Most people visiting this website are looking for a natural solution to their hyperthyroid or hypothyroid condition.  And of course my goal as a holistic doctor is to try to help people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions restore their health naturally.  However, I also frequently state how I don’t recommend for people to abruptly stop taking their thyroid medication.  This of course applies to both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions.

Hyperthyroidism & Graves’ Disease: For people with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease, it can be very important to continue taking antithyroid drugs and/or beta blockers to manage the symptoms.  Many people I consult with become disappointed when I tell them not to abruptly stop taking their medication.  Some were hoping I would tell them the opposite, and to stop taking their medication immediately.  From a liability standpoint I would never tell any patient to stop taking their medication.  But besides the legalities involved, I do think it’s important for some people to take the antithyroid drugs.

This might make me sound like a hypocrite, as I didn’t take any antithyroid medication when I was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease.  However, even though I admit it was a risk not doing this, I didn’t consider my cardiac symptoms to be too severe.  My pulse rate averaged between 90 and 100 beat per minute, and occasionally was higher than this, which were definitely higher than my “normal” pulse rate, which was usually in the mid 60s.  But I never considered my condition to be life threatening, which isn’t the case with some other people who have a hyperthyroid condition.

On the other hand, someone with a pulse rate greater than 120 beats per minute is on the higher end.  This doesn’t mean that someone with a pulse rate less than this should stop taking the antithyroid drugs, as this really is only something the person can decide to do on their own.  Besides, someone with an underlying heart condition can be at risk even with a heart rate of 90 beats per minute.  Just keep in mind that it takes time for a natural treatment protocol to kick in.  So what many people choose to do is continue taking the antithyroid drugs while at the same time begin the natural treatment protocol, and then will eventually wean off the prescription drugs (preferably under the supervision of their medical doctor).

Hypothyroidism & Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Most of these people are of course taking synthetic or natural thyroid hormone to manage their symptoms.  While it usually isn’t as risky for people taking thyroid hormone to abruptly stop, it still isn’t advised.  This is especially true if you’re hypothyroid because you had a partial thyroidectomy or received RAI, as while there still is a chance of restoring your thyroid health back to normal, it is more challenging in these cases.  So the best approach is to begin the natural treatment protocol, and if this protocol is effective the person can then begin weaning off the thyroid hormone (also under the guidance of their medical doctor of course).

But even if the person hasn’t had surgery performed or received RAI, they still shouldn’t abruptly stop taking their thyroid medication.  Just as is the case with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease, it will take time for the natural treatment methods to take effect.  As I’ve stated numerous times in past posts and articles, many of these hypothyroid conditions are caused by weakened adrenal glands.  And even though the adrenal glands are usually quick to respond once someone begins a natural treatment protocol, it still does take some time to restore their health.

When Can Someone Stop Taking Their Thyroid Medication?

There is no exact answer to this question, as it really depends on the individual.  As I mentioned earlier, not everyone can stop taking their thyroid medication.  Many people are ready to begin weaning off their thyroid medication one or two months after beginning a natural treatment protocol.  For others, it might take a little longer than this.  And as I’ve already brought up, I don’t ever tell a person to begin weaning off their thyroid medication, as people really should consult with their medical doctor, although many doctors won’t be receptive to natural treatment methods.  As a result, many people end up weaning themselves off the thyroid medication once they begin experiencing the benefits of a natural treatment protocol.

Can One Use Supplements Or Herbs To Manage The Symptoms Instead Of The Medication?

There are certain herbs people with these conditions can take to manage the symptoms.  However, it is completely up to the person whether they want to substitute one or more herbs for the medication.  For example, with hyperthyroid conditions the herbs Bugleweed and Motherwort frequently do a good job of managing the symptoms.  But besides these herbs taking some time to kick in, they don’t always manage the symptoms as well as the prescription drugs.  With hypothyroid conditions, a combination of Bladderwrack and Ashwaganda may take the place of synthetic or natural thyroid hormone in some individuals.  But once again, it takes time for this to work, and these herbs aren’t effective substitutes in everyone with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

In summary, people with hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions shouldn’t abruptly stop taking their medication, mainly because there is always some risk involved when doing this.  Although the ultimate goal of a natural treatment protocol is to restore the person’s health back to normal, this typically is a slow process, taking at least a few weeks before the person begins feeling better, and a few months before significant changes take place.  While many people understandably want to stop taking their thyroid medication immediately, the best approach is to begin the protocol and then begin to gradually wean off the thyroid medication under the supervision of a medical doctor.

