Thyroid Power: Ten Steps to Total Health

"Consider Thyroid Power a long, personal visit with a caring, prevention-oriented practitioner," state the authors. The journey begins with thyroid basics: how this little hormone-producing tissue operates, signs that things are amiss, how other illnesses compound the problem, and how to determine one's risk for hypothyroidism. Next, the Shameses discuss the labyrinth of diagnostic and treatment issues a patient must endure. Helpful and harmful supplements and environmental factors, repairing the immune system (the origin of thyroid troubles), and a rich, sensitive exploration of holistic healing nicely round out this valuable resource. A brief section titled "Show This to Your Doctor," penned by Richard, perfectly crystallizes the book and provides an effective tool for initiating a patient/physician dialogue. --Liane Thomas

Product Description
Fatigue; weight gain; depression; arthritis; high cholestrol; low sex drive; skin, digestive, and female problems; abnormal blood pressure -- all may be symptoms of low thyroid, one of the most misdiagnosed disorders in America.

This book is directed and designed for the health consumer and it will help to empower them to demand the treatments they are entitled to receive. It is organized as a step by step program to help the health consumer understand the nature of the problem they may be facing and what the potential solutions are. The reader is educated at each step and encouraged to take more control over their own health care. While many Physicians encourage the mystique of the "all knowing" omnipotent Doctor, the Shames's are completely committed to breaking down that power relationship in their work. This book goes a long way to making the health consumer a more equal partner. I was particularly glad to see the emphasis on women's health issues and the encouragement of women to ask for more assistance with the problems of mid-life that are so often simply dismissed as "oh well, that's menopause for you". Women have been the victim of a patriarchal health system for too long and this book is one of many that helps women patients get the medical care they are entitled to.

The issue of thyroid dysfunction is brought down to earth in this book and the reader is given a wide range of options to try. Rather than simply accepting the divine judgment that "your thyroid is normal according to the tests", the patient has several choices, if her/his symptoms are interfering with their life. They can ask for more tests, as the simple basic thyroid tests do not necessarily have all the information needed. Particularly they can request that their thyroid antibodies be checked. I have seen many patients, who responded magnificently to thyroid medication, when their only abnormal result was high levels of these antibodies. Of course, conventional medical dogma denies this possibility and will only treat people who have a TSH level above 5. Even if all the tests are normal, this book encourages the patient to ask for a trial of thyroid hormone treatment. I can assure you that many people will improve with this simple intervention and there is no risk if one if carefully monitored. Finally, if the standard thyroid treatment fails to improve things, there are other types of thyroid hormones that might help, including the often ridiculed natural thyroid. Dr. Shames reports on many cases of people who responded far better to combinations of T4 and T3 hormone, rather than the standard T4 treatment alone. As with all who challenge the conventional dogma, I am sure there will be those who criticize this new approach. Remember anyone who takes on the established medical dogma will be critiqued severely, but often these pioneers turn out to be correct. I believe that Dr. Shames' view will turn out to be correct in the end. The tyranny of the "normal" thyroid test will be broken and there will be a new paradigm developed to explain why so many people get better with thyroid hormone supplements. While you may not find everything in this book to your liking, there were parts that I did not agree with, the overall message and thrust of this book is one of liberation and empowerment for so many women and men who are not being helped by modern medicine today.

If you or someone you care about does not feel well, from the symptoms mentioned above, you owe it to yourself to try the program recommended in this book. Of course there is no guarantee for success, but there is no risk to you if it is done with the guidance of a caring practitioner and the potential reward is nothing less than a return to a vibrant healthy life. Rich and Karilee Shames deserve our thanks and gratitude for bringing this issue out to the public and I truly hope that this new book helps spark an important reevaluation of this entire area of medicine. The fact that the forward was written by Dr. Nathan Becker, of the Department of Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco shows that this is not a fringe idea any longer. I also conduct research at UCSF and know that Dr. Becker is one of the leading authorities on thyroid dysfunction. I hope this review encourages more people to read this book and act on its important recommendations.


This book taught me how to take charge of my thryoid disease   August 2, 2001
K. Corn (Indianapolis,, IN United States)
148 out of 150 found this review helpful

This book truly changed my life. After reading it, I not only advocated for the proper dosage of meds for my condition, but joined Weight Watchers, tailored the diet to suggestions in Thyroid Power and have lost many pounds - for the first time in years! If you, too, want to feel empowered and have some control over your condition, I'd say this book is a must. In addition to a very detailed description of traditional thyroid tests and treatments, Shames has the courage to discuss what could be WRONG with some of these tests, including questionnaires to help individuals gain information about their condition. For years, I had many of the symptoms described in this book: vauge aches and pains, overwhelming tiredness, bouts of anxiety and depression, weight gain, sleep problems and more. And yet I believed I was on the right dosage of medication because my doctor said so and the tests said so. But as Thyroid Power notes, there is more to thyroid conditions than lab tests alone can reveal. Shames also takes a look at foods which affect the thyroid and various vitamins, minerals and herbs that could be beneficial. If you like to take the best of conventional medicine AND holistic treatments, don't pass them one up.


