Many people with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition are skeptical of natural thyroid treatment methods, which is perfectly normal. Some people are actually fearful of receiving such treatments. The goal of this article isn’t to necessarily convince you that natural treatment methods are the best option for you, but instead is to show you why they are safe and effective when you’re under the supervision of a competent holistic doctor.
Let’s begin by listing some of the more common reasons why many people are both fearful and skeptical of natural thyroid treatment methods:
Reason #1: Most of us are brought up in a medically oriented world. This describes just about all of us, as unless if one of your parents happens to be a holistic practitioner, you probably have been exposed all of your life to conventional medical treatment protocols. This definitely described myself growing up. For example, whenever I had a cold, sore throat, an upset stomach, or any other type of illness, my parents would give me medicine to “fix” the problem. As a result, I took plenty of cough medicine, Pepto Bismol, antibiotics, and other over-the-counter and prescription drugs growing up. I honestly didn’t know anything about holistic treatment methods until I saw a chiropractor for the first time in my early 20s.
While some people are exposed to natural healthcare at an earlier age, most still are medically oriented. In other words, just because someone visits a chiropractor, naturopath, or another type of holistic doctor doesn’t mean they will begin to incorporate natural treatment methods into their life. Many will still continue to take medication every time they have a problem or choose to receive other conventional medical treatments, and will only choose natural treatment methods as a very last resort, when there are no other options left.
Reason #2: People with these conditions wonder why most endocrinologists don’t recommend natural treatment methods to their patients. Many wonder why most endocrinologists and other types of medical doctors don’t recommend natural thyroid treatment methods. After all, if these natural treament methods are so effective, then why wouldn’t most doctors recommend them to their patients? The reason for this is because they don’t teach medical doctors about holistic treatment options in medical school. Some holistic medical doctors go out and learn about holistic treatment methods on their own. So not only do most medical doctors don’t know anything about natural treatment methods, but if you were to bring this up to them they will most likely tell you they aren’t effective for people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions. But this is not due to any experience they have, as it’s based solely on their opinion.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the advice of your endocrinologist or general medical practitioner. This of course is up to you, as all I’m saying is that you can’t take the word of medical doctors with regards to anything they may tell you about natural treatment methods. Just as I’m not an expert on drugs and surgery, they are not an expert on holistic medicine. And so just because doctors don’t recommend natural treatment methods doesn’t mean they aren’t safe or effective.
Reason #3: The influence of friends and family members. Many people are skeptical of natural treatment methods due to the influence of people they associate with on a regular basis. So instead of medical doctors telling them to avoid natural treatment methods, friends and family members, and perhaps even co-workers are telling them this. Once again, this is usually due to the first reason I mentioned, as since most people are brought up with a medical mindset, it’s no surprise the people you know would encourage you to stick with a medical treatment protocol and avoid natural treatment methods. In this case, it’s important for you to keep an open mind and realize that in most cases, these people aren’t talking from self-experience, as this once again is just an opinion they have due to their medical mindset.
Reason #4: Someone they know had a bad experience with natural treatment methods. But how about if someone you know did have experience with natural treatment methods, and if it was a negative one? All I can say is that many people have bad experiences with all types of healthcare professions. Many people have had bad experiences with medical doctors, dentists, chiropractors, podiatrists, and other doctors. So just because one person told you that they had a bad experience with a holistic doctor doesn’t mean you will have a similar experience. Especially if you’re seeing a different holistic doctor, as not all holistic doctors practice the same.
Plus, what does one mean by a “bad experience” anyway? For example, if someone didn’t receive good results, could it be because the person didn’t follow the protocol, which frequently happens? Or perhaps they had unrealistic expectations, as maybe they followed the protocol for only a short period of time, and therefore didn’t give it enough time to work. Maybe something more serious occurred, as perhaps someone had a bad reaction to one of the herbs recommended. This is rare, but it can happen. Either way, one shouldn’t automatically rule out natural treatment methods just because one or two people you know had a bad experience, or because you read some negative comments about natural treatment methods on the Internet.
Reason #5: Fear of the unknown. Many people don’t know what to expect, and are afraid of this. In other words, this isn’t like going to the dentist for a cavity, and knowing that your teeth is going to be drilled and filled, etc. This might be a poor example, as many people fear the dentist even though they know exactly what will happen. In any case, many people have never been to a holistic doctor, don’t know what to expect, and are afraid of this. Some people have never been to a holistic doctor but know they probably will be told that they need to make dramatic changes in their lifestyle, which many aren’t willing to do. So they have an idea what will happen, but don’t want to hear it because they have no intentions of following the recommendations!
Reason #6: They are afraid of the potential risks involved. When under the guidance of a competent holistic doctor, natural thyroid treatment methods are very safe. This doesn’t mean there aren’t any risks. But the risks are minimal, especially when you compare them to the potential risks of conventional medical treatment. This is especially true when it comes to the conventional treatment methods for hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease, which frequently involve obliterating one’s thyroid gland. But even if it just involves taking thyroid medication, there still are risks involved. So if you’re holding off on following a natural treatment protocol because you’re concerned about the potential risks involved, just keep in mind that when compared to other treatment options the risk is very low. As proof of this all you need to do is look at the malpractice rates of holistic doctors, as they are much lower than that of medical doctors. And the reason for this is because of the lower risk.
Reason #7: They don’t want to be disappointed. Some people are very interested in natural thyroid treatment methods, but they don’t want to get too optimistic about them, as they are worried they might not work, and that they will be disappointed. As I’ve mentioned in the past, not everyone can have their thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition cured naturally. However, most people who can’t have their health restored back to normal can still benefit from following a natural treatment protocol. And while you might not want to get your hopes up out of fear of being disappointed, you want to take this one step at a time, and first consult with a good holistic doctor.
If he or she then feels you have a good chance of receiving excellent results, then it once again is normal to be a little bit skeptical and to not want to become too optimistic. On the other hand, this shouldn’t prevent you from following a natural thyroid treatment protocol. Try to stay positive, and follow the recommendations of your doctor, and there is a good chance you will receive some great results.
In summary, these are seven common reasons why many people are fearful and/or skeptical of natural thyroid treatment methods. If you have been hesitant to follow a natural thyroid treatment protocol, hopefully I’ve convinced you to at least give them a try. After all, while there are no guarantees with natural treatment methods, if there is a chance that those with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis can eventually stop taking thyroid hormone, and those with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease can avoid radioactive iodine, then what do you have to lose?
