Natural Health News

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Sunscreen Allergies

In 2008 Natural Health News reported on sunscreen as unsafe and ineffective. Earlier than this, along with an expert on the subject, we tackled mis-information being promoted by Dr Oz's "Real Age". Over the years we have continued to cover this story and the associated problems caused by lack of exposure to the sun, sans sunscreen.

Now a new issue seems to be having an impact on you as you use these products.

There are options, and those natural approaches are covered in related stories here at Natural Health News.

Are You Allergic to Sunscreen?

By Krisha McCoy, MS, Medically reviewed by Christine Wilmsen Craig, MD

As the weather heats up and you spend more time outdoors, it’s essential to slap on sunscreen – and it could even save your life. A recent study from Australia – which has some of the hightest rates of skin cancer in the world – found that applying sunscreen daily reduced the risk of melanoma, the most deadly kind of skin cancer, by an amazing 50 percent.

But for some people, applying certain types of sunscreen can actually cause a skin allergy. Sunscreen allergies are fairly uncommon, however, so how can you be sure that your skin irritation is due to sunscreen and not something else?

Detecting a Sunscreen Allergy

Sunscreens work because they contain chemicals that absorb harmful ultraviolet radiation, and keep them from penetrating your skin. Some of these chemicals, including oxybenzone, 4-isopropyl-dibenzoylmethane, PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid), esters, avobenzone, and cinnamates, have been known to cause an allergic reaction in certain people.

According to Anna Feldweg, MD, a clinical instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and an attending physician in allergy and immunology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, there are two ways a sunscreen allergy generally appears: as a contact allergy or contact photoallergy.

With contact allergies, Dr. Feldweg explains, "you get a rash where the product is applied." But, in contact photoallergy, the reaction is due to an interaction between sunscreen chemicals and sunlight, "so you get the rash where the sunscreen was applied but only once the skin has been exposed to the sun," she notes. These two conditions may be hard to tell apart, although the difference is important in determining how to test for a sunscreen allergy.

A sunscreen allergy may appear when you first start using sunscreen, or it can develop after years of sunscreen use. You might experience an allergic reaction immediately, or up to several days after you apply the sunscreen. Some signs include:

Red skin

Swelling

Itching

Blisters that are filled with fluid

These symptoms will appear in the areas where you applied the sunscreen to your body, and, in the case of a photoallergy, where your skin was also exposed to sunlight.

Dealing With a Sunscreen Allergy

If you suspect a sunscreen allergy, you should see a dermatologist or an allergist, who can diagnose and treat your condition. Your doctor can perform a patch test to confirm whether you are allergic to specific chemicals that are present in sunscreen. For a contact allergy, the patch test probably will be done without ultraviolet light first; a photoallergy patch test will be performed in combination with exposure to ultraviolet light. Patch testing can help your doctor diagnose exactly which chemicals you are allergic to, so you can avoid those chemicals.

For people with a sunscreen allergy, there are alternatives to traditional sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun. Sun protection is an important part of protecting the health of your skin, so if you are allergic to a chemical in sunscreen, your doctor can help you find a sunscreen that doesn't contain that chemical. Sunscreens known as physical sunscreens contain powdered versions of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which reflect light, keeping it from penetrating your skin. Physical sunscreens are not known to cause allergic reactions.

An allergy to sunscreens does not have to keep you from having fun in the sun. Talk with your doctor to find out which sunscreens can work for you.

Source, Last Updated: 05/04/2011

From Natural Health News -

More Vitamins Please

Oct 13, 2008

Air pollution, sunscreen and clothing all limit the amount of vitamin D the body can synthesize from sunlight. The group suggests non-breast-fed infants and older children who are drinking less than one quart (liter) of vitamin ...

