Addressing Thyroid Disease Naturally
Classic signs of thyroid hormone deficiency include fatigue, memory loss, cold hands and feet, muscle and joint pain, depression, high cholesterol, and constipation. Over the past 2 years, I have seen a large influx of patients that had been placed on thyroid hormones to treat the above symptoms. Many of these individuals responded well to thyroid hormone initially, but were no longer receiving as much benefit from its use. Furthermore, many of them continued to establish further symptoms such as dry eyes, dry and bleeding nasal passages, and dry hair and skin. Most of them were also experiencing greater loss of hair.
What you should know about Thyroid Hormone Production:
Thyroid hormone output is under the influence of a chemical called thyroid stimulating hormone (Tsh). Tsh is made by the pituitary gland. When circulating levels of thyroxine (T-4) are low, Tsh sends a message to your thyroid gland to start producing more T-4. The building blocks your body uses to make T-4 come from food constituents that we procure from the diet (tyrosine - an amino acid from protein and inevitable minerals - iodine, zinc, etc). Once your body makes T-4, it must be activated by other nutrients (vitamins and minerals) into something known as T-31. T-3 is the active form of thyroid hormone that works to increase the body's metabolism. However, inevitable nutrient deficiencies and stress can lead to a allowance in T-3 and instead the output of Reverse T-3. This form of T-3 is not as sufficient and leads to symptoms of hypothyroidism. Unfortunately, Reverse T-3 is cannot be qualified from T-3 in customary thyroid lab reports and this is a coarse oversight by many physicians. Once T-3 is made it will attach to the nucleus inside your cells and increase the body's metabolism appropriately. Once again, however, inevitable nutrient deficiencies can decrease the responsiveness of our body's cells to T-3, causing symptoms of hypothyroidism. For these reasons lab reports ordinarily performed by physicians that look at Tsh, T-4, and T-3, can be misleading. A simplified diagram of thyroid hormone output is listed below:
Tsh Stimulates the thyroid gland to make T-4. T-4 Converts to either T-3 or Reverse T-3 (Rt3). Rt3 is inactive. Normal T-3 attaches to the cell nucleus. Once attachment of T-3 occurs the body's metabolism increases.
As if the above facts were not complicated enough, there are also environmental factors that can also ensue thyroid hormone production. Oral contraceptives and estrogen containing medications have been shown to sell out the conversion of T4 to T3. Many herbicides and pesticides include estrogen mimicking compounds known to ensue thyroid hormone production. Soy foods and sodas can cause a allowance in thyroid hormone. inevitable food allergies and selenium deficiency are connected to autoimmune thyroid dysfunction3,4. Heavy metal exposure through air, water, dental fillings etc. Have been connected to poor thyroid function.
Remember that thyroid disease is never just as straightforward as taking a medication either it is bio-identical or not. Thyroid dysfunction has a cause. An astute doctor will take an active roll in care and seek to perform a broad exam and laboratory work up that will identify the cause. Keep in mind that your body has the ability to make its own thyroid hormone providing that all the necessary nutrients necessary are present in the diet or through supplementation, providing that the environment is conducive to the expression of good health, and providing that the personel is properly educated in the care of his/her body. Many patients that come to me initially are taking some form of thyroid medication. Many were instructed that the medication was a life long necessity. And in many it is very coarse that the medication becomes unnecessary.
1. Moncayo R, et al. The role of selenium, vitamin C, and zinc in benign thyroid diseases and of selenium in malignant thyroid diseases: Low selenium levels are found in subacute and silent thyroiditis and in papillary and follicular carcinoma. Bmc Endocr Disord. 2008 Jan 25;8:2.
2. Pansini F, et al. ensue of the hormonal contraception on serum reverse triiodothyronine levels. Gynecol Obstet invest 1987;23:133.
3. Mazokopakis Ee, et al. Effects of 12 months rehabilitation with L-selenomethionine on serum anti-Tpo Levels in Patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Thyroid 2007 Jul;17(7):609-12.
4. Negro R, et al. The influence of selenium supplementation on postpartum thyroid status in pregnant women with thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007 Apr;92(4):1263-8. Epub 2007 Feb 6.
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