A good addition to thyroid patients' info libraries   June 7, 2001
Mary (Washington, DC)
112 out of 113 found this review helpful

Richard and Karilee Shames are not only husband and wife, but doctor and nurse, AND thyroid practitioner and thyroid patient. For more than twenty-five years, the Shameses have been working with people who are "low thyroid" -- the term they use to describe hypothyroidism -- in their new book, Thyroid Power: Ten Steps to Total Health. Karilee herself is hypothyroid, as are several of the couple's children, and these experiences have informed both authors, who have struggled to help not only their own family, but many patients they have treated for thyroid problems as well.

In a simply written, straightforward manner, the Shameses have organized some basics of hypothyroidism's causes, test, diagnosis and treatment into a ten-step program of information that can help patients get properly diagnosed and treated.

One of the most interesting and innovative parts of the book is Step 9 -- "Improve the Underlying Autoimmune Condition." This section shares some of the results from Karilee's weekly thyroid recovery group meetings held with other thyroid patients. This chapter talks about issues patients have experienced with emotional sensitivity, self-esteem, perfectionism, maintaining momentum, being empowered, and more, and many of the "common characteristics" of people with autoimmune hypothyroidism struck a chord personally with me.

For already diagnosed thyroid patients, Step Seven's overview of adrenal insufficiency is also a very useful adjunct, particularly for thyroid patients who do not feel well on what is considered sufficient treatment for hypothyroidism.

A unique section is titled "How to Tap the Source of Boundless Energy," which talks about energy healing, the energy chakras, and self-actualization. While not specifically focused on the thyroid, this section is an excellent introduction to the concepts of energy work for those who are not familiar with modalities such as Reiki, healing hands, or laying on of hands.

The main weakness in this book is the fact that many thyroid patients who read the book will not have access to practitioners who are even remotely as open-minded or holistic in their approach as Richard and Karilee Shames. While the Shameses are part of a growing body of alternative practitioners who are innovative their diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism, the vast majority of patients are still subject to very limited, highly conventional treatment protocols, and a very ingrained doctrine of thyroid treatment. Rigid adherence to TSH tests, "normal ranges" and levothyroxine as the sole treatment is the standard practice, and what standard practice is what is typically covered by HMOs and insurance companies. The Shames' use of TRH, total T3, free T3 and antibodies tests as standard, and their unbiased use of levothyroxine, synthetic T3, or natural thyroid products -- whatever product works best for each individual patient -- are encouraging, but still uncommon among most medical professionals.

But overall, as a thyroid patient advocate, I can wholeheartedly recommend Thyroid Power as an excellent addition to any thyroid patient's bookshelf.

Mary Shomon, Thyroid Patient Advocate, Author of "Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know" and Editor of "Sticking Out Our Necks: The Thyroid Disease News Report"


Thyroid patients can empower themselves   July 16, 2001
R. Cox (Virginia Beach, VA USA)
67 out of 68 found this review helpful

Dr. Richard and Karliee Shames' book "Thyroid Power" actually "empowers" thyroid patients to improve and manage their health. It is an excellent book dealing with an insidious disease. Many patients walk around for years, suffering needlessly and losing control of their lives because of misdiagnosis. The source of many of these errors occur because physicians don't know how to order the correct test beyond the TSH, or do not correctly interpret test results. If you or someone else you know is fatigued, depressed and can't seem to figure out what is wrong, you cannot afford to miss this book. It gives you guidance on how to determine if you too may have hidden thyroid disease.

Autoimmune disease can wax and wane for years, leading to a variety of symptoms, before the TSH clearly illustrates abnormal results. If you or someone else have not felt well this book can help you possibly unmask thyroid disease. If you are a diagnosed thyroid patient and still don't feel well, this book is an invaluable reference for managing your condition. Too many physicians do not know how to manage thyroid disease or have little time to assist their patients with managing this complex disease. This book provides clear information on how thyroid patients can help themselves to live better with this chronic condition. As a thyroid patient and reporter I have investigated and read as much information as possible about my autoimmune thyroid disease, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. I found there were few books that delve into the complexity of this disease. The Shames' book is one of those rare books that provides answers and helps unravel the confusion surrounding and managing thyroid disease.

"Thyroid Power" is a superb resource for all those suffering from an often-confusing disease, and is an essential guide to managing and improving one's health. I can't say enough about this book, and have recommended it to all of my fellow thyroid sufferers....


BOOK IS A LIFESAVER!!!!!   March 25, 2003
52 out of 52 found this review helpful

This book opened my eyes to the fact that "traditional medicine" just didn't have all the answers. As a practicing physician, I too had been telling my wife "all your thyroid tests are normal." We finally both read this book and discovered many of the truths that are not learned or stressed in medical school re:autoimmune diseases. Her antibody levels were OFF THE CHART and after a trial of multiple different medication regimens, she is now feeling better on Armour Thyroid. READ THIS BOOK or GIVE IT AS A GIFT to anyone who may be ill with thyroid problems or need a "NON-SANCTIONED" alternative approach! It opened MY eyes! Bravo and thanks to the authors!