84% of Sunscreens Unsafe or Ineffective

Jul 05, 2008

Only 16% of sunscreens on the market are both safe and effective, according to a new analysis by the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy and research organization. Of 783 products analyzed, only 125 blocked both UVA and UVB

A Fool is Born

Nov 16, 2010

Yet thanks to sunscreen and workaholic (or TV-aholic) habits, most people don't make enough. How much do you need? The Institute of Medicine is reassessing that right now; most experts expect a big boost from the current levels (200 to ...

Nutritional Status and Orthopedic Disturbances

Sep 12, 2010

It's affecting middle-class children because they're overprotecting with sunscreen and not going out as much. SPF is also increasingly in cosmetics used by young women. “The more dramatic cases tend to be in people who wear traditional ...

Antioxidants Extend Longevity, Protect Your Health

Oct 01, 2010

Pomegranate Enhances sunscreen protection Lowers "bad" cholesterol Fights prostate cancer. Pumpkin Protects joints against polyarthritis Lowers lung and prostate cancer risk Reduces inflammation. Raspberries Inhibit growth of oral, . ...

Perspective on Vitamin D

Jan 31, 2009

While in the sun, it's important to cover the face but okay to expose the arms and legs for 10 minutes or so without sunscreen, he adds. "If you're going to be out in the sun for five, ten or 15 minutes, don't be paranoid." ...

Suncreen May be Hiding the Facts

May 19, 2008

Today the BIG NEWS is about Sunscreen. Numerous problems remain even after many years of known issues with the chemical ingredients in these products. Some products listed as safe in the EWG report contain titanium dioxide, ...

Yes, you do need more D

Aug 16, 2010

But cloud cover, sunscreen, skin pigmentation and even northern latitudes can reduce the penetration of ultraviolet-B rays. And with sedentary lifestyles and concerns about skin cancer, many people never get enough sun to provide ...

More Foods for Health

Apr 22, 2010

Good Day Sunshine

Dec 17, 2010

The experts now say it is fine to go outside in strong sun in the middle of the day, as long as you cover up or apply sunscreen before your skin goes red. 'Too negative'. A good diet and sensible sun exposure will be adequate for most

Natural Health News: Frequently Copied, Never Duplicated!

GILSUM, N.H.–Just as many consumers are venturing outside for some summertime fun, Katie Schwerin, co-founder of the W.S. Badger Co., offered several tips to choosing a safe sunscreen in a recent statement.
“The best protection from the sun is to stay out of it or cover up with a good hat and long sleeve shirt," she said. “But for the sun lovers among us, using a mineral sunscreen with zinc, not chemicals, is the safest and most effective way to go because these minerals stay on the surface of the skin and are not absorbed, releasing free radicals into your body."
Schwerin continued, “Sunscreen users should be careful not to have a false sense of security and overdo, over expose or under protect themselves."
She also said it’s important to make sure it’s really natural by checking to see if it has the Natural Products Association's (NPA’s) Certified Natural seal or an NSF/ANSI 305 designation that certifies organic ingredient content.
Next, she suggested consumers make sure the sunscreen includes organic plant oils, butters and waxes, which provide a safe moisturizing base to help protect skin from water, wind, sand and sun while keeping it hydrated.
Other hidden dangers from conventional sunscreen are their impact on the environment and our natural surroundings, she said. If your sunscreen isn't biodegradable, its chemicals can wash off the body and leech into lakes, oceans and rivers causing potential damage and harm. “They can even damage delicate coral reefs and marine life," added Schwerin.
W.S. Badger makes a full line of safe, effective, natural, mineral-based, certified organic sunscreens. The Badger sunscreen line includes SPF30+ Lightly Scented, SPF30+ Unscented, SPF30+ Baby Sunscreen, SPF30+ Sunscreen and Anti-Bug Repellent, SPF30+ All-Season Face Stick, SPF15 Lightly Scented, and SPF15 Unscented Lip Balm Stick. The full line uses uncoated, non-nano zinc oxide for broad-spectrum protection in a base of certified organic ingredients. W.S. Badger sunscreens are recommended and score a number one for safety and effectiveness by the Environmental Working Group as sunburn protection.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

The Politics of Breast Cancer

Why does BCA so fiercely object to Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

What is so wrong with pink ribbon marketing?