This past Saturday I attended a seminar presented by Dr. David Brownstein, who is a medical doctor who practices holistic medicine.  During the lecture he told a story about his father, as he had a diabetic lesion on his foot, and the vascular surgeon recommended for his father to get his foot amputated.  The lesion had been there for many months, and during this time Dr. Brownstein advised his father to rub testosterone cream on the lesion.  On the same day he was given the recommendation by the surgeon to have his foot amputated, the father admitted that he failed to follow his son’s instructions.  So Dr. Brownstein took his dad home and had him apply the testosterone cream, and showed a “before and after” picture of his foot.  After six weeks of using the testosterone cream the lesion was almost gone, and his father didn’t have to get his foot amputated.  When Dr. Brownstein told the vascular surgeon what he was doing, the surgeon didn’t care to find out how he specifically helped his father, even though this perhaps could save others with a similar problem from having their extremity amputated.

Anyway, one night he was having a conversation with his wife regarding the holistic approach he used to help his dad, and asked her the question I included in the headline: “Why Wasn’t I Taught This Stuff In Medical School?”.

He also told us how when he first began practicing he would tell his patients not to take any vitamins or minerals because it was a waste of money.  He also would tell his patients not to see a chiropractor, even though he knew nothing about chiropractic.  But after realizing the benefits of chiropractic and holistic treatment methods in general, he changed his practice around and focused on holistic treatment methods, and even refers people to chiropractors when necessary.  So if your endocrinologist tells you that “you’re crazy for looking into holistic treatment methods”, keep in mind that this is due to the natural biases which are developed while in medical school.  As a result, it’s very rare for a medical doctor like Dr. Brownstein to open their mind and incorporate holistic treatment methods into their practice.

Dr. Brownstein also was telling us about a time when someone was asking him questions regarding his experience in medical school, and when asked what he liked best about medical school, his answer was “nothing”.  When asked what he didn’t like about medical school, he said he could have given a long list of answers about what he didn’t like about it, although he said that his number one dislike was the biochemistry, as the biochemistry taught in medical school only pertains to taking drugs to manage the symptoms, and not correcting the cause of the problem.

Medical Doctors Save Many Lives, But…

Without question we’re lucky to have medical doctors, as well as prescription medication for people who really need to take it.  The problem is that most medical doctors are close-minded when it comes to natural treatment methods.  And while this might not seem like a big deal, what this means is that millions of people with different types of conditions are taking drugs unnecessarily, receiving unnecessary surgeries, etc.  In fact, here are some statistics that Dr. Brownstein shared with us during the seminar:

“Chronic disease will cost $47 trillion dollars by 2030”

“Chronic disease is estimated to kill 36 million people per year”

“Heart disease kills 17 million people per year”

So despite all of the drugs people are currently taking these numbers keep on rising.  As I have stated in my past  articles in posts, some people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions need to take medication, but it’s just crazy that nothing is being done to address the actual cause of these issues.  As a result, while some people with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis do need to take thyroid hormone on a permanent basis, many can also have their health restored back to normal naturally.  And the same concept applies to people with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease, as some might need to take antithyroid drugs on a temporary basis, but thousands of people receive radioactive iodine each year who could have had their thyroid health restored back to normal if they followed a natural treatment protocol first.

It would be great if there were more open-minded medical doctors like Dr. Brownstein, but as he stated, “In medical school there is no mention of health, as medical doctors are only told how to diagnose and treat disease, which we don’t do very well”.  Of course Dr. Brownstein isn’t the only medical doctor who opened his mind to natural treatment methods, as other doctors have done so too.  On the other hand, I’ve never come across a holistic doctor who got sick of using natural treatment methods and decided to use conventional treatment methods.

There Is A Place For Both Holistic And Conventional Medicine

Once again, I’m not opposed to conventional treatment methods, as there definitely is a time when thyroid hormone, antithyroid medication, as well as other drugs and conventional treatment methods are necessary.  But even with all of the new drugs being developed, people are getting sicker and sicker, which usually means they will be told to take even more drugs.  The fact is that not only do medical doctors have the “take a drug for every symptom”mentality , but most people do too.  Dr. Brownstein gave the story about his father, and I’ll admit that my father has a medical mindset as well.  If someone has indigestion and mentions it to him he will recommend an antacid.  If he has a cold he will take an antibiotic, even if it’s a mild one.  Once again, there is a time and place for medicine, but to treat every symptom with a different drug is just asking for problems, and over the long term taking this approach won’t benefit one’s health.  And while my father is could be in a lot worse shape for his age, he probably would be a lot healthier if he ate better, took a few quality supplements (and not the cheapest ones from Wal-Mart), took less medication, etc.

In summary, anyone with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid disorder should get diagnosed by an endocrinologist in my opinion in order to rule out anything serious (i.e. thyroid cancer).  And at times it’s fine for them to be given a prescription to temporarily manage the symptoms.  On the other hand, when it comes to finding out the actual cause of the condition, and then trying to correct this underlying cause, in most cases an endocrinologist is the last person you will want to see to receive such treatment.  Of course those who are satisfied with lifetime symptom management should go see such a doctor.  But my guess is that since you are reading this information you’re interested in a natural approach for your condition.  And as I’m sure you know, you won’t receive this approach from most medical doctors you speak with, although Dr. David Brownstein is one of the rare exceptions.

