Many people with hypothyroidism, including those with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, look to take nutritional supplements and herbs to help manage their symptoms naturally, or as part of a natural thyroid treatment protocol in an attempt to cure their condition. As I’ve mentioned many times in the past, it takes more to restore one’s health back to normal than just taking supplements and herbs. And even when it comes to symptom management, one usually won’t see much of a difference simply by taking some supplements and/or herbs.

On the other hand, when combined with other factors, taking certain nutritional supplements and herbal remedies can be very helpful. In this post I’m going to focus on three herbs which can really be helpful to someone who has hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Once again, taking these herbs alone probably won’t make much of a difference. However, if you eat well, take certain nutritional supplements, and modify other lifestyle factors, then these herbs can play an important role in restoring your health back to normal. And even if you have a condition that is incurable, you no doubt still want to obtain optimal health, and these herbs can still help you achieve this.

So let’s take a look at these three powerful, and highly effective herbs:

Hypothyroid Herb #1: Eleuthero.  This isn’t an herb that directly affects the thyroid gland itself, but it does play a huge role in hypothyroidism for most people (and hyperthyroidism as well, as this was one of the herbs I personally took when diagnosed with Graves’ Disease).  Many people with hypothyroidism have weak adrenals, which frequently is caused by chronic stress. Eleuthero does a wonderful job of helping  the person adapt with stress, and it also helps to boost the immune system.  Most people can take this supplement long term if necessary, which is a good thing, as frequently it will take at least a few months to fully recover from severe adrenal problems.   

Hypothyroid Herb #2: Bladderwrack.  This is a wonderful herb that directly affects the thyroid gland, as it helps improve thyroid function, as well as the overall metabolism of the body.  There are numerous places where you can obtain this herb, but just as is the case with any herb or supplement you purchase, you want to make sure you use one that is of high quality.  Also, this herb is not to be used in people with hyperthyroidism, and is also contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation.

Hypothyroid Herb #3: Ashwagandha.  Yet another great herb that is beneficial for people who have hypothyroidism. This can be especially powerful when combined with Bladderwrack.  In addition to the effects it has on the thyroid gland, Ashwagandha also has many other benefits, as it helps one deal well with environmental stress, benefits the immune system, and is an excellent herb to use in children as well. 

You of course should consult with a competent natural endocrine doctor before taking any of these herbs I just discussed. Although they are natural products, this doesn’t mean they are completely harmless. Plus, even if you don’t experience any harmful side effects, the odds of you successfully restoring your health by self-treating your condition is extremely slim. Once again, your goal is to achieve optimal health, and the best way to accomplish this is by consulting with an expert.

Also, I briefly spoke about the quality of the herbs you purchase, and I’ll mention it quickly here again.  There is no shortage of low quality herbs you can purchase.  My goal here isn’t to pitch any specific company, but just to make you aware that not all herbs are the same, and as a result you really do need to make sure you are purchasing a quality product if you want to receive optimal results.

In summary, if you have hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, there are many different nutritional supplements and herbs which can help. So while the three I listed above aren’t the only ones you might need to take, if you do decide to follow a natural treatment protocol, there is a good chance that one or more of them will be recommended to you by the natural endocrine doctor you speak with. Just remember that while these herbs can be highly effective, in order to receive the full benefits of them you will need to modify your overall lifestyle, as just taking these herbs alone won’t restore your health back to normal.

For those who are ready to choose natural thyroid treatment methods, but who haven’t already started such a protocol, there are a few things you can do in order to better prepare for such a protocol.  Even though following a natural thyroid treatment protocol can potentially restore your health back to normal, as I’ve stated in the past, it is not an easy process.  In order for you to have a successful outcome, you need to take responsibility for your health and be prepared for the challenges which lie ahead.

