Teitelbaum - Healing the thyroid with ayurveda: natural treatments for Hashimotos, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism

I dedicate this book to my mentor and friend, Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra, who spent countless hours sitting with me sharing his divine and sacred knowledge, which continues to infuse and enrich both my life and the lives of my patients every day. May the work of this Vedic master, who embodied Ayurveda in its purest form, continue to echo through the ages.

HEALING THE
THYROID
with AYURVEDA

This much-needed and timely book presents a road map to what every patient wishes for: a body in perfect balance. Our bodies are home to the greatest hormonal symphony ever played. Your thyroid is one of its conductors. Read this book, follow the guidelines, and feel your body play beautiful music, expressed as vibrant mental and physical health.

WILLIAM SEARS, M.D., AUTHOR OF THE DR. SEARS T5 WELLNESS PLAN

Healing the Thyroid with Ayurveda is a groundbreaking work for humanitys wellness. At this time of massive environmental crises, Mariannes work is necessary for cleansing and healing manifold layers of illness relating to the thyroid and endocrine system. Synthesizing Ayurvedas ancient knowledge with scientific precision, Marianne Teitelbaum puts forth an incisive work, adding another gem to the timeless pantheon of Ayurvedas wisdom.

MAYA TIWARI, VEDIC SCHOLAR, HUMANITARIAN, AND AUTHOR OF AYURVEDA: A LIFE OF BALANCE

Healing the Thyroid with Ayurveda is finally here. Understanding the individual nature of thyroid disease is the only prescription for a cure. Now we can stop treating with blood tests and symptoms and address the source intelligently and Ayurvedically.

JOHN DOUILLARD, D.C., C.A.P., AUTHOR, FORMER NBA NUTRITIONIST, AND FOUNDER OF LIFESPA.COM

Dr. Marianne Teitelbaums new book on thyroid healing offers a completely new and refreshing understanding of thyroid imbalance and the knowledge of how to correct it gently, safely, and fully by addressing root causes unique to each patient. I urge you to read this book and get on the path to healing yourself, your family, andif you are a doctoryour patients with thyroid conditions. We can only hope that this is the first of many books to come from Dr. Teitelbaum. Read this one now.

NANCY LONSDORF, M.D., AUTHOR OF THE AGELESS WOMAN AND A WOMANS BEST MEDICINE

Healing the Thyroid with Ayurveda is a most useful guide to anyone interested in holistic health care. Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum challenges the insufficient modern approaches to treating thyroid dysfunction by pointing to the root causes of the disease and sharing her success with treating it through the methods of a time-tested and science-proven ancient practice. This book is so important! It will intrigue if not revolutionize the way both patients and doctors address disease.

DIVYA ALTER, AUTHOR OF WHAT TO EAT FOR HOW YOU FEEL AND CO-OWNER OF DIVYAS KITCHEN, AN AYURVEDIC RESTAURANT IN NEW YORK CITY

Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum embodies all the wisdom and experience of a great Ayurvedic sage. She explains in language easy enough for the layperson to understand, yet detailed enough for the seasoned practitioner, exactly what we need to do to counteract the alarming epidemic levels of thyroid problems. Going beyond the use of toxic pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, Dr. Teitelbaum once and for all gives us a truly natural approach to healing the thyroid gland, sharing her deep knowledge of Ayurvedic herbs, detox recipes, and healing spices. This is a must-read for anyone who is seeking help with their thyroid health. Bravo!

LISSA COFFEY, AUTHOR OF SONG DIVINE: A NEW LYRICAL RENDITION OF THE BHAGAVAD GITA

Finally, a book that describes how to treat thyroid disorders without the use of pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals, using an approach that goes beyond all other thyroid books on the market. If youre seeking natural treatments for your thyroid problems, this is the one book to read this year.

HARI SHARMA, M.D., PHYSICIAN AND AYURVEDA PRACTITIONER AT WEXNER MEDICAL CENTER, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, AND COAUTHOR OF AYURVEDIC HEALING AND CONTEMPORARY AYURVEDA

This is the first and most important definitive Ayurvedic contribution on thyroid disease in the West. It is a testimonial to the work of her teacher and mentor, Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra, and his familys lineage of Shaka Vansya Ayurveda.

BILL DEAN, M.D., AUTHOR OF IC BLADDER PAIN SYNDROME

Acknowledgments

W riting this book has been deeply rewarding, reinforcing my love of Ayurveda and all of the people who have brought meaning to my life, starting with my loving and nurturing parents, who always supported everything I wanted to do. I wish with all my heart that they could be here to celebrate the publication of my book. My children, Eric and Carly, are the joys of my lifeand reliable consultants when technology fails me or I fail it. My husband, Larry, is not only my best friend but a shrewd reader who employed his years of editorial experience to refine my manuscript. Of course, I owe thanks to many others for the inspiration and completion of this book. I want to thank my colleagues and patients who prodded me to share my knowledge in a book, as well as my office assistants, Ann Keys and Barb Haslam, both of whom have unfailingly, and for many years, answered the phones ringing off the hook, unpacked one carton after another of herbs, and generally kept my practice running without a hitch. I also want to thank my agent, Anne Marie OFarrell, who expertly guided me through the publication process, which was a mystery to me, and my publisher, Inner Traditions. This is my first book, and I really couldnt be happier with my collaboration, which has been marked by professionalism and courtesy. I sincerely hope the book will prove instructive to readers as they continue their journey back to radiant and enduring health.

Foreword

I t is truly my good fortune and humble privilege to know and work with an individual such as Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum. She is a bright star, bringing light to the darkness of disease, and bringing to life the true meaning of healing and health.

As a practicing general endocrinologist, I have found that at least 50 percent of my patients are struggling with autoimmune thyroid disease. Considering the importance of thyroid hormone, which is vital to the proper functioning of virtually every organ, thyroid diseasewhen not treated adequatelycan dramatically affect a persons quality of life. I have often seen that my patients are frustrated by the discordance between their symptoms and the fact that they are being told that their blood work is normal. What frustrates them more is being prescribed lifelong thyroid medication that they come to realize isnt really helping. We are all born with the intuitive capacity to know when we are out of balance. Patients cannot be satisfied simply because the numbers for their blood work look normal. They want to feel normal. They want to feel healthy. They want to feel the balance of harmony of body, mind, and spirit.

As a health care provider, I am armed with the foundation of a strong medical education, but I strive to not just