As a side note, I have recommended Dr. David Brownstein’s book “Iodine, Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It” many times in previous articles and posts.  But he has some other good books and DVDs that you might want to check out by visiting his website at www.drbrownstein.com.

Sometimes I get asked if I only purchase organic food.  The honest answer to this is “no”, as I do purchase some foods which are non-organic.  However, when it comes to eating certain foods, such as meats, as well as certain fruits and vegetables, I do try to only purchase organic products.  Even though they can be significantly more expensive than non-organic food, there are just too many toxins in most non-organic meats, vegetables, and fruits.

You still might wonder whether it’s worth the cost to buy organic food.  Once again, eating a 100% organic diet isn’t necessary in my opinion.  But due to the xenohormones, pesticides, and herbicides in many of these foods, it really is best to spend the extra money on certain organic foods.  Some of these foods include the following:

• Poultry
• Beef and pork
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Broccoli
• Strawberries
• Grapes
• Apples
• Peaches

Why Not Just Buy “Natural” Foods?

How about buying foods which are not organic, but are instead natural?  For example, one can purchase meats which don’t have xenohormones, antibiotics, etc.  And these meats usually cost less than organic meat, and frequently by a significant amount of money.  The problem is that there aren’t regulations for “natural”, non-organic foods.  So while it’s definitely better to eat “natural” foods when compared to foods which have hormones and other toxins in it, the problem is that you can’t trust certain foods just because they’re labeled as being natural.

So if you absolutely can’t afford to purchase organic food, then what I would try to do is purchase some of these “natural” foods from a health food store, which probably will carry brands which are more trustworthy.  However, there are no guarantees, and you still won’t know for certain if these natural foods really don’t have any toxins in them.  Organic foods, on the other hand, are highly regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and so if a food is 100% organic you can be pretty certain that it doesn’t contain any toxins.

As for buying non-organic fruits and vegetables, if you choose to do this, there are certain fruit and vegetable cleanses which supposedly wash off these toxins.  Even if such a rinse doesn’t get rid of all of the toxins, it’s better than not using any type of cleanse at all.  Just quickly rinsing fruits and vegetables under water isn’t going to cut it, yet this is what most people do.

While I think everyone should try to eat the organic foods I mentioned above, it’s even more important for those people following a natural treatment protocol to do this.  This is especially true for anyone who is detoxifying, as this involves cleaning out the toxins in your body.  So it would be highly counterproductive to undergo a detoxification program and continue to eat foods with synthetic hormones and other toxins.  But even if you’re following a natural treatment protocol and are not detoxifying, at least in the initial phases (the first 30 to 60 days) you should try to eat as many organic foods as possible.

In summary, purchasing organic meats, vegetables, and fruits will no doubt cost more money, but doing so will benefit your overall health.  Most people of course eat non-organic food, but most don’t realize the impact of eating  foods which consist of all of these toxins.  Over a period of years they can definitely lead to numerous health conditions, and so if you are looking to achieve optimal health you really should try to eat healthier foods and buy more organic products.

Whenever a new patient schedules an appointment to speak with me, the first thing I will do is to review the health questionnaire and symptom survey I have them complete.  And when reviewing these forms, I’ll of course look at all of the different symptoms they are experiencing, but one of the main symptoms I will focus on are those which relate to their digestive system.  So for example, if someone has problems with bloating, gas, and/or other digestive issues, these are red flags which need to be addressed.

As I’ve mentioned in the past, making sure someone has optimal digestive health is important for anyone looking to restore their thyroid health.  A big reason for this is because the recovery process involves eating well and taking certain nutritional supplements and/or herbs.  But if your digestive system is in a poor state of health, then you of course won’t be able to properly digest the foods you eat, or any supplements you take.

But can’t you just take digestive enzymes?  Digestive enzymes can help, and I do frequently recommend digestive enzymes for people whose digestive systems are in a poor state of health.  But these should be a temporary solution, as you don’t want to have to rely on taking enzymes to digest your food.

So if you decide to see a natural endocrine doctor, or any holistic doctor at all, they will most likely focus on restoring your digestive health first.  And this is a big reason why self-treating your condition usually doesn’t work.  Most people who attempt to self-treat their condition will take certain supplements or herbs.  One problem with this approach is that as I’ve mentioned in the past, just taking supplements and herbs alone isn’t enough.  A second problem with this approach is that the quality of the supplements or herbs taken is usually poor.  So even if someone has a properly functioning digestive system, they most likely won’t absorb any supplements or herbs they take due to the low quality of them.

