This book helps a person understand the function of the thyroid. Most people do not understand how much this gland can effect every part of your body and book explains it in clear terms. Most doctors do not provide all the test needed to check your thyroid and this book helps you get a clear picture and ask the right questions to your doctor.

Don't waste your money on this book! The writing is too simplified and a bit patronizing. Having thyroid problems for over 12 years, I recommend these better books: "The Thyroid Sourcebook" by M. Sara Rosenthal and "The Everything Health Guide to Thyroid Disease" by Theodore Friedman MD. PHD.

My assistant pastor's wife gave me this book because she had noticed so many of the symptoms in me. When I did the self-assessment, my score was almost the maximum number of points. It blew me away! I took a list of symptoms to my doctor (a page long, single-spaced!). He refused to even read it. (No, I will never see him again if I have any choice.) My TSH test numbers were "within the normal range." He said he would give me zoloft or paxil, but under no circumstances would he give me anything else. The other HMO doctor I saw said the same thing (he was at least civil about it and didn't treat me like a total idiot though). So, I had to pay out of pocket money that I don't really have to see a doctor outside the HMO who specializes in thyroid treatment. As it turns out, this is the top book on his recommended reading list to patients. He looked at my symptoms and test numbers (which I had insisted on knowing from my previous doctor) and said, "Yeah, you definitely have low thyroid." Surprise, surprise! Kudos to the Shameses for spotlighting research the established medical system has chosen to ignore. This has been unbelieveably helpful to me! My only complaint is the heavy emphasis on eastern mysticism.

I knew my infant son had a thyroid problem, my only problem was convincing the doctors there was a problem. This book is packet with great information and really got me up to speed on the thyroid. The only problem I had with the book was that there wasn't a section dedicated to pediatric thyroid problems and it doesn't list specific ranges for where the thyroid levels should be. Still this helped me do battle with the doctors and I got my son's treatment started.

I bought this book for my mother who had been diagnosed with thyroid problems. She was so relieved that outside of the quick treatment in the endocrinologist's office, she could, at her leisure, absorb the seriousness of her disease, be reassured she was not alone, and most of all that there were many others just like her ailing but with a road map to new health by truding the road to wellness together by following the ten steps in this book. With renewed determination, she is already onto step one and looking to step two.

I have been diagnosed with hashimotos for over 12months now and have been buying, borrowing and reading every book I can get my hands on. This book is the best of all I have read. It very comprehensively covers blending traditional medical solutions with "alternative" therapies to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.

I have read many, many books on hypothyroidism including most of the ones rated as five stars by Amazon.com. This book was the most comprehensive and informative of all of the books I've read. If you're going to read one book, read this one. Not only does it discuss the thyroid and its complications and affect on all body systems, but it goes into detail about blood test levels, tests you should have, mind/body healing, a diet to follow, the level of vitamins and minerals we need on a daily basis, etc. I am the kind of person who needs and likes to have all of the information I can access to help myself. Although I have finally found a doctor that knows as much as me, - for years, I did not. Now my doctor and I share information.

If you have a thyroid problem, this book is well worth your time.

I have read many, many books on hypothyroidism including most of the ones rated as five stars by Amazon.com. This book was the most comprehensive and informative of all of the books I've read. If you're going to read one book, read this one. Not only does it discuss the thyroid and its complications and affect on all body systems, but it goes into detail about blood test levels, tests you should have, mind/body healing, a diet to follow, the level of vitamins and minerals we need on a daily basis, etc. I am the kind of person who needs and likes to have all of the information I can access to help myself. Although I have finally found a doctor that knows as much as me, - for years, I did not. Now my doctor and I share information.

If you have a thyroid problem, this book is well worth your time.

This book has very good discussion on the treatment of (usually) hypothyroid conditions. It tells you how to deal with marginal or non-indicating blood tests, usage habits, etc. I value this book.

This book has very good discussion on the treatment of (usually) hypothyroid conditions. It tells you how to deal with marginal or non-indicating blood tests, usage habits, etc. I value this book.

