In the 1890's, the original conventional medicine (alternative) doctors began prescribing all-natural hormones to treat hypothyroidism. These natural hormones are extracted from animal and plant sources. In 1958, the chemical industry first began producing the completely synthetic versions of the hormones, which have been marketed as being identical to the natural hormones that had been used for decades. Soon thereafter, the F.D.A. began playing a political game to suppress the use of the significantly safer, animal-based hormones for no other reason than increasing profits. Behind its corrupt shenanigans was the fact that chemical formulations can be patented, but natural hormones cannot. It avoided a political backlash by not officially banning the natural hormones, but it nevertheless accomplished the same goal by re-categorizing natural hormone treatments as "not approved" therapies. Thus, a doctor risks his medical license, and increases his lawsuit risk, if he prescribes the natural hormones. It is another example of the F.D.A. eliminating competition for its top pharmaceutical partners, using very cunning methods. Treating hyperthyroidism has become much more expensive and much more dangerous as a result. The new synthetic hormones are addictive to the extreme, as only chemistry can provide. It follows the same addictive pattern seen with cholesterol medications, hypertension medications, diabetes medications, cancer treatments, anti-depressants, and pharmaceutical sales record-holders like Heroin (from Bayer). The chemical industry's synthetic hormones cause both heart disease and cancers, but they help to cover a doctor's assets.