Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland, at the front of your neck, doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone or when your body fails to use thyroid hormone efficiently. There are several types of hypothyroidism. The most common is Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the thyroid gland. The disease affects both sexes and all ages, but is most common in women over age 50. Because the thyroid gland is involved in regulating metabolism, low thyroid levels cause your body to slow down and can affect everything from appetite to body temperature. Left untreated, hypothyroidism can cause serious health complications.
The various forms of hypothyroidism have different causes. In Hashimoto's thyroiditis, antibodies in the blood mistakenly attack the thyroid gland and start to destroy it. Post-therapeutic hypothyroidism occurs when treatment for hyperthyroidism leaves the thyroid unable to produce enough thyroid hormone. And hypothyroidism with goiter results when your diet lacks iodine. The addition of iodine to salt in the developed world has made this rare, though it still happens in undeveloped countries.
Your health care provider will draw blood to measure levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is produced by the pituitary gland. When levels of thyroid hormones are low, the body produces more TSH in an effort to increase production of thyroid hormones. Your doctor may also test for levels of T4, one of the hormones produced by the thyroid.
Natural medicine practitioners often take a different view of laboratory analysis of thyroid hormone. Many naturally oriented physicians pay particular attention to levels of T3 hormone. T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone, which comes from the body's conversion of T4. If you are unable to convert T4 to T3, your laboratory tests for T4 may be normal, but you still may experience all the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Talk to your doctor about including T3 laboratory tests in the treatment of your hypothyroidism.
Your health care provider will prescribe drugs that you will take daily. Health care providers have two alternatives for drug treatment, including synthetic thyroid hormone and dried animal thyroid hormone. The provider will want to adjust your dose over a period of several weeks, after regular blood tests to check the amount of thyroid hormone in your blood.
Nutrition and herbs can be useful as supporting therapies, but they cannot replace conventional treatment.
Following these nutritional tips may help reduce symptoms:
You may address nutritional deficiencies with the following supplements:
Herbs are generally a safe way to strengthen and tone the body's systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your health care provider to get your problem diagnosed before starting any treatment. You may use herbs may as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). People with a history of alcoholism should not take tinctures. Unless otherwise indicated, make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 - 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 - 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 - 4 cups per day. You may use tinctures singly or in combination as noted.
Homeopathy may be useful as a supportive therapy.
Contrast hydrotherapy (hot and cold applications) to the neck and throat may stimulate thyroid function. Alternate 3 minutes hot with 1 minute cold. Repeat three times for one set. Do two to three sets per day.
Acupuncture may be helpful in correcting hormonal imbalances, including thyroid disorders.
Therapeutic massage can relieve stress and improve circulation.
After you start on thyroid hormone replacement therapy, your provider will want you to have frequent checkups to monitor its effectiveness.
Thyroid - underactive
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