THINK BEFORE YOU PINK

Why on earth would corporations involved in the treatment and diagnosis of women with breast cancer try to control how the public understands the disease?

Curious about the answers to these questions?

Join us for the first of our monthly webinars, designed to provide you with the opportunity to learn more about the work we do!

Our first webinar is “The Politics of Breast Cancer”- a crash course on the “pinking” of breast cancer, environmental causes of the disease and the corporate interests that control what the public hears about the epidemic.

Details are below:

Title: The Politics of Breast Cancer

Date: Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

Time: 10:00AM – 11:00 AM PDT

Click here to register!

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/222835830

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Health Care Cost Rises Again

If John Boehner has his way Medicare recipients will get a big boost in cost shifting to their pocket book to the tune of 75%. Here the increase is reported to be running about 50%.

What are your doing to regain responsibility over your health so you won't have to be at the mercy of these mercenaries?

By Parija Kavilanz, On Wednesday May 11, 2011, CNN

Health care costs for a family of four rose again in 2011, with employees paying a much larger share of the rising expenses, according to a new industry report Wednesday.
American families who are insured through their jobs average health care costs of $19,393 this year, up 7.3%, or $1,319 from last year, according to independent actuarial and health care consulting firm Milliman Inc.
More significantly, employers are making workers shoulder an even bigger share of total health care expenses.
Of the $1,319 annual increase, workers' out-of-pocket costs this year rose 9.2%. That was more than the 6.6% increase the prior year.
Payroll deductions for insurance coverage rose 9.3% this year, also more than the year before.
However, employers' share of workers' health care costs fell 6% in 2010, compared to 8% the year prior.
Of the $19,393 overall annual cost, employees' share is inching closer to 50%, said Lorraine Mayne, principal and consulting actuary with Milliman. Complete Article

How women fare with health insurance reform -

Excluding mammogram which we do not endorse because of its connection with higher breast cancer rates, this news shows that currently women are hit very hard because of lack of coverage.

NEW YORK, May 12 (UPI) -- Nearly all of the 27 million U.S. uninsured women and will have access to medical care once healthcare reform is enacted, U.S. researchers say.

The Commonwealth Fund 2010 Biennial Health Insurance Survey indicates women are skipping needed healthcare. Forty-eight 48 percent say they did not see a doctor when they were sick, didn't fill a prescription, or skipped a test, treatment or follow-up visit because they couldn't afford it -- up from 34 percent in 2001.

"This report shows how rapidly rising healthcare costs and lagging incomes are leaving increasing numbers of women unable to afford health insurance and healthcare -- and millions are struggling with medical bills and debt," study co-author Sara Collins and Commonwealth Fund vice president, says in a statement. "But, the Affordable Care Act is already requiring insurance carriers to cover recommended preventive services like mammograms free of charge."

Thirty-three percent of women say they spent 10 percent or more of their incomes on healthcare costs in 2010 vs. 25 percent of women who reported similar spending levels in 2001.

Only 31 percent of uninsured women ages 50-64 reported having a mammogram in the past two years, compared to 79 percent of women with health insurance, the report says.

The 25-minute interviews of 4,005 U.S. women by Princeton Survey Research Associates International were conducted July 14 to Nov. 30. The survey has a margin of error or 1.9 percentage points.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2011/05/12/Healthcare-reform-will-insure-27M-women/UPI-98931305179862/print/#ixzz1M9nHkqEc
© 2011 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

And we are seeing very little in the way of better care or truly reduced cost.

You'll find more than 30 articles about health insurance reform here at Natural Health News

Natural Health News: Health Costs on Steroids

Feb 04, 2010

What is so amazing is the ideas put forward that show absolutely no connection to the issues in health care and sound ways to reduce costs while improving care. What irritates me even more is the latest form John McCain of Arizona who. .