So with that being said, here are some of the things you can do in order to better prepare yourself:

1. Set a specific date when you will begin this protocol.  Setting a specific date can help you to better mentally prepare for a natural thyroid treatment protocol.  I usually recommend to set a date at least a few weeks out, although some people are eager to begin such a protocol right away, which also is fine.  For those who do set a specific date that is at least a few weeks out, this of course doesn’t mean you won’t be making any lifestyle changes before this date, as I’ll discuss some of these changes you’ll want to make below. 

But what if you have severe symptoms and want to begin such a protocol right away?  Well, what you need to keep in mind is that it will take some time for natural treatment methods to “kick in”.  So for example, if you have hyperthyroidism or Graves’ Disease, and if you are experiencing a very high pulse rate and/or other severe symptoms, then you might need to take prescription drugs on a temporary basis to manage these symptoms.  Even though I didn’t take this approach, there is nothing wrong with using prescription drugs on a temporary basis, and sometimes it is a wise thing to do in order to manage the symptoms. 

2. Begin eating well.  While it’s great if you can eliminate all of the refined foods and sugars, dairy, and some other foods from your diet immediately, many people need to take this process slowly.  I’ve spoken about this in the past, and how someone who eats junk food daily and has been doing so for many years might want to eliminate a certain type of food every few days, or even once a week.  So for example, if they drink a lot of sodas and other soft drinks, then the first three days can be dedicated to eliminating sodas and soft drinks from their diet.  Then perhaps after this is done, over the next three days they can eliminate another food from their diet, and take this approach until they have cut out all of the refined foods and sugars from their diet, any dairy products, gluten-based products, etc. 

I just want to remind you that this doesn’t mean you will be eliminating these foods from your diet permanently, as the initial goal is to stop eating these foods while following a natural thyroid treatment protocol.  Then after the first 30 days your condition can be reevaluated to see if any of these foods can be slowly added back into your diet.  Obviously this doesn’t mean that you will be able to eat these foods on a regular basis again, as a lot depends on your individual condition, allergens, etc.  Many people can eventually begin eating some gluten-based foods, dairy products, and other foods on a moderate basis.  On the other hand, there will be some people who are highly allergic to certain foods and therefore won’t be able to begin eating them again.  Others might have to wait a number of months until their digestive health is fully restored back to normal before incorporating some or all of these foods into their diet.

3. Focus on modifying other lifestyle factors.  In addition to eating well, other lifestyle factors will of course need to be considered.  I have spoken about these factors many times in other posts and articles, and it’s a good idea to begin making these changes before you actually start the natural thyroid treatment protocol.  For example, if you currently aren’t getting sufficient sleep each night, then you will want to try to make changes in this area.  Of course some people won’t be able to sleep better until after they begin a natural thyroid treatment protocol.  On the other hand, those people who are neglecting their sleep, whether it’s by staying up late watching television, surfing on the internet, or eating foods high in carbs right before bed, can and should make such changes right away.

You also will want to make changes in other lifestyle factors as well.  So if you deal with a lot of stress on a frequent basis, and aren’t doing a good job of managing it, then now is a good time to begin improving your stress handling skills.  And the same concept applies to other lifestyle factors as well.  Many people will wait until they begin a natural thyroid treatment protocol before they make such changes, but rather than make all of these changes at once, it’s best to begin making these changes before beginning a natural treatment protocol.

4. Choose a holistic doctor you will be comfortable with.  I’m going to assume that you will choose to see a holistic doctor, rather than try to self-treat your condition.  You obviously want to try choosing a doctor you’re comfortable with, which might seem like common sense.  However, since there aren’t a lot of holistic doctors that focus on endocrine disorders, some people will settle for a doctor who either isn’t competent, or might be a good doctor but for some other reason they just don’t feel comfortable working with them.  If this is the case then I encourage you to change doctors, as while you can still receive good results under the care of a doctor you are uncomfortable with, you probably will do much better consulting with a doctor that you ARE comfortable with.

