Hashimoto's
What is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system mounts an attack on the thyroid gland resulting in a slow destruction of the gland over time. As the immune cells concentrate in the gland, they cannot differentiate between thyroid tissue and a foreign invader such as a bacteria or virus. As the thyroid tissue is destroyed, the production of thyroid hormone declines and worsening hypothyroidism ensues.
Diagnosing Hashimoto's
Patients are often symptomatic for years prior to their diagnosis. The standard of care for thyroid testing is a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) level. The problem with this narrow view is, by the time a TSH becomes abnormal from Hashimoto’s, extensive damage has already been done to the gland. Specific thyroid antibodies can easily be assessed via blood labs, along with a thyroid ultrasound to assess for physical abnormalities such as inflammation, nodules or tumors.
What are the symptoms of Hashimoto's?
Conventional medicine does not offer a specific treatment to lower thyroid antibodies which are destroying the gland. Identifying the contributing factors that cause Hashimoto’s is crucial to strengthening the immune system and preserving the thyroid gland and its functionality. Some of these factors could include:
- environmental burden
- micronutrient deficiencies
- food intolerances, specifically gluten
- Celiac disease
- other lifestyle factors such as stress and sleep
As thyroid hormone levels decline, replacement of T4 and T3 can be life changing. The use of Low Dose Naltrexone can also be helpful to slow the progression of the disease by acting directly on the immune cells to stimulate or restore normal immune functions.
How to treat Hashimoto's
Conventional medicine does not offer a specific treatment to lower thyroid antibodies which are destroying the gland. Identifying the contributing factors that cause Hashimoto’s is crucial to strengthening the immune system and preserving the thyroid gland and its functionality. Some of these factors could include:
- environmental burden
- micronutrient deficiencies
- food intolerances, specifically gluten
- Celiac disease
- Other lifestyle factors such as stress and sleep
- Consideration of environmental burden, micronutrient deficiencies, food intolerances specifically gluten, Celiac disease and lifestyle factors such as stress and sleep are extremely important in strengthening the immune system
- The use of Low Dose Naltrexone can be helpful to slow the progression of the disease by acting directly on the immune cells to stimulate or restore normal immune functions.
- As thyroid hormone levels decline, replacement of T4 and T3 can be life changing. Various treatment options are available with a trained functional medicine provider.
Treatments we offer for Hashimoto's include:
