Author Datis Kharrazian has a private functional medical practice in San Diego where he works with chronic and challenging immune, endocrine, and neurological disorders. This book illustrates Dr. K's approach to treating illness where the thyroid is involved or suspected. He takes a holistic approach and will branch into other related topics such as adrenals, blood sugar, CFS, inflammation, and gut issues. Unlike many allopathic medical practices he dives deep to find the root cause of symptoms before suggesting a treatment. He runs sophisticated immune system tests and food allergy/sensitivity tests. He outlines seven causes of hypothyroidism and says only one requires the use of hormones. He believes western allopathic medicine is too quick to use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as a solution. Sometimes he finds what appears to be a thyroid problem has its origin somewhere else and hormones are totally unnecessary. This is an area where allopathic medicine has failed so many patients and books like this will help bring more awareness to healthcare professionals, the general public, and policy makers.
Dr. K treats Hashimoto's disease as an autoimmune disease and not a thyroid disease. His approach is to balance out the TH1 and TH2 cytokine responses to quiet the autoimmune attack, reduce inflammation and eliminate food sensitivities (like gluten). Like all functional medicine practitioners he will use vitamins, mineral, antioxidants, herbs and food as a preferred tool. Again, he states he can often avoid the use HRT but he is not opposed to use it, if need be.
This approach to Hashimoto's is controversial as mainstream allopathic medicine only approves of HRT as treatment for Hashimoto's. In fact endocrinologists will not treat Hashimoto's until your TSH goes above a certain value. According to AACE (American Association of Clinical Endocrinology) that number is 3.0, but many uniformed MD's will still use the standard lab range of 5.5. By that time, your thyroid may have received allot of damage and you probably have felt crummy for a while. Dr. K's approach does not cure Hashimoto's but it is a step closer to the root cause.
Dr. K is very clearly against the use of iodine on a patient with Hashimoto's. On his website he has even challenged Dr. Brownstein (One of the biggest advocates for the use of Iodine/Iodide) to a public debate on the topic. He does not say Brownstein's approach does not work. He claims his approach is safer and less risky. However, in many other ways his approaches are similar to Dr. Brownstein's and other functional medicine practitioners. If you want to learn more about Dr. Brownstien's approach and the other side of the story on Iodine see his book: "Iodine, Why you need it. Why you can't live without it".
This book is not a written as a self help book but is intended for the health care practitioner who wants to learn and apply these strategies. It is well researched and has adequate footnotes for those who would like to do more research on a specific topic. It is a very good resource for patients who want to be better informed and understand alternative approaches not available in allopathic medicine. This book is too complicated in some areas for many patients as a certain level of technical knowledge is expected. For that reason and others, I recommend all thyroid patients to read "Stop the Thyroid Madness" by Janie Bowthorpe. It is a practical easy to read self help book and can complement this book on many levels.
I have personally learned a tremendous amount and benefitted by reading this book. I was able to apply some of the ideas directly and was certainly better informed when consulting with health care providers. I feel this is an excellent addition to my library. Dr. K has a slowly growing following of functional medicine practitioners that are learning and using his methods and approaches. Dr. K currently runs a website called [...] were you can read some of his current articles and inquire into a practitioner who uses his approach in your area. At the time of this review he has no trained practitioners in the Boston area.
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Reviews with images
Book came on time but not in good condition
This is a very informative and well written book, excellent resource on thyroid issues. The book arrived on time but the condition was not good with many pages heavily marked.
Top reviews from other countries
Anna
The best thyroid book you will ever read (El mejor libro sobre salud tiroidea que leerás jamás)
Reviewed in Spain on January 1, 2024Cliente Kindle
Excelente. Mudou minha vida!
Reviewed in Brazil on September 21, 2019
Caroline
Un livre essentiel, clair et assez complet sur le sujet. Très bon.
Reviewed in France on June 27, 2020Laila
Ottimo libro per chi soffre di tiroidite Hashimoto
Reviewed in Italy on May 3, 2017
