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.