Thyroid disorders often negatively affect the patient’s quality of life. They can affect the patient's energy level, mood, weight, digestive system, libido, sleep cycle, etc. In addition, conventional treatment protocols often include prolonged use of synthetic drugs or even surgery in certain cases. Not surprisingly, many patients with impaired thyroid are looking for natural alternatives.
The most common forms of thyroid disorders are primary hypothyroidism, Hashimoto thyroiditis, and Graves. diseases. Unfortunately, the medical community is often clearly divided between two schools of thoughts about health and illness: a medical model or an alternative model.
Medical model
In the medical model, doctors focus on analyzing the symptoms, and then narrow down the possibilities until they come up with a diagnosis. The doctor then follows an established treatment protocol for treating the disease. Treatment often includes medications.
The standard protocol for the treatment of hypothyroidism and Hashimoto thyroiditis is hormone replacement therapy. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends synthetic levothyroxine T4 for clinical hypothyroidism to restore the thyroid hormone to normal levels.
With Grave's disease, the thyroid gland produces too many thyroid hormones. The standard treatment protocol includes drugs that suppress the thyroid gland, or surgery to remove the thyroid gland. Many doctors in the United States prefer to use radioactive iodine as a first-line therapy.
Alternative model
Unfortunately, an alternative model is often thrown into one big heap when there are several models in it. These include naturopathy, acupuncture, herbalism and functional medicine. This article focuses on the approach of functional medicine to diseases of the thyroid gland.
Functional Medicine
In the functional model, the practitioner studies all aspects of human health. They look for the cause of the problem, instead of treating the symptoms. For example, there are many possible causes if a person suffers from depression. One person may have an imbalance of sugar in the blood, and another may be deficient in minerals. It makes no sense to treat all depressions in the same way if the root cause is different.
Some alternative models use similar paradigms. For example, herbal practitioners can recommend St. John's wart for a patient with certain types of depression as soon as they understand the root cause.
I feel that this model is based on the wisdom of other alternative disciplines and combines it with scientific data gathered from functional laboratory tests. He also engages the patient in a therapeutic partnership where they are actively involved in their well-being, which is important for recovery.
Thyroidite and the graves of Hashimoto. disease
In Hashimoto and Graves' disease, a functional approach is aimed at sources of stress on the immune system. Grave and Hashimoto are an autoimmune disorder, not a thyroid problem. Thyroid dysfunction is just a symptom of the underlying cause: a dysfunctional immune system.
Autoimmunity develops for many reasons. Again, each person is unique and requires specialized tests and treatment depending on the underlying cause. For example, if a person has a condition called “Leaky Gut Syndrome,” this can lead to undigested food particles in the bloodstream and trigger an immune response.
Food allergies or food sensitivities can also trigger an immune system reaction. When you continue to eat unpleasant foods, it may eventually lead to an autoimmune condition.
Since these problems with the thyroid gland can have many causes, we cannot determine the standard treatment protocol or the standard for caring for thyroid conditions. Unfortunately, the numerous factors contributing to these diseases also make it difficult to self-treat.
How does Functional Medicine help you?
Understanding the underlying effects that affect the thyroid gland requires some knowledge of physiology and the ability to interpret functional laboratory tests. A practitioner can provide proper care and correct the dysfunction of the immune system that caused your diagnosis in the first place.
Of course, the restoration of a complete function depends on whether you have your thyroid gland and its condition, if you do. If you do not have a thyroid gland or it is badly damaged, you will need medication to support the function of the thyroid gland.
However, a functional approach can help patients when they do not process medicines efficiently and correctly. Doctors usually prescribe a synthetic version of the thyroid hormone T4, but it is less physiologically active than T3. Consequently, your body needs to transform it, but some people cannot transform it well.
Other patients convert T4 in the opposite direction to T3 instead of T3. Reverse T3 does not help the thyroid gland. Fortunately, I can solve both of these problems with the help of functional medicine, so you get the most out of your medicine and the relief itself.
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Experience has taught me that the medical model has its place. He can help patients so that they can manage the symptoms, and he can provide a diagnosis of thyroid problems.
However, it does not affect the root of the problem. The functional model reveals the underlying causes to prevent further problems and reverse existing problems, rather than treat the symptoms.
Naturally, I look forward to the moment when medical and functional models are combined for the seamless and effective treatment of patients. Both have many advantages, but together they can provide targeted, optimized care and recovery.
