By Lindsay Kluge

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September 9, 2020

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Thyroid health is one of the many areas that is supported by the naturopathic doctors here at Richmond Natural Medicine. Whether you have been diagnosed with an existing thyroid condition or are suspecting a possible thyroid imbalance, there are plenty of questions to ask and lab work to assess to further your knowledge about how to approach a personalized solution for you. The naturopathic approach to thyroid health can involve many different

The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck, and is an integral part of our complicated endocrine system. It plays a role in regulating our metabolism, controlling our body temperature, and supporting the balance of other hormones throughout our body. It is affected by things such as stress (acute and chronic), our sleep cycle, our environments, our diet, and also our genetic predisposition. Common thyroid conditions include hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid), and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (an autoimmune condition that impacts the thyroid gland). In each case, it is important to dig deeper and assess the cause of the imbalance and determine appropriate short and long term solutions.

Read More: Condition We Support: Thyroid 

The Naturopathic Approach to Thyroid Health

Dr. Vanessa Ferreira shares her expertise on approaching thyroid health with her patients:

“When it comes to the thyroid, there are a lot of factors that affect it. We need to look at stress, diet and lifestyle, sex hormones, nutrient and cofactor deficiencies, adrenal function, chronic disease, and a possible autoimmunity factor. In order to address the possible underlying cause of an over or underactive thyroid, we need to fully understand what factors might need improvement and each case is unique to each individual. Through supplementation, diet, and lifestyle, herbs, and stress management, we can get the thyroid to wake up and start producing it’s hormones more appropriately.

Oftentimes patients will present with autoimmune thyroid conditions, such as Hashimoto’s, and while many will say there is nothing that can be done about the autoimmune aspect of thyroid disease, I’ve done otherwise. When it comes to hormones and autoimmunity, diet and lifestyle changes are key! With just this simple change, I’ve seen thyroid autoimmunity markers drastically improve, and finally, patients are able to feel like themselves again. Diet and lifestyle changes are no easy task, but as a naturopathic doctor, I work with and support my patients every step of the way so they don’t feel lost along their health journey.”

What Symptoms May Indicate a Thyroid Imbalance?

Because all hormones communicate with one another and the thyroid hormone acts on all body tissues, we can see body-wide symptoms. Many symptoms of thyroid imbalance are also common symptoms of other things, thus many people can go years with an undiagnosed thyroid condition. Things such as fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, anxiety, and mood swings are common to experience. Below is a breakdown of common symptoms for both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism:

Hypothyroid	Hyperthyroid
Fatigue, lack of energy	Anxiety
Depression, low mood, lack of motivation	Palpitations
Weight Gain or difficulty losing weight	Restlessness
Hair Loss	Irritability
Dry Skin	Insomnia
Brittle Nails	Weight loss
Constipation	Increased sweating
Low basal body temperature	Trembling
Intolerance to cold temperature	Intolerance to warm temperature
Brain Fog	Exophthalmos – protruding eyes
Goiter	Goiter

 

Therefore, treatment is highly dependent on the signs and symptoms, lab values, and further workup of other potential endocrine issues. Your naturopathic doctor will best be able to evaluate your whole picture to address the root cause of your thyroid imbalance.  Every case is different and the individualized approach is imperative to healing.

Getting Help With Thyroid Issues With The Naturopathic Approach

Do you need support or have questions about your own thyroid health? We would love to connect you with one of our naturopathic doctors and support you on your health education journey. Call or email us to schedule an appointment today.

Learn More: Individualized Requirements for Hypothyroidism

Learn More: Assessment of Thyroid Function: Towards an Integrate Clinical Approach