DISCLOSURE: The longer this post is out on the web, and the more attention and readers it draws, the more I am reminded to point people to the disclosure on my site–you will find it in the side bar, and you can find it here. In short, before you read this post, here is what you should know:
This Blog [and this post] is for information purposes only. I, the author of Vegalicious, will not be held accountable for the use or misuse of the information contained on this site. I am not a doctor and do not claim to be one. As such, the information you read cannot be taken as medical advice or substituted for one. Nothing on this blog is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. I shall not be held liable for the decisions made by readers of this blog.
What you are about to read in this post, is MY experience, and the experience of many others I have met since. Having read this post, should you want to embark on the same journey, it is your responsibility to consult with your physician to make any major medical changes.
Now, onward we go!
Many of you know, or at least I hope that you read ABOUT ME page ;), that several years ago I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. After the diagnosis I was told by my MD that I would have to live with it for the rest of my life, which also meant that I would have to depend on medication for the rest of my life–an idea that was diametrically opposed to everything I believe. See, I believe in God who heals, and also believe that He gave us natural means to achieve healing. So, nearly 4 years ago [having been vegan for a year already] I set out on a quest to cure hypothyroidism naturally.
My TSH [thyroid function marker] went from 4.905 [in 1/2008] to 1.66 last year [7/2010]. I have not taken the test this year, but my suspicion is that I am right around 1.00. You can read my adventure of How I Cured Hypothyroidism Naturally by clicking on the link.
Hypothyroidism has many unpleasant symptoms and side effects. Here are just a few:
- Weight gain
- Dry skin
- Yellow skin
- Hair loss, including the eyebrows
- Swollen face, hands, legs, ankles or feet
- Feeling cold
- Aches and pains in muscles or joints
- Hoarse or raspy voice
- Constipation
- Heavy menstrual bleeding or irregular periods
- Fatigue
- Slower thinking
- Trouble remembering things
- Slower speech or movement
- Feeling down or depressed
- Depression
- Enlarged thyroid gland
- Changes in cholesterol
- Slow heart rate
- Infertility
I had the unfortunate lot to have experienced almost all of the symptoms on this list and then some. Thankfully, as my body has been recovering on a whole foods vegan diet, and a plenty of prayer ;), the symptoms were melting off one by one. But, as all good things, healing might take a while to become fully manifest. So it is the case in curing hypothyroidism. Some of the symptoms dissipate before others.
Way before I fell prey to hypothyroidism I had long [normal] eyebrows. As the disease set it, the outer edges of my browns disappeared. Yep–true story! About 1/4 of my eye brows on the outer edges fell out, and I had to resort to the help of a brow pencil to fill in what was missing. It was not something I enjoyed, but certainly better than looking like I am missing something on my face. In the last few months I have noticed a pleasant change in this visible symptoms–my eyebrows started to grow back in! At this point my right brow has taken its rightful place, and the left…well, I just hope it catches up soon :), so I don’t look funny, and there is no way I am plucking the right side while waiting for the left to catch–for me having at least one of them grown back in, is like wearing a medal I earned in waging this war.
It’s a small victory, but I am excited. It is a signal that my body is restoring its losses and I am on my way to full recovery.
Healing our bodies naturally does take a while, in some cases, but the reward is worth the wait–being medication free, and knowing that I am not masking my symptoms, but rather getting rid of them once and for all, is a welcomed, long awaited gift. In addition everything that I had learned and applied in the process made me not only a better, healthier person, but also equipped me to help others, struggling with same, or similar, issues.
It’s a good day in beating hypothyroidism naturally!
UPDATE (12/2011): as of today, and for the last couple of months, I am happy to report that both of my brows have fully grown in!
