Underarm Temperature Test for Hypothyroidism
by People's Pharmacy

RATIONALE:

There is considerable evidence that blood tests often fail to detect hypothyroidism (under active thyroid). It appears that many individuals have "tissue resistance" to thyroid hormone. Therefore, your body may need more thyroid hormone, even though the amount in your blood is normal. A low axillary (underarm) temperature suggests (but does not prove) hypothyroidism. We frequently recommend a therapeutic trial with a natural thyroid medication for individuals who have typical hypothyroid signs and symptoms and a low body temperature. This approach to thyroid therapy is controversial and is currently outside of the medical mainstream. However, we have found this method to be safe when properly administered, and in some cases it is the most effective or the only effective treatment for certain chronic problems.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH HYPOTHYROIDISM:

Fatigue, depression, difficulty concentrating, difficulty getting up in the morning, cold hands and feet or intolerance to cold, constipation, loss of hair, fluid retention, dry skin, poor resistance to infection, high cholesterol, psoriasis, eczema, acne, premenstrual syndrome, loss of menstrual periods, painful or irregular menstrual periods, excessive menstrual bleeding, infertility, fibrocystic breast disease, and ovarian cysts.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Use any mercury thermometer. Shake it down the night before to 96 degrees or less and put it by your bedside.
   
   
2. In the morning, as soon as you wake up, put the thermometer deep in your armpit for ten minutes and record the temperature. Do this before you get out of bed. Do not have anything to eat or drink, or engage in any activity before taking your temperature. This will measure your lowest temperature of the day, which correlates with thyroid gland function.
   
   The normal axillary temperature is 97.8 - 98.2 degrees F. Take your temperature for a period of five days. We frequently recommend treatment if the temperature is 97.4 or less for three consecutive days. However, if the temperature is 97.0 or less for three consecutive days, you do not need to take your temperature the last two days. The axillary temperature is used because oral (mouth) temperature does not correlate closely with thyroid function.
   
   
3. For women who are still menstruating, the temperature should be taken starting the second day of menstruation. That is because a temperature rise occurs around the time of ovulation that may lead to incorrect interpretation of the test. It is okay to miss a day, but be sure to finish the testing before ovulation.
   
   For women who are menopausal, it makes no difference when the temperatures are taken. However, do not perform the test when you have an infection or any other condition that would raise your temperature.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS:

We consider thyroid hormone to be safe when administered properly. Occasionally, people taking thyroid hormone experience nervousness, rapid pulse, insomnia, and (on rare occasions) chest pain. If any of these side effects occur, reduce the dose and call your doctor.

People's Pharmacy has four locations in Austin. Visit their website to find the location nearest you. www.peoplesrx.com.

[Editor's Note: For women who are on hormonal replacement therapy (HRT), there can be a mimicking of hypothyroidism due to the level of estrogen intake. Notify your doctor or family nurse practitioner (FNP) of the signs and symptoms, as well as the temperatures taken from the underarm temperature test.]

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