What does the thyroid gland do?
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck which is responsible for the metabolic rate, the rate at which food is converted to energy and is used by the body. It can be compared to a furnace: If the furnace is underactive, it won’t use as much fuel but won’t heat the house well or quickly. If it is overactive, it will use too much fuel and make the house too hot. Similarly, the thyroid needs to work optimally, producing neither too little energy nor too much. Thyroid hormones also activate over 100 cellular enzymes, affecting almost everything the body does.
Thyroid hormones
The thyroid gland produces two main thyroid hormones: 90% is the inactive T4, not to be confused with the T4 cells of the immune system, and 10% is active form T3. The pituitary and hypothalamus in the brain release thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid releasing hormone (TRH) to regulate the production and conversion of T4 to T3.
Problems with thyroid hormones can be sorted into three categories:
- Hyperthyroidism, or too much T4.
- Hypothyroidism, or too little T4.
- Functional hypothyroidism, in which the inactive T4 is in the correct range but isn’t being properly converted to active T3, leading to hypothyroidism symptoms.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a general speeding-up of the body’s systems. Symptoms include:
- Heat intolerance
- Insomnia
- Anxiety and irritability
- Unexplained weight loss
- Rapid pulse and/or palpitations
- Shortness of breath
Graves’ disease is a form of hyperthyroidism. Conventional treatments include partial thyroid removal surgery and irradiation, which are dangerous and permanent and should be considered only as a last resort. Some people with Graves’ disease initially experience a period of hyperthyroidism, followed by hypothyroidism as the thyroid gland becomes exhausted.
Hypothyroidism
Low thyroid function is very common, and is a frequent contributor to fatigue and overweight since such a person doesn’t burn enough fuel. Women and older people are most likely to have low thyroid function.
Because of the interconnection between the thyroid and the rest of the body, symptoms related to low thyroid function can be very diverse:
- Fatigue and sluggishness
- Weight gain, puffiness
- Depression
- Cold hands and feet
- Dry skin and hair
- High cholesterol, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular problems
- Digestive problems and constipation
- Low libido and infertility
- Hoarseness, feeling of throat fullness, difficulty swallowing
One of the major problems of low thyroid function is lowered body temperature which leads to lowered enzyme function. Since adequate enzyme levels are needed for, among many other things, proper thyroid function, a vicious cycle can ensue. Enzyme supplementation can help.
Functional hypothyroidism
With the complexity of the T4-to-T3 conversion cycle, the process can be slowed down or blocked at any point in the cycle. Anything from adrenal exhaustion to poor nutrition to metal toxicity can cause problems and result in functional hypothyroidism. Adrenal stress causes adrenal hormone imbalance, which causes imbalance in other endocrine glands such as the thyroid in a domino effect.
Other thyroid problems
Goiter is the swelling of the thyroid gland, which causes visible neck swelling and symptoms of hypothyroidism. Thyroid cancer can also occur.
Testing for thyroid problems
The standard thyroid tests are T4 and TSH. Millions of people have normal T4 and TSH blood test results yet have classic low thyroid symptoms, and many doctors then dismiss thyroid problems as being a possible cause of their symptoms. If your T4 and/or TSH test normal but you still have thyroid-related symptoms, T3 (active) and reverse T3 (inactive) should also be tested.
A simple at-home test for low thyroid function is temperature. Underarm temperature should be at least 97.8 degrees; lower is indicative of slow thyroid.
Toxins
The thyroid requires iodine to function properly. Chlorine from tap water and fluoride from most tap water and toothpaste can block iodine receptors in the thyroid, resulting in low thyroid symptoms.
Mercury slows thyroid function, which often improves when metal dental fillings are properly removed. Environmental toxins such as dioxin and PCBs interfere with normal hormone function, including that of the thyroid.
Structural problems
Problems with the thyroid can be due to subluxation of the C-7 vertebra, the prominent one at the base of the neck. There have been cases where weight gain and fatigue followed a whiplash injury for this reason and were reversed by proper chiropractic adjustment.
Radiation
X-rays can damage the thyroid. When having dental or other x-rays, insist that your neck be shielded as well as the lower body.
Diet
Gluten is linked to an autoimmune disease of the thyroid that can slow metabolism. Soy products can have an adverse effect on thyroid function, and can contribute to goiter.
The importance of iodine
As mentioned, the thyroid needs iodine to function properly. The best iodine is found in natural sources such as sea vegetables, including liquid dulse (seaweed extract). Sea salt is a good source, but not the artificially iodized kind of salt. Certain iodine supplements can be beneficial. Zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium also support thyroid function.
One way to find out whether you are deficient in iodine is to paint a small area of iodine tincture on your skin. The yellow stain will disappear in about 24 hours if your iodine level is normal. If it disappears faster, the body is deficient in iodine and is soaking it up to try to correct a deficiency.
Thyroid hormone replacement
Thyroid hormone replacement is a common treatment for low thyroid hormone, but the use of these hormones covers up the causes of low thyroid symptoms. Let’s dig deeper with the help of CAM practitioners and find out why thyroid function is low in the first place.
Another reason why these hormones shouldn’t be used unless other avenues of healing have been exhausted lies in the thyroid hormone feedback loop. Like a thermostat which supplies or turns off heat based on the room temperature it senses, the thyroid feedback loop supplies T4 or not depending on how much is in the body. If T4 is being supplied by medication, the thyroid “furnace” might never turn on, resulting in the thyroid gland losing function over time from disuse.
