Thyroid Imbalances

Thyroid disorders, especially hypothyroidism symptoms, can very much look like and be misdiagnosed for chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, insomnia, bipolar, and depression. As with all major organs in our bodies, it is imperative that we maintain the proper level of nutrients necessary to ensure optimum performance for good health. If you are ready to explore your thyroid issues from an integrative, holistic, and functional medicine perspective, you’re in the right place.

Have you gone to the doctor to get help for being tired or anxious and are given Prozac? Well, you are not deficient in Prozac – that is not a cure. Or have you gone in with weight gain and are told to diet, even though you are eating green, lean, and clean already? We see this happen to women all the time. Often times doctors don’t dig deep enough to find the proper imbalance.

 Let’s talk a little about the thyroid gland – The thyroid gets its name from the Greek word for “shield”, after the shape of the thyroid cartilage. What exactly is the thyroid gland? It is the largest gland in endocrine system that makes T3 and T4 by the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), which is produced by the pituitary gland.

Essentially, the thyroid gland controls how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins, and controls how sensitive the body should be to other hormones. 

The thyroid gland is also a big part of your immune system. If someone is sick all the time, we look at the thyroid for hypothyroidism. The thyroid is the body’s main storage site for iodine. Principally known for its job in proper metabolism and thyroid function, iodine is also necessary for a healthy immune system and has many therapeutic benefits including antibacterial, anti-parasitic, antiviral, and anticancer properties.

Thyroid Testing

Have you gotten your thyroid tested recently? Your test results may look normal while on a thyroid medication, suggesting the hypothyroidism is no longer showing up. But you still have the symptoms. When you are told your tests look ‘normal’, often times it’s because only the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is run. TSH is only a small piece to the thyroid puzzle. It does NOT give the full picture. And many synthetic thyroid medications can make the TSH look normal. But you are finding you are still looking at every diet and weight loss program out there because a normal TSH did not help with weight gain problems?

Digging a little deeper and running a more specific thorough series testing is often needed to find the correct starting point for the sequence of care needed. The thyroid testing we run in our Austin, Texas office includes a thorough Thyroid Panel.

We look for the following thyroid-related levels:

• Free T4
• T3
• T4 Uptake
• Thyroid antibodies

Looking at the different forms of T3 and T4 will give us much more information than a conventional test. It will tell us how much thyroid hormone you actually are producing and able to use for energy. Running just the TSH, really just tells us if the thyroid is being stimulated to produce T3 and T4 or not. To get the best healing results, you have to see the entire picture, not just one small piece. Thyroid imbalances are not like a common cold, they will not just go away.

 Signs and Symptoms you may have a Thyroid Imbalance:

• Fatigue/Lethargic

• Insomnia
• Can’t lose weight no matter how hard you try
• Weight Gain (especially in the face and arms)
• Puffiness around the face
• Cold Hands and Feet
• Hair Loss
• Loss of outer third of the eye brow
• The half moons on your finger nails are no longer visible
• Depression/Lack of motivation
• Sugar, Salt, and Carb Cravings

 Emotional Factors Seen in Thyroid Patients

Hashimoto’s Disease

Hashimoto’s Disease is an autoimmune response where an individual’s immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, altering its ability to produce the hormones necessary for regulating, or helping to regulate, some of the body’s most vital functions.  Some research shows that 90-95 percent of people with Hypothyroidism (low thyroid) also have Hashimoto’s Disease. Conventional testing doesn’t discover Hashimoto’s, because they see low thyroid markers and stop there. Knowing the cause behind a dysfunctional thyroid is important because proper treatment protocols are determined by it, and your thyroid issues COULD actually be an autoimmune response, not just a hormone imbalance.

Learn more about Hashimoto’s Disease.  

How to Increase Your Thyroid Hormone Naturally

By choosing natural hypothyroidism balance, you are taking the first step in the right direction to achieving this balance. Our recommended natural remedies for thyroid imbalance include natural B vitamins,  maintaining proper Calcium Magnesium ratios, and supplementing with Iodine, but only under the care of a doctor.

Many alternative medicine advocates also believe sweating exercises can help rid the body of harmful toxins and employ this technique in a total detoxification and cleansing program. As with many health conditions, lifestyle changes can work in conjunction with your doctor’s prescribed treatment, such as natural hormone balancing, to help manage many thyroid issues. Taking steps to reduce stress through meditation, prayer, exercise and adequate rest, as well as eating a healthy diet that may include limiting caffeine intake, and stopping smoking can reduce the severity of symptoms.