But even if you are taking high quality nutritional supplements and/or herbs, if you can’t digest them well, then you won’t receive the maximum benefit from them.  On the questionnaire I have new patients fill out, one of the things I ask for is what nutritional supplements and herbs they might be taking.  And it’s quite common to see people taking many different supplements, and at the same time list numerous digestive symptoms which reveal that their digestive health is less than optimal, to say the least.

As a result, if you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, or an autoimmune thyroid disorder, and if you are looking to follow a natural treatment protocol, then you need to focus on restoring your digestive health back to normal.  While it’s important to consult with a holistic doctor, there are certain things you can do on your own to improve your digestive health.  The most obvious thing you can do is to minimize the processed foods from your diet, and eat mostly whole foods.  Quite frankly, to fully restore one’s digestive health back to normal one probably needs to completely eliminate the refined foods for at least a period of 30 to 90 days.

I realize that some people who begin a natural treatment protocol aren’t ready to make such a dramatic change in their diet.  So if they need to make small changes in the beginning then that’s fine, but eventually there will come a point where they will need to completely avoid the refined foods and sugars for a prolonged period if time.  This also includes whole grain breads and pastas, as eliminating gluten from the diet during this time will benefit many people.  Some healthcare professionals will recommend for everyone with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid disorder to avoid gluten-based foods permanently.  I personally don’t think this is necessary in every single person, but it definitely is a good idea to avoid eating gluten while trying to restore your digestive health.  Then after this most people can try to re-introduce gluten and see how their body responds.

In summary, for anyone looking to restore their thyroid health back to normal, one needs to do what is necessary to optimize their digestive health.  This isn’t easy to do, as it will take some time, and a commitment on your part.  But restoring your digestive health not only will help with your thyroid health, but it can help you to overcome other health issues you may be experiencing as well.

Many people with numerous health problems are turning to bioidentical hormones as a natural form of symptom management.  Thousands of people are taking natural progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA.  Although there are times when taking bioidentical hormones is necessary, many people can have their health restored back to normal without taking these hormones.

What’s important to understand is that taking bioidentical hormones doesn’t correct the actual cause of the problem.  I’ve spoken about this numerous times in the past, specifically regarding natural progesterone.  This is one of the primary bioidentical hormones used, as there have been a number of books written on the benefits of natural progesterone, and more and more medical doctors are recommending natural progesterone to their patients.

And as I’ve mentioned in previous posts and articles, natural progesterone is sometimes necessary to take.  For a woman who has had a complete hysterectomy, taking natural progesterone continuously might be necessary.  It also might be necessary for someone with a severe progesterone deficiency to take natural progesterone, although for someone who has all of their organs intact, they should only need to take it on a temporary basis.

Part of the problem with bioidentical hormones is that it’s very easy to overdose.  It’s not the same thing as taking nutritional supplements.  While it can be dangerous at times for someone to take huge quantities of certain nutritional supplements, it’s usually much more difficult to overdose while taking supplements when compared to hormones.  Hormones, even in small dosages, are extremely powerful, and while you would think most medical doctors know exactly how much to give their patients, this isn’t always the case.  Plus, some patients don’t take the advice of their medical or holistic doctor with regards to how much of the natural hormone to take.  And of course some people don’t consult with any doctor at all, as they attempt to self-treat their condition.

Most people don’t understand the physiology of the body, and this is a big reason why there are many problems with bioidentical hormones.  For example, most people don’t realize that testosterone taken in large quantities will convert to estradiol, which is one of the three types of estrogens.  So when someone has a testosterone deficiency and is given bioidentical testosterone, if they take too much they will feel good at first, but most of the testosterone will be converted to estradiol, which can lead to a condition known as estrogen dominance, which I’ve spoken about in the past.

In this situation, the person taking the bioidentical testosterone will usually begin feeling lousy over time, but won’t attribute this to the testosterone since it made them feel great initially.  So what frequently happens is the person will take more natural testosterone, which will continue to convert to estrogen, thus worsening the estrogen dominance condition.

Once again, some people can benefit from natural progesterone, testosterone, and other bioidentical hormones.  But if you’re not careful when taking these hormones this can lead to many problems.  And even though we’d like to think that most doctors are experts when it comes to recommending bioidentical hormones, the truth is that many doctors don’t have a lot of experience with this.

So while I’m not at all opposed to using bioidentical hormones, if at all possible I will try to restore the health of people naturally first, and without the use of such hormones.  Most hormone imbalances can be corrected through a natural treatment protocol.  Sometimes giving bioidentical hormones on a temporary basis is necessary.  But unless if someone has had an organ removed, there usually is no reason to take bioidentical hormones continuously.

The same concept actually applies with taking synthetic or natural thyroid hormone.  Unless if someone has had their entire thyroid gland removed or had it completely obliterated through radioactive iodine, then taking thyroid hormone many times isn’t necessary.  Just about all people who are diagnosed with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis are told to take synthetic or natural thyroid hormone on a permanent basis, when many of them can have their health restored naturally.

