Do you have “thyroid problems”?
Thyroid function is key to overall health
Your thyroid is called the “master gland” for good reason! The thyroid gland plays a major role in regulating temperature, basal metabolic rate, and nearly every other tissue and system in the body. Thyroid conditions can affect digestion, the nervous system, heart health, the musculoskeletal system, reproduction and fertility, and skin. For both men and women, hypothyroid or hyperthyroid, autoimmune or not, medicated or not, thyroid health matters.
For many patients diagnosed with a thyroid condition, medication is not enough (or may not be an option until their condition gets worse). Symptom management, long-term healing, and prevention of related health concerns are common reasons patients seek out naturopathic care.
You’ve probably heard the terms “hypothyroidism” and “hyperthyroidism” before, but they sound nearly EXACTLY the same. Here is a brief comparison:
Symptoms of hypothyroid:
- Unexplained weight gain
- Fatigue
- Poor memory, depression
- Constipation
- Intolerance to cold
- Dry skin, hair, nails
- Hair loss, including outer edges of eyebrows
- Irregular or absent menstrual periods
- Edema, puffiness
Symptoms of hyperthyroid:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue and/or insomnia
- Anxiety, irritability, nervousness
- Heart palpitations
- Loose stools
- Intolerance to heat
- Sweating, flushing, moist skin
- Irregular and/or heavy menstrual periods
- Goiter, protruding eyes
I have experience with a range of thyroid conditions, including:
- Hypothyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hashimoto’s
- Graves’ disease
- Thyroid nodules
My approach to improving thyroid health
I LOVE working with patients on thyroid health! Naturopathic medicine has so much to offer depending on patient goals, such as managing symptoms, improving response to medication, preventing further thyroid damage, identifying underlying causes or contributors, or addressing autoimmunity.
First, we talk through the subjective information which includes current symptoms, history and treatments, and overall medical history and timeline. This subjective information helps me rule in or out possible contributors to your condition and identify relevant tests and/or treatments. In many cases, there are naturopathic therapies (diet, lifestyle, nutritional supplements, herbs, remedies) that can be applied immediately to ease symptoms and improve thyroid function.
Second, we review the objective information already available, such as relevant physical exams, testing you’ve already completed, and/or gather additional objective information via additional or more in-depth testing to identify your needs or rule in or out underlying causes or contributors. Although testing has limitations, it can be incredibly helpful to guide us toward appropriate treatment rather than waste time, money, and energy on trial and error.
The third part of my approach is to formulate a hypothesis from the subjective and objective information we have, treat according to this hypothesis, assess results, and adjust treatment as necessary. The end goals are:
- Reduce or relieve any symptoms as soon as possible
- Restore vital nutrients needed for thyroid function
- Address underlying causes and contributors
- Establish sustainable and health promoting habits
- Preserve functional thyroid tissue and/or optimize response to medication
In many cases, this can be achieved within just a few weeks or months. In more chronic and complex conditions it can take longer to thoroughly address underlying causes driving thyroid dysfunction. Each step of information gathering, treatment, reassessment, and adjustment yields important information to continue healing and achieve long-term improvement.
Video on Hashimoto’s disease:
Related Knowledge, Courses, and Training:
- Healing Hashimotos Physicians Training
- Herbs for Autoimmune Conditions
- Hashimoto’s: The Root Cause by Isabella Wentz, PharmD
- The Hashimoto’s Protocol by Isabella Wentz, PharmD
- Evidence Based Approach to Hashimoto’s Disease
- New Insights into Autoimmune Disorders
Helpful articles:
- Decoding Thyroid Testing
- 10 Tips for Thyroid Balance
- Maximize Thyroid Medication
- What is Hashimoto’s? (And how to find out if you have it)
- What Causes Hashimoto’s?
- Can you Heal Hashimoto’s?
Ready to work together?
Book a free 15 minute Meet and Greet consultation to learn more about me, Naturopathic Medicine, and find out if this is a good fit for you..