Feeling Fat, Fuzzy, or Frazzled?: A 3-Step Program to: Restore Thyroid, Adrenal, and... by Richard Shames and Karilee Shames

Readers whose chronic health conditions are due to, or worsened by, glandular imbalances may find this informative guide to pinpointing and healing hormone-related illness helpful in improving their functioning. Physician Richard Shames is a founding member of the American Holistic Medical Association, while his wife, Karilee Shames, is certified in psychiatric and holistic nursing. Their holistic view makes clear how hormonal imbalance in any one glandular system disturbs every other system. According to the Shameses, patients and their health-care providers must address each system, first targeting the areas of major disturbance, then looking at the other systems to correct secondary problems. They provide a framework that includes three different patient "Endo-Types" (the "feeling fat" thyroid-driven type; "fuzzy-thinking" sex-gland–driven type; and "fried and frazzled" adrenal-driven type) and questionnaires for readers to understand the cause of problems like unexplained weight gain, exhaustion, lack of mental focus and clarity, irritability and impatience. A three-step program then teaches readers how to address and correct glandular imbalances. Although many readers might be drawn to the book for the authors' promise of greater vitality, they may be more gratified to learn that, by restoring hormonal and glandular balance, they may be mitigating many serious health conditions, too.
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Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
It's not always easy for thyroid patients -- and our practitioners -- to understand how interrelated our hormones can be, along with their critical impact on health. Specifically, when we have a thyroid condition, the relationship to adrenal problems and our reproductive system and hormones, is critical, but it's so rarely addressed. This makes Drs. Richard and Karilee Shames' new book, "Feeling Fat, Fuzzy or Frazzled?" particularly useful. Using their unique "Endo-Type" categorization system, you use questionnaires and self-tests to determine which glands -- your thyroid, adrenals or reproductive glands -- are causing your primary imbalance. And then, the book helps you restore balance, help rebalance the glands, and ensure that all three types of hormones -- the 3 legs of the "stool" metaphor that the Shames use in the book -- are all equal, and therefore able to support you without tipping over. The Shames recommend readers find a great practitioner and partner with him or her for your health care. And they dedicate an entire section of book to direct communications with practitioners -- letters you can copy and share with your practitioners or endocrinologists, and will hopefully help you get the care you need. Ideally, you'll find a great practitioner who can help you implement the program with the guidance of the Shames book. But if you need to follow a self-guided program, you will find the resources and information -- including options on where to order your own tests, and what supplements and nutrients you may need -- to pursue a self-care program. And another helpful option is that you can contact Dr. Richard Shames for a phone coaching session to help customize the program to meet your specific needs. Short-term and longer-term approaches are offered, which is especially useful when you are talking about hormones. You'll have things you can do right away, along with longer-term goals and objectives that will help you maintain improvements in your health. Concept Summaries and Action Summaries at the end of each chapter help you focus your efforts on those practical actions that can have the greatest impact on your health. Overall, Drs. Richard and Karilee Shames have achieved the near impossible - a clear, comprehensive, practical and integrated roadmap to restore and rebalance our hormones. I highly recommend the book! -- From Mary Shomon, Thyroid Patient Advocate and author of "Thyroid Diet" and "Living Well With Hypothyroidism"