Save My Thyroid: Healing Tips for Hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto's

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a topic that has gained a lot of attention in recent years. Unfortunately, because of the lag time between research findings making their way into clinical practices, many gastroenterologists are still unfamiliar with SIBO, leaving patients without the care they need. SIBO is characterized by excessive bacteria in the small intestines, and it can be...

Mindset is extremely important when trying to regain your health. In my practice, I’ve seen how mindset impacts the healing journeys of people dealing with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition, and I believe that your chances of recovery will be greater if you have a positive mindset. Today I’m sharing why mindset matters for your health outcomes and how you can start to incorporate small cha...

If you've researched thyroid health, you've heard a lot about iodine. But while some people swear by it, others warn against it, and ultimately there’s a lot of confusion about whether those with thyroid conditions should supplement with iodine or avoid it altogether. Iodine is an essential mineral that plays a vital role in thyroid hormone production, metabolism, and more. At the same t...

High blood calcium levels, known as hypercalcemia, can negatively affect bone health and the cardiovascular system and can also lead to the formation of kidney stones. In persons with hyperthyroidism, it’s common to see blood calcium levels on the higher end of normal. The good news is that when these higher levels are related to hyperthyroidism, they usually normalize once thyroid hormone levels...

“Addressing adrenal dysfunction is a key component to healing when you have thyroid issues.” - Dr. Izabella Wentz If you’re struggling with brain fog, fatigue, mood issues, anxiety, or trouble sleeping, know that you’re not alone, and you don’t have to feel like this forever. Like many others, you might be experiencing adrenal dysfunction, and the good news is there’s a targeted approach you can u...

Cholesterol often gets a bad rap, but it’s integral to several bodily functions, from hormone synthesis to digestion. For people with thyroid conditions, hypothyroidism is often associated with elevated total cholesterol and LDL, and hyperthyroidism is typically associated with lower cholesterol and LDL. In these cases, balancing your thyroid hormone levels usually improves your lipid panel. Today...

Most people with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition will benefit from a closer look at the foundations of thyroid autoimmunity. With all the information available from Dr. Google, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Without a personalized approach, each recommendation seems to contradict the last one, leaving you afraid. You don’t need to get bogged down by generalized recommendations, expensive...

Oxalates are small molecules that have the ability to form crystals. These crystals can, in turn, deposit in different areas of the body, including the thyroid gland, and impair thyroid function. Outside of the impact on thyroid health, oxalates can deposit in areas such as the kidneys, bones, brain, skin, and nervous tissue and cause symptoms including muscle and joint pain and even fibromyalgia-...

The lymphatic system is crucial in keeping our bodies healthy by helping eliminate waste products. Without a pump, it's essential to support your lymphatic system by keeping it moving, and castor oil packs are a great way to do just that. For centuries, castor oil packs have been used as a natural therapy on various parts of the body, from the liver to the abdomen, joints, and thyroid. The pr...

Heavy metals and other environmental toxins can harm thyroid health. But how dangerous are they? How long does it take to detox? When should you think about detoxing with an experienced practitioner? Today I’m joined by the Detox Doc, Dr. Wendie Trubow, to answer listener questions about heavy metal toxicity, detox protocols, how to find the right provider, and more. Dr. Wendie is a functional hea...

Whether it’s Graves’, Hashimoto’s, or multiple sclerosis, when you have an autoimmune condition, your body suffers from chronic inflammation. Our food supply has many inflammatory triggers, and everybody has a unique tolerance threshold regarding how many toxins they can manage while maintaining a healthy appearance. Once you pass that threshold, you enter into autoimmunity, and it takes a lot of...

Lemon balm is a herb used throughout history for treating many ailments. In my practice, I commonly recommend lemon balm for anxiety and sleep problems, but based on the research, there are potential benefits for those with hyperthyroidism. Before diving in, let me share a bit about my experience with this herb. When I was dealing with Graves’ disease, I didn't take lemon balm simply because...

