Cathryn drew a diagram to demonstrate how rT3 dominance can develop.
• TSH is blunted by rising levels of glucocorticoids (stress) and sex hormones (pill)
• Also stress causes more production of rT3 and the pill makes more SHBG to bind T4 and T3
(rT3 is the body’s way of hibernating (as in animals) as it lowers metabolism etc.)
A patient who presents with fatigue despite having a normal TSH and a normal T4, may not be converting from T4 to T3 well and may also
have accumulated excess rT3
rT3 levels greater than 450 is considered too high
Options
Slow Release T3 (synthetic SR T3)
Thyroid Extract. TE is often given twice daily as half life of T3 is about 12 hours
or sometimes both TE and Thyroxine as T4 can be too low on only TE
Equivalent dosages
50ug T4 =30mgThyroid Extract = ½ grain
100ug T4 =60mgThyroid Extract = 1 grain (25ug T3)
Both SRT3 and TE are compounded up by Compounding Chemists and a prescription is required.
(higher cost of TE and SR T3)
Need
Enough Zinc, Selenium and Iodine
Decrease stress and other hormones
Monitoring
Administering should be monitored, as T4 may lead to osteoporosis.
Initially patient is tested every 8 weeks until correct dosage obtained, then less frequently.
Herb tonic - a practitioner only medication
Thyroco by Mediherb,
www.mediherb.com.au
Helps maintain normal thyroid function
Recommended Dose
Adults: 1 tablet daily
Each tablet contains extracts equivalent to:
Fucus vesiculosus (Bladderwrack) dry herb 437.5 mg
containing iodine 250 mcg
• TSH is blunted by rising levels of glucocorticoids (stress) and sex hormones (pill)
• Also stress causes more production of rT3 and the pill makes more SHBG to bind T4 and T3
(rT3 is the body’s way of hibernating (as in animals) as it lowers metabolism etc.)
A patient who presents with fatigue despite having a normal TSH and a normal T4, may not be converting from T4 to T3 well and may also
have accumulated excess rT3
rT3 levels greater than 450 is considered too high
Options
Slow Release T3 (synthetic SR T3)
Thyroid Extract. TE is often given twice daily as half life of T3 is about 12 hours
or sometimes both TE and Thyroxine as T4 can be too low on only TE
Equivalent dosages
50ug T4 =30mgThyroid Extract = ½ grain
100ug T4 =60mgThyroid Extract = 1 grain (25ug T3)
Both SRT3 and TE are compounded up by Compounding Chemists and a prescription is required.
(higher cost of TE and SR T3)
Need
Enough Zinc, Selenium and Iodine
Decrease stress and other hormones
Monitoring
Administering should be monitored, as T4 may lead to osteoporosis.
Initially patient is tested every 8 weeks until correct dosage obtained, then less frequently.
Herb tonic - a practitioner only medication
Thyroco by Mediherb,
www.mediherb.com.au
Helps maintain normal thyroid function
Recommended Dose
Adults: 1 tablet daily
Each tablet contains extracts equivalent to:
Fucus vesiculosus (Bladderwrack) dry herb 437.5 mg
containing iodine 250 mcg
Thyroid Extract (TE) – It was originally developed in the late 1800’s from crushed pig’s thyroid. The best known brand is Armour Thyroid.
Today’s version is dried, made into powder and then made up by Compounding Chemists into capsules. Australian pigs are used for
Australian consumption.
Thyroid Extract is generally 80% T4 and 20% T3. (Some say 4:1) It is considered similar to human thyroid.
T3 is ten times more potent than T4 and is the active thyroid hormone
Negatives
It is not an exact dosage like synthetic medication, with possible variations from batch to batch.
It must be refrigerated and towards the end of the bottle, quality may not be the same as those capsules originally administered. It has a
higher cost than synthetic. Also Thyroid Extract is non PBS and the patient must pay full costs (some private health funds may contribute)
Patient Care
Initially patients are started on T4 and most do OK for many years and it is suited to mainstream medicine (dosage is consistant etc)
Many patients present “still fatigued” while on T4 only as the T4 may not convert over to T3 adequately
• Need adequate Zinc and Selenium to convert from T4 to T3
• Iodine is needed to make T4 and T3. Low iodine causes thyroxine to be stored in the gland and not released into circulation. Take -
Kelp, Iodised salt. Can check – levels in urine
T4 is converted to T3 in the peripheral tissues mainly liver, kidney and spleen.
Cells of the brain are a major target for T3 and T4
Depression can be a symptom of low T3
A common finding in several studies show, patients taking some form of T3, feel better -see article New England Journal Study on the
benefits of also giving T3 supplementation.(One group was given T3/4 and the other T4 only, results collated and then the groups were
reversed and assessed.) http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/340/6/424
TESTING – Mainstream medicine generally test for TSH only
TSH alone is not a good measure of thyroid function (like FSH is not a good measure of Oestrogen and LH is not a good measure of
Testosterone)
Therefore need comprehensive testing of TSH, T4, T3, Antibodies and rT3 (reverse T3has no PBS rebate)
(Note : rT3 blood test is not covered by Medicare but can be ordered privately through a pathology laboratory and billed directly to the
patient Eg Western diagnostics will send sample to south Eastern Area Laboratory Services (NSW) but a requesting practitioners form
must be presented)
Today’s version is dried, made into powder and then made up by Compounding Chemists into capsules. Australian pigs are used for
Australian consumption.
