Herbs for ThyroidHerbs for ThyroidHerbs for ThyroidHerbs for Thyroid

Thyroid FunctionThyroid Function

Vitex agnus-castusVitex agnus-castus

Vitex agnus-castusVitex agnus-castus

Part used: berries

Part used: berries

“chasteberry”“Monks’ pepper”

“chasteberry”“Monks’ pepper”

Vitex agnus-castusVitex agnus-castus Family:

Verbenaceae

Habitat: Mediterranean regions; not at all endangered

Uses: Hormone regulator; acts on anterior pituitary

Family:Verbenaceae

Habitat: Mediterranean regions; not at all endangered

Uses: Hormone regulator; acts on anterior pituitary

ConstituentsFlavonoids: castican, orientin, isovitexin

Iridoid glycosides: agnuside (the reference constituent for standardization), aucubin

volatile oil (0.8-1.6%): terpenoids (cineole, sabinene, limonene, camphene), - and -pinene

ketosteroids: androstenedione, possibly progesterone and testosterone analogs

Vitex agnus-castusVitex agnus-castus

Toxicity: None reported in past 2000 years of use

Dosing

•Infusion: 1/2 - 1 tsp (5-10 g) berries per cup. 1 cup TID or once per AM.

•Tincture (1:5 35%): 3-10 ml per day in AM

•Capsules: 1-2 capsules per day in AM

•Dr. Dipasquale uses drop doses for energetic effect

Vitex agnus-castusVitex agnus-castus

Fucus vesiculosisFucus vesiculosis

Fucus vesiculosisFucus vesiculosis

Part used: fronds

Proper harvest: 3-4 foot haircut. It will grow back in one season.

Kelp HarvestingKelp HarvestingKelp HarvestingKelp Harvesting

Kelp HarvestingKelp Harvesting

Family: Fucaceae

Habitat: Rocky ocean shores; temperate climates

Uses: Nutritive support for thyroid, especially if hypothyroid. General metabolic support for weight loss and energy.

Family: Fucaceae

Habitat: Rocky ocean shores; temperate climates

Uses: Nutritive support for thyroid, especially if hypothyroid. General metabolic support for weight loss and energy.

Fucus vesiculosis

“Kelp” refers to hundreds of species in the Laminariales and Fucales orders.

Fucus vesiculosisConstituents & Actions:Fucus vesiculosisConstituents & Actions:

Phenolic compounds, including fucoidan•lowering LDL cholesterol, lowering blood glucose, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antibacterial, anti-HIV

Mucopolysaccharides, including alginic acid•dietary fiber, GI antiinflammatory (Gaviscon™), inhibits HIV in vitro, lowers LDL cholesterol in animals, widely used in food and pharmaceuticals as a thickener and gelling agent

Trace metals, particularly iodine•Essential trace metal for all animals and plants, anti-goiter, thyrosupportive, anti-cancer (breast & gastric), immune modulating

Fucus vesiculosisFucus vesiculosisDosing: Powder: 1 tsp TID along

with at least 8 oz of water each time

Capsules: 5 to 10 grams in capsules TID

Tincture 1:5 @ 25%: 2-3 mls TID

Infusion = Soup

Dosing: Powder: 1 tsp TID along

with at least 8 oz of water each time

Capsules: 5 to 10 grams in capsules TID

Tincture 1:5 @ 25%: 2-3 mls TID

Infusion = Soup

Leonurus cardiacaLeonurus cardiaca

Leonurus cardiaca

Leonurus cardiaca

Common name: Motherwort

Family: Lamiaceae

Part used: Herba, especially flowering tops

Grows like a weed in any soil

Constituents: Stachydrine & leonurine (alkaloids)

Actions: Cardioprotective, cardioregulating, antianginal, relaxant, nervine, antispasmodic, antihypertensive, (also a mild uterine stimulant and tonic, and emmenagogue)

Indications: Heart palpitations, anxiousness, arhythmia, hyperthyroid (also amenorrhea and threatened miscarriage, however empirical data recommends against taking it while pregnant)

Common name: Motherwort

Family: Lamiaceae

Part used: Herba, especially flowering tops

Grows like a weed in any soil

Constituents: Stachydrine & leonurine (alkaloids)

Actions: Cardioprotective, cardioregulating, antianginal, relaxant, nervine, antispasmodic, antihypertensive, (also a mild uterine stimulant and tonic, and emmenagogue)

Indications: Heart palpitations, anxiousness, arhythmia, hyperthyroid (also amenorrhea and threatened miscarriage, however empirical data recommends against taking it while pregnant)

DosingInfusion: 2 tsp./cup water; 1 cup BIDTincture: 1:5 @ 45%; 4-6 ml TIDFluid extract: 1:1 @ 25%; 2-3 ml TIDCapsules: 250 mg/cap; 1-2 cap TID

My Favorite – Ginger-infused Leonurus syrup. DELICIOUS.