In summary, while many people can benefit from taking bioidentical hormones, most people don’t need them, and can have their health restored back to normal by following a natural treatment protocol.  And most people who really do need to take bioidentical hormones only need to do so on a temporary basis.  The same concept applies with hypothyroidism, as people who have their thyroid gland intact usually can have their health restored naturally, instead of taking synthethic or natural thyroid hormone for the rest of their life.  So while bioidentical hormones can be helpful, in many cases they should be avoided.

Millions of people take nutritional supplements.  And while taking certain nutritional supplements can help, it’s no substitute for eating well.  I was recently speaking with my father, as he was telling me how he watched the “Dr. Oz” show, and that Dr. Oz was telling the audience to take a multi-mineral vitamin each day.  As a result of watching this, my dad went to Wal-Mart and purchased a bottle of multi-mineral supplements, and began taking them daily.

I’m not criticizing my father for doing this, as I agree that just about everybody can benefit from taking multi-mineral vitamins daily.  But many people continue to eat junk food most of the time, and then think they can make up for this by taking a multi-mineral vitamin daily, and perhaps some fatty acids as well.

Here are a few things to consider before you take your next multi-mineral vitamin:

1. The quality of the supplement is important. This may seem obvious to you, but many people take supplements which are of low quality.  My dad is a perfect example of this, as he decided to go to Wal-Mart to purchase a multi-mineral vitamin, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he got the cheapest one he could purchase.   I could advise him as to which supplements he should take, but of course he would never take advice from me.  In any case, you need to make sure that any supplements you can take are of high quality.  After all, if they don’t absorb well then you’re just throwing your hard earned money away.

2. You probably will need to take more than a single multi-mineral vitamin daily. While it’s no doubt convenient to take a single multi-mineral vitamin each day, you’re not going to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need from a single supplement.  Usually you will need to take such a supplement at least two or three times daily, ideally taken at different times throughout the day.

3. Other supplements are probably necessary. While taking a multi-mineral vitamin daily can be beneficial, other supplements are usually necessary to take for most people.  For example, many people are deficient in Vitamin D.  And while most multi-vitamin supplements will contain Vitamin D, it almost always will not be enough to correct a deficiency.  The same concept applies with other vitamins and minerals, as if you have an iodine deficiency, you will most likely need to take an iodine supplement.  If you are deficient in selenium, magnesium, or another mineral, then just taking a multi-mineral supplement won’t correct these deficiencies.

4. You need to be able to digest the supplements you consume. Even if you purchase a high quality multi-mineral supplement, if you have a digestive system that isn’t functioning optimally then you won’t be able to properly digest any supplements you take.  So it’s extremely important to make sure you have a healthy digestive system.  This is why when someone begins a natural treatment protocol, one of the main areas I focus on is their digestive system.  Obviously eating well is a big part of this.  But just changing one’s eating habits isn’t enough to restore their digestive health if it has been impaired for many years.

5. You still need to eat well. Speaking of eating well, it of course is important to eat high quality foods.  As the title of this post implies, taking nutritional supplements isn’t a substitute for eating well.  If you really are looking to achieve optimal health, then you need to eat well most of the time, and take certain nutritional supplements.

So for someone with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition who is looking to restore their health back to normal, the first thing they need to do is make sure they have a properly functioning digestive system.  This obviously does take time to accomplish, and this of course involves eating well and taking certain supplements, and very well might require a purification program.  It also is frequently necessary to take digestive enzymes until the person’s digestive health improves, as this of course will allow them to digest the food they eat and the supplements they take.

In summary, just about everyone needs to take nutritional supplements.  However, even if you take high quality supplements, you still need to continue eating well.  And if you eat well and take high quality supplements, you of course need a properly functioning digestive system in order to digest the food you eat and the supplements you take.

Most people with Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis wonder how their condition developed.  Some people assume that genetic factors are the primary cause of their autoimmune thyroid disorder.  As I’ve mentioned in the past, genetics definitely plays a role, but just because someone has a genetic marker for a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition doesn’t mean they will develop Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.  Usually it’s other factors which will trigger the genetic component.

I’ve also spoken a great deal about how lifestyle factors can and usually do lead to an autoimmune thyroid condition.  So eating a lot of refined foods and sugars, getting insufficient sleep, and doing a poor job of managing your stress can also lead to the development of an autoimmune thyroid disorder.  In fact, these lifestyle factors are probably the main reason why people develop Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.  I personally think that these lifestyle factors, especially stress, were responsible for the development of my autoimmune thyroid condition.

With that being said, one can’t overlook the impact that environmental toxins can have with regards to the development of an autoimmune thyroid condition.  It’s just amazing how many new chemicals are manufactured each year, as tens of thousands of chemicals have been manufactured over the last few decades.  And what’s scary is that because many of these chemicals are new, we really have no clue what the long term health risks are.

