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.