The Mistake in Maligning Minerals

Yet again so called 'experts' have claimed that selenium is risky for your health and even more it won't help you prevent cancer.

Dr. E. J. Crary states, "Selenium is the most potent broad-spectrum anticarcinogenic agent that has yet been discovered." SOURCE

What is Selenium?

Selenium is a mineral. It is taken into the body in water and foods. People use it medicinally. Usually 200 - 400 mcg is taken daily.

Most of the selenium in the body comes from the diet. The amount of selenium in food depends on where it is grown or raised. Crab, liver, fish, poultry, and wheat are generally good selenium sources. The amount of selenium in soils varies a lot around the world, which means that the foods grown in these soils also have differing selenium levels. In the U.S., the Eastern Coastal Plain and the Pacific Northwest have the lowest selenium levels. People in these regions naturally take in about 60 to 90 mcg of selenium per day from their diet. Although this amount of selenium is adequate, it is below the average daily intake in the U.S., which is 125 mcg.

Selenium is used for diseases of the heart and blood vessels, including stroke and “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis). It is also used for preventing various cancers including cancer of the prostate, stomach, lung, and skin.

Some people use selenium for under-active thyroid, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an eye disease called macular degeneration, hay fever, infertility, cataracts, gray hair, abnormal pap smears, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), mood disorders, arsenic poisoning, and preventing miscarriage.

Selenium is also used for preventing serious complications and death from critical illnesses such as head injury and burns. It is also used for preventing bird flu, treating HIV/AIDS, and reducing side effects from cancer chemotherapy.

Selenium is an important nutrient for the proper function of iodine and therefore, your thyroid. A healthy thyroid gland is very important to your immune system status.

But as reported in the BBC News todayt,

Taking a daily supplement of selenium will not ward off cancer, say experts who have reviewed the available evidence.
The Cochrane group looked at 55 studies that included over a million people.
Despite anecdotal reports of selenium's cancer powers, the investigators found no proof of a protective effect against skin cancer or prostate cancer. SOURCE: Selenium 'does not prevent cancer'

I'm sure they haven't reviewed all the literature that is favorable to using selenium.

**Selenium is an antioxidant that protects vitamin E from degradation. It helps to build the immune system by destroying free radicals, and aid in the production of antibodies. Selenium is absorbed through the intestines and stored in the liver, kidneys, and muscles. The lower the selenium intake the higher the incidents of cancer. Selenium fortifies heart energy cells, making sure they get enough oxygen. Selenium helps eliminate arsenic. Helpful in stroke prevention. Helps protect against the effects from arsenic, cadmium and mercury. Component of glutathione peroxidase, protecting tissues from the effects of polyunsaturated fatty acid oxidation.

Find selenium in

**Barley, beer, blackstrap molasses, bran, Brazil nuts, brewer's yeast, broccoli, brown rice, buchu leaves, butter, cabbage, catnip, celery, cereals, chicken, cider vinegar, cinnamon, clams, crab, cucumbers, dairy products, dog grass, eggs, garlic, grains, green leafy vegetables, hibiscus, ho shou wu root, kidneys, lamb, liver, lobster, meats, milk, milk thistle seeds, molasses, mushrooms, nutmeg, nuts, oats, onions, seafood, swiss chard, tuna, turnips, wheat bran, wheat germ, whole grains. Supplements: selenium ascorbate, selenium amino acid chelate.

Selections from more than 30 in Natural Health News

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2008/04/properly-analyzing-data.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2008/11/politics-hivaids-and-gmo-drugs.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/valuable-supplement.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2009/02/cancer-responds-to-love-and-natural.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2009/12/help-prevent-colon-cancer-hope-for.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2009/06/purposeful-confusion.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2010/07/asparagus-olde-cancer-fighting-remedy.html

**Resources: ORTHOMOLECULAR MEDICINE NEWS SERVICE

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Pregnant Mothers Enrolled in Metformin Study

Metformin depletes vitamin B12 and it can lead to metabolic acidosis, yet UK researchers think that giving this drug to pregnant women can reduce obesity in their children.

