What Is Desiccated Thyroid?

Porcine thyroid glands that are made of mixed pork and beef are dried and then turned into powder so that they can serve therapeutic purpose. This is what is known as Thyroid extract or desiccated thyroid.

Since desiccated thyroid is a type of animal product, vegetarians stay away from using it. There are also a few religions which forbid the use of desiccated thyroid as it is made from pork. But in some instances, exceptions are made as it pertains to a medicine and has therapeutic value.

It was the later years of the 19^th century which witnessed the origin or genesis of desiccated thyroid or thyroid preparations made of mixed pork and beef or only pork. In many places, this stuff is still in use for treating under active thyroid glands or hypothyroidism.

The other name for desiccated thyroid is thyroid BP, thyroid USP, pork thyroid; natural thyroid hormones, natural thyroid and sometimes some people refer to desiccated thyroid by the name of Armour Thyroid which is a commercial brand.

The US Pharmacopoeia describes desiccated thyroid as a type of powdered, dried and cleaned thyroid gland derived from domesticated animals which are normally used by men for food. The connective tissues and layers of fat are at first removed from these animal derived thyroid glands and then they are processed.

However, the last few decades have seen the use of pork only in the preparation of desiccated thyroid. Nowadays the efficacy or potency of this type of thyroid is judged through hormonal activity or content. Historically, the potency was measured through iodine content which had to vary between 0.17% and 0.23%.

There is a lot of debate surrounding the use of natural desiccated thyroid supplement or pill. Research has shown that there is hardly any advantage to intaking natural desiccated thyroid supplement.

In some countries like Canada and UK, the natural version is regarded as evil! Its shelf life is also pretty short compared to the synthetic version. There is hardly any precise assay on it and its effectiveness is a matter of huge debate for its efficacy is hugely variable.

Synthetic thyroid such as thyroxine is perhaps one of the safest medications one can take. The hormone manufactured by the thyroid gland inside your body is completely identical to synthetic thyroid like thyroxine or synthroid etc.

Side Effects of Synthetic Thyroid Hormone

Some of the common side effects reported from the intake of synthetic thyroids are unusual swelling in the ankles or in the legs or in both places, palpitations, anxiety, headaches, insomnia, loss of weight and other such problems. Those who are allergic to synthetic thyroid hormones can suffer from grave allergic symptoms such as tongue swelling, facial swelling and difficulty in breathing and other types of emergencies.