5. Keep a positive attitude.  When I was diagnosed with Graves’Disease, due to my background I probably was somewhat more optimistic than most people are before beginning a natural treatment protocol.  However, this doesn’t mean that I didn’t have my own fears and doubts, as it’s normal to wonder whether these treatment methods will be successful in restoring your health back to normal, and I definitely was a little bit skeptical.  However, no matter how skeptical you might be, it will only benefit you to be positive before you begin such a protocol.  Once again, the mental and emotional component of your recovery is important, and shouldn’t be overlooked.  Despite what you might think or what others tell you, attitude is important.

So these are some of the things you will want to do in order to prepare for a natural thyroid treatment protocol.  Without question, making such changes can be a challenge, but it usually is easier when you make them ahead of time, rather than wait until you actually begin such a protocol.  Plus, you very well might begin feeling better from a symptomatic perspective even before you begin the actual natural thyroid treatment protocol.

In order to achieve optimal thyroid health, one needs to have a properly functioning digestive system.  After all, if a person is unable to digest their food properly, this can lead to nutritional deficiencies, affect their immunity, as well as other systems of the body.  This in turn can ultimately lead to the development of a thyroid condition, or can worsen an existing thyroid disorder.  I’m not suggesting that constipation by itself will directly cause a thyroid condition.  And of course constipation can be caused by a hypothyroid condition.  However, while a thyroid condition can in turn lead to constipation, most people who don’t move their bowels on their daily basis also have problems with their digestive system, and this need to be addressed in order to achieve optimal thyroid health.

I’ll discuss the relationship between hypothyroidism and constipation shortly, but first let’s take a basic look at the digestive process.  One obviously needs to eat something in order for digestion to occur.  Then once they chew their food, the stomach acid will further break it down, and the nutrients from the food is then used to supply nourishment and fuel to the cells, etc.  Ultimately the digestive process concludes through eliminating the toxins in your body, which happens when you have a bowel movement.  Obviously the digestive process is more complex than this, but the overall point is that having a healthy digestive system involves having regular bowel movements.

In order to further understand how constipation can potentially affect thyroid health, it’s good to know some of the different factors which can cause constipation to develop.  The most common problems are nutritional in nature, as sometimes just eating more fiber-rich foods can correct this problem.  However, this alone doesn’t always help.  Take my personal example, as I was constipated for many years growing up, and would only have one or two weekly bowel movements.  When I began chiropractic school and started eating healthy, just incorporating fiber-based foods such as apples, seeds, and increasing my vegetable intake didn’t help too much.

How To Correct Constipation When You’ve Had It For Many Years

Part of the reason behind this is that you can’t correct years of eating junk simply by making a switch to eating health foods again.  Don’t get me wrong, as eating healthy is important to correct this problem, but doing this alone isn’t the solution.  For someone who has had such problems for many years, usually a detoxification is required.  However, this too also doesn’t always solve the problem.  Sometimes people’s systems are so screwed up that they need additional support to correct this problem.

So if you have been suffering from constipation for many years, this is what I would recommend for you do in order to correct this problem for good:

1. Begin cutting out the refined foods from your diet and eat more whole foods, especially fiber-rich foods such as apples, raw nuts and seeds, plenty of fresh vegetables, etc.  Eating organic meats and eggs are fine, but they don’t provide you with the fiber you need.  This another reason why it’s important to have a “balanced” diet. 

2. Drink plenty of purified water.  You should drink at least half of your body weight in ounces.  For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, then you want to drink at least 70 ounces of pure water each day.  Keeping well hydrated is important to prevent constipation.

3. See a holistic doctor (not necessarily a natural endocrine doctor, although this of course would be fine), and have them put you on a detoxification program.  Not everyone needs to go on a detoxification program, but most people can benefit from one.  And rather than you try doing it on your own, it’s best to consult with an expert, and there are many holistic doctors out there that can help you with this. 

4. If the problem persists, taking some nutritional supplements or herbs on a temporary basis might be required to help restore your digestive health.  There are certain supplements and herbs which can be helpful in in restoring someone’s digestive health.  So some people will not only need to eat a diet high in fiber-rich foods and drink plenty of purified water, but will also need to take certain supplements and herbs to help with their digestive system.  And in some cases a second or third detoxification will be necessary over time to fully restore someone’s digestive health.

