Here is an interview with Dr. Wilson on hyperthyroidism:

"I agree.  Hyperthyroidism can be primary (related just to the thyroid gland and perhaps caused by a tumor), or secondary.  This means due to a factor outside of the thyroid such as a pituitary toxin.   Let us discuss some of the causes we have found for hyperthyroidism such as toxic metals like copper and mercury, stress as a factor, and some nutritional imbalances as well such as fast and slow oxidation."

"I will focus on the physiological causes of an overactive thyroid, no matter what name is given to the condition."

"The answer is that stress, toxic metals such as copper and mercury, and perhaps a pituitary toxin are often involved in this condition."

"Testing the blood, urine or saliva for vitamins and minerals, for example, is not as accurate, in my view, and largely a waste of money.  The hair test, properly interpreted by the method of Dr. Paul Eck, tests minerals at the cellular level.  This tells us with how the body is responding to stress, and this is essential for dealing with Grave’s disease.  It appears to be all we need."

"Note that the hair analysis does NOT reveal the total body load of a mineral such as calcium, even if the level is high.  This is a common misconception and cause for great confusion and disrespect for hair tissue mineral analysis.  A high hair calcium level, for instance, just means there is too much calcium in the hair, usually due to what is called biounavailability of calcium in the blood.  This means that the body is not able to keep calcium in sufficient quantity in the blood."

 " I look for fast oxidation, slow oxidation, copper toxicity, mercury toxicity, the three amigos (Iron, Manganese and Aluminum), and perhaps other stress patterns.  Pituitary toxins are not specifically revealed on the hair mineral test.  However, by correcting the body chemistry, these are slowly eliminated and the hyperthyroid condition goes away."

"Yes, at times the thyroid-inhibiting drugs such as methimazole and others may need to be used to stabilize the person until the nutritional balancing corrective program can remove the toxic metals or other biochemical causes of hyperthyroidism."... (I personally use L Carnitine)

"By primary hyperthyroidism I mean it occurs in a fast oxidizer.  I have rarely seen this.   I use the term secondary hyperthyroidism when it occurs as a secondary stress reaction in a slow oxidizer, which is most often the case.  In both cases, the actual cause may lie outside of the thyroid gland itself.  For this reason, some other doctors may use the term secondary hyperthyroidism in both these instances.

Grave’s disease often seems to be a kind of ineffective stress response in which the adrenal glands do not participate much and the thyroid overcompensates and becomes hyperactive.  Copper and mercury toxicity may also play a role, as these appear to always be present.  Also, a pituitary toxin may be present.  Usually, the person is always tired underneath.  It is also possible to have an active hormone-producing thyroid tumor, but this is much less common among our clients."

----Case: "A 48-year-old friend had this condition and it responded completely within about 5 months.  She needed anti-thyroid drugs at first, as she was extremely anxious and had a very fast pulse.  The condition began after an extremely stressful situation occurred.

She followed a very healthful diet with mainly cooked vegetables and some animal protein daily and used a near infrared lamp sauna every day for at least 30 minutes.  She also took about 8 nutritional supplements based on a hair mineral analysis, relaxed a lot, and had lots of support and love from myself and others.  Within 5 months all symptoms had disappeared, she was off all medication, blood tests returned to normal, and the condition has not returned in 7 years."

"The person with hyperthyroidism may also have issues about expression of creativity.  The thyroid is located in the area of the body associated with expression of creativity – the throat area.  So when there is difficulty and blocks in this area, it can manifest itself as thyroid difficulties.  Perhaps the person believes that he or she has little or nothing to contribute, when in reality they have much to contribute."

"To correct copper imbalance usually requires a combination of dietary change, lifestyle correction, and nutritional supplements.  Also one can avoid eating a high copper diet.  This means limiting foods such as chocolate, mushrooms, nuts, seeds, and some grains such as wheat.  One must avoid vegetarian diets, which tend to make copper imbalance much worse." ( I am not a fan of wheat due to gluten/gliadins, excess glutamic acid and of course the high glycemic index)

"Lots of rest and relaxation is probably the single most important lifestyle factor.  Some people emphasize exercise, but I think this is a huge mistake.  Most people with hyperthyroidism are very toxic and tired.  So exercise is not going to make them better, though it has symptomatic benefits." ---(put the adrenals to "bed"... slow down)

After reading this it is clear that correcting hyperthyroidism requires detoxification, correction of the oxidation rate, removing infections/toxins and correcting stress levels!

When it comes to slow oxidation a person will need iodine in order to allow the thyroid gland to work efficiently and to remove the halogens such as fluorine, chlorine and bromine. 

IODINE HELPS REMOVE ALL TOXINS

1. Iodine opposes or antagonizes the halogens.  Taking iodine often leads to the elimination from the body of bromines, chlorine, fluorides and other metals as well.

2. Iodine improves thyroid activity. 

3. Iodine is a germicide – antibiotic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anticancer.  

Iodine and Selenium

Iodine is regulated in many ways in the thyroid... the most important pathway is the conversion of iodide into iodine through an oxidation reaction. 

This requires an enzyme called TPO or thyroperoxidase.  It also requires hydrogen peroxide.  If too much hydrogen peroxide is left in the thyroid it leads to Hashimoto’s disease.

The mineral that helps control hydrogen peroxide is selenium.  It is needed to make glutathione peroxidase, whose one of several functions is to detoxify hydrogen peroxide after it has done its job in the thyroid gland.

Selenium is also required later in the metabolism of the thyroid hormone in the conversion of the somewhat inactive T4 to the active thyroid hormone T3; the enzyme primarily responsible for this conversion is iodothyronine deiodinase. 

A deficiency of selenium will impair T3 production and cause hypothyroidism symptoms, even though the body can be producing plenty of T4. 

"Iodine may be called a modern “female mineral” because women need more of it, and it is critical today for breast health.  Also, next to the thyroid gland, the ovaries require more iodine than any other gland or organ in women or men.  While it affects all the hormones, it is particularly important for the female hormones such as the proper balance between the forms of estrogen - estriol, estrone and estradiol."- Dr. Wilson