Hypothyroidism is a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland is underactive. When this happens, your body may not be able to produce enough of the hormone thyroxine (T4), which regulates your metabolism. Hypothyroidism can cause many symptoms, including fatigue, weight gain and muscle weakness. However, there are several natural therapies for hypothyroidism that can help improve your condition without taking synthetic medications or undergoing invasive procedures such as surgery or radiation therapy.
What is The Thyroid?
The thyroid, or thyroids, are two butterfly-shaped glands located in the neck. They produce hormones that regulate your body’s metabolism. The gland uses iodine from food to make these hormones and release them into your blood stream.
Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid does not produce enough hormones (hypo- means “low”). This causes symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue and depression. If you have any of these symptoms it may be worth getting tested for hypothyroidism by your doctor or healthcare provider
Thyroid Testing
Thyroid testing is a common way to test your thyroid function. It can be done through blood tests and ultrasound.
Blood tests are the most common way to test thyroid function, but they’re not always accurate because they don’t measure the actual amount of thyroid hormone in your body. Ultrasound is a painless way to test thyroid function by measuring how quickly or slowly your heart beats during rest and exercise (the results give us information about how well your body uses oxygen).
Thyroid Treatment Options
Thyroid hormone replacement and therapy are the two most common types of treatment for hypothyroidism.
- Hormone replacement therapy involves taking synthetic T4 and T3 hormones to replace those that your body does not produce enough of. The synthetic versions can be taken as pills or given through an injection, depending on what’s best for you and your doctor’s recommendation. This form of treatment is typically used when someone has been diagnosed with severe hypothyroidism, but it may also be prescribed if a person has other health conditions that would make them more susceptible to complications from taking natural thyroid hormones without first consulting their physician (elderly patients or people with heart disease).
- Thyroid hormone replacement therapy involves taking both T4 and T3 medications together in order to achieve optimal levels in your bloodstream–the same way they would occur naturally if everything were working properly within your endocrine system.
4 Natural Treatments for Hypothyroidism
There are a variety of natural treatments for hypothyroidism. The most common include:
- Thyroid hormone replacement therapy (also called T4). This involves taking synthetic thyroid hormones that replace what the body is not producing on its own, as well as iodine supplementation and vitamin D supplementation.
- Iodine supplementation can help increase levels of this essential mineral in your body and encourage the production of thyroid hormones. It’s important to note here that you should only take iodine supplements if you have been diagnosed with an iodine deficiency by a doctor or integrative healthcare practitioner, because too much iodine can cause serious side effects like Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland) or Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).
- Vitamin D helps regulate many functions within our bodies including metabolism, immune system function, bone health and more! Make sure you’re getting enough by getting outside every day during summer months when possible so your skin can naturally synthesize vitamin D from sunlight exposure 🙂
Get the treatment you need for hypothyroidism with natural therapies.
If you’re looking for natural treatment of thyroid in Minneapolis, look no further than The Center for Natural Healing. Our expert staff will help you find a treatment plan that works best with your unique needs and goals. We offer a variety of services including:
- Hypothyroidism treatment
- Hyperthyroidism treatment
- Thyroid cancer treatment
- Thyroid nodule removal
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you understand your options for treating hypothyroidism. If you’re looking for a natural approach, we recommend starting with some of the treatments we discussed above: diet changes, exercise and yoga (which can help with stress levels), acupuncture (which balances hormones), or herbal supplements like Saint-John’s-wort and ginseng root extract. If those aren’t working, explore other therapies such as massage therapy or energy healing sessions!
