The thyroid gland is a small but mighty hormonal powerhouse. We usually think of the thyroid being related to energy and metabolism and while that’s certainly true, every cell in our body needs thyroid hormones. This means that low thyroid function can affect almost any body system and result in a long list of symptoms.
If your thyroid isn’t working, nothing else seems to matter!
Symptoms of thyroid dysfunction may include:
- Fatigue, weight gain, constipation
- Low body temperature
- Low mood, depression, anxiety
- Muscle aches or joint pain
- Brain fog, poor memory
- Changes in hair and/or skin
- Other conditions related to hypothyroidism such as high cholesterol, depression, PCOS, menstrual changes, and chronic pain
“1 in 10 women in North America have a thyroid condition. Over 50% of them go undiagnosed”
Commonly seen thyroid conditions include:
- Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (the most common cause of low thyroid function)
- Subclinical Hypothyroidism (you have symptoms but your lab tests are “normal”)
- Graves’ disease
- Thyroid Nodules
- Post-partum Thyroiditis
As Naturopathic Doctors our goal is to get to the root of your health concern. For thyroid conditions this may mean exploring and addressing:
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Autoimmune Conditions (Hashimoto’s or Graves Disease)
- Diet, gut health, and/or food sensitivities
- The effects of chronic stress
- And more
Thyroid Treatments may include
- Full assessment of your thyroid hormones (read our blog post about this here)
- Providing specific vitamins and minerals for thyroid hormone production and supporting autoimmunity
- Standardized herbal extracts
- Investigation of lifestyle and dietary factors that affect thyroid function
- Use of desiccated thyroid or working with your current medication
For More Information Click Here to Download Your Free Copy of “Decode Your Thyroid”