I can't imagine the twisted mind of the person or persons who thought this one up, or those who give the funding. I am just shaking my head in amazement!

Drug trial to prevent obese kids
Obese pregnant women are to be given a drug to reduce the risk of obesity in their children as part of an NHS trial.
Overweight women supply too much food to a growing baby which can lead to health problems for mother and child.
UK doctors want to try to control this with metformin, which is used to treat diabetes.
Weight Concern said it was an intriguing idea, but ideally women should reach a normal weight before pregnancy.
The researchers leading this study say 15% of pregnant women arriving at many UK hospitals are obese.
It can increase a woman's risk death, pre-eclampsia and of their babies being stillborn or large.
Larger babies are more likely to be obese later in life.
It is thought that obese pregnant women are more resistant to the hormone insulin, which prevents blood sugar levels from getting too high.
Metformin reduces insulin resistance.
It is hoped this will reduce the amount of sugar going to the baby so it is born at a normal size.
Four hundred women will take part in the trial.
Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of the charity Weight Concern, said: "It's intriguing and sadly it's necessary to look at.
"In an ideal world you would want women to take stock of their weight before pregnancy, but in reality that's not going to happen."
SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13333175

Warnings for use of Metformin in Pregnancy

Recent information strongly suggests that abnormal blood glucose levels during pregnancy are associated with a higher incidence of congenital abnormalities. Most experts recommend that insulin be used during pregnancy to maintain blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, metformin should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly needed.

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women with immediate-release metformin. Metformin was not teratogenic in rats and rabbits at doses up to 600 mg/kg/day. This represents an exposure of about two and six times the maximum recommended human daily dose of 2000 mg based on body surface area comparisons for rats and rabbits, respectively. Determination of fetal concentrations demonstrated a partial placental barrier to metformin.

Nursing Mothers - Studies in lactating rats show that metformin is excreted into milk and reaches levels comparable to those in plasma. Similar studies have not been conducted in nursing mothers. Because the potential for hypoglycemia in nursing infants may exist, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother. If metformin is discontinued, and if diet alone is inadequate for controlling blood glucose, insulin therapy should be considered.

Pediatric Use - Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established. SOURCE: Rx List.

Misused Antipsychotic Drugs

Government finds nursing homes misuse antipsychotics -

Last evening on the CBS Nightly News, Armen Keteyian reported on a longstanding problem at nursing homes.

This problem actually goes back for years and years, but as the type of drugs used to chemically restrain elderly people in these centers, problems are much more severe.

ABC Evening News reported on a similar issue in California in 2010.

Even before this, I reported on it because my brother, a METLife sales rep in Colchester VT and South Hero VT, outside Burlington, allowed this to happen to my mother.

In 2003 I spoke against the 7 drugs forced on my mother at Bentley Care Center in Naples FL, owned by Hyatt Corporation.

One of the drugs reported on in last night's news was Zyprexa. My mother was forced to take Zyprexa. This drug is NOT recommended for elderly, especially elderly women, because of the long half-life.

The Case of a Sequestered Mind

What was reported last evening referred to the 2005 Black Box warnings for these drugs.

The report by the Health and Human Services inspector general also found that antipsychotic drugs were given to nursing home residents "unnecessarily" over 300,000 times between January and June 2007, with more than half of those drugs (150,106) given "in excessive dose."

"The use of anti-psychotic drugs when they are not necessary is a form of restraint," said Dr. David Zimmerman, University of Wisconsin. "It's a form of chemical restraint."
The Department of Health and Human Services also says it's "very concerned" that there are "financial incentives for unnecessary drug use." In the past those incentives have led to charges of "kickbacks" between nursing homes, pharmacies and a drug company.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/09/eveningnews/main20061257.shtml

The newer class of drugs, atypical antipsychotics, such as Zyprexa (Eli Lilly & Co.) and Risperdal (Johnson & Johnson), already received the stronger warning labels in 2005, alerting the public about the potential for heart attack and pneumonia when given to the elderly.

