Can you treat thyroid disease naturally?

Can you treat thyroid disease naturally?

Thyroid diseases often have a negative impact on a patient's quality of life. They can affect a patient's energy levels, mood, weight, digestive system, libido, sleep cycle, and much more. Additionally, traditional treatment protocols often include prolonged use of synthetic medications or even surgical procedures in certain cases. It is not surprising that many patients with thyroid disease are looking for natural alternatives.

The most common forms of thyroid disease are primary hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and Graves' disease. Unfortunately, the medical community is often clearly divided between two schools of thought about health and illness: the medical model or the alternative model.

The medical model

In the medical model, doctors focus on analyzing symptoms and then narrowing down the possibilities until they make a diagnosis. The doctor then follows a set treatment protocol to treat the disease. Treatment often includes medication.

The standard treatment protocol for hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis is hormone replacement therapy. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends synthetic T4 levothyroxine for clinical hypothyroidism to restore thyroid-stimulating hormone to normal levels.

In Graves' disease, the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone. The standard treatment protocol includes medications to suppress the thyroid or surgery to remove the thyroid. Many doctors in the United States prefer to use radioactive iodine as first-line therapy.

The alternative model

Unfortunately, the alternative model is often thrown into a big pile when there are actually multiple models in it. These include naturopathy, acupuncture, herbalism and functional medicine. This article focuses on the functional medicine approach to thyroid disease.

Functional medicine

In the functional model, the doctor examines all aspects of a person's health. They look for the root cause of a problem rather than treating the symptoms. For example, there are many possible causes when a person suffers from depression. One person may have a blood sugar imbalance while another may have a mineral deficiency. It doesn't make sense to treat all depression the same way if the root cause is different.

Some alternative models use similar paradigms. For example, herbal practitioners might recommend St. John's Wort for a patient with certain types of depression once they understand the underlying cause.

I believe this model draws on the wisdom of other alternative disciplines and combines it with the scientific data obtained from functional laboratory testing. It also engages the patient in a therapeutic partnership in which they actively participate in their well-being, which is important for recovery.

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis & Graves' Disease

In Hashimoto's disease and Graves' disease, the functional approach looks for sources of stress on the immune system. Grave and Hashimoto's are autoimmune diseases and are not thyroid problems at all. Thyroid dysfunction is just a symptom of the underlying cause: a dysfunctional immune system.

Autoimmunity develops for many reasons. Again, each person is unique and requires specific testing and treatment depending on the underlying cause. For example, if a person has a condition called "leaky gut syndrome," it can lead to undigested food particles in the bloodstream and trigger an immune response.

Food allergies or food sensitivities can also cause an immune system reaction. If you continue to eat offending foods, it could potentially lead to an autoimmune disease.

Because these thyroid problems can have many causes, we cannot define a standard treatment protocol or standard for treating thyroid disorders. Unfortunately, the numerous factors that contribute to these diseases also make self-treatment difficult.

How can functional medicine help you?

Understanding the underlying influences affecting the thyroid requires some physiological knowledge and the ability to interpret functional laboratory tests. An experienced doctor can provide proper care and correct the immune system dysfunction that led to your diagnosis in the first place.

Of course, restoring full function depends on whether you still have a thyroid and what condition you are in. If you do not have a thyroid or it is severely damaged, you will need medication to support thyroid function.

Nevertheless, the functional approach can help patients when they do not process medications efficiently and correctly. Doctors usually prescribe a synthetic version of the thyroid hormone T4, but it is physiologically less active than T3. Consequently, your body has to convert it, but some people don't convert it well.

Other patients convert T4 to reverse T3 instead of T3. Reverse T3 does not support the thyroid. Fortunately, I can address both of these issues through functional medicine so that you get the most benefit from your medications and the most relief.

*****

Experience has taught me that the medical model has its place. It can help patients treat symptoms and can provide a diagnosis for thyroid problems.

Nonetheless, the root of the problem is not addressed. A functional model examines underlying causes to prevent further problems and reverse existing problems rather than treating symptoms.

Of course, I look forward to a time when the medical and functional models combine for seamless and effective patient care. Both have many benefits, but together they could provide targeted, optimized care and recovery.

Inspired by Mark A. Scott D.C