Functional medicine is a natural, medical practice which has been becoming more popular. What is functional medicine, how is it different from traditional, medical practices, and why is it important to know about when managing Hashimoto's hypothyroidism and high TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)? Functional medicine addresses thyroid disease by looking at the root causes instead of masking symptoms with surgery or medication, as with conventional treatments.
What are the benefits of FM on hypothyroidism?
With functional medicine treatment approaches, healthcare practitioners can take a look at the root causes behind the patient's Hashimoto's hypothyroidism and TSH, improving your sleep, energy, vitality, and libido. This is the reason why seeing a functional medicine practitioner for Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, as well as for TSH and other thyroid issues, can improve hormone balance, gut problems, and brain function. Everything within the body functions together.
Thyroid Disease: Addressing the Root Causes
In the event the motor light of your vehicle is based on, do you find a way to turn off the engine light, or do you research beneath the hood? That analogy works for functional medicine when managing Hashimoto's hypothyroidism and TSH.
Functional medicine is not about providing you a medication for a symptom, but instead investigating why you have that symptom and functioning on this instead. By way of example, assume 10 different people have the same complaint, whether it is depression, fatigue, digestive problems, or persistent skin rashes. Each of these 10 individuals can have the same symptom, but also for 10 very different reasons. An overgrowth of gut bacteria might be causing depression in one individual, while it's a gluten intolerance in a different. With Hashimoto's hypothyroidism and high TSH, it is helpful to look at the underlying causes that led to the development of the autoimmune thyroid disorder and address people.
Understanding the Reason for Thyroid Disease
Until you realize why you are experiencing Hashimoto's hypothyroidism and higher TSH, following drugs or therapies may keep landing you in dead ends. Functional medicine relies on published, peer-reviewed science to help us understand how the body functions and where breakdowns happen. Lab tests, questionnaires, in-office exams, and a discussion about your case history help the functional medicine practitioner learn where the root cause of your Hashimoto's hypothyroidism and high TSH lies.
Five Common Functional Medicine Root Causes
Although different people can have the exact same symptom for different reasons, practical medicine often finds ordinary root causes. Some of them are:
- Autoimmunity (when the immune system attacks and destroys body tissue). In most people, hypothyroidism is brought on by thyroid autoimmunity, which causes TSH.
- Food intolerances, particularly to gluten and dairy
- Low Blood Glucose
- High blood sugar (insulin resistance, or pre-diabetes)
- Intestinal yeast, bacterial overgrowths, and leaky gut
Addressing one or all of these variables, based on the individual, can help you better handle your Hashimoto's, reduce your TSH, also relieve not only your thyroid symptoms, but a number of other symptoms as well.
There are No Specialties in the Human Body
The body is an extremely complex web where all systems and parts are related. The body does not have specialties in the way medicine does. The digestive tract -- or any other system in your system, doesn't operate independently of the rest of the human body.
For example, if autoimmune disease is destroying the thyroid gland causing high TSH, it is not just the thyroid you tackle, but also the immune system. Addressing a gluten intolerance if the stomach is behaving and chronic inflammation can prevent gallbladder surgery. For instance, with Hashimoto's and high TSH, it's not merely the thyroid you address, but also the immune system.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Wellness
Overall health and wellness are essential towards maintaining the proper mental and physical balance in the body. From eating a balanced nutrition as well as exercising and participating in physical activities, to sleeping a healthy amount of time on a regular basis, following the best health and wellness tips can ultimately help maintain overall well-being. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can go a long way towards helping people become healthy.
