As most people who are reading this know, I personally was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease, and used a natural treatment protocol to help restore my health back to normal. And while I frequently mention how just taking nutritional supplements and herbs alone isn’t enough to restore one’s health, this doesn’t mean that taking supplements and herbs aren’t important, as they definitely play a big role in the recovery process.
When I followed a natural treatment protocol there were numerous supplements and herbs which I took. And when it came to managing my symptoms, the herbs Bugleweed and Motherwort were the two most valuable ones. Since I opted not to take any antithyroid drugs, it was somewhat challenging dealing with the hyperthyroid symptoms (high pulse rate, palpitations, etc.). These two herbs were highly responsible for controlling these symptoms.
I actually began by just taking Bugleweed for a few months, which by itself did a good job of managing the symptoms. Of course the other supplements and herbs I took, along with modifying certain lifestyle factors, were also an important part of the recovery process. But for many people who don’t want to take antithyroid drugs, Bugleweed is an option. Although Bugleweed did do a good job of managing my symptoms, I still had some minor palpitations, which is why I decided to take Motherwort as well. Taking both of these herbs pretty much eliminated the cardiac symptoms I experienced.
Taking These Herbs On Your Own
I’m of course not a big advocate of self-treating one’s condition. However, I realize that many people with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease will take these and other herbs on their own. In fact, a number of people I consult with are already taking these herbs during the initial consultation. And many of these people told me they decided to take them based on what they read on my website. What’s important to understand is that these herbs won’t work on everybody with a hyperthyroid condition, as other factors need to be addressed as well.
For example, I’ve consulted with some people who took Bugleweed and Motherwort and actually experienced a worsening of their thyroid blood tests. And usually the reason for this is because there are other factors that aren’t being addressed. In other words, when I was taking the Bugleweed, I was also taking certain herbs to help with my immune system, was taking iodine and magnesium to help address my iodine deficiency, etc. So I wasn’t just taking Bugleweed alone, which is what some people do. Or many will take other supplements and herbs, but these won’t be the appropriate ones to address other problems they are experiencing. This is why it’s always wise to consult with an expert.
Replacing Antithyroid Drugs With Herbs
Some people who are already taking antithyroid drugs such as Methimazole or PTU try to replace them with these herbs. Once again, I can’t recommend for anyone to do this, even if they are a current patient of mine. Some people choose to take both the antithyroid drugs and these herbs, which once again is completely up to them.
Weaning Off These Herbs
Just as most people don’t want to take antithyroid drugs for the rest of their life, the same thing applies with herbs. As I mentioned before, I began taking Bugleweed each day, and then eventually began taking Motherwort. Then a few months later I began weaning myself off of these herbs, first reducing the dosage in half, and then taking them once a day, until eventually I no longer needed them anymore. After doing this I was concerned that my symptoms would return, but fortunately they didn’t. Obviously it wasn’t just taking these herbs which was responsible for restoring my health back to normal. But my guess is that most people with an autoimmune thyroid disorder who begin weaning off the supplements and herbs worry about their symptoms returning.
In summary, both Bugleweed and Motherwort can both help to manage the symptoms of hyperthyroidism naturally. However, it’s important to keep in mind that just taking these herbs alone might not be enough to manage your symptoms, and almost definitely won’t be enough to restore your health back to normal. Plus, just as is the case with any other herb, the goal is to eventually wean off these herbs. While many people take these herbs on their own, those serious about restoring their health back to normal really should consult with a competent natural endocrine doctor.