Leonurus cardiaca

Leonurus cardiaca

Lycopus virginicusLycopus virginicusName: Bugleweed

Family: Lamiaceae

Habitat: North American native with semi-aggressive running root systems. Weedy, re-seedy.

Lycopus virginicusLycopus virginicus

Constituents:•Phenolic acid derivatives (caffeic, rosmarinic, chlorogenic, ellagic)•Lithospermic acid

Medicinal actions: Sedative, astringent, anti-tussive, peripheral vasoconstrictor, anti-hyperthyroid

Lycopus virginicusLycopus

virginicusDosing:Tincture: 1:5 @ 35%, 5 ml TIDInfusion: 1 tsp./ cup; infuse 20 minutes; 1 cup TID(note: tincture is far more effective than infusion)

Safety:Contraindicated with hypothyroid conditions, pregnancy, lactation.There have been no reports of toxicity.

Lithospermum ruderale

Lithospermum ruderale

Name: Stone seed, gromwell

Family: Boraginaceae

Habitat: Open hillsides from eastern Washington to northern California

Part used: Arial parts and seeds

Lithospermum ruderale

Constituents & actions:

Lithospermum ruderale

Constituents & actions: Lithospermum acid

• anti-gonadotropic properties• blocks production of FSH, LH, and TSH • blocks thyroid secretion

•Naphthoquinone derivative (shikonin)• antimicrobial

• Phenolic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic and ellagic acids)• antioxidant, antimicrobial

Lithospermum ruderaleLithospermum ruderale Dosing:

Infusion: 1 tsp./cup water; 1 cup/day for contraception; 1 cup TID for hyperthyroidism and other estrogen and progesterone imbalances.

Tincture 1:5 @ 45%: 1-5 ml TID

Dosing: Infusion: 1 tsp./cup

water; 1 cup/day for contraception; 1 cup TID for hyperthyroidism and other estrogen and progesterone imbalances.

Tincture 1:5 @ 45%: 1-5 ml TID

Lithospermum ruderale

Lithospermum ruderale

Safety No reports of toxicity, however it can really

throw hormone balance off if used long term Case reports of permanently lowered sperm

count Useful for conception, but contraindicated in

pregnancy and lactation

Safety No reports of toxicity, however it can really

throw hormone balance off if used long term Case reports of permanently lowered sperm

count Useful for conception, but contraindicated in

pregnancy and lactation

Case 1Case 1

A 39 year old woman comes to see you after having spent the night/early morning in the emergency room. She woke up at 2:45 am with intense heart palpitations and anxiousness. A full cardiac workup ruled out heart attack. She was sent home with a prescription for Atenolol (a beta-blocker).

A 39 year old woman comes to see you after having spent the night/early morning in the emergency room. She woke up at 2:45 am with intense heart palpitations and anxiousness. A full cardiac workup ruled out heart attack. She was sent home with a prescription for Atenolol (a beta-blocker).

Case 1Case 1

She works as a Spanish interpreter and is a full time student in Library Sciences. She spends an average of 7 hours per day on the computer.

She has a 9 year old son and is divorced. She admits to eating several “Canadian

butter tarts” the evening preceding her anxiety attack. (butter, raisins, maple syrup, sugar)

She works as a Spanish interpreter and is a full time student in Library Sciences. She spends an average of 7 hours per day on the computer.

She has a 9 year old son and is divorced. She admits to eating several “Canadian

butter tarts” the evening preceding her anxiety attack. (butter, raisins, maple syrup, sugar)

Case 1Case 1

Physical exam reveals Blood pressure 118/60, HR 74bpm Right pupil is dilated more than left,

and both are equally responsive to light. The right pupil can only hold a reflex contraction for a fraction of a second.

Thyroid is “boggy”, or diffusely enlarged with no palpable nodules.

Physical exam reveals Blood pressure 118/60, HR 74bpm Right pupil is dilated more than left,

and both are equally responsive to light. The right pupil can only hold a reflex contraction for a fraction of a second.

Thyroid is “boggy”, or diffusely enlarged with no palpable nodules.