Hypothyroidism is an underactivity of the thyroid resulting in too little production of thyroid hormone. Although it may be caused by a variety of diseases that affect the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, this condition is due primarily to disorders of the thyroid gland itself.
Orthodox therapy is based upon taking thyroid hormone daily to replace what is not there. Often this must remain the basis of therapy, in which case therapy will aim at helping the body deal with the repercussions of the condition. The use of bitters (herbs that have a bitter taste) in mild cases is sometimes enough and is sure to be beneficial.
Kelp:
has been used in the past; although it has much to offer, it is only truly specific where iodine deficiency is present.
Hypothyroidism accelerates the onset of atherosclerosis; thus coronary artery disease may occur because of deposits of mucopolysaccharides in the heart muscle. This damage may be lessened through the use of cardiovascular tonics such as:
hawthorn, ginkgo and garlic:
Relieving some aspects of the symptomatic distress may be achieved with herbs. Chronic constipation may be alleviated with laxatives.
Hepatic laxatives are the best, as they support liver function; examples include:
- yellow dock
- and butternut.
In extreme cases, strong purgatives
- (e.g., cascara sagrada or senna)
may be called for. Nervine tonics and other varieties of nervine may be indicated, but avoid the stronger relaxing remedies such as :
- hops
- and valerian.
Antidepressant plants such as :
- St. John’s wort
- and mugwort can also be helpful.
Adapted from Herbal Prescriptions After 50: Everything You Need to Know to Maintain Vibrant Health, by David Hoffman (Healing Arts Press, 2007).
When You're Hypothyroid, What You Can Do to Jumpstart Your Metabolism
When you're hypothyroid, fatigue, difficulty losing weight, or continued weight gain can all be attributable to a drop in the metabolism that frequently accompanies hypothyroidism. Even after your hypothyroidism is properly treated with thyroid hormone replacement, you may find that your metabolism has not bounced back to where it was before. This sluggishness in your metabolism can leave you feeling exhausted, and finding that you can't lose weight, despite a healthy low-calorie diet.
Here are some ways you can help revive and boost your metabolism.
Make sure you eat breakfast
If you don't eat breakfast, you slow down your metabolism and send the body into "hoard mode," thinking it's starving because you're going a long period of time frequently 8 to 10 hours or more, without food.
Eat the majority of your food earlier in the day
Dinner should be your lightest meal, and some experts recommend you don't anything after 8 p.m., or any later than 3 to 4 hours before bedtime. This helps your body process and burn the food when you're aware and moving around and burning more calories per hour.
Don't starve
Dropping your calorie intake below 1,000 calories a day will signal to your body that you are in starvation mode, and will slow down your metabolism.
Eat smaller meals more frequently
Smaller, more frequent meals keeps your blood sugar stable and provides a steady source of energy to fuel metabolism.
Get enough aerobic exercise
As much as you can is really a help for your metabolism, and if you do it in the morning, you'll raise your metabolism all day.
Build muscle with weight training or resistance exercise
At least two to three times a week, you should add weight training or progressive resistance exercise that builds muscle. Muscle burns more calories than fat, and the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn, even at rest!
Water, water, water!!
You've heard it before, but drink those 8 8-ounce glasses of water every day. The energy burning process of metabolism needs water to work effectively.
Get enough B vitamins
Among supplements, if you are suffering from flagging energy, you need to make sure that you are getting enough B vitamins. Vitamin B-12 in particular is one that is essential for energy. To ensure you're getting enough B vitamins, consider taking a B complex, plus a separate sublingual B-12.
Try Chinese Herbs
In terms of herbal remedies, while you should avoid ephedra and ma huang stimulants, you can ask your practitioner about schizandra--a Chinese herb that is used for fatigue. Ginseng is also popular for energy. Before trying any herbs, supplements, or vitamins, you should of course consult with your practitioner to ensure they are safe for you. Ginseng, for example, is not recommended for someone with high blood pressure and many herbs and supplements are not recommended during pregnancy.
Try mate tea
As a person with hypothyroidism, unquestionably, mate tea. Mate, pronounced, "mah-tay," is an herbal tea native to South America. Mate is considered far more nutritious than black tea or coffee, and though it also has some caffeine, its effects are energizing, rather than making people jittery.
Consider Energy Work
Energy and bodywork , such as yoga, tai chi, qigong (pronounced chee-gung), and Reiki, can all help in adding and balancing energy. In qigong, tai chi, and yoga, gentle movements are used to move energy along the energy pathways of the body
(Remember to always check with your practitioner before starting any herbs or supplements.)
What Causes Thyroid Disease?
Thyroglobulin protein is found in the thyroid gland. Thyroglobulin protein binds to iodine to form hormones. A thyroid condition occurs when too much or too little thyroglobulin protein in the thyroid binds to iodine.
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