Working on Improving the Thyroid

The thyroid sits at the base of the neck and produces T4 and T3 (thyroxine and triiodothyronine) which are released when triggered by precursor hormones from the brain (TSH). These hormones circulate around your body to almost every cell and trigger changes at the cellular level (production of enzymes, increase energy, control weight, and other functions).

Hashimotos is an autoimmune disease affecting the thyroid gland (gradually destroying it). Eventually, the thyroid may enlarge, and a painless goiter may appear. Some people develop hypothyroidism (underachieve thyroid) and may experience weight gain, fatigue, constipation, depression, hair loss, and general pain.

Hashimotos and thyroid issues don’t just happen in isolation. It also doesn’t just affect a single system either. There is typically a great deal of inflammation in the body, and while working on the thyroid, it’s important to also pay attention to the liver and liver health.

It is possible to heal the thyroid, but it’s an investment. It’s also important to know that we’re not talking about treating it (with synthetic drugs or even supplements). It is possible for your body to heal. Because of this, this shouldn’t be a protocol that you have to be on for the rest of your life. 

A note on T3 and T4 supplementation: it doesn’t address a toxic liver or hormonal axis as a whole. These supplements keep the body from producing their own T3 and T4, which the body needs to be able to do.

There are some things to note in working on healing:

  • You are addressing the entire hormonal axis, the gut, and the liver.
  • While it may be a financial investment, it is still far less expensive than medication, or being on medication for the rest of your life.

The following ideas and ingredients are ideas of what has helped many others who have worked through healing their thyroid. When possible, I have given specific supplements and brands that I like. As for how much you should take, that would be something that you should do through muscle testing. I can teach you how to do that to see how much you need on a daily basis. It will change, as some days you may need more depending on food and stress, and some days could be less.

Acemannan

Betalains

  • Found in beet root powder
  • Benefits: works on combatting inflammation,  detoxing the liver, high in antioxidants, balance blood sugar, increase blood flow, brain & memory support
  • As the body is trying to clear out toxins, betalains are highly beneficial
  • Suggestion for brand: Limitless from Alovéa (removes sugars from beet)

Warming up of the organs

  • Thyroid is a weak energy point, and a lot of emotions could be stored there. This creates the feeling of being frozen and not being able to speak openly
  • Suggestion for products: Muscle testing to identify the correct combination of homeopathics, Bach flower essences, vibrational energy (tuning forks, singing bowls, etc), and essential oils. These can target the thyroid, blood system, cortisol levels, and soothing hormonal axis

Hormonal Balancing

  • Hormones are not just part of the reproductive system, but our chemical messengers
  • The Hormonal Axis (glands that make up the endocrine system) includes the HPA (hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal) and OAT (ovarian-adrenal-thyroid) that regulate mood, reproduction, metabolism, growth, and response to stimuli
  • Suggestion for product: Balance from Alovéa, among other options
  • Most people who have Hashimoto’s or thyroid issue also deficient in progesterone as well
  • Diosgenin (found naturally in wild yam) is a precursor for progesterone and works on entire hormonal axis

Detoxing from heavy metals & pesticides

Removing inflammatory foods

  • Grain/gluten
  • Dairy
  • Sugar
  • Artificial ingredients (dyes, preservatives)
  • Nut oils

Adding in good foods

  • Iodine & Omega-3 fatty acids for the production of thyroid hormones
  • Selenium for converting the inactive T4 to the active T3
  • Vitamins A, D, and Zinc for binding T3 to the receptor on the nucleus & switching it on
  • Great options: seaweed, sea vegetables, fish (especially sardines and salmon), dandelion, mustard, dark leafy greens, smelt, herring, scallops, Brazil nuts (all should be clean options)

Focus on stress-relieving options

  • Military cadets in training who were subjected to intense stress had higher levels of cortisol, higher inflammation levels, reduced testosterone, higher TSH, and very low T3
  • Treating the thyroid without dealing with chronic stress can precipitate more problems.
  • Adrenal gland exhaustion occurs when your adrenal glands are unable to keep up with the physiological needs created by stress. Focus on adaptogenic herbs for the adrenal glands if needed (ginseng, rhodora, or Siberian ginseng)

The Emotional Component

  • While I may sound like a broken record, there may be an underlying emotional component, and working through trapped emotions may be highly beneficial in creating balance with the thyroid.