The Functional Medicine Approach To Hypothyroidism And Hashimoto’s Disease

About this Video

• Video Title: The Functional Medicine Approach To Hypothyroidism And Hashimoto’s Disease
• Channel: Mark Hyman, MD
• Speakers: Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. George Pepe Nicolao
• Duration: 35:02

Introduction

This video discusses Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the most common type of thyroid dysfunction. Drs. Hyman and Pepe Nicolao explain that conventional treatment often focuses solely on hypothyroidism symptoms, neglecting the underlying autoimmune nature of Hashimoto's. They advocate for a functional medicine approach addressing root causes like gluten sensitivity, environmental toxins, and hormonal imbalances.

Key Takeaways

• Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease: It's more prevalent than previously thought, affecting millions, and often poorly treated in conventional medicine. The focus is usually on managing hypothyroidism symptoms with medication instead of addressing the underlying autoimmune issue.
• Gluten is a significant trigger: A strong connection exists between Hashimoto's and gluten, with many patients exhibiting gluten sensitivity or celiac disease. Removing gluten often improves symptoms and reduces antibodies.
• Multiple factors contribute to Hashimoto's: Besides gluten, other triggers include pregnancy, hormonal imbalances (especially post-pregnancy), exposure to toxins (mercury, heavy metals), chronic stress, and nutritional deficiencies (vitamin D, selenium, zinc, magnesium).
• Comprehensive testing and treatment are crucial: Functional medicine emphasizes thorough testing beyond TSH levels, including free T3, free T4, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies. Treatment involves dietary changes (gluten and dairy-free), addressing leaky gut, reducing inflammation, detoxification, and nutritional supplementation. Thyroid medication may be used in conjunction with these other interventions.
• Early intervention is key: Early diagnosis and treatment are more effective in potentially reversing the autoimmune process and reducing antibody levels.