Temperature Self-Check

Dr. Broda Barnes’s Temperature Testing Protocol

Please note, you will need a mercury thermometer (digital thermometers can be used but aren’t as accurate).

This check needs to be done first thing in the morning before getting out of bed. Leave the thermometer on your bedside, so as soon as your alarm goes off you can reach for it without sitting up or moving from bed.

Take your temperature by placing a mercury thermometer under your tongue, or underneath your arm for 10 minutes. When checking under the arm, you should add 1° F to the result. Record your temperature daily, don’t try to do it by memory!

Repeat these steps for 7 days. Return your daily recordings to your doctor.

A reading below the normal 98° F (after adding 1 degree to under the arm temperature) strongly suggests hypothyroid. A reading above 98.2° F may indicate hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).

Dr. Barnes recommends patients take a desiccated glandular (derived from pigs) prescription medication known as Armour Thyroid, which was used before synthetic medications such as Synthroid were introduced. Armour Thyroid and other prescription thyroid glandular medications contain both T4 and T3 (80% T4 and 20% T3)

Tips

Women who are still having their menstrual cycle should take their temperature after the third day of their period.

Note: If you can’t find a mercury thermometer (they’ve been withdrawn from the market) and have to use a digital thermometer, take your temperature 3 times a day under the tongue.

Add one degree to underarm temperature readings (if 97.2 under the arm add 1 degree and it equals 98.2).