Called underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) is where your thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. Common signs of an underactive thyroid are tiredness feeling sluggish, weight gain or have difficulty losing weight, have dry skin, hair loss, constipation, cold sensitivity, sweating or lack of it, feeling depressed.

It is a very common problem.

All the cells of our body use thyroid hormones to regulate our metabolism. These hormones regulate our weight through controlling the burning of fat for energy and heat. The optimal function of our brain and development in children requires these hormones too.

Types of Hypothyroidism

Primary Hypothyroidism

It is the dysfunction of the thyroid gland. Close to the 95% of the cases of this disease, it starts with a thyroid gland that is not functioning. The two most common causes are: Hashimoto´s Thyroiditis and the overactive thyroid caused by the medical overtreatment of hyperthyroidism. 

Secondary Hypothyroidism

When there is a problem with the pituitary gland, but these cases are rare and are usually due to a pituitary tumor. When this happen, the pituitary gland will stop producing thyrotropin (TSH), that affect the thyroid’s ability to produce its own hormones, causing it to shrink and become weak.

Tertiary Hypothyroidism

Certain related disorders of the hypothalamus may cause what’s known as tertiary hypothyroidism. (The hypothalamus is the part of the brain that controls the endocrine system.)

Possible underlying conditions include:

·      Tumor of the hypothalamus.

·      Radiation to the brain.

·      Cretinism, manifested with severe hypothyroidism that is present at birth.

·      Babies without a properly functioning of the thyroid gland maybe because the thyroid gland is underdeveloped or missing

·      Pregnant women, with hypothyroidism, or develops it during pregnancy.

·      Hemochromatosis (an inherited disorder): the abnormally high absorption of iron by the intestinal tract, resulting in excessive storage of iron.

SYMPTOMS

“Clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism range from life threatening to no signs or symptoms. The most common symptoms in adults are fatigue, lethargy, cold intolerance, weight gain, constipation, change in voice, and dry skin, but clinical presentation can differ with age and sex, among other factors. The standard treatment is thyroid hormone replacement therapy with levothyroxine. However, a substantial proportion of patients who reach biochemical treatment targets have persistent complaints.”

Why Hypothyroidism is a common problem?

There are some reasons for this, like drinking chlorinated and fluoridated water, and eating brominated flour.

This substances, chlorine, fluoride, and bromine from part of the same family of iodine, and can displace iodine in your thyroid gland.

A second cause, is because many people aren’t taking enough iodine in their diet. The amount of iodine that we obtain from iodized salt is just barely enough to prevent you from getting a goiter.

The third principal cause is heavy metals toxicity that produce a functional form of hypothyroidism. This is related with an elevated reverse T3 levels. An interesting fact is that 95% of the time, the people that have an elevated reverse T3 levels can revert this and go back to normal after receiving a therapy with chelation EDTA and DMPS, these substances can draw out heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, and other toxic metals)

Natural Treatment

In order to maintain a healthy thyroid is fundamental to intake enough Iodine from your diet (seafood like algae, principally) if this is not possible, we recommend you to take some supplements, like seaweed, but be sure that is not contaminated with radioactivity, or you can take some whole food that contain iodine. 

·       Avoid chlorine, fluoride, and bromine because all are in the same family as iodine, and can displace iodine in your thyroid gland.

·       It is recommended that women take about 6 mg of iodine per day, and men about 3 mg per day to protect their thyroid (and will protect your breast too).

·       Detoxification from heavy metals when hypothyroidism is related to elevated reverse T3 levels caused by heavy metal toxicity.

For more information contact: 

Amazing Natural Medicine

Phone: 44- 756 2425 749

Email: info@amazingnaturalmedicine.org

Silvia Rojas Reyes, N.D., Health & Life Couch

 (Specialist in Lifestyle Medicine, Harvard)

CNHC Registered