Bravo! I was privileged to read an advance copy of this most important book. As a mid-life woman who has experienced thyroid disease first hand, I am thrilled that FINALLY that book is finally here, validating my experience and that of countless others. Far too many classically trained physicians choose to ignore the subtle symptoms and (often louder) complaints of thyroid-challenged patients, adding to the frustration that we already feel. Karilee and Rich have de-mystified the complex workings of the thyroid gland and offered a variety of strategies to identify, diagnose, and treat this often-elusive malady. They offer a clear path to enhanced quality of life and improved energy levels. They offer a variety of treatment options, embracing the best of integrative health care. The reader is constantly encouraged to seek answers on a variety of levels, from standard medical care to stress reduction to energy balancing and improved nutrition. The book is balanced, objective, and encouraging. The health care information is nicely integrated with case stories that offer hope and guidance. Many of them bring back memories of my own journey, which included the advice of one misguided (and male) physician who told me I had panic attacks (in spite of three years of abnormal thyroid blood work!) ... and offered Prozac as his only remedy. It is unfortunate that women's complaints have long been depreciated in the eyes of the medical establishment, and it is only in recent years that we have begun to fight for equal and high quality care. This book will give us ammunition as we confront that system. Thyroid Power offers a true holistic perspective, assessing the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual components of chronic thyroid disease and offering ways to deal with the whole person, not just blood work or sometimes vague symptoms. For many it will be a light at the end of a long, dark, and frustrating tunnel, and a path to better health.


Marina Kushner
Author
The Truth About Caffeine: How Companies That Promote It Deceive Us and What We Can Do about It

I stopped reading this book when it said that low self-esteem is a possible cause of thyroid antibodies. I'm a research psychologist and am very familiar with psychosomatic research, so I feel qualified to say that this is complete hooey. There are too many sections in this book that smack of unscientific thinking and unsubstantiated comment. I bought this book hoping for practical advice, and there is some of that. But there is also a fatal overdose of hippie stuff. A better book is Mary Solomon's What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Hypothyroidism.

I stopped reading this book when it said that low self-esteem is a possible cause of thyroid antibodies. I'm a research psychologist and am very familiar with psychosomatic research, so I feel qualified to say that this is complete hooey. There are too many sections in this book that smack of unscientific thinking and unsubstantiated comment. I bought this book hoping for practical advice, and there is some of that. But there is also a fatal overdose of hippie stuff. A better book is Mary Solomon's What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Hypothyroidism.

I found Thyroid Power to be interesting, informative and extremely helpful in assessing my low thyroid symptoms. This book offers useful tools for understanding how the thyroid impacts the functions of the body and gives suggestings for next steps for testing and treatment. I have family members with hypothyroid and never knew that this increased my own risk for developing a low thyroid.

The author denies that your thyroid problem is your own fault, telling you you need to get involved with all the medical aspects and tell your doctor what you need. If your doctor doesn't listen to you then find another doctor. Monitor your TC levels through blood tests (if/when you can afford them). Then the last chapter is all about how much Thyroid therapy can help (as in 12 step programs) to discover that your stresses and life problems probably started the whole thing in the first place. Athough it is NOT YOUR fault. All the while insinuating that it, in fact, IS your fault.

Weird book. I would NOT recommend it unless you're very young and have never heard of a 12 step program and have 24/7 hours a day to monitor your progress. Then, go for it.

Otherwise, find a better alternative.

I too have been under treated for autoimmune hypothyroidism and have continued to struggle with symptoms. This book explains an approach doctors can take to treat the symptoms and not the blood work. I already had been asking my doctor to work with me. She says she has reached her limit for the highest dosage of thyroid medicine she will prescribe for me. I told her that her limit was my starting point and that she needed to listen to my list of symptoms and basal temperature test results. She would not listen. Finally, I said either read this book that has given me hope or your fired. I've already found another doctor willing to treat me not my blood in case she doesn't read it by my next visit. I'm hoping she will read it and get some insight into how she can better serve her Thyroid patients even if she is not my doctor any longer.

I did not find this book helpful for someone who has been medically diagnosed as having true thyroid disease. It is old news. Perhaps can be helpful to someone who suspects they my have a thyroid condition who is just beginning the journey into thyroid disease.

