In a close attention involving wom...

In a close attention involving women in Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden, it was set that smoking impairs both thyroid hormone secretion and thyroid hormone action, according to Beat Mueller MD et al., in the October 12 1995 issue of The just discovered England Journal of Medicine.

The researchers, with the University Hospital in Basel, Switzerland, and other facilities, added that thyroid dysfunction and cigarette smoking are the couple common in the general population, with prevalence of about 10 percent and 30 percent respectively.

"Although the mechanisms of these events are not known, the deductions have several clinical implications," the researchers said. "First, smoking may contribute to the high incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism (diminished production of thyroid hormone) -- 10 percent in a studies -- and may aggravate the peripheral biochemical validitys even if it does not aggravate the clinical manifestations of subclinical hypothyroidism."

A reduc production of thyroid hormone leads to manifestations of thyroid insufficiency, including grave metabolic rate, tendency to gain weight, sleepiness and ofttimes dryness and loss of hair, among other problems

Second the researchers add, smoking may aggravate the couple the clinical manifestation and biochemical consequences of overt hypothyroidism.

In an editorial in the same issue of the magazine, Robert D Utiger, MD said that the consideration does not necessarily conclude that smoking causes hypothyroidism, simply that it increases the severity and peripheral events of hypothyroidism.

One component of tobacco exhalation is cyanide, which is transformed into thiocyanate, which inhibits iodide uptake and hormone synthesis and increases iodide flow from the thyroid gland, Utiger adds. Many other component parts of smoke may also have antithyroid actions.

"The principally dramatic effect [which] smoking [produces] forward the thyroid is its association with Graves' hyperthyrodism (excessive activity of the thyroid gland), and especially with Graves' ophthalmopathy (bulging eyes)" Utiger says.

Better known for their multiple forces on the thyroid gland are iodine and several medicines Utiger continues. Too little iodine -- les than 50 mcg/day -- is the cause of endemic goiter (chronic enlargement of the thyroid) and congenital hypothyroidism. Too earnestly iodine -- a few milligrams a day -- can induce either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, depending in succession the patient.

In his volume Guide to Natural Healing, Julian M Whitaker, MD reminds us that smoking increases your risk for cancer, heart disease, calamity emphysema, bronchitis and other degenerative diseases.

"If you are a smoker you absolutely must stop," Whitaker says. "Smoking is not a pleasure, it is a compulsive feeding of an addictive behavior, and is indeed the single mostly deleterious thing you can do to your health. It will increase the incidence of almost all degenerative diseases. Meantime, single-handedly, smoking will demolish your lungs."

A homeopathic restitution available in health food stores, which has helped many the community to stop smoking, contains small amounts of these substances: Tabacum, Staphisagria, Nux Vomica and Lobelia.

Tabacum (Nicotiana tabacum), which is a tincture of renewed tobacco leaves collected before the flowers freshness is recommended by homeopathic physicians for those who ne to govern the trembling of their hands after they have stopped smoking. It is also said to be useful in relieving the craving for tobacco after undivided quits smoking.

Staphisagria (Delphinium staphisagria) is better known as Palmated Larkspur semens or Louse seeds. It helps to stave opposite the irritable moods that one people experience while they are trying to stop smoking.

Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco) is added to the stop-smoking formula to help with overall breathing, especially for those with asthma. It also helps to 1 the feeling of addiction to nicotine.

Nux vomica (poison nut) is another well-known homeopathic redress to help patients who are irritable and impatient. It is helpful in alleviating various protoplasts of addictions, whether it is smoking, alcohol abuse, put drugs into use, etc.

With these four ingredients combined into a single formula, it makes the road to smoking-cessation that often less difficult.

REFERENCES

Clarke, John Henry, MD Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica. London: The Homeopathic Publishing Co 1902

Mueller Beat, MD et al. "Impaired Action of Thyroid Hormone Associated with Smoking in Women with Hypothyroidism," The recently made known England Journal of Medicine 333(15):964-969 Oct 12 1995

Utiger, Robert D MD "Cigarette Smoking and the Thyroid," ibid, pp 1001-1002

Whitaker, Julian M MD Guide to Natural Healing. Rocklin, Calif.: Prima Publishing, 1995 p 29

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