HYPOTHYROIDISM
by Dr. Heather Herington, ND, DHANP

Natural medicine works well with people suffering hypothyroidism, the medical term for a sluggish thyroid.

The thyroid gland supports nearly every system in the body hence its name, the master regulator. It affects heart rate, lung function, blood processes, bone growth, carbohydrate, fat, and protein breakdown.

The thyroid acts through its hormones. By a delicate balance, these ensure normal growth and development of the brain, the immune system and reproductive system among others. Having too much or too little thyroid hormone can cause goiter, developmental problems, and other health issues, mild to severe.

In Hypothyroidism there is not enough thyroid hormone and the thyroid gland becomes sluggish. The list of symptoms is long— a consistent drop in energy or extreme fatigue is, a struggle to lose weight, puffy face, dry skin, brittle nails, hair loss, low sex drive, constipation, elevated LDL cholesterol, cold sores, boils, bloating, feeling cold, weight gain for no apparent reason etc.

There are many causes to this condition—both internal (nutrient deficiency and/or psychological) and external (toxins)—which is why a holistic view to get to the root of the problem is so important.

To understand more fully let us look at the hormones the thyroid produces: Made from the amino acid, tyrosine, and from the element, iodine these hormone pair up as either T 3 or T 4. The most active is T3 (triiodothyroniine, 3 iodines to one amino acid) while the most abundant is T4 (thyroxine, 4 iodines to one amino acid).

Once these hormones are released into the bloodstream they target cells all over the body. Inside these cells, enzymes remove one of thyroxine’s four iodine atoms creating the highly active T3. (The reason many people feel better on Armor or natural thyroid over Synthroid or synthetic thyroid is that the former has both T3 and T4.)

Iodine insufficiency leads the list of causes of Hypothyroidism. Iodine comes from seafood, seaweeds, dairy, eggs and iodized salt. (The US does not iodize salt as is done in Canada). Vegans therefore are especially susceptible to deficiency, as most people don’t have an appetite for seaweeds. (It does come in drops and capsules)

Often if someone has grown up on the coast or an area with high iodine and has moved away and no longer eats fish or takes that dreaded cod liver oil—Nordic Naturals is a company that makes a very tasty cod liver oil very tasty—a problem will develop due to a relative loss.

Other considerations include adequate Vitamin D levels (preferably from the sun but gel capsules will work); foods naturally high in B vitamins and selenium like whole grains, nuts, and seeds; and folic acid from raw green leafy veggies. A trace mineral is a good idea as well due to the modern day tragedy of depleted soils.

Another critical factor in proper thyroid functioning are environmental toxins. Heavy metals and organophosphates all can play a role. As well, radiation exposure (especially as a child), and taking certain drugs need to be considered. (For more on this go to www.ryandrum.com, he explains the hazards of thyroid disrupters as well as the functions of the thyroid beautifully.)

One other vital ingredient in a well functioning thyroid gland is the fact many women have suppressed their unique voice—their inherent power. By midlife the thyroid, fed up with this negative accumulation, starts to shut down (or goes on overdrive to eventually shut down).

The thyroid represents communication. Don’t minimize this cause of low thyroid. Make sure to deal with any unresolved emotional issues before your body forces you to. Move toward balance with baby steps if need be.

Only after a good health plan (including the appropriate labs) with the physical and the psychological taken into consideration do I consider prescribing even natural thyroid replacement. This is because when we give our selves—our bodies and our minds—the essential ingredients to heal we usually do.

I quote NATO scholar, Dr Ryan Drum, PhD, my friend and favorite medical botanist:

“Please stop blaming the thyroid gland for thyroid dysfunction…We make our thyroids sick, not the other way around. A thyroid gland is at the mercy of its host human for food, shelter, and a thyrosupportive environment…Please engage the thyroid gland as an obligate ally rather than a mass of misbehaving errant tissue, which must be disciplined with medications, radiation ablation, or surgical removal. The thyroid is probably doing its best to respond to events and demands.”