The Role Of Hypothyroidism & Constipation

If you have hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, then your lack of bowel movements might be due to this condition, rather than nutritional problems.  Or it might be a combination of both factors.  Either way, the goal will be to control the hypothyroid symptoms, whether it’s by taking thyroid hormone, or by following a natural thyroid treatment protocol.  Of course my preference is to try to correct the hypothyroid condition naturally, if at all possible.        

In summary, millions of people suffer from constipation, and while this usually won’t directly lead to a thyroid condition, in some cases it can contribute to the symptoms, and it definitely can have an impact on restoring your health back to normal if beginning a natural thyroid treatment protocol.  There are two reasons why I wrote this post.  The first is because many people suffer from constipation and rely on medication or other methods in order to move their bowels.  So I wanted to discuss ways to help restore their digestive health so they will eventually be able to move their bowels daily.  The second reason why I wrote this is to reinforce the message that digestive health is important to anyone who has a thyroid condition.  In fact, one can argue that proper digestion and elimination is the most important factor when following any natural thyroid treatment protocol.  So if you have constipation, or any other digestive issues, you definitely need to get them addressed.

Those people who have followed me on this blog for awhile know how I frequently talk about eating whole foods, mostly organic if possible, and how you should minimize your consumption of refined foods, drink purified water, etc.  In this post I’d like to focus on some of the artificial ingredients that are put in many of our foods.  Now obviously this won’t be a problem for you if all you do is consume organic foods and drink purified water.  But I realize that most people who are reading this information don’t only eat organic foods.  Heck, even I don’t eat a diet consisting of 100% organic foods!  But whenever I go the the grocery store to buy food, I avoid buying foods that have artificial colors, flavors, etc.

The truth is, even if you want to continue buying refined foods, you can still easily avoid purchasing products that include artificial ingredients.  For example, let’s take a look at breakfast cereals.  There are many different sugary breakfast cereals which include artificial colors and/or flavors.  I actually grew up eating many of these, as every morning I would have a bowl of Froot Loops, or another sugary cereal (Lucky Charms, Fruity Pebbles, Apple Jacks, etc.).  And while these cereals may taste good, many natural breakfast cereals without artificial ingredients taste pretty good as well. 

As you might have guessed, I recommend minimizing the consumption of ANY breakfast cereal.  In any case, if you were to compare two cereals side by side, one with artificial ingredients,and another with natural ingredients, it probably wouldn’t be a surprise if the cereal with the artificial ingredients tasted better to you.  After all, the artificial colors make some of these cereals look more appealing, and some people are addicted to foods high in sugar.  Without question, most children would prefer the cereal with artificial ingredients as well.

But it all comes down to what we’re accustomed to.  In other words, I do let my children eat breakfast cereal from time to time.  However, when we purchase cereal, we make sure they are low in sugar, and without artificial ingredients.  While my two beautiful girls probably would prefer eating Froot Loops or Lucky Charms, we don’t give them that junk.  So since they’re not exposed to these junk cereals, they’re not used to eating the cereals that look good and are high in sugar, and therefore they enjoy the taste of the natural cereal.  On the other hand, if we gave them Froot Loops or another sugary cereal for breakfast every day, and then suddenly switched to a natural cereal that was low in sugar, they probably would rebel.  And the same concept applies to other types of foods.  Once again, we try to minimize the amount of refined foods that our children eat, but when we do purchase refined foods for them, we make sure that they are free of any artificial ingredients.

If you have children and currently are giving them cereal and other foods which contain artificial ingredients, then it can be challenging to make the transition to natural foods.  In other words, upon purchasing natural foods they probably will rebel, but of course as they get older they will appreciate this move, realizing that you did it because you were concerned for their health.

