Is a synthetic thyroid hormone really necessary for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
Millions of people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis take synthetic thyroid hormone every day. Many of these people are told that they will need to take this for the rest of their lives. But are endocrinologists and other physicians too hasty in making this recommendation for patients with this condition? As a healthcare professional and someone who has personally dealt with an autoimmune thyroid disorder, I believe that in some cases the answer is “yes.”
On the surface, it might seem like common sense to recommend synthetic thyroid hormone to someone who is deficient and cannot produce their own thyroid hormone naturally. After all, we can’t survive without thyroid hormone, and if our bodies don’t make enough or, in some cases, don’t make anything, what other options do we have?
How about natural thyroid hormone? Well, without a doubt, this may be an option for someone with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or other hypothyroidism for that matter. This is especially true of people who do not respond well to synthetic thyroid hormone. There are many people who do not get enough symptomatic relief when they take synthetic thyroid hormone, but they do well when they take a natural form of thyroid hormone, such as Armor or Westhroid.
In fact, many holistic practitioners will recommend natural thyroid hormone over synthetic thyroid hormone to their patients. The problem is that the natural thyroid hormone also does nothing for the real cause of the problem, but simply covers the hypothyroid symptoms.
An option that most doctors don’t consider:
By the way, the point here is not to criticize doctors for recommending synthetic thyroid hormone to their patients. After all, most doctors are simply doing what they were trained to do when they attended medical school, which in most cases means administering some type of prescription medication to help manage symptoms. As for holistic physicians recommending natural thyroid hormone, once again what I am about to say is not intended to criticize these physicians, as most physicians are, of course, only trying to help their patients. In other words, when a doctor recommends natural or synthetic thyroid hormone, he is generally doing what he thinks is best for the patient.
The problem I have with giving everyone with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis synthetic or natural thyroid hormone is that many of these doctors underestimate the self-healing abilities of our bodies. While there are people who definitely need synthetic or natural thyroid hormone, there is also a high percentage of people who take these hormones that can potentially restore the normal function of their own thyroid gland. I am not suggesting that this is an easy process, but neither is losing weight; however, many people are willing to put in the time and do whatever it takes to lose a few pounds.
Similarly, to restore the normal function of your thyroid gland so that it can produce its own thyroid hormone, it will generally take some time and some kind of commitment on your part. I realize that many people agree to taking natural or synthetic thyroid hormone forever, and if this describes you, then that is perfectly fine. However, if you don’t want to take natural or synthetic thyroid hormone for the rest of your life, you may want to consider a natural treatment protocol.
Don’t stop taking your thyroid hormone
Although there is the possibility of restoring the normal function of your thyroid gland through natural treatment methods if you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, I am in no way recommending that you stop taking natural or synthetic thyroid hormone. In fact, I can’t tell you to stop taking your thyroid hormone, even if you wanted to.
In some cases, it is necessary to take natural or synthetic thyroid hormone, such as in some cases where people have received radioactive iodine or had their thyroid gland completely removed by surgery. So everyone’s situation is different, which obviously means that everyone with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis needs to be treated on a case-by-case basis.
Consider Natural Treatment Options for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
If you like the idea of trying to restore your thyroid gland’s normal function through natural treatment methods so that you don’t have to rely on taking natural or synthetic thyroid hormone forever, here are a couple of steps you can take. :
Step # 1: Talk to your endocrinologist or primary care physician. Now, to be honest, most endocrinologists and general practitioners will not support your decision to treat your condition through natural methods. In addition to being skeptical about the effectiveness of natural treatment methods, they will most likely tell you that it can be dangerous to treat an autoimmune thyroid disorder naturally.
The truth is, it CAN be dangerous if not done under the guidance of a competent natural practitioner. Some people will try to treat their condition on their own, while others may consult with a self-proclaimed natural healer with no true credentials. This can certainly be risky and is not recommended.
Step # 2: Consult with a natural practitioner who focuses on endocrine conditions. It is true that it can be difficult to find a holistic practitioner who focuses on endocrine disorders, but they can be found with a little research. You also need to be careful here as some “holistic practitioners” will simply recommend natural thyroid hormone over synthetic thyroid hormone and will do nothing to try to restore normal function of your thyroid gland.
The good news is, you don’t need to see a natural practitioner practicing locally in your area. If you can find a competent natural practitioner within driving distance, then that’s great. But assuming you’ve already been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, there’s no reason why you can’t consult with a natural doctor remotely over the phone and still get great results if you’re determined to be a good candidate for natural treatment methods. . . In fact, remote consultations have some advantages, as there is no need to drive a long distance and / or deal with traffic, wait a long period of time at a doctor’s office, etc. You can simply see a doctor over the phone from the comfort of your home.
In the opening paragraph I mentioned how I was diagnosed with an autoimmune thyroid disorder. Personally, I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, which is a condition of hyperthyroidism. But while it may seem like the complete opposite of a hypothyroid disorder like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, there are several similarities, as both conditions affect the immune system and, in many cases, other areas of the body, such as the adrenal glands.
Both autoimmune thyroid disorders are often labeled “incurable” by most doctors. While I will not tell you that there is a cure for your disorder, I will let you know that many people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves disease have had excellent results through natural treatment methods, and this includes me. And by the way, some of these Hashimoto people who took synthetic thyroid hormone for many years still received great results. Therefore, do not lose hope if you have had your condition for a long period of time.
A big reason that natural treatment methods can be so effective with autoimmune thyroid disorders is because they address the underlying cause of the condition. Rather than simply managing symptoms through medication, a good natural treatment protocol will attempt to strengthen the weakened immune system, address the adrenal glands and other areas that could be contributing to the problem, and ultimately restore normal function of the thyroid gland when This is possible.
Again, this is not to suggest that everyone with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a good candidate for natural treatment methods. There are some people who will not benefit from a natural treatment protocol. On the other hand, there are some people with this condition whose health cannot be fully restored to normal, but may still receive some positive benefits from a natural treatment protocol.
In summary, if you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and are sick and tired of taking natural or synthetic thyroid hormone every day, consider consulting with a natural doctor to see if you are a candidate for natural treatment methods. Try to be open-minded and realize that the body has an amazing ability to heal and regenerate, although sometimes it is true that you need outside help to do so. You have nothing to lose by talking to someone, and you may restore your thyroid gland to normal function so you don’t have to depend on taking medication for the rest of your life.