The book “The Autoimmune Epidemic” talks about how certain environmental toxins have been shown to increase the risk of people developing autoimmune conditions such as Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.  While there are chemicals which have been proven to cause autoimmune disorders, cancer, and other conditions, there are also thousands of chemicals which have not been proven (at least not yet) to cause any health issues.  But it wouldn’t be shocking if down the road, many of these newer chemicals were banned due to certain health conditions they can cause.

Because of this, it’s important that you do everything you can to minimize your exposure to these environmental toxins.  Some people might wonder that since they already have developed Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, then why they should bother trying to avoid these toxins?  For those looking to restore their health back to normal using natural treatment methods the answer should be obvious.  On the other hand, even those people who choose to use conventional medical treatment methods should try to avoid these toxins as much as they can.  Just because you currently have an autoimmune thyroid disorder doesn’t mean you can’t develop other conditions in the future.

In fact, people with one autoimmune condition are more likely to develop another one in the future.  So even if you have Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and aren’t looking to follow a natural treatment protocol, it still will benefit your health to minimize your exposure to these environmental toxins.  This means you should still be careful about the foods you eat, as well as the household products you buy.  And even if you’re not concerned about your own health, if other people live in your home then can take the necessary steps to minimize their exposure to such toxins.

The point I’m trying to make is whether your autoimmune thyroid disorder was caused by environmental toxins doesn’t really make a difference.  Truth to be told, there really isn’t a surefire way to know what exactly caused your condition to develop.  But whether you are looking to follow a natural treatment protocol, or are looking to use conventional treatment methods, it still will benefit your health to do what you can to minimize your exposure to these toxins.  Most people don’t think much of them, and figure that since there isn’t a way to completely avoid them then why should they bother to minimize their exposure to them?  And I can understand this point of view, as just because you minimize your exposure to these toxins doesn’t mean you won’t develop any health issues in the future.  But doing so can dramatically reduce your chances of developing numerous health issues.

I find this process to be much easier than changing some of the other lifestyle factors which can also affect your health.  Buying certain foods, cosmetics, household cleaners, and other natural products is as easy as visiting your local health food store or Trader Joes and simply making healthier buying decisions.  Sure, it’s costlier to do this, but as you know, you can’t put a price on your health.  And since most of the toxins we’re exposed to are in our very own homes, taking this approach is the very best way to reduce your exposure to environmental toxins.

Just about everyone with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis are told to take synthetic thyroid hormone upon being diagnosed.  What usually happens is that the person visits an endocrinologist or another type of medical doctor.  They then receive some thyroid blood tests, (TSH, T3, T4, etc.), and assuming they come out positive for a hypothyroid condition, the person is simply told to take thyroid hormone daily for the rest of their life.  Sometimes this happens even if the person isn’t experiencing any symptoms.  While some people see a medical doctor due to the symptoms they are experiencing, other people are diagnosed with hypothyroidism during a routine wellness exam.

In any case, for someone who hasn’t had thyroid surgery or received RAI, the question that most medical doctors should be asking is “why did this person develop hypothyroidism in the first place”.  Of course this never happens, as the person is told to take synthetic thyroid hormone, and most people follow the advice of their doctor and end up taking this on a permanent basis.

One reason why some people don’t think about the cause of their condition is due to genetics.  Many who test positive are asked if they have family members with a history of a thyroid condition.  Frequently the answer to this is “yes”, and as a result most think the reason they developed their hypothyroid condition was due solely to genetics.  As I’ve discussed in the past, genetics is definitely a factor, but it’s not as big of a factor as many people think.  Even if there is a family history of hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, most of the time a person with a genetic marker can prevent the development of such a condition, as I’ve discussed in other posts and articles.

I realize that there probably won’t be a time in the near future when medical doctors stop giving thyroid hormone to every single person with a positive TSH test.  But when you consider that millions of people are taking synthetic thyroid hormone, you should wonder how many of these people would be able to have their health restored through a natural thyroid treatment protocol.  Sure, some people would of course need to take thyroid hormone daily for the rest of their life, but many of these people wouldn’t.

Because I don’t see medical doctors changing their mindset anytime soon, myself and other holistic doctors will need to continue to inform people of the importance of finding the underlying cause of their thyroid disorder.  This is a big reason why I put up this website, as most people with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis aren’t aware that they might be able to have their health restored back to normal.  While many people are happy taking synthetic or natural thyroid hormone daily for the rest of their life, others don’t want to take medicine if it’s unnecessary.

