1. Herbs for Thyroid

2. Thyroid Function

3. Vitex agnus-castus

4. Vitex agnus-castus
“chasteberry”
“Monks’ pepper”
Part used: berries

5. Vitex agnus-castus Family: Verbenaceae Habitat:
Mediterranean regions; not at all endangered
Uses:
Hormone regulator; acts on anterior pituitary

6. Vitex agnus-castus Constituents
Flavonoids: castican, orientin, isovitexin
Iridoid glycosides: agnuside (the reference constituent for standardization), aucubin
volatile oil ( %): terpenoids (cineole, sabinene, limonene, camphene), - and -pinene
ketosteroids: androstenedione, possibly progesterone and testosterone analogs

7. Vitex agnus-castus Dosing
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

9. Fucus vesiculosis

10. Fucus vesiculosis Part used: fronds
Proper harvest: 3-4 foot haircut. It will grow back in one season.

11. Kelp Harvesting

12. Kelp Harvesting

13. Fucus vesiculosis
Family: Fucaceae Habitat: Rocky ocean shores; temperate climates Uses: Nutritive support for thyroid, especially if hypothyroid. General metabolic support for weight loss and energy.
“Kelp” refers to hundreds of species in the Laminariales and Fucales orders.

14. Fucus vesiculosis Constituents & 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

15. Fucus vesiculosis Dosing:
Powder: 1 tsp TID along with at least 8 oz of water each time
Capsules: 5 to 10 grams in capsules TID
Tincture 25%: 2-3 mls TID
Infusion = Soup

17. Leonurus cardiaca

18. 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)

19. Leonurus cardiaca Dosing Infusion: 2 tsp./cup water; 1 cup BID
Tincture: 45%; 4-6 ml TID
Fluid extract: 25%; 2-3 ml TID
Capsules: 250 mg/cap; 1-2 cap TID
My Favorite – Ginger-infused Leonurus syrup. DELICIOUS.

20. Lycopus virginicus Name: Bugleweed Family: Lamiaceae
Habitat: North American native with semi-aggressive running root systems. Weedy, re-seedy.

21. Lycopus virginicus Constituents:
Phenolic acid derivatives (caffeic, rosmarinic, chlorogenic, ellagic)
Lithospermic acid
Medicinal actions:
Sedative, astringent, anti-tussive, peripheral vasoconstrictor, anti-hyperthyroid

22. Lycopus virginicus Dosing: Tincture: 1:5 @ 35%, 5 ml TID
Infusion: 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.

23. Lithospermum ruderale
Name: Stone seed, gromwell
Family: Boraginaceae
Habitat: Open hillsides from eastern Washington to northern California
Part used: Arial parts and seeds

24. 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

25. Lithospermum ruderale
Dosing:
Infusion: 1 tsp./cup water; 1 cup/day for contraception; 1 cup TID for hyperthyroidism and other estrogen and progesterone imbalances.
Tincture 45%: 1-5 ml TID

26. 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

27. Case 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).

28. Case 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)

29. Case 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.