Hashimoto's patients, are you TH1 or TH2 dominant?

[TamraW]

Hashi patients, do you know if you are TH1 or TH2 dominant? I'm TH2 dominant. Coffee and green tea make my neck swell. I've given up caffeine and I take my Echinacea and Golden Seal each day and the flareups are gone. (Well, except when I eat chocolate). Which are you? Do you know if what you're eating could be causing auto-immune flareups?

Below is a part of the TH1/TH2 transcript taken from a video by Dr. Geronimo. Here's Dr. Geronimo's website:
http://www.powaychiro.com

I don't have enough room to post the entire transcript.To read the full transcript see my journal entry below:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/182243/Hashi-patients--Are-you-TH1-or-TH2-dominant

:) Tamra

"An autoimmune condition occurs when one branch of the immune system over dominates another branch. This is called an either a Th1 or Th2 dominance. A dominant TH1 response means that the natural killer cells and cytotoxic t cells are responsible for attacking the body, while a TH2 dominance indicates that your bcells and antibodies are mounting the attack. A blood test is needed to find out which branch is dominant. Thus to treat an autoimmune disease, it is critical to find the dominant branch and to balance the seesaw by stimulating the other branch. For example, if a patient’s autoimmune disease was TH1 dominant, treating it would require that we strengthen the Th2 side to balance out the immune system. If the patient were Th2 dominant, we would stimulate the Th1 side to regain balance. It’s a pretty simple solution, but so many people suffer needlessly because the immune system has been ignored, until now.

This is where clinical nutrition and natural medicine comes into play. It is well documented in clinical research that Th1 stimulants are Echinacea, maitake mushrooms and golden seal to name a few. Th2 stimulators are caffeine, green tea, and grape seed extract. So in the example I gave in the previous slide, if a patient with an under functioning thyroid is TH1 dominant, then I would prescribe supplements containing caffeine, green tea, and grape seed extract to stimulate the TH2 side to regain balance. If they were TH2 dominant, then Echinacea, mushrooms, and golden seal would balance out their immune system. Since most people with autoimmune conditions have no idea which branch of their immune system is dominant, they can actually make their condition worse by taking over the counter immune boosters. Lets say for example you were Th1 dominant and you catch a cold. A friend tells you that Echinacea helped them so you take it yourself. Unknowingly you would be flaring up your already dominant Th1 response and cause even more destruction to your thyroid gland."

[TamraW]

I told Stella  I wouldn't be on here much. Just too much else going on in my life, but here's some natural options that have worked for me. I did do the Jernigan's Yeast Ease and parasite cleanse, but I found that Total Para and Total Yeast Redux by Apex energetics (or maybe Nutri-West, I forgot) worked best. Google Apex to find a supplier. I believe you can get it by mail. My holistic doc gave them to me.

If you can't afford those then try virgin coconut oil. My grocery store sells it now. Eat it plain, bake with it, etc. At least two tablespoons daily for yeast issues. It can also be a topical for rashes. Works great for me. Garlic and cinnamon also work great for parasites. But, speak with your doctor. You might need something stronger. Also, are you taking a good probiotic for the stomach? I take Total Probiotics by Nutri-West. There are many out there at vitamin stores, etc.  

I know what you mean about giving up foods. I've had to give up all grains for a while. Hopefully, I'll be able to incorporate at least rice and GF steel cut oats back into my diet, but, for now, I feel so much better eating protein and veggies. I'm not saying everyone do this. This is what is working for me.

If you are TH2 dominant, look to flavanoids that could be causing reactions such as berries. Also, the sugar in fruits could be causing insulin spikes, and is not good for adrenals. I had to cut back on my fruit intake, limiting it to one banana a day and one apple.

Many Hashi patients will need 5,000-10,000 IU vitamin D daily. This could be a big source of your problems. I take far more D, E, C, B12, iron, magnesium than the average person. Everyone is different, but my body needs the following daily intake:
D - 5,000 IU daily
Fish oil capsules...1980 mg EPA and  1020 mg DHA
Iron – 65 mg
Vitamin E – 270 IU
B6 – 20 mg
Folic Acid – 580 mcg
B12  - 174 mcg
Magnesium – 800-1,000 mg
Zinc – 28 mg
Selenium – 200 mcg
Vitamin A – 1700 IU
Vitamin C –1000 mg
Vitamin E - 1,000 IU
There are other vitamins I take that come with my multi pack, but too many to list.
:) Tamra

[stella5349]

Lots going on here and eliminating the parasites and candida for sure is first.

