How Does Naturopathy Works for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?
What is Hashimoto Hypothyroidism?
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, also known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, is an autoimmune condition characterized by chronic inflammation and damage to the thyroid gland. This is a disorder that your body's immune system mistakenly identifies your own thyroid gland as an enemy and produces antibodies against it, to attack and eventually leads to low function of your thyroid gland. As a result, the thyroid gland becomes inflamed and gradually lose its ability to produce enough thyroid hormones, ending up to hypothyroidism. The decreased production of thyroid hormones has huge negative impact on the normal functioning of your different bodily processes, including glucose metabolism, fat metabolism, energy production, hormone regulation and mood stability.
Your health care provider diagnose Hashimoto's hypothyroidism through blood tests for functional thyroid test, and measuring levels of thyroid specific auto-antibodies such as anti-peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO Ab) and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (Anti-TBG Ab). Conventional treatment typically involves lifelong hormone replacement therapy with synthetic thyroid hormone to restore and maintain optimal thyroid hormone levels. However, Naturopathy has a holistic perspective and naturopathic approach is finding the root causes of disorder in order to improving Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Then, by focusing on supporting the body's natural healing abilities and addressing the underlying causes of the condition, there might be a chance that you can improve your thyroid function. Naturopathic doctors tend to collaborate with your conventional health care provider to serve you better in managing your Hashimoto hypothyroidism. Regular monitoring and management are essential to prevent complications and promote overall well-being.
What are the Clinical Presentation and Symptoms of Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism?
Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism usually progress slowly and may go unnoticed for years in its early stages. Alongside the decline in thyroid hormone levels, you may experience a variety of symptoms related to the slowed metabolic rate due to low function characteristic of Hypothyroidism. Common symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, depression, and menstrual irregularities in women and impotence in men. Some individuals may also have an enlarged thyroid gland, known as a goiter. Noteworthy that the presentation and severity of symptoms may vary widely among individuals and not everyone has all the symptoms written in the book. During my decades of practice I have seen many individuals with subtle hypothyroidism which were absolutely asymptomatic and their hypothyroid status was discovered only after a holistic blood test were done for them.
How To Diagnose and Manage the Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism?
The diagnosis of Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism is made based on clinical symptoms, physical examination findings, and laboratory tests. Blood tests measuring TSH alone is the first step and most of the time is not enough. Testing other components such as T4, FT4. T3 rT3, and thyroid Auto-antibodies (TPOAb, TGAb) are commonly used. Simply said, the presence of thyroid antibodies confirms the autoimmune nature of the condition.
Management of Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism in conventional medicine typically involves lifelong hormone replacement therapy with synthetic thyroid hormone (levothyroxine) to normalize thyroid hormone levels in blood. As I mentioned before, Naturopathic doctors can help, but with different perspective. We offer a holistic approach for improving Hashimoto's thyroiditis, by focusing on supporting the body's natural healing abilities and addressing the underlying causes of the condition. Our modalities include looking into your diet and tweak it to serve better for a healthy thyroid, lifestyle curated for an anti-inflammatory life, exercise to improve thyroid function, use of herbs and nutritional supplements to fulfil your bodily deficiencies, and acupuncture to calm your mind and improve movement of vital force in your body are highlights of many modalities that we use to help with your thyroid function.
It's worth noting that while levothyroxine effectively replaces the deficient thyroid hormones in Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, it does not address the underlying autoimmune process. Therefore, naturopathic supportive measures, such as stress reduction, dietary modifications, and addressing nutrient deficiencies, may be considered as part of a comprehensive approach to managing the autoimmune component of Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism.
Collaborative care between endocrinologists, primary healthcare providers and naturopaths can help individuals with Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism achieve optimal thyroid function and overall well-being. Regular monitoring of TSH and thyroid hormone levels is essential to ensure optimal treatment and to adjust treatment plan as you evolve.
How naturopathy can help improve Hashimoto's thyroiditis?
Naturopathy offers a holistic approach to improving Hashimoto's thyroiditis, focusing on supporting the body's natural healing abilities and addressing the underlying causes of the condition.