If you would like to know some of the risks of consuming these artificial dyes, you can check out the following report, which is a real eye-opener. 

http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/food-dyes-rainbow-of-risks.pdf  

This is a 68-page report that goes into detail about the specific dyes, and the potential risks involved.  These dyes that are commonly placed in the foods we eat (Red Dye #40, Yellow #5, Yellow #6, etc.) can potentially cause cancer, genetic mutations, and other health conditions.  And while you might argue that there is no guarantee eating foods which contain these artificial preservatives will cause any health issues, why take the chance when there are natural foods that for the most part taste just as good?

You might wonder why companies choose to use artificial dyes when they can use natural ingredients.  As usual, it comes down to profit, as these artificial ingredients are usually cheaper to include, and are also more stable than most natural ingredients.  So while some companies have made the switch and now use natural ingredients, many continue to use artificial colors and flavorings.

Just as is the case with all “bad foods”, eating foods with artificial ingredients on an occasional basis probably won’t do you harm, unless if you happen to be severely allergic to any of these ingredients.  But assuming this is not the case, then it’s usually no big deal to eat such foods every now and then.  However, most people consume these artificial ingredients on a regular basis.  This of course includes millions of children, who are only eating these potentially harmful ingredients because they’re given to them by their parents.  And I’m not trying to give anyone reading this a guilt trip, as I’m just stating the facts.

Of course I realize that many people buy these foods with artificial ingredients because they are less expensive than natural foods.  And I’m not suggesting that you eat only organic foods.  In fact, even if you choose not to eat any organic foods due to the high cost, you still can purchase non-organic foods with natural ingredients for a reasonable cost.  Sure, they won’t be as cheap as junk food, but we’re talking about your health here.  And if you and your family eat these toxins on a daily basis, over the years this is likely to create health problems, which obviously will cost you money to address.  So over the long term you’re really not saving much money, and at the same time are risking your health by eating foods with artificial ingredients.

What I would recommend is for you to create a list of everything you eat, and then see how you can replace any foods which have artificial ingredients with foods that consist of natural ingredients.  Of course replacing refined foods with whole foods will solve this problem, but even if you choose to eat some refined foods, try to eat foods that only contain natural ingredients.  If you don’t care about your health (which I’m guessing you do care or you wouldn’t be reading this), at least consider the health of any children or grandchildren you have who don’t have a choice but to eat the foods you buy.

For those who eventually follow a natural thyroid treatment protocol and have their health restored back to normal, it is important to maintain their health thereafter.  In other words, if you restore your health through natural treatment methods, and then begin eating poorly again, neglect your sleep, and go back to the same habits you had BEFORE you followed such a protocol, there is a good chance you will suffer a relapse.  Now with that being said, I don’t expect anyone to lead a PERFECT lifestyle.  But you still need to maintain a healthy lifestyle with regards to the following factors most of the time if you want to continue feeling good and being in an optimal state of health:

1. Your Eating Habits. When first beginning a natural treatment protocol, I recommend that everyone completely eliminate all refined foods from their diet, avoid gluten products, try only to eat organic meats, and drink only purified water.  Then after the first month or two, many people can begin incorporating some gluten foods again, can eat a minimal amount of bread products, etc.  But what is the “thyroid diet” one should follow after they have fully restored their health back to normal?  Well, it honestly depends on the individual, as some people might be allergic to certain types of foods, such as gluten, and therefore they shouldn’t eat any gluten-based foods even after their condition is cured.  Obviously gluten is just one example, as there are numerous other foods people can be allergic to.

On the other hand, those who aren’t sensitive to gluten can eat a minimal amount of gluten-based foods.  Heck, even drinking soda or sweet tea every now and then usually won’t cause severe problems.  The problem is that many people don’t know how to control their “urges”.  In other words, they don’t have just one or two sodas each month, but instead go back to their old habits of having multiple sodas each week, or perhaps even drinking this “liquid sugar” on a daily basis.  Obviously I’m just using soda as an example, as this can apply to any ‘bad” food.

