If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from hypothyroidism, you may be looking for a less popular but more effective treatment option. Natural desiccated thyroid (NDT), also known as thyroid extract, is made from the dried and powdered thyroid gland. It has been used to treat hypothyroidism for years, and many people find that it works better than most commonly prescribed medications. NDT is taken by mouth and is readily available from many online retailers. If you are interested in trying NDT, be sure to talk to your doctor first to see if it is right for you.
The advantage of taking natural desiccated thyroid is that it more closely resembles the body’s own hormones. Levothyroxine, on the other hand, is a synthetic hormone that only contains T₄. Some people believe that taking a medication that contains both T₄ and T₃ is more effective than just mono levothyroxine therapy.
Table of Contents
What are different brands of prescription-strength Natural Desiccated Thyroid?
The most popular brands of prescription-strength natural thyroid hormones are:
- Armour Thyroid
- WP Thyroid
- Np Thyroid
- Naturethyroid
- Erfa Thyroid (from Canada)
- Thyroid-S (from Thailand)
- Thiroyd (from Thailand)
- TR Thyroid (from Thailand)
Why is Armour Thyroid the most popular NDT?
-
Armour Thyroid was the first form of hormonal hypothyroidism treatment available to people.
There are a few reasons Armour thyroid is the most popular natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) medication.
Firstly, it’s been around the longest. It was first introduced in the early 1900s and has been used consistently since then. This makes it one of the most well-studied thyroid medications on the market.
Secondly, it is derived from porcine thyroid glands, which are very similar to human thyroid glands. This means that it is a more natural form of thyroid hormone replacement than synthetic options like levothyroxine.
Thirdly, Armour thyroid is generally well tolerated by patients. Side effects are rare and usually mild, such as temporary hair loss or increased appetite.
Is Armour Thyroid as good as it used to be?
The original natural desiccated thyroid product called Armour thyroid made by Armor & Company was a very good and potent formula. The company invested research in making their extracts, testing them for potency with mice every batch!
Unfortunately, Armour & Company sold the Armour thyroid brand, and it went through a number of sales over time. The original formula was changed by different companies including changing binders in tablets which caused problems with release after digestion.
The current manufacturers of Armour thyroid and other natural desiccated thyroid products, do not have access to the research made by their predecessor company.
-
This picture shows a hypothyroid girl before and after NDT treatment .
What are the benefits of Natural Desiccated Thyroid?
Desiccated thyroid has been used to treat hypothyroidism for over 100 years. It works well for many people and has fewer side effects than other treatments. Natural desiccated thyroid is a natural hormone replacement. It contains all four thyroid hormones: T₁, T₂, T₃, and T₄ as well as calcitonin and thyroid cofactors This is important because some people may need more or less of one of these hormones. Taking a synthetic form of thyroid hormone can cause problems if the person does not have the right balance of hormones.
-
The active ingredients in all prescription medicine are of porcine origin. That means it’s made with pig thyroids. It might sound confusing at first, but there is a logical explanation behind this statement!
Are Natural Thyroid Preparations better than synthetic thyroid hormones?
I’m asked all the time, “What is the best thyroid medication for hypothyroidism?” I wish there was one simple answer. The truth is the answer is individual. Each person’s body reacts to the different thyroid hormone replacement medication types and brands differently. What may be the perfect treatment for one person may not be for another. That’s part of the reason why thyroid treatment is so complex. levothyroxine is a man-made form of thyroxine, a hormone produced by your thyroid gland to regulate your body’s metabolism. Thyroid hormones are important in regulating heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and metabolism. levothyroxine replaces the hormone your thyroid gland is not able to produce enough of. Armour Thyroid is a desiccated (dried) natural product made from porcine (pig) thyroid glands that provides the body with all three major thyroid hormones: T4, T3, and T2 in a single daily dose. While levothyroxine is the most common type of thyroid hormone replacement therapy, some people do not feel well-taking levothyroxine and do better on Armour Thyroid or other natural desiccated thyroid extract.
How to find the right dose of natural thyroid hormone for you?
Natural Desiccated Thyroid products are traditionally measured and available in “grains.” 1 grain contains 60-65 mg of porcine thyroid extract. 1 grain of thyroid extract contains 34-39 mcg of T4 and 8-9 mcg of T3.
The traditional adult dose of Armour thyroid was about two grains per day. The properly working human thyroids produce an equivalent of three, so there isn’t too much risk in taking thinking along those lines.
The majority of hypothyroid patients require a natural desiccated thyroid dosage of 1-3 grains per day, which is equivalent to 60-180mg. There are early signs that some patients may require a higher dose, especially if they have not been on thyroid hormone replacement for very long or if they have other medical conditions. The best way to determine the correct dosage is to start with a low dose and increase gradually as needed. most hypothyroid patients will eventually reach a point where they feel their best on a natural desiccated thyroid dosage of 2-3 grains per day. Some may need more, and some may need less. It is important to work with a healthcare practitioner to find the dose that works best for you.
Desiccated Thyroid Extract side effects:
Natural desiccated thyroid (NDT), also known as porcine thyroid extract, is a medication used to treat hypothyroidism. Like all medications, NDT can cause side effects. The most common side effect is hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), which can occur if too much thyroid hormone is taken. Other potential side effects of NDT include:
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Heart palpitations
- Tremors
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea
If you experience any of these side effects while taking NDT, it’s important to talk to your doctor. They may be able to adjust your dosage or switch you to a different medication.
Comparison between synthetic and desiccated thyroid extract
-
Levothyroxine is the most popular synthetic medication for hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid gland but it’s not the best according to many patients.
Have you ever tried Natural Desiccated Thyroid? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments below!
If you do not have or cannot have a prescription for Natural Desiccated Thyroid, consider checking our guide to Natural Desiccated Thyroid supplement.
And be sure to check out our other blog posts on Thyroid and Metabolism for more information. Thanks for reading!
4 thoughts on “Natural Desiccated Thyroid what is it and how is it made”
Pingback: Andrew Kim Blog - Thyroid And Metabolism
I was on Nature thyroid 180 mg for about 12 years, they recently stopped manufacturing it and I was prescribed armor. With armor I had heart palpitations with 60 mg, one tablet.
I have now been on real thyroid from Vietnam for about three weeks, and I will say I have never felt better. I believe it’s the selenium and iron supplements already in real thyroid. On occasion I would supplement with them but generally forgot to do so. One of the biggest difference I have noticed is my digestive system is much better and I have more energy, just feel normal. So very happy I found REAL THYROID. For your information I am a female 77 years old.
Thanks for your opinion and a good word. I plan to keep up the work.
Where did you buy the REAL Thyroid?