Nutritional Support: Naturopathic doctors emphasize on the importance of a nutrient-dense diet to support thyroid health. They may recommend an anti-inflammatory diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Specific nutrients like selenium, zinc, and iodine (in appropriate doses) play a vital role in thyroid function. Your naturopathic doctor after evaluating level of each of them may recommend you target doses to help optimum function of the remaining thyroid. Naturopaths may also advise reducing or eliminating foods that may trigger inflammation or exacerbate autoimmune responses, such as gluten or dairy, based on individual sensitivities.
Balancing your Immune System: Your Naturopathic doctor aims to modulate the immune system to reduce inflammation and halt the autoimmune attack on the thyroid. We may suggest herbal remedies and supplements with immune-modulating properties, such as Ashwagandha, Curcumin, or medicinal mushroom. These substances have been studied for their potential to regulate immune responses and reduce inflammation associated with autoimmune conditions.
Stress Management: Stress has a huge negative impact on immune function. It accelerate the progression of hypothyroidism and worsen Hashimoto's symptoms. Naturopathic doctors emphasize on stress reduction techniques and may recommend stress management practices, such as mindfulness meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises. These measures help regulate the stress response and promote a sense of calm and relaxation, which will support immune balance and overall well-being.
Gut Health Optimization: Your Gut is your powerhouse! Naturopathic doctors recognize the gut-thyroid connection and the role of gut health in autoimmune conditions including Hashimoto’s. We may focus on optimizing gut function through dietary interventions, probiotic supplementation, and addressing any underlying digestive issues. The purpose of working on Gut health for your naturopathic doctor is that by supporting a healthy gut microbiome and reducing gut inflammation, the overall immune function may improve, leading to reduced autoimmune response in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Detoxification and Environmental Considerations: Naturopaths may assess and address environmental factors that could contribute to Hashimoto's or worsen its symptoms. This includes reducing exposure to toxins, heavy metals, end product of unhealthy food you consume or drink, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals that may impact thyroid function and immune balance. Detoxification protocols, such as targeted dietary interventions, liver support, and lifestyle modifications, may be recommended to support the body's natural detoxification processes.
Individualized Treatment and Monitoring: Naturopathic care for Hashimoto's thyroiditis is highly individualized. Naturopaths assess each patient's unique health history, symptoms, and lab results to create personalized treatment plans. Regular monitoring of thyroid function, autoimmune markers, and symptom progression helps naturopaths track progress and adjust treatments as necessary.
Natalie a 42-year-old marketing manager who leads a busy and demanding lifestyle came to my office asking help. She has had unexplained weight gain, recent onset fatigue, and now is noticing that she has difficulty concentrating during the past several months. Despite her efforts to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly, she has struggled to lose weight and feels constantly exhausted. Natalie’s primary care physician diagnosed her with Hashimoto's thyroiditis based on her symptoms, elevated TSH levels, and positive thyroid antibody test results.
Natalie is seeking an integrative and holistic approach to manage her recently diagnosed Hashimoto's thyroiditis. She is interested in exploring naturopathic treatments that go beyond synthetic hormone replacement therapy and focus on addressing the root causes of her condition. She seeks individualized approach and support to optimize her thyroid function, manage her symptoms, and regain control over her health and well-being.
It is important to note that collaboration between a naturopathic doctor and a primary care physician or endocrinologist ensures comprehensive care and appropriate monitoring of thyroid function and hormone levels. Working together, healthcare providers can create an integrative approach that addresses the underlying causes of Hashimoto's thyroiditis while optimizing thyroid health and overall well-being of the patient.
What will happen when you come for a visit?
The first visit that we call history taking can be in-person or virtual (phone or video). During 60-90 minutes which is only conversational, we go over your health history while focusing on your main concerns to get a holistic understanding of your condition. In the second visit which is 30-40 minutes in-person visit we do a complete whole body physical examination. Either in first visit or in the second visit we will provide a lab requisition to you. In your third visit which is usually few days after receiving your lab result we review the result of lab exam with you and setup a treatment plan for you.
The lab exam and blood draw are done by a lab technician in a Lifelabs center of your choice.
To book your initial appointment you can call at 416-249-4567 or send an email to info@drmanesh.ca.
* Disclaimer: The information in this article is property of Dr. Masoumeh Shayesteh Manesh, Naturopathic Doctor and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases or promote any products or services mentioned on this website.
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