Naturopathic Treatments For Hyperthyroidism

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Your thyroid is an important part of your endocrine system.

It creates two important hormones that control your body’s metabolism, T4 and T3 hormones.

When your thyroid produces too much T3 and T4, it causes a condition called hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism can cause you to experience many uncomfortable symptoms.

The good news is that are many natural remedies to help your thyroid regulate its hormone production.

My name is Dr Kimberly Dawdy, ND, and I am a thyroid naturopathic doctor in Ottawa who can help.

Now, let’s find out more about hyperthyroidism.

What Is Hyperthyroidism?

Your thyroid is a small organ that is part of your endocrine system.

It can be found in the front of your neck.

The main purpose of your thyroid is to produce hormones that help regulate systems in your body, like your metabolism.

Your thyroid produces hormones like T3, which is also called triiodothyronine and T4, known as thyroxine.

These two hormones control your metabolism and how your cells use energy.

When your thyroid produces too much of these hormones, it causes a thyroid disorder called hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism speeds up the metabolic functions of your body, which can cause many different uncomfortable symptoms.

How Do You Know If You Have Hyperthyroidism?

If you’re on the lookout for hyperthyroidism, there are some symptoms you might want to know about.

However, it’s important to remember that some of these symptoms can be shared with other health conditions, like anxiety.

The main symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism are:

Persistent bowel movements
Overheating easily
Fatigue
Difficulty sleeping
Irregular or rapid pulse
Weight loss
Increased appetite
Bulging eyes

Hyperthyroidism can also cause your thyroid to swell into a goitre.

When your thyroid swells into a goitre, it turns into a visible bulge at the base of your neck.

If you have a goitre, it’s also a sign that you might be deficient in a nutrient called iodine.

If left untreated for a long period of time, hyperthyroidism can cause hair loss and brittle hair.

It can also lead to serious heart complications in some people, with symptoms like:

Congestive heart failure
Atrial fibrillation
Cardiac dilation
Hypertension
Sudden cardiac arrest
Loss of consciousness

What Causes Hyperthyroidism?

There are many different causes of hyperthyroidism.

The most common cause is an autoimmune disorder called Graves’ disease.

Graves’ disease causes your immune system to attack your thyroid with antibodies.

This causes your thyroid to release more hormones than your body needs, and can eventually lead to hyperthyroidism.

Another condition that can cause hyperthyroidism is called thyroiditis.

Thyroiditis causes your thyroid to swell and release either too many or too few hormones.

If it causes your thyroid to release too many hormones, it can result in hyperthyroidism.

If you have too much iodine in your diet, you can temporarily experience hyperthyroidism.

This is because iodine is one of the key ingredients in T4 and T3.

An abundance of iodine in your body can cause your thyroid to make too many hormones.

Finally, there are some kinds of tumors that can cause hyperthyroidism.

Tumors on your thyroid, ovaries, or testes could all cause this condition.

There are even some types of thyroid tumours that produce thyroid hormones by themselves.

Naturopathic Solutions For Hyperthyroidism

If you have an overactive thyroid, naturopathic medicine could be a great option for you.

Naturopathic medicine can help you manage your overactive thyroid in a gentle, natural way.

A naturopathic doctor can help you understand what nutrients will help you and adjust your diet in an affordable way.

Your naturopathic doctor may also recommend stress management and exercise to help support your thyroid health.

Stress management and exercise can also help reduce the symptoms you experience.

For now, let’s take a look at some of the ways you can adjust your diet if you experience hyperthyroidism.

1. Eat A Hyperthyroid Diet

Eating a hyperthyroid diet can be very beneficial for improving your thyroid function.

What does this look like?

Well, there are some foods that are helpful to your thyroid, and others that are harmful.

Let’s take a look at some of the foods you can consider adding to your diet and others that you can consider removing from your diet.

Foods To Add

There are certain types of food that can be really helpful for your thyroid if you eat more of them.

Whole foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins are all great options.

Juices from greens like kale, spinach, and spirulina also contain important nutrients for your thyroid.

Bone broth is another great food option.

It supports detoxification and helps to combat leaky gut issues that can increase your symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

Finally, anti inflammatory herbs like basil, rosemary, and oregano all support improved thyroid function.

Foods To Subtract

Foods to subtract from your diet can be more important than the healthy foods you’ve added to your diet.

Specifically, you’ll want to lower the amount of iodine you eat.

Sometimes, the first thing your naturopathic doctor will do is actually to prescribe a low iodine diet.

This is because eating a low iodine diet will help your thyroid medication be more effective.

It can also work along with the foods you may add to your diet to improve your thyroid’s functioning.

Some iodine rich foods to consider removing from your diet include:

Kelp
Dulse seaweed
Iodized salt
Seafood

If you take any multivitamins or supplements, it’s also important to double check the ingredients.

This is because many supplements and multivitamins also contain iodine.

Some studies have shown that avoiding gluten and soy can also be helpful for your thyroid health.

Finally, excess sugar, artificial flavouring and dyes, and heavily processed foods can all contribute to your hyperthyroidism symptoms.

That’s because each of these things can cause inflammation in your body.

This contributes to the risk of developing an autoimmune disorder, or can worsen one you already have, like Graves’ disease.

2. Bugleweed

Bugleweed is an herb that is part of the mint family.

Some studies have shown that it can work as a thyroid suppressant.

This means that it can help decrease your hyperthyroidism symptoms.

However, more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness for reducing symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

3. L Carnitine

L carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid derivative.

There are many benefits of L carnitine, including the reversal and prevention of heart palpitations, tremors, and fatigue.

All of these are common symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

You can find L carnitine in meat, fish, and dairy products, as well as in supplement form.

4. Supplement With Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 deficiency is often associated with hyperthyroidism.

Common signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency are weakness, dizziness, and fatigue.

These are also common signs of hyperthyroidism.

The good news is that there are many different B12 supplements available that can help manage your hyperthyroid symptoms.

5. Supplement with Selenium

Finally, selenium is another naturopathic option for managing hyperthyroidism because it helps support your immune system.

It’s a mineral that can be found in water, soil, and certain foods like nuts, beef, fish, and grains.

You can also take it in supplement form, which is the most reliable method.

It’s a good idea to consult your naturopathic doctor before you begin taking selenium supplements.

This is because there are certain medications that it shouldn’t be taken in combination with.

Still, it’s commonly used if you have hyperthyroidism, especially Graves’ disease.

Book Your Appointment With Dawdy Naturopathic Today

As a naturopathic doctor with a special interest in your thyroid, I can help you to find the best natural treatments to help manage your hyperthyroidism.

After completing an evaluation, I will work with you to reduce your symptoms so that you can focus on what matters most.

Book your appointment with Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND, today.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND
Dawdy Naturopathic Clinic
6899 Sunset Blvd,
Greely, ON K4P 1C5
-https://g.page/dawdynaturopathicclinic

Dawdy Naturopathic Clinic offers a variety of naturopathic health solutions for individuals and families in Ottawa and the surrounding area.