How do you reverse a slightly swollen thyroid gland?
How do you know it is swollen? Have you had all the thyroid tests: TSH, FREE T4, FREE T3, REVERSE T3, ATA (antithyroid antibody), TPO (thyroid peroxidase antibody)? Are they in the normal ranges according to Life Extension (lab ranges are wide as a barn door and encompass many unwell states). Here are the LEF ranges:
TSH LE’s Optimal Range: 0.35 to 2.1 mcIU/mL
FREE T4 Reference Range: 0.70–1.53 ng/dL
FREE T3 Reference Range: 2.3–4.2 pg/mL
Reverse T3 Reference Range: 90–350 pg/mL
ATA LE’s Optimal Range: <5 IU/mL
Life Extension reports these statistics culled from studies:
■TSH greater than 2.0: increased 20-year risk of hypothyroidism and increased risk of thyroid autoimmune disease
■TSH between 2.0 and 4.0: hypercholesterolemia and cholesterol levels decline in response to T4 therapy
■TSH greater than 4.0: greater risk of heart disease
(see
http://www.lef.org/p...eference ranges)
Also interesting: Some people with celiac disease or sensitivity to gluten are at increased risk for developing autoimmune thyroid disease and should be evaluated.72
Elevated thyroid antibodies are often associated with chronic urticaria, also called hives. Studies report that as many as 57.4% of patients with hives have the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies.73,74
There are a number of studies (look yourself) indicating that these things 9other than iodine, selenium, nutrient deficiencies) are among those that cause cause increased thyroid volume: fluoride, cigarette smoking). First for Women magazine July 18, 2011 is now running ana rticle stating that these vegetables are treated with a being-phased-out-over-years pesticide (cryolite) that contains high levels of fluoride: tomato, potato, strawberries. Cryolite is also used in Californian grapes. The article advises buying organic or, in the case of wines, European varieties, as cryolite is rarely used in Europe.
So...it seems unusual to approach a thyroid question with a start being a swelling. It seems like you need to start with the blood tests because depending on which way you need to drive your thyroid the solution would be different. You can't go wrong by taking 200-200 mcg selenium, however.
For instance:
Gartner R, Gasnier BC, Dietrich JW, Krebs B, Angstwurm MW.
Selenium supplementation in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis decreases
thyroid peroxidase antibodies concentrations.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Apr;87(4):1687-91.
PMID: 11932302
Low selenium status in the elderly influences thyroid hormones
OLIVIERI O.; GIRELLI D.; AZZINI M.; STANZIAL A. M.; RUSSO C.; FERRONI M.; CORROCHER R.
A progressive reduction of the T3/T4 ratio (due to increased T4 levels) and of selenium in the elderly is reversed with selenium supplementation.
http://cat.inist.fr/...&cpsidt=2991072http://www.springerl...58757835772742/Selenium Deficiency as a Possible Contributor of Goiter in Schoolchildren of Isfahan, Iran
Ammar H. Keshteli, Mahin Hashemipour, Mansour Siavash and Masoud Amini
The prevalence of Se deficiency was significantly higher in goitrous boys and girls than nongoitrous children.