Excellent book, from a medical professional who has acturally had the disease. I went to an endocrinologist and told him my thyroid had become inflamed and I was experiencing severe anxiety and he recommended a psychiatrist. The book explained the problem and now I have hope. I told an allergist I was sensitive to salty and sugary foods and he told me to see a psychiatrist. Thank God I found a family practitioner who found my thyroid antibodies where too high and perscribed synthroid which all but eliminated those symptoms.

I have had Thyroid disease since I was a teen and at forty three years of age I have never found a better source than the Thyroid Power. Read it and find a good medical or alternative practitioner and begin to travel the road to managed health.

I would have rated this book 5 stars except for one thing, it has practically nothing on Hyperthyroidism. If your dealing with Hyperthyroidism (Graves Disease), then forget about this book and do a search on amazon for books on Graves Disease.

If you are experiencing Hypothyroidism or even think you are because of being plagued with chronic illnesses that doctors cannot seem to diagnose, then this book just might be a godsend to you.

Based on years of research from the authors private practice, this book offers a perfect balance of Western and Eastern medicine. The author takes a holistic approach to hypothyroidism, in not only showing you what medication works, but what herbs and natural products work, what mental and emotional healing may need to take place, proper diet, and human energy field work.

After studying this book, you will probably be more educated on up to date thyroid treatment than your family doctor.

If you or someone whom you know is suffering from thyroid problems, this book will be invaluable. It expalins in detail many type of thyroid and its side effects. There are many illness which you notice only when it has become too complicated. Their description of the disease is too good and anyone with thyroid should read this book and his next visit to the doctor will become all the more informative for him.

There are also interesting references for wellness products. The author does suggest you go off coffee slowly before you start the plan. This would minimize headaches during detox. I couldn't wait to get started so, of course, did it all at once and had the most horrible awful headache for 4 straight days. I finally broke down and had a 1/2 cup coffee one day instead of taking aspirin and that did the trick...for the moment. Now I'm completely caffeine-free and don't miss it at all. My doctor prescribed a wonderful replacement for coffee made from soya beans called "soyffee". I bought it online at www.S o y c o f f e e.com and cannot believe how good is the taste.

Some illnesses can do a lot of harm because they are very slow coming. For the last few years I have suffered from a disorder of this type totally unknowingly. it started just when I needed my energies the most, because I had just moved abroad and was starting at work. time would go by without my getting much done or paying attention to things around me. I knew that the challenges ahead were not so "difficult". So why were things not working? I started to shift the blame and became a bit clingy, as if I needed somebody to sort my life out for me, but why was this??

People around started to warn me: you are too lazy, you are not doing this or that... but all I could think of was "sleeping". I became irritating, bad tempered, manipulative, vain, abstract, weak. I would get exhausted even though I was doing very little work. I quit my job and went home to recover energies but I became more exhausted, eventually I even lost my articulateness! What years before had been some small difficulty at concentrating, some physical tiredness, eventually led to a complete collapse of all physical and mental energies. The symptoms might look like a mental breakdown, deppression, but I have never been deppressed or disillusioned, all the contrary, many good things were happening in my life which i just could not control in the right way. it is a slow loss of important blood components stretching over a long period of time, and other people find it hard to understand it - are you hungry, are you sick? No, it was not somebody else controlling me or a thing of witchcraft. Fortunately there are scientific explanations for most things. I am still unable to do much work. But recovery should be a matter of time. I am already much better

unless somebody in your environment knows about this and warns you soon enough, the process of decay is so slow that you get used to being unwell - and you end up VERY ashamed because you guess it might not have been nice to watch for others. You would like to be able to repair some things, to apologize or sort out, particularly if through this treacherous illness you feel to have failed those who were trying their best for you. Sometimes when we are ill and we don't understand it we start to lie to ourselves and we turn to other ill people who will support our diluted worldview, in a mutually destructive relationship. We want to believe that "we" are right and "the others" are phonies. But the others are "normal" and it is US who have been unwell. The worst thing about being ill is when people in your environment encourage you to keep going, perhaps through their own ignorance and weaknesses. Those are the worst. I can now appreciate the attitude of those who have given me honest warnings, like "you are too sleepy", "you have to try harder". Whereas others just allow you to drift and then put a notice of VICTIM or FAILURE all over you. perhaps the ones who tell you about your own faults, as things you can put a remedy to, are better friends than those who have stayed around doing nothing to prevent mistakes.