Thyroid Extract is generally 80% T4 and 20% T3. (Some say 4:1) It is considered similar to human thyroid.
T3 is ten times more potent than T4 and is the active thyroid hormone
Negatives
It is not an exact dosage like synthetic medication, with possible variations from batch to batch.
It must be refrigerated and towards the end of the bottle, quality may not be the same as those capsules originally administered. It has a
higher cost than synthetic. Also Thyroid Extract is non PBS and the patient must pay full costs (some private health funds may contribute)
Patient Care
Initially patients are started on T4 and most do OK for many years and it is suited to mainstream medicine (dosage is consistant etc)
Many patients present “still fatigued” while on T4 only as the T4 may not convert over to T3 adequately
• Need adequate Zinc and Selenium to convert from T4 to T3
• Iodine is needed to make T4 and T3. Low iodine causes thyroxine to be stored in the gland and not released into circulation. Take -
Kelp, Iodised salt. Can check – levels in urine
T4 is converted to T3 in the peripheral tissues mainly liver, kidney and spleen.
Cells of the brain are a major target for T3 and T4
Depression can be a symptom of low T3
A common finding in several studies show, patients taking some form of T3, feel better -see article New England Journal Study on the
benefits of also giving T3 supplementation.(One group was given T3/4 and the other T4 only, results collated and then the groups were
reversed and assessed.) http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/340/6/424
TESTING – Mainstream medicine generally test for TSH only
TSH alone is not a good measure of thyroid function (like FSH is not a good measure of Oestrogen and LH is not a good measure of
Testosterone)
Therefore need comprehensive testing of TSH, T4, T3, Antibodies and rT3 (reverse T3has no PBS rebate)
(Note : rT3 blood test is not covered by Medicare but can be ordered privately through a pathology laboratory and billed directly to the
patient Eg Western diagnostics will send sample to south Eastern Area Laboratory Services (NSW) but a requesting practitioners form
must be presented)
| The following is an excerpt from Dr D'Cruz's presentation November 2007 |
The Western Australia Thyroid Support Group welcomed a presentation given by Dr
Cathryn D’Cruz, MBBS, FRACGP, Cert Maharishi Ayurveda to speak about
Thyroid Management, specifically relating to Hashimotos thyroiditis,
Thyroid Extract and Slow Release T3 (SRT3)
(Note: All information regarding thyroid Cancer should be directed to your specialist)
The WA Thyroid Support Group provides a guest speaker solely for informational and
educational purposes These speakers are not intended to be a substitute for a medical
consultation with a qualified professional. Information discussed at meetings is aimed at
helping educate people with thyroid conditions so that they can knowledgeably discuss
issues with their own doctor in order to improve and/or enhance their total wellbeing.
Dr. Cathryn D’Cruz is a medical practitioner and a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of
General Practitioners. She is also the Western Australian Representative for the
Australasian Integrative Medicine Association.
Dr D’Cruz works in a leading natural health centre in Wembley, Desana Integrative Medical
Clinic, and uses a holistic approach in integrating the best of modern medicine with the
best of natural medicine, including natural thyroid treatments, bio identical hormone
replacement therapies, nutritional medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine.
Integrative Medicine – where medical practitioners incorporate complementary medicines
into their practice in order to provide a holistic approach to patient care through support
and accurate information in pursuit of complete whole person care.
Cathryn D’Cruz, MBBS, FRACGP, Cert Maharishi Ayurveda to speak about
Thyroid Management, specifically relating to Hashimotos thyroiditis,
Thyroid Extract and Slow Release T3 (SRT3)
(Note: All information regarding thyroid Cancer should be directed to your specialist)
The WA Thyroid Support Group provides a guest speaker solely for informational and
educational purposes These speakers are not intended to be a substitute for a medical
consultation with a qualified professional. Information discussed at meetings is aimed at
helping educate people with thyroid conditions so that they can knowledgeably discuss
issues with their own doctor in order to improve and/or enhance their total wellbeing.
Dr. Cathryn D’Cruz is a medical practitioner and a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of
General Practitioners. She is also the Western Australian Representative for the
Australasian Integrative Medicine Association.
Dr D’Cruz works in a leading natural health centre in Wembley, Desana Integrative Medical
Clinic, and uses a holistic approach in integrating the best of modern medicine with the
best of natural medicine, including natural thyroid treatments, bio identical hormone
replacement therapies, nutritional medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine.
Integrative Medicine – where medical practitioners incorporate complementary medicines
into their practice in order to provide a holistic approach to patient care through support
and accurate information in pursuit of complete whole person care.
| An Integrative Medicine approach to Proper Thyroid Management |
| All rights reserved. |
| THYROIDWA Western Australia Support Group |
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| You do not have to be a member of Thyroid Australia to attend our meetings or access this website, but as THYROID AUSTRALIA is a volunteer organisation we would encourage membership. The website is www.thyroid.org.au In conjunction with this information please read our disclaimer page. |