Weak adrenal glands, hormone imbalances, and certain mineral and nutritional deficiencies can be causing or contributing to a hypothyroid disorder.  So if most medical doctors simply asked a few extra questions and did a little more testing, many people who are currently taking synthetic or natural thyroid hormone would not need to be taking this medicine.  Let’s look a a simple example.  Selenium is an important mineral when it comes to the production of thyroid hormone.  This mineral is necessary for the proper conversion of T4 to T3.  And many people are deficient in selenium.  But most doctors don’t test for such a deficiency, and they usually don’t tell their patients to supplement with selenium, or eat selenium-rich foods (such as brazil nuts).  So this is just a single example of a mineral which when deficient can lead to a hypothyroid condition.  In  the case where someone developed hypothyroidism due to a selenium deficiency, taking synthetic thyroid hormone will help manage the symptoms, but if this person took selenium this would actually cure the thyroid condition.

To be fair, this is a basic example, and most cases of hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis are due to more than just a deficiency in selenium.  But even if the condition was due to multiple mineral deficiencies and hormone imbalances, and/or compromised adrenal glands, the point is that many people with these conditions can have their health restored naturally, and as a result some people can eventually stop taking thyroid hormone.  This is a big reason why I constantly recommend that people consult with a natural endocrine doctor.

Of course this doesn’t mean that I tell my patients with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis to stop taking thyroid hormone.  In fact, during the initial consultation, if a patient is taking synthetic or natural thyroid hormone then usually I will encourage them to keep on taking it for the time being, as I do think it’s important to manage their symptoms until the natural treatment methods “kick in”.  But the ultimate goal will be to get to the underlying cause of their condition so they hopefully won’t need to take synthetic or natural thyroid hormone for the rest of their life.

In summary, while it’s unrealistic to expect medical doctors to stop telling every single patient with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis to take thyroid hormone, this doesn’t mean you can’t take charge of your own health.  While some people do need to take thyroid hormone on a permanent basis, the only way to know this for sure is through proper testing.  And since there’s a good chance your endocrinologist or general medical practitioner won’t order these tests for you, this is why it probably will be necessary to consult with a natural endocrine doctor.

What I’d like to do in today’s post is give a brief lesson on hormone physiology. I’m going to try to make this as basic as possible, as my goal here isn’t to give you an advanced physiology lesson. However, since many people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions have hormone imbalances, I think it’s important for you to understand some of the basics of hormones, such as what their primary role is, how they can become imbalanced, and how to prevent and correct such an imbalance.

As for what they are, hormones are biochemical messengers which are released by a cell or a gland into the bloodstream. These messages affect other cells in the body, and also play a role in enzyme reactions. Hormones are very powerful, even in small quantities, and this is a big reason why it’s important to be careful when taking bioidentical hormones, which I’ve discussed in other posts and articles. It is important to understand that taking natural hormones can’t be compared to taking nutritional supplements.

However, with that being said, the nutrients we consume are important when it comes to the synthesis of certain hormones. So this is yet another reason why you need to eat healthy most of the time, and it’s also why most people do need to take nutritional supplements. What we eat is of course important to our overall health, but it’s also specifically important when it comes to hormone health.

In any case, let’s take a look at some of the major hormones, and how they are developed. In my articles and posts I speak a lot about hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, DHEA, cortisol, etc. But how are these hormones manufactured in the first place? Well, as I’ve discussed in the past, these hormones are manufactured through cholesterol. Cholesterol is delivered to the tissues and some of the organs of the body, and then is converted into the hormone pregnenolone. From this point it can take two separate paths.

One path is for pregnenolone to get converted to progesterone, which in turn will be converted to 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and then to cortisol. I’ve spoken many times about the importance of cortisol, and how many people have adrenal problems, which will affect the secretion of cortisol. But since progesterone is a precursor to cortisol, some holistic doctors will give natural progesterone to help with conditions such as adrenal fatigue. This might help to temporarily manage the symptoms, but it won’t do anything to fix the actual cause, which is the compromised adrenal glands. Some will also give bioidentical cortisol, which will also usually help with the symptoms, which is important, but usually won’t help with the cause.

The second path that pregnenolone takes is to get converted into DHEA, and then androstenedione, and then testosterone and/or one of the estrogens. Testosterone actually converts to estradiol, and when someone is low in testosterone, they frequently are told to take bioidentical testosterone to “fix” the problem. And while this usually causes the person to feel great for a few weeks or sometimes even a few months, what will usually happen is that the testosterone will be converted to estradiol, which can lead to the condition known as estrogen dominance, which I have spoken about in the past. So taking bioidentical hormones is one way in which a hormone imbalance can develop.

Of course one can’t overlook the importance of cholesterol in this, as in today’s society most people try to do everything they can to lower their cholesterol levels. While you definitely don’t want your cholesterol to become too high, what most people don’t realize is that taking statins and other cholesterol-lowering medication can affect the synthesis of some of these hormones I’ve just mentioned, which of course will lead to numerous health issues.  Natural products such as red rice yeast can also affect the synthesis of hormones.

