Struggling with thyroid symptoms or dysfunction can feel like being trapped in a maze. Just remember, thyroid problems are almost never a standalone issue. There’s usually a back story!
It's Complicated: The Process Behind Thyroid Symptoms
Thyroid problems usually arise from a mix (or a combo) of these three tricky situations:
- Liver congestion: The liver plays a big role in thyroid health, converting inactive T4 hormone to active T3. But, if your liver is overworked or clogged up, this process slows down. And let's be real, in our fast-paced, modern life, our liver often gets overloaded.
- Stress: When we're stressed, our body produces more cortisol, which slows thyroid hormone production. Since every cell in our body needs T3 for optimal function, stress can make our metabolism hit the brakes.
- Immune System issues: If our immune system is constantly under attack (stress, bacteria, viruses, you name it), it might retaliate on our body - and often, the thyroid is the victim.
To navigate out of this maze, we need to do a little reverse engineering - check your history, dig deeper, don't just accept the symptoms at face value.
Here’s How You Can Take Control
Now that we’ve identified the possible culprits, let’s see what we can do to help ourselves.
- Liver: Use essential oils daily and start taking Milk Thistle to help your liver. Also, try to identify and reduce the things that could be clogging it up. A simple trick like not drinking from a plastic bottle can have such a positive impact, even though it may seem inconsequential to you. But the reality is - a little over a long time becomes chronic.
- Stress: Identify your stressors, try to reduce them, and add in daily Vagus Nerve exercises. Never underestimate the impact of good sleep and balanced exercise.
- Immune System: Everyone actually has different immune responses and truthfully immune boosting with supplements will be different for everyone. Immune strength foundationally is sunshine, bare feet in the sand or nature, fresh air and reducing the load on the body with as much nutrient density and less process.
Let's Talk Lab Results
Getting your lab results can sometimes feel like trying to read ancient hieroglyphs! Here’s what you need to know:
- TSH: It's only a measure of hormone signaling from the pituitary to the thyroid gland, not the actual function of the thyroid. Don’t panic on your TSH blood levels and definitely don’t make medication decisions just on TSH levels.
- T4 to T3 Conversion: Your liver converts T4 to T3. Abnormal levels of these hormones may suggest your liver is contributing to thyroid issues.
- Free T3 and reverse T3: If Free T3 drops and reverse T3 increases, your body might be under stress, possibly from toxins or infections.
- Thyroid antibodies: High thyroid antibodies often point towards toxins and infections.
- T4 and T3 Hormones: High free T4 and T3 alongside low total T4 and T3 suggests testosterone dominance. Conversely, low free T4 and T3 with high total T4 and T3 points towards estrogen dominance.
The Power of Stress and the Thyroid
Stress deserves a special mention here. Both physical and emotional stress are often the main culprits behind thyroid issues due to the production of cortisol. Elevated cortisol can increase reverse T3, which can then lower free T3 levels, affecting thyroid function.
This stress-thyroid connection involves the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis - three endocrine glands that constantly communicate with each other. When we're stressed, the hypothalamus signals the adrenals, via the pituitary, to churn out more cortisol, while also telling the pituitary to ramp up TSH production, which slows the thyroid.
A high or low TSH level doesn't always indicate a thyroid problem per se, but often hints at an imbalance in the HPA-axis, usually caused by stress.
Actions You Can Take to Help Your Thyroid
Here are some stress-busting steps to keep your thyroid happy:
- Eat Balanced Meals: Try to eat within an hour of waking and include protein, fat, and healthy carbs in each meal.
- Prioritise Sleep: Make sure you're getting 8-9 hours of quality sleep each night.
- Walk Outdoors Daily: A simple, stress-reducing activity that also helps lower cortisol levels!
- Hydrate and Nourish: Upon waking, drink a glass of water with a pinch of Celtic sea salt to support your adrenals.
- Consider Supplementation: Look into adrenal and stress support supplements, especially Bergamot Essential Oil. But don’t just take any supplement - you need to talk to someone before taking supplements for thyroid as it can have a negative effect.
- Nourish the Soul: Engage in prayer, read your Bible, and meditate daily. Don't forget to spend time with loved ones and find joy in life.
Remember, your thyroid isn't the enemy, it's just stuck in a bit of a pickle. By understanding the root cause, you can help your thyroid take the easy road. The power is in you and your history! Stay strong, and happy healing!