Microbial diversity is the holy grail of gut health, and a healthy gut is essential for achieving optimal health. Unfortunately, in our modern world, we’re losing gut diversity from an early age when our kids are exposed to multiple rounds of unnecessary antibiotics. In today’s interview, Functional Medicine-Certified Practitioner Dr. Vincent Padre joins me for a comprehensive chat about the gut a...

Should you avoid taking supplements before doing thyroid testing? What are the most effective ways to maintain healthy thyroid function? Can Hashimoto’s thyroiditis cause granuloma annulare? How can you regain healthy muscle mass? In this Q&A episode, I’m doing things differently and answering questions from multiple community members. I plan to do similar episodes every couple of months, so p...

“Living well is the best medicine.” - Dr. Deb Matthew Testosterone is crucial in both men and women for physical health, sexual function, mood, motivation, and more. Many people who feel "off" or "not like themselves" may be experiencing a testosterone imbalance but may be misdiagnosed with depression and prescribed medication that does not address the root cause. Today I’m joi...

While the thyroid gland can regenerate, it's a slow process. Part of the problem with thyroid gland regeneration is that, in most cases, people aren’t removing the underlying factor causing the damage. Without addressing these autoimmune issues, significant damage will occur over time. Today I’m sharing what we know about thyroid gland regeneration, including a few journal articles exploring...

Almost all of us are walking around with nutrient shortfalls. In the health and wellness community, we define diets based on what foods they consider good or bad. The problem is that it often leads to an increasingly restrictive approach focused on avoidance and moral judgments instead of nutrition. Recognizing these issues, today’s guest Dr. Sarah Ballantyne decided to create a resource that woul...

Many people with Grave’s disease patients have been told that their thyroid gland will eventually burn out and they’ll become hypothyroid. Although this is a common concern, no quality research supports thyroid burnout. Today I’m sharing common misconceptions about thyroid burnout and the real reasons some people with hyperthyroidism become hypothyroid. In this episode, you’ll learn: - What some w...

Your environment plays a central role in your health, and immune dysfunction is at play alongside many conditions. An allergy is an overreaction of your immune system to something in your environment, and persistent infections like Lyme tend to make your immune system hypersensitive to your world. Unfortunately, we still don’t fully understand what makes some people sensitive to particular allerge...

If you have a child or teenager with hyperthyroidism or Hashimoto’s, there is hope to restore their health. Graves' disease is the most frequent cause of hyperthyroidism in children, and as an adult with a thyroid condition, there’s an increased risk that your child will develop a thyroid condition. While it isn’t common, there are unique challenges that we have to consider when it comes to c...

Probiotics are one of the most common supplements I recommend to patients. With their role in improving gut health and suppressing autoimmunity, probiotics can be an important supporting tool for your thyroid healing journey. Although fermented foods are an excellent dietary source of probiotics, most people don’t eat enough to rely on diet alone. That’s where a high-quality probiotic supplement c...

When it comes to diet and autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Graves’ and Hashimotos, you hear a lot about avoiding gluten. What surprises many patients is that we also often recommend avoiding dairy. While dairy is associated with certain health benefits, there are also potentially negative consequences on your health. Today I’m sharing the top reasons I recommend avoiding dairy and what resear...

With the wide range of tests available, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the options. Our approach at Natural Endocrine Solutions is to prioritize the tests that best inform our treatment plans. Depending on a patient’s budget, that could look like several baseline and follow-up tests, while others may only choose one or two. Whether we’re doing comprehensive or conservative testing, it’s essent...

Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the tissues of the eyes. While supplementation can be very helpful in treating thyroid eye disease, the bigger goal should be to find and remove your triggers. The best results come from supplementation alongside diet and lifestyle changes such as eating an anti-inflammatory diet and reducing stress and your toxic...

There’s an entire constellation of healing opportunities waiting to be addressed once we know where to look. While conventional doctors are often hyper-focused on symptom treatment, functional medicine zooms in on treating the root causes of the symptoms we experience. Similarly, functional testing is about getting information on interconnected body systems that collectively contribute to our symp...