(A) Dr. Barnes considers the normal Basal Body Temperature (BBT) to be between 97.8 and 98.2 degrees Fahrenheit. BBT is taken under your arm upon awakening in the morning.

(B) An average BBT less than 97.8 degrees is indicative of low thyroid function.

(C) An average oral temperature less than 98.4 degrees may indicate hypothyroidism. People with low thyroid function generally have an oral temperature of 96.8 to 98 degrees.

(D) If your average oral temperature for 2 days is more than 1 degree higher than your average BBT during the same time, this may be due to a sore, inflamed area in your mouth.

(A) If your daily maximal pulse is constant (within 1 or 2 beats) for 3 days in a row, you have avoided all “food sensitivities” for those days.

(B) If your pulse taken standing is greater than your pulse taken sitting, this is a positive indication of food or environmental sensitivity.

(C) If your daily maximal pulse varies more than 2 beats from day to day, you are “sensitive,” unless you have an infection.

(D) If your pulse increases more than 6 beats above your average normal maximum after eating a particular food or meal, you are sensitive to that food or something in that meal.

(E) If your minimum pulse rate does not regularly occur before rising, after your night’s rest, this usually indicates that you are sensitive to dust, dust mites, or something else in your sleeping environment such as perfume, your mattress, your pillow, etc.

(A) Early in the day, after your bath or shower, paint about a 2” square of iodine liquid antiseptic on one side of your lower abdomen below your waistline.

(B) Check your patch every hour throughout the day and evening.

(C) Record how long it takes for your patch to completely disappear. You may shower or bathe again; just do not scrub your patch area.

(D) Let your doctor know how long it takes for your patch to completely disappear.

TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone/Serum thyrotropin) – Under 0.5 can indicate possible hyperthyroidism. Over 5.5 is considered indicative of hypothyroidism. Current research indicates that TSH values of more than 2 may in fact represent abnormal levels. Increasing numbers of doctors are finding that a TSH of around 1 – 2 is optimal for most people to feel well and avoid having hypo- or hyperthyroid symptoms.

TT4 (Total T4, Total Thyroxine, or Serum Thyroxine) – T4 readings of less than 4.5 with a high TSH may indicate hypothyroidism. If the T4 reading is over 12.5, this could indicate hyperthyroidism. If both the T4 and the TSH are low, this may indicate a possible pituitary problem.

FT4 (Free T4 or Free Thyroxine) – Less than 0.7 may indicate hypothyroidis

TT3 (Total T3 or Serum triiodothyronine) – Less than 80 may indicate hypothyroidism.

FT3 (Free T3 or Free triiodothyronine) – Less than 2.3 may indicate hypothyroidism.

If all of the above test results come back normal, but you have quite a few symptoms or risk factors for thyroid problems, you may need to have further evaluations such as a Thyroid Antibody Test.

If you have been treated with radioactive iodine or have had thyroid surgery and are not currently on thyroid hormone replacement, but have hypothyroid symptoms, you need to be evaluated.

Hunger – If your nose, hands, and feet get cold when you are hungry and then become warmer after you eat carbohydrates, your primary problem is more likely with your liver than your thyroid. Liver detoxification will help (ask your Doctor). If your activity level is constant and your average temperature is ˝ to 1-˝ degrees less before or ˝ to 1-˝ degrees more after meals, you may be having problems with your liver and/or your blood sugar levels. This could indicate a hypoglycemia condition (ask your Doctor). Liver, kidney, and blood sugar problems can adversely affect the function of your thyroid gland.