In my mother's situation, she did not have dementia, at least initially. Over drugging may have caused this to develop but Hyatt was not very forthcoming with information, except to say that if she was taken off the polypharmacy cocktail she would have to be moved to another facility.

Having been a Director of Nursing in several facilities I am well aware of the issues and the hair on the back of my neck rose every time I heard a new excuse from the Bentley DON. It only showed she was willing to shut up for a pay check and not act to protect patient safety.

This clearly links to the issue of financial incentives to nursing homes and Big PhRMA kickbacks.

What was also strange was that they had no drug interaction profile for the drugs. The DON offered the excuse that their pharmacy did this. However, they would not identify the pharmaceutical supplier of their drugs, or supply me with any related data.

What was worse is that my brother refused to see that my mother had proper care. He would not take her to a Naples neurologist I recommended because he would have to spend money to do so. He also refused to accept the information I provided him that came from a top psych drug researcher (PhD RPh) at FDA, and a colleague of mine.

Later she had a fall and suffered a fractured hip. A common side effect of over drugging the elderly. I suspect diabetes but Bentley failed to honor my access to information in the last years of my mother's life.

And to my brother, I am the bad sister who causes trouble.

I contacted the ABC affiliate in Naples after a story on a similar topic was aired in 2010. They showed no interest in this story. Their interest was in litigation.

Clearly, these drugs were not necessary in my mother's care. More likely, they were given in excessive doses.

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Why you might want to avoid Flonase

The TV ads are heavy hitting right now for anti-allergy drugs.

Here's what you can lose with one as an example.

Flonase® (fluticasone - 'flu' refers to fluoride in the chemical formula)

Prescribed for hay fever, asthma

Depletes: vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, potassium, selenium, zinc, melatonin.

Natural antihistamines are vitamin C and nettle, and they do not act to destroy your natural defenses.

The TSH Test Can't Tell You About Thyroid Health

As you can see Natural Health News has been covering issues that affect thyroid health for quite a long time. We've also published issue of our newsletter, herbalYODA Says!, on this topic, and presented one of our radio programs on this too.

Back in 2001 we made a comment on the infamous Yates case, related in my opinion, to thyroid problems.

Postpartum Depression and Nutrition
May 08, 2010
The new study just being reported focuses on the use of some specific amino acids that effect thyroid function. Skipping proper thyroid function testing so rampant in today's medical modeling its no wonder this old and well known fact ...

Even the TV show featuring the Duggars and their very large family shows a clear example of an overlooked thyroid problem. Gall bladder problems are a key symptom of thyroid health concerns, and it is best to not cut it out.

Recently I met with a client whose MD ignored her low thyroid TSH result and pressured this person to take Pravastatin. Elevated cholesterol levels are another common symptom of thyroid health problems.

And now Hillary Clinton is pleased to tell you thyroid diminishing cell phones are to be used to help you have a healthier baby

Today's BBC News brings this critical issue to light. Call for thyroid screening in pregnancy

All pregnant women should be screened for hidden signs of thyroid disease, according to Czech researchers.
A blood test can pick up about a third of mothers-to-be who have no symptoms but will go on to develop full-blown disease after giving birth, they say.
Early detection could have major implications for the health of mothers and babies, they told the European Congress of Endocrinology.

Increasing rates of Down Syndrome show a thyroid connection. But then so does fluoride in everything.

