Thyroid health

Nature’s solutions for thyroid health

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP & Dixie Mills, MD

We find that in addition to the latest research showing why plants, herbs, and minerals can do the impressive things they do for our thyroid health, hearing from women who are feeling better without prescription medication also proves just how effective nature’s remedies can be.

So let us introduce you to Brooke, a young professional who was diagnosed in her 30’s with subclinical hypothyroidism by her functional medicine practitioner. Her symptoms of unusually itchy skin and weight gain at first had seemed unrelated. Brooke lived in a northern state, so she was used to moisturizing during the winter — as well as to putting on a few pounds to battle the cold.

But when she found the itching was so severe she had to hide in a conference room to scratch, Brooke knew something was wrong. Especially since her mother had been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and put on prescription medicine when she was 42.

After hearing her thyroid health wasn’t ideal, Brooke knew she simply wasn’t comfortable with medication as her only option — because of her age and the experience of her mother (who still had symptoms). Brooke instead did some research, worked with her practitioner, and chose to try a natural approach. Within six weeks of taking supplements, she started to find relief.

If you’re concerned about your thyroid health, let’s take a closer look at how natural solutions can help you feel better by offering your thyroid the support it needs:

How plants and minerals support your thyroid

Your thyroid affects — and is influenced by — almost every system in your body. As a result, thyroid symptoms may appear if your thyroid gland is not producing enough thyroid hormones or because there are imbalances throughout the body that are interfering with your thyroid function.

Depending on your personal needs, specific plants and minerals may:

• Provide a boost in energy (fatigue is one of the top complaints we hear from women about thyroid issues)
• Help maintain thyroid hormone production
• Help support healthy thyroid cell metabolism
• Provide support without requiring you to be on prescription medication for the rest of your life

Even if you are already taking medication for hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), providing natural support through plants and minerals may be a good option to help support your body and may lead to a reduction in the amount of medication you need to take.

Get started with our Personal Program for Thyroid Support.

My natural prescription for thyroid support

We believe the complex relationship between systems is why plant and mineral support is so important for anyone concerned about their thyroid health. The trace minerals of iodine and selenium are the most well-known natural remedies, but lesser-known options may make a big difference too.

Many other plants and minerals have the ability to adapt and change to support your body in different ways by mimicking what your body is able to do naturally when it is working at its best. This is known as the “adaptogenic effect,” and it allows your body to use what it needs — even if you don’t know exactly what is wrong.

Your thyroid support apothecary

You can discover a variety of natural remedies in our natural apothecary and learn more by clicking to find how each provides support for your thyroid. We have included many of them in our T-Balance, part of our Personal Program for Thyroid Support.

Source for achyranthes aspera image: caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/mavica/index.html part of www.biolib.de

We always recommend that you keep your health care provider informed of any natural remedies you are using, or to check in regularly and report any changes.

A lifetime of feeling better

We talked with Brooke again recently. She is relieved not to be looking at a lifetime of prescription medication. And, she is encouraging her mother to add supplements to her routine to see if the extra support can help her manage her remaining symptoms.

Brooke also tells us that in addition to finding relief from the dry skin and weight gain, she is experiencing more energy — both at work (where she just received a promotion) and with her exercise routine.

We know that every woman’s symptoms and situation are different. That’s why it is so important for you as an individual to understand all your options so that you may consider what is best. For many women, nature’s remedies may offer a good first step.

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Last Modified Date: 11/29/2011