Sometimes through our illnesses we can get to learn important things about ourselves and the world. perhaps when we are healthy we don't have the time to stop and "listen". but I now feel Iýve had enough of drearyland and I will be careful to distinguish real from unreal and right from wrong. I know how hard it can be when your organism is leading you to weakness and to delusion, I still find it hard to be firm and concentrate and get organised. There is still some chaos and mindboggling. but the good thing about reaching "rock-bottom" is that it is the best possible moment to change and if other people don't want to help us I personally will try my best to pull myself up because itýs been too long and i canýt wait to start changing my attitudes and approaches to things.

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!

This book changed my life. I've looked for answers as to why fibromyalgia happened to me and after reading this book, it appears that it was just one more thing my thyroid created. I had symptoms all along but was treating each individually. If you or someone you know is suffering, read this book and share it with as many people you know. I began taking an over-the-counter thyroid supplement and had results within two weeks and continue to get better: allergies, migraines, headaches, migraines...all are connected to your thyroid; and for me, they're disappearing!

Great but the medications are in the grip of the medical professionals. Good luck finding one who will help you. So, in the end, this sort of thing will only let you know the extent of bull headedness of your personal physician. You can show him or her all the BJM or Lancet articles in the world and they still won't budge off the party line. There are no "best practices" in medicine, only attitude and ego.

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.

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....

Thyroid Power was a pleasure to read. It is clear, easy to follow and understandable to me, a non medical person. The information is presented in a manner that is conscise and VERY helpful to my everyday life. The '10 Steps' are things that I can accomplish and in fact most are very easily adaptable to any lifestyle. I noticed that I found myself nodding my head often, feeling that here at last are experts who truly understand MY experiences and are able to tie together and make sense out of what had seemed to me disparate symptoms/issues. I am encouraged and feel supported to make the positive changes spelled out by the Drs. Shames and additional I am better armed to work with my primary care physican with good questions and ways I can do more to help get me what will be optimal care. I expect great results.

The authors of this book are to be commended for taking a stand against water fluoridation, which is a major source of fluoride intake for most Americans. They tell the story of how fluoride was used decades ago as a medicine for patients with over-active thyroids. It was quite effective in reducing thyroid function. With fluoride ingestion increasing greatly in the last 50 years it's no surprise that we now see many people with under-active thyroids. Synthroid is one of the top selling drugs in the U.S. The Shames state what thyroid patients should do about their fluoride exposure.

On the right hand side of the web page listing "Thyroid Power" is "Mary Shomon's Recommended Books for Thyroid Patients." Mary Shomon has also written about fluoride and it's effect on the thyroid gland.

The Shames and Shomon's stand on fluoride will probably be upsetting to public health authorities who are pushing for more water fluoridation in the United States. Writing about fluoride may reduce their chances for publicity by a mainstream media that shies away from this controversial issue. However, for the thyroid patients who buy this book it means they are getting the truth about something their doctor may know little about.

I was very disappointed at the content of the book. The emphasis being on more of a "eastern" medicine approach to dealing with the disease. I felt the title of the book was a misrepresentation of the content completely. Meditation, visualization and proper diet are all valid ways to combat the disease but the book did have the flavor of a introduction to eastern religion. Not at all appropriate for the average person I thought, mearley a thinly disquised play at indoctorination. I actually wanted to return the book. Sincerly, Tanya k Allen

an excellent book on thyroid problems. Even if you don;t think you have a thyroid problem, please read this book it helps you to be able to go to your Dr. and explain to him your medical problems . weell written

If you don't believe what Richard and Karilee Halo Shames are trying to share with you in this bestseller on hypothyroidism, then, PLEASE, take it from a previous, regular patient of many years, that first walked into their office, with the exact symptoms they describe! (fatigue, inability to lose weight PLUS much more!). This is AFTER I had had a thyroid test, ordered by another MD, who read the test as "nothing wrong with your thyroid!" Hopelessness overwhelmed me, until I found Richard and Karilee Shames, who, quickly set me on the right pathway and ordered the four main thyroid tests. The next next thing I knew I was diagnosed with severe hypothroidism and was given immediate treatment. My entire life changed for the better: I lost over 25 lbs. and no longer bored my husband with my unusual sleep pattern of falling asleep by 6pm. Please read this book...you will quickly feel someone, finally, understands your symptoms and you will soon be on the road to a much happier life.