If you just test for TSH you cannot determine how much active T3 is circulating

If you test TSH and T4 you do not know if the T4 is converting to T3, the most active thyroid hormone. Liver function is linked to the feedback mechanism,adrenal function too. Your heart is also linked to this important issue, so much more.
How Your Thyroid Works "A delicate Feedback Mechanism"

The function of the thyroid gland is to take iodine, found in many foods, and convert it into thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroid cells are the only cells in the body which can absorb iodine. These cells combine iodine and the amino acid tyrosine to make T3 and T4. T3 and T4 are then released into the blood stream and are transported throughout the body where they control metabolism (conversion of oxygen and calories to energy). Every cell in the body depends upon thyroid hormones for regulation of their metabolism. The normal thyroid gland produces about 80% T4 and about 20% T3, however, T3 possesses about four times the hormone "strength" as T4.
The thyroid gland is under the control of the pituitary gland, a small gland the size of a peanut at the base of the brain (shown here in orange). When the level of thyroid hormones (T3 & T4) drops too low, the pituitary gland produces Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which stimulates the thyroid gland to produce more hormones. Under the influence of TSH, the thyroid will manufacture and secrete T3 and T4 thereby raising their blood levels. The pituitary senses this and responds by decreasing its TSH production. One can imagine the thyroid gland as a furnace and the pituitary gland as the thermostat. Thyroid hormones are like heat. When the heat gets back to the thermostat, it turns the thermostat off. As the room cools (the thyroid hormone levels drop), the thermostat turns back on (TSH increases) and the furnace produces more heat (thyroid hormones).
The pituitary gland itself is regulated by another gland, known as the hypothalamus (shown in our picture in light blue). The hypothalamus is part of the brain and produces TSH Releasing Hormone (TRH) which tells the pituitary gland to stimulate the thyroid gland (release TSH). One might imagine the hypothalamus as the person who regulates the thermostat since it tells the pituitary gland at what level the thyroid should be set.

Don't overlook pharmaceuticals like antibiotics, antidepressants, and osteoporosis drugs that are fluoride based, and now radiation too.

We offer effective thyroid testing and education. More here.

Selections from Natural Health News

Natural Health News: Electromagnetic Radiation Kills Thyroid Cells

Mar 05, 2011

PURPOSE: In the present study we investigated the possible histopathological effects of pulse modulated Radiofrequency (RF) fields on the thyroid gland using light microscopy, electron microscopy and immunohistochemical methods. ...

Natural Health News: Too Much Thyroxine Boosts Fracture Risk

Apr 29, 2011

Also note that if you search the history of Synthroid you will find that there was collusion many decades ago to move Armour Natural Thyroid out of the marketplace and allow Synthroid to move in. This had to do as well with a change in ...

Natural Health News: Thyroid and Heart Connection: Known for Decades

Jul 03, 2010

Larry Frieders, the compounder, THYROID MADNESS DEFINITION: 1.Treating hypothyroid patients solely with T4-only meds (synthroid) 2.Dosing solely by the TSH and the total T4, or using the outdated "Thyroid Panel" ...

Natural Health News: Organochlorine Exposure Alters Thyroid Function

Jul 22, 2008

Especially risky to people with diabetes, an endocrine disorder linked to thyroid and other endoctine imbalances. Few human studies of safety have been published on sucralose. One study of diabetic patients using the sweetener showed a ...

Dental X-rays could increase the risk of thyroid cancer

Jun 04, 2010

The thyroid gland, in the neck, is sensitive to ionising radiation, especially in children, but the potential risk posed by dental radiography is often ignored, researchers said. In a study of 313 cancer patients, scientists from ...

Thyroid care off base in the US too...

Mar 27, 2009

Thyroid concerns are perhaps a greater health concern that realized. This may be related to low selenium levels in food, the thyroid suppressing effect of water fluoridation, the rise in the number and use of fluoride based ...

Sjogren's Fatigue and Cancer Drugs

Nov 10, 2008

Researchers at UCLA tried to show that low vitamin D would make an autoimmune thyroid problem worse. Their experiment was based on the idea that vitamin D has a dampening effect on an excessive and inappropriate immune response in many ...