I’ve mentioned numerous times in other posts and articles that I don’t eat a perfect diet.  I do try to eat mostly whole foods, and primarily drink purified water.  But I also eat some refined foods on an occasional basis as well.  And while it’s rare that I drink soda, occasionally I will have a sweet tea or something else other than water.  But again, this isn’t something I do on a regular basis.  In fact, I can’t remember the last time I drank anything other than water, as it’s been a few months. 

It’s not always easy to eat well, but I just realize that most of this is a “mental game”, as while I always have the opportunity to eat or drink something that’s bad for me, I realize that the few minutes of instant gratification isn’t worth it.  In other words, if I was going out to eat and had the choice of having French fries or steamed vegetables with my meal, I would probably enjoy eating the French fries more, but the vegetables are obviously better for me, and I will feel better both from a physical and mental standpoint after eating the healthier food.

Of course for people who haven’t yet followed a natural treatment protocol, this is usually more than a “mental” game.  Some people have severe sweet and carbohydrate cravings which need to be addressed.  In other words, “willpower” alone probably won’t be enough to stop eating such foods.  But once a person has restored their health and are accustomed to eating well, these cravings are more mental than physical.

2. Nutritional Supplementation.  Once you begin eating better and correct your specific nutritional deficiencies, you of course won’t need to take as many nutritional supplements as you would while following a natural thyroid treatment protocol.  However, since most people don’t eat a 100% organic diet consisting only of healthy whole foods, most people still do need to take some supplements.  At the very least most people need to take a quality multi-mineral vitamin and a fatty acid.  Most people who are iodine deficient will also need to continue supplementing with iodine, mainly because they won’t be able to get the iodine they need from their diet.

Similarly, there are other nutritional deficiencies that you might not be able to fully address through what you eat.  So for example, some of the supplements I continue to take include iodine, magnesium, liquid Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, some trace minerals, along with fatty acids.  I also take digestive enzymes as well.  This doesn’t mean that everyone needs to take these same supplements, but my point is that most people do need to continue taking some nutritional supplements even after their health has been restored back to normal.

3. Obtaining Sufficient Sleep.  I’m sure you know that even after your health has been restored back to normal that it’s important to continue getting sufficient sleep each night.  Not doing this will eventually fatigue your adrenal glands, and once again can lead to a relapse.  So regardless of your state of health, you should be getting at least seven to eight hours sleep each night, and many recommend getting more sleep than this.

4. Exercising Regularly.  While many people don’t like to exercise, there are many health benefits that come along with exercising on a regular basis.  And it’s not just about losing weight, as exercising regularly keeps your heart muscles strong, can help you have regular bowel movements (along with incorporating other factors), will reduce your stress levels, and has many other benefits.  I personally go to the local YMCA and rotate between the rowing machine and exercise bike, along with some free weights.  However, you don’t need to join a gym, as even walking 30 minutes three to five days a week is sufficient. 

5. Managing The Stress In Your Life.  Many people have a difficult time managing the stress in their life, which can be a big factor in restoring one’s health, as well as maintaining it.  Some people have a difficult time recovering from a thyroid condition simply because they can’t modify the stress response.  While nobody will be able to eliminate the stress from their life completely, most people can improve their stress handling skills, which is essential to restore someone’s health to normal.  And just like the other factors I’ve discussed thus far, continuing to manage one’s stress after restoring your health is important. 

6. Minimizing Your Exposure To Environmental Toxins.  Exposure to certain toxins over a prolonged period of time can potentially lead to the development of a thyroid condition.  So not only should you avoid these toxins while trying tor restore your health back to normal, but once your condition has been cured, it is still important to try minimizing your exposure to these toxins as much as you can.

In summary, after restoring your health back to normal through a natural thyroid treatment protocol, it is essential to continue following the factors of health I’ve mentioned above.  Doing so will help you to maintain an optimal state of health.  On the other hand, if you go back to your old habits, there is an excellent chance that over time you will develop the same problems again.