Millions of people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis take synthetic thyroid hormone daily. Many of these people are told that they will need to take this for the rest of their lives. But are endocrinologists and other doctors too hasty in making this recommendation for patients with this condition? Being 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 may 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 of it, or in some cases produce none at all, what other options do we have?

What about natural thyroid hormone? Well, this can certainly be an option for someone with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or other cases of hypothyroidism. This is especially true with regard to 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 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 to their patients instead of synthetic thyroid hormone. The problem is that the natural thyroid hormone also does nothing for the real cause of the problem, but simply covers up the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

An option that most doctors do not consider:

By the way, the point here is not to criticize doctors for recommending synthetic thyroid hormones to their patients. After all, most doctors are just doing what they were taught to do when they went to medical school, which in most cases means giving some type of prescription medication to help control symptoms. As for holistic doctors who recommend natural thyroid hormone, again, what I am about to say is not meant to be critical of these doctors, as most doctors, of course, are just trying to help their patients. In other words, when a doctor recommends synthetic or natural thyroid hormone, she is generally doing what she believes is best for the patient.

The problem I have with giving synthetic or natural thyroid hormone to everyone with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is that many of these doctors underestimate the self-healing ability of our bodies. While there are people who definitely need synthetic or natural thyroid hormone, there are also a high percentage of people who take these hormones that can potentially restore normal function to their own thyroid gland. I’m not suggesting 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 normal function to your thyroid gland so that it can produce its own thyroid hormone will usually take some time and some kind of commitment on your part. I realize that many people are fine taking synthetic or natural thyroid hormone forever, and if this describes you, then that’s perfectly fine. However, if you do not want to take synthetic or natural thyroid hormone for the rest of your life, then you might consider a natural treatment protocol.

Do not 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 synthetic or natural thyroid hormone. In fact, I can’t tell you to stop taking your thyroid hormone, even if I wanted to.

In some cases, it is necessary to take synthetic or natural thyroid hormone, such as in some cases where people have been given radioactive iodine, or if they 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 normal function to your thyroid gland through natural treatment methods so that you don’t have to rely on taking synthetic or natural thyroid hormone forever, here are a couple of steps you can take:

Step #1: Talk to your endocrinologist or primary care doctor. 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 treating an autoimmune thyroid disorder naturally can be dangerous.

The truth is that it CAN be dangerous, if not done under the guidance of a competent natural practitioner. Some people will attempt to treat their condition on their own, while others may consult with a self-proclaimed natural healer without any real credentials. This can certainly be risky and is not recommended.

Step #2: Consult with a natural practitioner who focuses on endocrine conditions. It’s true that it can be difficult to find a holistic doctor who focuses on endocrine disorders, but you can find them if you do a little research. You should also be careful here, as some “holistic doctors” will simply recommend natural thyroid hormone instead of synthetic thyroid hormone, and will do nothing to try to restore normal function to your thyroid gland.

The good news is that you don’t necessarily need to consult with a natural practitioner who practices locally in your area. If you can find a competent natural doctor within walking distance, then that’s great. But assuming you’ve already been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, there’s no reason you can’t consult with a natural practitioner remotely over the phone and still receive great results if you’re determined to be a good candidate for natural treatment methods. . . In fact, remote consultations have some advantages, since you don’t have to drive a long distance and/or deal with traffic, wait a long time at a doctor’s office, etc. You can simply consult with 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. I personally was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, which is a hyperthyroid condition. 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 of these autoimmune thyroid disorders are often labeled “incurable” by most doctors. While I’m not going to tell you that there is a cure for your disorder, I will tell you 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 people with Hashimoto’s who took synthetic thyroid hormone for many years still had great results. So do not lose hope if you have had this condition for a long period of time.

A big reason why 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 with medication, a good natural treatment protocol will attempt to strengthen the weakened immune system, address the adrenal glands and other areas that might be contributing to the problem, and ultimately restore normal thyroid gland function. when this is possible.

Again, this does not 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 synthetic or natural thyroid hormone every day, consider consulting with a natural practitioner 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 itself, although sometimes it is true that you need outside help to do this. You have nothing to lose by talking to someone, and it may be possible to restore normal function to your thyroid gland so that you don’t have to rely on medication for the rest of your life.