| |  | | Hashimoto’s Disease
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Lisa
Posted on: March 13, 2002
I have Hashimoto’s disease but my blood work continues to come back fine. I do have a goiter twice the size of a normal thyroid. I have the classic signs of an underactive thyroid...the hair falling out, extremely dry skin, muscle cramps. My endocrinologist says he will not give me any medication until my thyroid is out of control. This is upsetting to me. What can i use to improve my autoimmune? Do you think I should get a different doctor? I do take vitamin b complex with c and 800 i.u. of vitamin E. Are these vitamins helping or making my condition worse?
Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune condition of thyroid inflammation with symptoms of low hypothyroid function (such as hair loss, dry skin, muscle weakness). I suggest that you visit an experienced natural health practitioner, such as a herbalist or naturopath, to assess your specific case.
In general, a natural practitioner will want to modulate the immune system and nourish the body by addressing the following:
- reduce toxicity: this may be supported with a diet high in fruits and vegetables and elimination of all refined sugar and flour products; addition of essential fatty acids such as Flax seed or hemp oil and decreasing use of fats and vegetable oils other than extra virgin olive oil; looking for food intolerances; using cleansing lymphatic herbs such as Red Clover flower; and support for other systems of elimination
- Support the immune system with vitamins C and E and possibly the herbs Astragalus and Licorice
- Nourish the thyroid gland with nutrients from seaweeds such as Kelp or Bladderwrack (although this is not a condition of idodine deficiency hypothyroid, seaweed nutrients are beneficial), Nettle herb, B vitamins and zinc
- Nourish the endocrine system generally, using Eleutherococcus senticosus (formerly called Siberian Ginseng) and Saw Palmetto
Licorice and Eleutherococcus also work as anti-inflammatories.
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