Comments on: Let’s set the record straight about “swine flu” and Armour desiccated thyroid!

By: Stacie

Stacie — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:48:44 +0000

My concern is not catching the flu from the medication, but moreso that the hype about the swine flu will affect the availability of Armour. What happens if thousands of pigs are slaughtered and disposed of en masse? Any information about that? I’m truly curious, but don’t know where the pigs that are used for Armour come from.

It took so long to find a doctor who would prescribe Armour to my husband. I would hate it if we had a problem getting it now!

By: Tiffany Marler

Tiffany Marler — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:19:44 +0000

I’m worried about the swine flu as i am getting ready to travel and have adrenal insufficiency. The flu from what i understand attacks the adrenals! What should i do?

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:28:55 +0000

My thought on this is that most flu viruses don’t last too long in the environment. They need a host to survive. I’m not sure if the swine flu virus is a very hearty virus, but I suspect it’s like other influenza strains, and probably dies after a few hours in the environment. This would be interesting to know. Even without the processes that are likely to kill it, as Louise mentions, I’m not sure the virus would survive the time it takes to make, manufacture, and distribute the tablets.

By: Louise

Louise — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:00:43 +0000

I should revise my comment above. I’m having “hypo-brain” day! Ethanol is varying in its virucidal ability. It may depend on the type of virus and the amount of ethanol in the sanitising solution. It’s best not to rely on it as an anti-virus sanitiser.

Susan Harris, I have an education in science. I’m not a doctor or professional scientist. Like many on this site, including the author, I’ve done extensive reading and research on various thyroid-related topics. I also confer with friends who have various medical-related degrees such as pathology and pharmacology. Make of that what you will.

Descriptions of the preparation and processing of desiccated porcine thyroid can be found in various pharmacological and hormone-related textbooks, and acetone or other solvent defatting/degreasing is a common method of extracting substances from tissue as well as other purification uses. The qualities of acetone are well-known; while I prefer not to use Wikipedia as a source, their article on acetone is a reasonably good overview. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetone

By: Isabella Vegas

Isabella Vegas — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 05:39:53 +0000

Thank you for the information. It helps answers questions personally, but most of all, for the people that surround us and are weary of us taking this medication at such a time.

By: Susan Harris

Susan Harris — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:44:55 +0000

Louise, what are you qualifications and how do you know this information?

Thanks.

By: Louise

Louise — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:42:23 +0000

The pig thyroid glands are prepared for use as a pharmaceutical first by de-fatting them in an acetone bath. Acetone, an ingredient in nail polish remover and other stripping solvents, is a bactericide, fungicide, and virucide. There’s no way you can get swine flu from Armour or other products made from USP thyroid as the acetone will destroy the influenza virus. It evaporates quickly and and residue is cleaned so you don’t have to worry that there’s acetone in your Armour, either.

Those no-wash hand santitisers are no good against influenza — they are alcohol (ethanol) based and ethanol is a bactericide only, not a virucide.