more questions about kudzu and thyroid

[Lila]

Hi all - there was a thread in general I believe warning about kudzu and thyroid. I though to readdress the question here would get more answers.
I am hypo (low) thryroid, and I have the MWo kudzu. Now I am afraid to take it. Why would there be soy in it if it is kudzu?
Should I start taking it again?
Lila

[periwinkle]

more questions about kudzu and thyroid

Lila, I haven't heard of that. Have you googled it?

[beatle]

more questions about kudzu and thyroid

This is a good question-- very much on my mind right now, as well.

I am also hypothryroid, and I understand that eating large portions of soy products is not a good idea. This has been a bit of a problem for me, being vegetarian... but basically, I have cut down, but not cut out soy.

I don't think kudzu has soy in it, I think the connection has something to do with isoflavones, which are found in soy products and also in other plants, such as red clover (and kudzu, I presume). Generally, isoflavones are supposed to be good stuff, great antioxidants, reducing heart disease, cancer, prostrate problems, and improving bone health.

But the chemical structure of isoflavones is very similar to that of our own estrogen (which I assume is the reason why soy is recommended to ease menopause). So, I guess herein lies the connection to hypothyroidism... but--- I have not come further than this.

So, at this point I continue to take my synthroid for my thyroid problem, and the kudzu (on an as-needed basis) for my alcohol problem and try to keep my soy-product consumption at a moderate level.

I am still researching this, and will certainly get back with any new information I get.

[Lila]

more questions about kudzu and thyroid

ok, RJ just PM'd me. It contains soy isoflavones....now what??? Maybe it is not that harmful. What do you think, Beatle? I take Armour thyroid.
sigh!!!

[Doggygirl]

more questions about kudzu and thyroid

I PM'd a friend of mine on another board who is a Thyroid guru. Beatle...you are right at least as far as everything I have read - it's the behaving like estrogen that is part of the problem. If memory serves me right, estrogen (like calcium and several other things) binds thyroid hormone, potentially lowering what is already low in our systems. Actually I think it binds T3 not T4, so Beatle soy would not interfere with Synthroid in your case, but COULD interfere with the T3 your body is making out of the Synthroid.

Anyway...I'm going by memory here which is faulty at my age! I will post whatever my pal has to say about soy isoflavones as relates to Thyroid. She is an excellent resource for Thyroid related stuff!

FWIW..

DG

[Lila]

more questions about kudzu and thyroid

So complicated! My Armour has both T3 and T4, well, wow, I sure get a lot of info here about so many things. Can't wait to hear back from you DG, and thanks you all for responding.

[beatle]

more questions about kudzu and thyroid

Lila, Armour is a natural hormone (coming from real live pigs), and as disgusting as it seems to me, as a vegetarian, you are probably in a much better position than those of us taking the synthetic stuff. In fact, I am going to move over to Armour myself (it is a byproduct, btw,-- no pigs are killed for their thyroids!).

The hormones you get from the Armour, as far as I have understood, are probably working much better with your body. If I were in your position, I would not make any drastic changes... and keep taking the kudzu if you feel it helps. The damage alcohol does to us far outweighs almost anything else. Remember that.

[Doggygirl]

more questions about kudzu and thyroid

Lila;489426 wrote: So complicated! My Armour has both T3 and T4, well, wow, I sure get a lot of info here about so many things. Can't wait to hear back from you DG, and thanks you all for responding.

And T1 and T2 and and and... Yes Beatle - everything I've researched suggests that for many folks, Armour with the combination of T3/T4 in ratios that are very close to the natural production of the human body is somehow just easier on the system. I'm personally a little leery of any synthetically made hormones.....maybe that's silly.

Beatle I'm always curious when people are on Synthroid (T4) only - does your doc regularly test your Free T3 along with Free T4? I'm always surprised at the number of doctors that somehow prescribe T4 without ever testing T3 (or T4) only TSH....but that's another topic!

DG

[vlad]

more questions about kudzu and thyroid

I had hypERthyroid, which is the opposite to what we're talking about here, but I struggle to take it, the stronger the dose, the weirder it makes me feel. The UK kudzu worked but made me feel dizzy and sick after a day of taking it. The MWO Kudzu, which is a lower dose, I managed to tolerate well (and it worked) for a week before having intense and painful thirst persistently. Taking it made no difference. I gave up, felt that my cravings for AL were more tolerable.

[Lila]

more questions about kudzu and thyroid

Beatle
I used to take Thyrolar, and before that Synthroid - Thyrolar is a synthetic but made to be like Armour. I was, I admit surprised that you were taking Synthroid. When I switched to Armour I felt horrible for a few days. Now I am very glad I take it.
I really hated that stuff, Synthroid, horrible. There was a problem getting THyrolar for awhile and during that time I switched to Armour.
Thanks for saying the obvious - I do need the reminder, as crazy as that may seem.
Is the AllOne powder okay for us hypos?
Lila

[Lila]

more questions about kudzu and thyroid

oh dear, Vlad. That is too bad. Kudzu is just so effective. I was off, got on a bad track over the Thanksgiving commotion, and wanted to go back on. DG, my HMO only covers Synthroid. I happily pay for Armour, and go to a natural doctor out of pocket. And the only test I have ever gotten was TSH. I am short on funds right now, so go by how I feel. Meaning I don't want to order tests that I have to pay for, but I think I am doing ok.

[beatle]

more questions about kudzu and thyroid

Lila, I cannot get anything but Synthroid where I live. I visit the US often, and so am trying to get it through a doctor there, which of course means out of pocket, but I am convinced that is the way to go (based on talking to a lot of other people with similar experiences).

I don't believe the synthroid works for me, but when I quit it for a few weeks, my AL cravings increased dramatically, so I keep taking it, if only for that!

DG, I think I've been tested for all that stuff (free T3, T4), but just in case, I asked my doc to do all the tests last week. So I should at least get some answers soon.

There is a thyroid guru in the US I can recommend. I've learned a lot from him: drlowe.com---fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone resistance

[Lila]

more questions about kudzu and thyroid

thanks, Beatle I will check. That is interesting that it helps your cravings, do you know why?

[beatle]

more questions about kudzu and thyroid

I am convinced there is a connection between thyroid functioning and alcohol problems. I don't know what it is, but my drinking got out of control right around the time my thyroid slowed down. Also, it seems to me that an abnormally large number of alcoholics have thyroid problems. This is just anecdotal evidence, of course-- but I wish somebody would do research on this.

So, I'm guessing the synthroid corrects some imbalance that makes me crave alcohol (although it doesn't go away from the synthroid, it just seems to be less severe). I'm still planning to get the natural stuff, however, as synthroid does not help me with many of my other symptoms.

btw, Dr. Lowe recommends Nature-Throid (Nature-throid) over Armour. (He says the lab that makes it is very stringent about quality.

[Lila]

more questions about kudzu and thyroid

thanks Beatle, I will check that link, there is also more in depth info about MWO kudzu on the health food store website. Maybe (I hope) it is actually good for hypo.