Use Current Standards for Accurate Diagnosing

Sep 24, 2008

The correct range currently and for the last several years for TSH is 0.3 to 3 or 3.2 mU/L. Even some whose TSH result is in this narrowed range may still be suffering with symptoms realted to abberation in thyroid function. ...

Silent Thyroid Ignored for Years by Most Health Providers

May 26, 2008

The data suggest that silent or "subclinical" thyroid dysfunction "might represent a potentially modifiable -- albeit modest -- risk factor for coronary heart disease and mortality," Dr. Nicholas Rodondi, from the University of Lausanne

So you really believe fluoride promotes health?

May 19, 2008

2008-05-19 15:54:10 - There is clear evidence that small amounts of fluoride, at or near levels added to US water supplies, present potential risks to the thyroid gland, according to the National Research Council's (NRC) first-ever ...

Thyroid Concerns, again

Jun 13, 2009

"The thyroid, located in the neck, is a kind of master gland, secreting hormones that affect metabolism. Doctors usually check its activity by an indirect measure -- looking at levels of TSH, or thyroid stimulating hormone." ...

Natural Health News: Be Aware of SOY Risks

Apr 14, 2009

No large-scale human research studies have been conducted that examine the thyroid-related effects of long-term consumption of whole, natural soy foods consumed in ordinary amounts. Studies in this area have mostly focused on rats fed ...

Natural Health News: Good Resources for Radiation Exposure

Mar 14, 2011

Diabetes in this case may develop from loss of function of the thyroid gland, which in turn effects function of all other endocrine glands, including the pancreas. High quality digestive enzymes and other natural pancreatic support may ...

Natural Health News: Dr Paul Connett World's Leading Expert on ...

Apr 05, 2011

That's why nutrients such as Iodine, L-Tyrosine, Kelp and other iodine-rich seaweeds rejuvenate and balance thyroid function. These help to protect the thyroid and supports its detoxification process. While these low dose and natural ...

Natural Health News: Fluoride -laced Fosamax and Reclast Linked to ...

Jan 01, 2008

over-consumption of fluoride can raise the risks of disorders affecting teeth, bones, the brain and the thyroid gland," reports Scientific American editors (January 2008). "Scientific attitudes toward fluoridation may be starting to ...

Natural Health News: Another Statin Warning

Mar 21, 2010

An array of additional risk factors for statin AEs are those that amplify (or reflect) mitochondrial or metabolic vulnerability, such as metabolic syndrome factors, thyroid disease, and genetic mutations linked to mitochondrial ...

Calming the Chaos

Mar 18, 2011

Many customers already take Iodoral® (iodine/iodide) and therefore have taken an important and ongoing step in supporting thyroid and overall health. The reality is that we don't yet know the extent to which this disaster will truly ...

Natural Health News: Fluoride is not a cure for mothers or babies

Mar 16, 2009

The National Research Council has identified fluoride as an "endocrine disrupter" that may impair thyroid function, while recent research from Harvard University has found a possible connection between fluoride and bone cancer. ...

Vegans may be at risk for Cardiovascular Events

Feb 07, 2011

In addition to Zinc, Iron, B12, vitamin D, and EFAs, thyroid nutrients may be depleted in vegan and vegetarian diets. Vegans risk blood clots and atherosclerosis, so also heart attack. Meat eaters are known for having a significantly ...

Experts make Down syndrome and Alzheimer`s eye link

Jun 09, 2010

ODDLY IN BOTH DOWN SYNDROME AND ALZHEIMER'S, HIGH INCIDENCE OF THYROID PROBLEMS EXIST AS WELL Eye problems can be a symptom of thyroid imbalance. Contact Lenses News :: Experts make Down syndrome and Alzheimer`s eye link ...

A New Look at Fibromyalgia?

Jun 07, 2010

If there were to be something coming from this story I'd like to see proper thyroid testing, nutritional counseling, and supplement support. I say this because I worked for several years as a resource person for a large urban hospital

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