I believe there are numerous products you can take with your doctor - instead of prescriptions to rid this. Its time consuming and expensive for some however.

I don't have a specific brand to offer you in trying - sorry

Vit D - low = autoimmune issues... Are you Hashi's too? In all essence of Vit D - Vit D-3 is best to take

You fit the entire theory here on Tamra's information and she would be someone to go over all this with since it sounds like you have confirmed TH2 and TH1 indifferences.

I haven't seen her much here lately so I am not sure exactly on if her suggestion will be on here.

[samanthaellarose]

Hey, I stumbled on this whilst researching. It's got some great advise thanks to everyone who posted. I need help on converting my th2 back to th1. I have so many allergies yet chronic infections that I can't shift. I have adrenal insufficiency and suspected hypothyroidism which I was taking natural desiccated thyroid for but I have come off the thyroid hormones as to see where in range I am in my bloods however I am still getting both hypo and hyper thyroid symptoms(my mother and many of my family members suffer with this along with other auto-immune illnesses). Since being on the HC which I need to live the th2 has further increased and consequently the th1 has decreased. I already have a very strict diet, no gluten, no diary, no soy, no eggs, no yeast, no fructose but I am reacting to every food I eat. I recently had a stool test come back which showed a parasite endolimax nana along with an infection morganella morganii which is an opportunistic infection, both of these only occur or are problematic in immune suppressed patients. I then have a massive amount of candida despite being on such a strict diet, anti fungals and probiotics. My specialist has recommended anti-biotics for the parasite and infections but I'd rather use natural products as anti-biotics can open you up to further infections. I am very ill, housebound and have been for the majority of the last 3 and a half years. I have picked infection up after infection and not been able to get rid of them. I live in the U.K so it's hard to find specialists to help in this area. I want to try to help myself with supplements first. I also need to fight off the candida if I am going to improve my gut and therefore improve my immune system. However I feel my only way of doing this is using prescription drugs as I am intolerant to all foods it seems even rice. If anyone can recommend any supplements that are well tolerated and effective for the candida I'd really appreciate it. I saw Tamara W you recommended Yeast Ease by Jernigan's Neutraceuticals, please could you tell me what is in the product. There is another product that interests me on there web-site called Paragen for parasites. Can anyone tell me if they have experience with this and if they know what is in the products. I also have a incredibly low Vitamin D level, 25 OH vitamin D level 8.6 ug/L. I have been taking 2000iu of Vitamin D for at least 6 months. I'm thinking of getting Vitamin D injections as I live in the U.K and won't be able to get outside for much longer it's already becoming cold. Any help would be much appreciated. I keep coming back to the same place that if I am going to help myself I need to help the TH2 convert back to TH1 as all my problems seems to be related to this. Please help if you can. Thanks for reading xxx

[BB8911]

I just wanted to say thanks for recommending the book.  I am not sure if I am TH1 or TH2 yet, I just bought it yesterday.  From what I've read so far it is very interesting. I can see why so many of us have endoctrine problems. I also wish all doctors and a copy of the booik in their office.   I'll let you know how I make out after reading this.

Thanks Again

[sharon_lee]

I also found on Mayo Clinic site, that if you have the coat on the tongue, check with your health care professional and see if you have diabetes or Thyroid disease... Well, I guess that kind of answered my question...never having heard of it, I was too willing not to accept it!
I purchased numerous dry mouth items, tooth paste, mouth wash, spray to carry with me, and gel. they are helping, more that I expected.
Next week, I have laser surgery on my R. eye, and can only wonder how much the thyroid is affecting my glaucoma, and vision loss.
Have a wonderful day, and weekend...

[sharon_lee]

Thank you, so much for the article...I tried numerous thrush recommendations...from the health food store, to no avail....the Dr. still insists it is not fungus, but rather dry mouth syndrome...I'm going to run it by my psychiatrist in June...he has thyroid himself....and suggested I needed to have it cultured...so will ask him to do that...also I feel that I need a blood draw before the end of Oct...I guess I can think and feel all I want, but if I can't get anyone to hear me, than I am stuck....Having only Medicare leaves me with my hands tied...so to speak...so many in our state are cutting off Medicare patients...
I'll quit my griping, and if something gets out of whack, that seems an obvious problem, I'll call my PCP....Yes, I am feeling frustrated....sorry to be so negative....