Symptoms of thyroid problems vary widely, depending on whether the thyroid gland is under-functioning, over- functioning, or experiencing autoimmune issues. Often, my clients are not even aware that their symptoms are related to their thyroid. They attribute their fatigue, heart palpitations, or weight gain to motherhood, aging, or just life itself. So, they have an extra cup of coffee (or three) and push through to the end of the day, not realizing that some minor changes could restore their energy, vitality, calm, and purpose.

Here, we will discuss the thyroid and its purpose, how its functioning can go awry, and what to do about it. And we’ll meet Alice, Nellie, and Helen, and learn how homeopathy helped them to overcome thyroid health concerns. You will see that there’s hope for supporting your thyroid back to optimal health with homeopathy.

THYROID 101

Few people know much about their thyroid or why it starts to malfunction. I want to shine a light on the small butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck that is essential for metabolism, growth, and energy production. Although the thyroid produces only micrograms of thyroid hormone, the hormones are so crucial that if this tiny flow of hormones suddenly stopped, we would not survive. Every cell in the body uses thyroid hormones, making optimal thyroid function necessary for physical energy, mental cognition, and overall development.

The thyroid is part of the endocrine system, a group of organs that produce and regulate the hormones that act as chemical messengers throughout the body. Two structures in the brain control this system: the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus monitors levels of thyroid hormones in the blood and sends chemical signals to the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland sends chemical signals to the thyroid, indicating “more,” “less,” or “just right.” This feedback loop, known as the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid axis (HPT axis), regulates thyroid hormone production and supports the body’s efforts toward maintaining homeostasis or balance.

THYROID DYSFUNCTION

Thyroid dysfunction is widespread, as there are many points along the intricate and delicate HPT axis where something can go wrong. For example, the thyroid may not be able to respond, even when the chemical signal is strong. The thyroid hormone may not convert well from T4 to T3. Or T3 might have difficulty entering cells. (See Thyroid Hormones Defined for more information.)

People do not routinely have comprehensive thyroid screenings, and this lack of attention to this tiny gland shows in the following American Thyroid Association’s statistics:

• Around 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid
• Up to 60% of those with thyroid disease do not know they have
• One in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder during their
• Women are five to eight times more likely to have thyroid problems than men.

HYPER AND HYPOTHYROIDISM

Even a few micrograms of thyroid hormone can make the difference between feeling energized and feeling fatigued. When your thyroid produces and releases too much thyroid hormone, the condition is called hyperthyroidism; those with hyperthyroidism feel jittery and are on “overdrive.” When the thyroid does not make enough thyroid hormone or fails to respond to the pituitary gland’s signal to make more, the condition is called hypothyroidism. Individuals with hypothyroidism feel tired and sluggish. (See The Highs and Lows of Thyroid Dysfunction for hyperthyroid and hypothyroid symptoms.)

ALICE: HIGH AND LOW SYMPTOMS

Alice, 45, sought help for hyper- and hypothyroid symptoms: an elevated heart rate, heart palpitations, significant weight gain, overall body pain, hair loss, brain fog and confusion, poor memory, and difficulty finding words. She lived a completely sedentary lifestyle, lacking the energy and motivation to enjoy the life she wanted. Alice had an ongoing sore throat and a goiter (swollen, enlarged thyroid) that was causing strangulation and constriction sensations in her throat.

Conventional treatments for hyperthyroidism include thyroid hormone suppression medications, thyroid gland ablation, a procedure using heat to shrink a swollen thyroid, or thyroidectomy—removal of one or both sides of the thyroid. Conventional treatment for hypothyroidism involves replacement thyroid hormone, which does not treat the underlying problem but replaces the essential hormone that the thyroid gland cannot make. Alice opted to change her lifestyle and gain support for improved health through homeopathy.

Based on the combination of Alice’s thyroid-related symptoms, including heart palpitations and constricted breathing due to a goiter, I recommended Spongia tosta in a daily LM potency. Made from an ocean sponge saturated in mineral-rich seawater, this remedy can support individuals experiencing symptoms of an overactive or underactive thyroid. I also suggested that Alice take a tiny step toward increasing her physical activity by just putting on her walking shoes—she made no promises.

Two months after starting to take Spongia, Alice reported that she no longer had a sore throat, and the constriction sensation had resolved. Additionally, her elevated heart rate and palpitations had gradually reduced and were no longer present. She had also noticed a big decrease in her overall level of pain. Plus, her cognitive functioning and memory had improved as the brain fog lifted. Remarkably, Alice was walking once or twice a week!

By stabilizing and normalizing her thyroid function with homeopathy, Alice regained motivation and energy to begin engaging in physical activity, which was essential to her overall health. As her condition improved, she took significant steps towards achieving metabolic and thyroid health.

AUTOIMMUNE THYROID CONDITIONS

In an autoimmune thyroid condition, the immune system mistakenly identifies the thyroid as foreign tissue and attacks it, causing swelling and dysfunction. We commonly label this a thyroid problem, but it’s an immune system issue, with the thyroid being the innocent bystander under fire. Two common autoimmune diseases related to the thyroid gland include Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, with symptoms of an under-functioning thyroid, and Graves’ disease, a condition of an overactive thyroid. While conventional medicine focuses on managing thyroid symptoms of Hashimoto’s and Graves’, homeopathy aims to support the underlying problem in the immune system, facilitating a rebalancing, as seen in the following stories about Nellie and Helen.

