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Carol Roberts, M.D.

Information on Hypothyroidism and Armour

By Mary Shomon, About.com

Updated: December 13, 2003

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Dr. Carol Roberts is an holistic physician, board certified and with a decade of practice as an Ear, Nose and Throat physician-and with ten years experience as an emergency physician as well. Her practice is located in the Tampa area in Brandon, Florida. Dr. Roberts is Director of Wellness Works, a medical practice that specializes in integrated treatment of chronic disease, and offers acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition therapy, and other complementary and alternative therapies.

Some keypoints on her theories on natural thyroid and vitamins/supplements, plus the relationship between Type A personalities and thyroid problems:
  • The ideal thyroid replacement would be natural human thyroid in exactly the right proportions. However, since this is not currently available Armour thyroid, the dessicated animal product, seems to work well for most patients, much better certainly than synthetic T4 alone (Synthroid).
  • In general, a natural product works better, and is less costly, than the pharmaceutical alternative.
  • With regard to the interaction of the emotions with the physical body, the Hindus have a model which explains this very well. It's called the chakra system. Type A personalities get stuck in the third chakra, being the power center, concerned with competence, aggression, competitiveness, and related to the adrenal glands. They don't know how to give or receive love openly and freely (4th chakra) and therefore tend to get more heart attacks. You might say that the body creates the metaphor of blocked coronary arteries from the blocked emotion.
  • Supplements which most people with hypothyroidism should be taking include mineral content, especially the iodine, and tyrosine, since T3 and T4 both are made from tyrosine, the basic multivitamins, including C, E, all the B vitamins and beta carotene for Vitamin A.
  • Regular exercise and careful attention to the right foods usually helps losing weight.
More information about Dr. Roberts' theories and perspectives on hypothyroidism are featured at an in-depth interview.
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