Have you struggled with hypothyroidism for years, or have you just recently been diagnosed by your conventional doctor? Your doctor probably handed over a prescription for medication, saying it's the only way to manage it. There's no conversation of lifestyle changes or modifications to help… just a prescription. You might not question it because they are the professionals after all.
Like many people, your doctor will keep you on levothyroxine (or another thyroid medication) from here on out, checking your thyroid levels every 6 months or so to keep an eye on them. Who wants that?!
This doesn't have to be the case! If you don't want to be on medications the rest of your life, you don't have to. Medication should be the last option in many cases. In some cases, a natural form of thyroid hormone is recommended. However, with some lifestyle changes and natural support, you'll be able to better manage your hypothyroidism symptoms. This is what I specialize in - hormones. They control pretty much every aspect of your body! It's critical to your health that you pay attention to them and give them all the support they need to function properly.
Can You Reverse Hypothyroidism?
I get the following question all the time, "can you heal your hypothyroidism naturally?". While your conventional doctor may insist that you can't, I'd have to argue that. Over my years of specializing in hormones, I've taught countless women how to fix their thyroid naturally. Here's some insight into what hypothyroidism is and how you can naturally support your thyroid.
What Is Hypothyroidism?
Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located in your neck. It produces vital hormones, including thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones are secreted into the blood and are necessary for normal functioning of all cells in your body. These hormones influence your energy levels, metabolism, hair growth, sleep, menstrual cycle, plus more.
Hypothyroidism is low thyroid production or an underactive thyroid. Most doctors check your levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which is produced in your pituitary gland. However, this doesn't give you the full picture and leaves millions of people suffering from a thyroid disorder for most of their lives. You'll want your doctor to also check your free T4, T3, and thyroid antibodies, not just TSH levels.
How Do I Know If I Have Hypothyroidism?
The effects of low thyroid levels can be different from person to person. In fact, many people may not even know that they've had hyperthyroidism for years. However, here are some of the
more common symptoms I see in my hypothyroid patients.
Fatigue
Feeling cold all the time
Poor sleep
Dry Skin
Puffy face
Constipation
Muscle weakness
Brittle Nails
Feeling Depressed
How do Naturopathic Doctors Treat Hypothyroidism?
Naturopathic treatment for hypothyroidism is about getting to the underlying causes of hypothyroidism. For example, up to 90% of hypothyroidism cases are caused by an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto's disease. Treating the root cause of Hashimoto's is a way to heal your hypothyroidism - for good!
While many conventional doctors may hand over medication as the first line of defense (just covering up the symptoms), naturopathic doctors look deeper into what is causing your thyroid disorder and fixing it. That is the key to balancing your hormones.
Naturopathic doctors use a combination of diet, supplementation, botanicals, and conventional medicine as needed. If your hypothyroidism is caused by an autoimmune disorder, like Hashimoto's, the treatment will focus on reducing inflammation and any triggers that initiate flare-ups. They will look at other underlying causes of Hashimoto's, which may include:
Hormonal imbalances
Nutrient Deficiencies
Leaky Gut
Food Sensitivities
Environmental Toxin Exposure
Infections (tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease)
How To Treat Low Thyroid Naturally
I often get asked by my patients, "how can I heal my thyroid naturally?". While treatment often depends on patient history, lab testing analysis, and lifestyle behaviors, here are some of the best natural thyroid support tips that I commonly suggest.
What's the Best Diet for Healing Hypothyroidism?
You can boost your thyroid naturally by focusing on consuming healthy foods that help your gut. Your gut microbiome has been shown to influence autoimmune response, inflammation, and hormone imbalance, impacting Hashimoto's. This is why you must be feeding your gut bacteria with organic, whole foods. Avoid high-sugar foods, processed foods, artificial ingredients, and pesticides. You'll also want to avoid foods that you may have a sensitivity to. (I offer a sensitivity food test to learn which foods these are for you). I recommend taking probiotics to help your gut health and eating fermented foods like sauerkraut, miso, kimchi, etc.
What Vitamins Help Thyroid Function?
Some of the best supplements to take for low thyroid are:
Vitamin B 12: helps enhance cell's energy production, which can help with feelings of fatigue (common with hypothyroidism), and is critical in thyroid synthesis.
Selenium: supports thyroid synthesis and metabolism. Research also has shown that selenium may reduce thyroid antibody levels in people with Hashimoto's.
Zinc: helps the thyroid function
Probiotics: as mentioned above, it can help heal the gut, influencing numerous processes in the body.
Some botanical herbs that may help are:
Adaptogens: they can help regulate metabolic processes, improve sleep, and enhance stress response. (Ashwagandha is a great adaptogenic herb)
Turmeric: helps with reducing inflammation
Lifestyle Changes You Can Make To Improve Hypothyroidism
In addition to diet changes and supplementation, it's important to make sure you are reducing the amount of stress in your life, as well as getting enough sleep. These are two huge factors that influence your overall health and the severity of thyroid function.
Need a Hormone Specialist?
If you are worried about your thyroid's functioning, naturopathic treatment may be the best route to go for natural, long-term results. Dr. Jillian Smithers is a top naturopathic doctor who specializes in hormones. Dr. Smithers is currently accepting new patients in the Mill Towne Center office located in Tempe, AZ. Make an appointment to optimize your hormones so that you can get back to feeling like yourself again!
Keep an eye out for her Hormone Reset Bootcamp online course coming soon. Through a series of modules, Dr. Smithers will teach you how to track your menstrual cycle, uncover hormone imbalances, and regulate & optimize your hormones. Sign up to make sure you're the first to know when it launches!
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