While natural hormones are now being used by many doctors, some doctors still recommend synthetic hormones, such as synthetic estrogen, progesterone, etc. Even though these synthetic hormones fit into the same cell receptors as the natural hormones, this doesn’t mean that synthetic hormones perform exactly the same. While synthetic hormones have helped a lot of people, they also have caused a lot of problems as well. But as I’ve mentioned in the past, unless an organ has been removed or severely compromised, both synthetic and bioidentical hormones are usually not needed. And when they are needed, it’s almost always needed only temporarily.

So hopefully you realize the importance of hormones, and now how have a better understanding why a hormone imbalance can cause a lot of problems. This is one of the reasons why many people can benefit from obtaining a hormone panel, as this can help determine if they have a hormone imbalance. Then if they do have such an imbalance they can be put on the appropriate protocol to correct this, which usually involves changes in dietary habits, taking some nutritional supplements, and for certain conditions it might involve a purification program to correct the problem.

Of course the best thing you can do is try to prevent a hormone imbalance from developing. You can accomplish this by eating well, taking certain nutritional supplements (which I’ve discussed in other posts and articles), doing one or two detoxifications each year, and keeping your adrenal glands strong. This admittedly isn’t easy to accomplish, but those who are committed to their health and follow this advice will have greater “hormone health” than most people.

Many people with thyroid conditions don’t want to cover up their symptoms with thyroid medication.  This is great, as they realize there is an underlying cause of their problem, and they want to attempt treating their condition naturally.  Of course some people do need to take thyroid medication on a permanent basis, but I’m not referring to these people.  In any case, many people who want to restore their health naturally think they can do so on their own.  As a result, they gather as much information as they can through reading books and surfing the internet, and then put together their own treatment protocol. Sometimes people will see positive changes in their symptoms when self-treating their condition.  On the other hand, many people won’t see much of a difference.  Either way, most people who attempt to self-treat their condition aren’t able to successfully restore their health back to normal.  So I decided to dedicate this post to those people who are looking to take a natural approach, but are thinking about self-treating their condition. What I’m going to do here is list five reasons why you shouldn’t self-treat your thyroid condition.  This is true whether you have primary hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, or an autoimmune thyroid condition such as Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Reason #1: There are risks when self-treating your condition. Even when using natural supplements and herbs, there are always risks involved.  Most people don’t have a strong knowledge of these supplements and herbs, and many assume that because they are natural there is no risk involved.  While the risk might be minimal, it still exists.  Plus, just abruptly stopping your thyroid medication and replacing them with nutritional supplements and herbs makes it even more risky. Reason #2: You can’t trust everything you read. Once again, many people come up with a natural protocol based on what they read in a book, or on the internet.  Heck, some people try to piece the information I provide on this website to develop their own natural treatment protocol.  Of course different people will need different supplements and herbs, and will also require different dosages.  As a result, it’s extremely difficult to come up with a treatment plan which will work based on the information you read on this website, or anywhere else. And much of the information on “natural cures” put out there are by people who don’t have much experience with this.  Most aren’t even healthcare professionals.  This doesn’t mean there aren’t people who are very knowledgeable about natural treatment methods.  You just need to be extremely careful about any information you read in books, and especially on the internet. Reason #3: The body is extremely complex. Although it would be great if one could restore their thyroid health simply by eating well and taking some random supplements and herbs, it’s almost always not this easy.  The body is way too complex to restore its health just by taking supplements and herbs, eating well, etc.  Obviously eating well and taking supplements and/or herbs is very important to restore one’s health back to normal.  But doing this alone won’t cure your condition.  If you’re looking to completely restore your health back to normal, just remember that the body is very complex, and because of this it is highly unlikely you will receive optimal results by self-treating your condition. Reason #4: It probably will cost you more money in the long run. Many people choose to self-treat their condition because they figure they will save money taking this approach.  After all, they won’t need to pay a doctor for an initial or follow-up consultation, will be able to price-shop for any supplements or herbs they buy, etc.  However, after they realize they aren’t going to receive optimal results they will frequently end up consulting with a holistic doctor anyway.  So while you might save money initially, in the end it almost always will cost you more money when self-treating your condition. Reason #5: You most likely won’t receive optimal results. This obviously relates to the previous four reasons I spoke about, as for all of the reasons I have mentioned, it is unlikely you will receive optimal results by treating yourself naturally.  I do get some emails and comments from people stating they self-treated their condition and felt much better after doing this.  And as I’ve mentioned, some people will feel better when self-treating their condition.  On the other hand, many people don’t feel much of a difference at all.  But even those people who do feel better when self-treating their condition most likely won’t fully restore their thyroid health back to normal. In summary, while it might seem easy enough to self-treat your condition, the truth is that for the reasons I mentioned above, most people don’t receive optimal results when taking this approach.  This is why I recommend consulting with a natural endocrine doctor for those people who are truly interested in restoring their health back to normal.  While there still isn’t any guarantee by taking this approach, you stand a much better chance of restoring your health than if you were to attempt this on your own.