodine.

Adrenals: The Least Understood Component

If the thyroid gland were the heater in your home, then the adrenal glands would be the thermostat. And poor adrenal function, or adrenal exhaustion, is as much a cause of low metabolic energy as thyroid problems. In fact, if your adrenal glands are the cause of your problems, it is best to treat them first, before beginning thyroid therapy.

The adrenals are small glands located on top of the kidneys. They secrete hormones like cortisol and DHEA. Their main function is dealing with stress and keeping you alive, primarily by secreting more or less corticosteroids. In fact, chronic stress is the most common cause of adrenal exhaustion. And stress is on the rise given the state of our economy, jobs, and worth of our retirement savings. Once the adrenal exhaustion stage is reached, you will suffer from low metabolic energy and all its symptoms.

To strengthen your adrenals, you must first address the primary underlying cause — stress. Learn to meditate or practice deep breathing. You must exercise regularly, eat healthfully, and take the right supplements, the second most common cause of adrenal exhaustion — in order to recover fully. Your diet should be rich in B vitamins and healthy fats. Eliminate table salt and use only Celtic Sea Salt as excess sodium can cause adrenal malfunction and mineral nutrition in sea salt is the natural antidote. You will definitely need an adrenal supplement from a reputable practitioner.

By making these changes, you will be able to finally break the low metabolic energy cycle. It is vicious, resists medical therapies (including thyroid medication) in many instances, and can last a lifetime — unless you take action.

With a great diet, exercise, stress reduction, the correct whole food supplements and even sometimes thyroid medication after all the initial are completed, you can overcome this most common of syndromes.

(Fairhaven Natural Health practitioners please email jan@fairhavennaturalhealth.com to submit future articles.)