Dr.Richard Shames and his wife, Karilee, who is a skilled nurse,have written a book that has the potential to help millions of people feel better. As a practitioner of medicine working at the Preventive Medical Center in San Rafael, California, I have been using some of the philosophy and techniques that I learned directly from Dr. Shames to help many patients. These patients suffer from the most common symptoms such as: fatigue, depression, weight gain, insomnia, headaches, joint and muscle pain, memory loss, frequent colds and viruses, cold hands and feet etc. Previously I was at a loss to help these people and could only tell them that there was nothing "wrong" with them and that their problems were not "medical" at all. It turns out that I, along with most medical practitioners, were victims of our own dogma. In reality, when it comes to thyroid disorders, many people have so-called "normal" tests, and yet when given thyroid hormone, their quality of life improves dramatically. I am not speaking of a short term placebo response, that we see frequently with any healing intervention. Many of my patients get better and stay that way, simply from taking thyroid hormone that no "well trained" medical practitioner would dare give them, because their tests were "normal". Fortunately, with this book, the Shames family has broken that taboo and the genie is out of the bottle at last.

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.

Dr.Richard Shames and his wife, Karilee, who is a skilled nurse,have written a book that has the potential to help millions of people feel better. As a practitioner of medicine working at the Preventive Medical Center in San Rafael, California, I have been using some of the philosophy and techniques that I learned directly from Dr. Shames to help many patients. These patients suffer from the most common symptoms such as: fatigue, depression, weight gain, insomnia, headaches, joint and muscle pain, memory loss, frequent colds and viruses, cold hands and feet etc. Previously I was at a loss to help these people and could only tell them that there was nothing "wrong" with them and that their problems were not "medical" at all. It turns out that I, along with most medical practitioners, were victims of our own dogma. In reality, when it comes to thyroid disorders, many people have so-called "normal" tests, and yet when given thyroid hormone, their quality of life improves dramatically. I am not speaking of a short term placebo response, that we see frequently with any healing intervention. Many of my patients get better and stay that way, simply from taking thyroid hormone that no "well trained" medical practitioner would dare give them, because their tests were "normal". Fortunately, with this book, the Shames family has broken that taboo and the genie is out of the bottle at last.

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. .

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"

I am very pleased with this book. I got my copy as soon as I could and read it from front cover to back. This is a very informative book; one that people with thyroid conditions should add to their library. I read an interview with the author and realized that this is a book that I needed to read.

Bravo!

I was privileged to read an advance copy of this most important book. As a mid-life woman (and health care provider) who has experienced thyroid disease first hand, I am thrilled that FINALLY that book is finally here, validating my experience and that of countless others. Far too many classically trained physicians choose to ignore the subtle symptoms and (often louder) complaints of thyroid-challenged patients, adding to the frustration that we already feel.

Karilee and Rich have de-mystified the complex workings of the thyroid gland and offered a variety of strategies to identify, diagnose, and treat this often-elusive malady. They offer a clear path to enhanced quality of life and improved energy levels. They offer a variety of treatment options, embracing the best of integrative health care. The reader is constantly encouraged to seek answers on a variety of levels, from standard medical care to stress reduction to energy balancing and improved nutrition.

The book is balanced, objective, and encouraging. The health care information is nicely integrated with case stories that offer hope and guidance. Many of them bring back memories of my own journey, which included the advice of one misguided (and male) physician who told me I had panic attacks (in spite of three years of abnormal thyroid blood work!) ... and offered Prozac as his only remedy. It is unfortunate that women's complaints have long been depreciated in the eyes of the medical establishment, and it is only in recent years that we have begun to fight for equal and high quality care. This book will give us ammunition as we confront that system. The authors have included a section for health care professionals that supports their theories and advice with medical research.

Thyroid Power offers a true holistic perspective, assessing the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual components of chronic thyroid disease and offering ways to deal with the whole person, not just blood work or sometimes vague symptoms. For many it will be a light at the end of a long, dark, and frustrating tunnel, and a path to better health.