NELLIE: HASHIMOTO’S THYROIDITIS

Nellie, a 41-year-old mother of three, arrived in my office overweight, emotionally overwhelmed, and physically exhausted and weak. A goiter had appeared six years prior, but her doctor had not recommended treatment at the time. Her physical and emotional symptoms steadily worsened, but she didn’t connect them to her thyroid.

In response to being neglected as a child, Nellie strived to be super-perfect and well-behaved, even though she felt exhausted and drained each day on waking. She suppressed her needs and feelings for the sake of others, losing touch with her authentic self. When “big” feelings surfaced, Nellie “disassociated” from them, feeling powerless, “less than,” and guilty for her shortcomings. She was very concerned about how her peers perceived her. “I usually make a bad impression.” Based on her thyroid symptoms, history of childhood neglect, admitted guilt, tendency to suppress her feelings, and concern about others’ opinions of her, I recommended the homeopathic medicine Germanium metallicum 200c.

I also suggested that Nellie request a thyroid panel blood test at her medical doctor’s clinic. The test result showed extremely high antibody blood markers, indicating autoimmune disease, and her doctor diagnosed her with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. With this new information, I recommended Nellie add Iodum 12X to her homeopathy regimen to help her body reduce the thyroid antibodies. Nellie also engaged in stress-reducing activities, including meditation and yoga, adopted a gluten-free diet, and added the mineral supplement selenium to her daily regimen.

Over time, Nellie tolerated and acknowledged her emotions without being overwhelmed, stood up for her needs, and remained engaged rather than disassociating in demanding emotional situations. She had more energy and made choices in favor of herself, such as hiring a babysitter when she needed rest or personal time.

After three months, her blood tests indicated a decrease in antibody levels of over 200 points, and after two more months, another 100 points. Homeopathy and Nellie’s lifestyle adjustments were working, and I fully expected the antibody levels to continue falling, which they eventually did. By addressing the root causes of her thyroid dysfunction—current stress levels, childhood trauma, and poor nutrition—her immune system healed, and her thyroid symptoms disappeared.

HELEN: GRAVE’S DISEASE

Helen, 47, came to me for help with a bulging left eye (exophthalmos) due to Graves’ disease, an autoimmune condition with hyperthyroid symptoms. The white of her eye showed above her iris, giving her left eye a staring appearance compared to her right eye. Helen’s blood tests showed a very low thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level of 0.005 and a normal level of free T3 thyroid hormone of 2.2, as per the laboratory parameters. Helen’s endocrinologist prescribed a medication to reduce her thyroid hormone production to normalize her levels. However, Helen hoped that homeopathy could stabilize her thyroid levels and normalize her bulging eye without medication.

Helen’s anxious and overconscientious approach to her health, chilly nature (despite her hyperthyroidism, which usually makes a person feel overheated), as well as her rule-following nature, pointed to Kali carbonicum. I also suggested that she investigate ways to manage stress and reduce her intake of inflammatory foods. (See Getting to the Root of Thyroid Problems.)

Over the next two months, Helen’s eye slowly returned to normal. Six months later, at her next endocrinologist visit, thyroid blood tests showed normal TSH (1.1) and a more optimal free T3 level (2.9) (See Aim for Optimal Thyroid Function to learn more.), and her doctor recommended she discontinue the medication, which she had never taken. Since conventional options are limited in treating Graves’ disease symptoms, Helen was thrilled to return to health with homeopathy and lifestyle changes alone.

HOW TO UNCOVER THYROID ISSUES

Uncovering thyroid issues is as easy as getting a few simple blood tests. Have your thyroid checked if you have even a few symptoms. Thyroid blood tests can provide a comprehensive picture of your thyroid health. I suggest requesting the following thyroid function tests: TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3, and two thyroid antibody tests: TPO and TG. (See Thyroid Hormones Defined.)

In most cases, conventional doctors screen only one thyroid blood test, TSH. However, this hormone is just one element of the HPT axis. The additional tests will provide insight into the amount of T4 and T3 hormones available for your body to utilize, how stress may impact the conversion of T4 to T3, and whether you have an autoimmune thyroid issue. If you are unable to obtain all these comprehensive tests in your doctor’s clinic, you can purchase them online from lifeextension.com or ultalabtests.com and take them to your doctor for review.

HOMEOPATHY AND LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENTS CAN HELP

Seize this opportunity to educate yourself about your thyroid health; it is essential to your physical and emotional wellbeing. Constitutional homeopathic care focuses on the entire person, aiming to support them in releasing stuck patterns and becoming free mentally, emotionally, and physically. With the right homeopathic remedies and a few simple lifestyle adjustments, you have the power to change the course of your thyroid health.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexis White, CCH, is a board-certified homeopath practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2009 and focusing on women’s health and thyroid health. She is known for her perceptive insight and a compassionate, partnership approach to healthcare, working with her clients to achieve their health goals. Alexis is passionate about advancing the use and practice of homeopathy, with many years of experience teaching homeopaths and parents. Find thyroid health webinars and download thyroid health resources at www.florafaunahomeopathy.com/ thyroid-information