{"id":10898,"date":"2021-09-19T16:06:45","date_gmt":"2021-09-19T14:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fundus.ayio-q.com\/uncategorized\/hypothyroidism-hyperthyroidism-hashimoto-causes-and-treatment-options\/"},"modified":"2021-11-14T13:21:41","modified_gmt":"2021-11-14T12:21:41","slug":"hypothyroidism-hyperthyroidism-hashimoto-causes-and-treatment-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fundus.ayio-q.com\/en\/diseases\/hypothyroidism-hyperthyroidism-hashimoto-causes-and-treatment-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto – causes and treatment options"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Reading time: approx. 5 minutes<\/p>\n\n

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Diseases of the thyroid gland have very different causes. In most cases, an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism<\/strong>) occurs as a result of thyroiditis Hashimoto’s thyroiditis<\/strong>. However, the conventional medical treatment of an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism<\/strong>) can also lead to hypothyroidism. Another reason, which has been known for a long time, is the widespread iodine deficiency.1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n

This is why iodine is added to common table salt (sodium chloride) in the form of sodium and potassium iodate. Hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are autoimmune diseases. For as yet unknown reasons, the patient’s own immune system forms antibodies against certain proteins of the thyroid gland.2,3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n

Treatment options for thyroid disease in conventional medicine<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n

In orthodox medicine, therapy depends on whether hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism is present. In the case of hypothyroidism, drug treatment with L-thyroxine (levothyroxine<\/strong>) is the method of choice. The synthetic hormone works exactly like the body’s own tetraiodothyronine<\/strong> (T4<\/strong>) and is converted by our organism into triiodothyronine<\/strong> (T3<\/strong>). To reduce the side effects to a minimum, one should start with a low dose and slowly increase the amount taken until the optimal dosage is reached.<\/p>\n\n

In the case of hyperthyroidism, thyreostatics<\/strong> are used first, which inhibit the formation of T3 and T4. If this does not normalise the thyroid levels, doctors usually recommend radio-iodine therapy<\/strong> or thyroid surgery<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is usually not treated until hypothyroidism occurs. Then the lifelong intake of L-thyroxine takes place.<\/p>\n\n

Diseases of the Thyroid from a Naturopathic Perspective<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

From the naturopathy’s point of view, in many cases the thyroid gland itself is not responsible for the observed disturbances of the metabolism and other complaints. The sensitive organ merely indicates that there are problems elsewhere in the organism.<\/p>\n\n

In addition to iodine deficiency, an undersupply of other minerals and vitamins can also be a cause of thyroid disorders. In the third part<\/a> of this series of articles, we go into more detail.<\/p>\n\n

It is not uncommon for the thyroid gland to also be exposed to aluminium (cosmetics, food packaging) and the heavy metals mercury (amalgam from dental fillings) and vanadium. Plasticisers in plastic articles (phthalates, bisphenol A) and pesticides such as glyphosate (Roundup from Monsanto) can also impair the function of the thyroid gland.4-7<\/sup><\/p>\n\n

Liver, intestine and thyroid are closely connected<\/h3>\n\n

Other important connections exist between our thyroid gland and the organs liver and intestine. How can this be explained? As in the whole body, the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 also control energy metabolism<\/a> in the liver. Before this can happen, these hormones must be activated in the liver.8<\/sup><\/p>\n\n

In other words, a weakened liver leads to thyroid problems and thyroid disorders affect the function of the liver. There is a similar relationship between the thyroid and the intestine: T3 and T4 regulate metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract, so diarrhoea (hyperthyroidism) or constipation (hypothyroidism) can occur.<\/p>\n\n

This, in turn, affects the composition of the intestinal colonisation (microbiome<\/strong>), which contributes significantly to the absorption of iodine and other minerals from the diet. Thus, a sluggish gut leads to decreased production of thyroid hormones and vice versa.9,10<\/sup><\/p>\n\n

As a recent clinical study from Iran shows, thyroid function can be improved by taking live gut bacteria (probiotics<\/strong>) and prebiotic foods (prebiotics<\/strong>).11<\/sup><\/p>\n\n

Prebiotics include apples, bananas, artichokes, broccoli, chicory, fennel, carrots, garlic, celeriac, kohlrabi, horseradish, parsnips, parsley root, radishes, beetroot, Jerusalem artichokes, yac\u00f3n and onions.<\/p>\n\n

Naturopathic treatments for hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease<\/h3>\n\n

In naturopathy, it does not matter what type of thyroid disorder is present. Holistic therapies always start at several cornerstones. These include above all:<\/p>\n\n