Hypothyroidism

Persistent weight gain, dry skin, menstrual irregularities, cold intolerance, memory loss, thinning hair…

If this sounds like you, your thyroid may be struggling and could be underactive.

The thyroid plays a vital role in metabolism, growth, mood, cardiovascular health, digestive function and brain development. Given that the thyroid then essentially influences every part of your body, any underactivity will bring on a multitude of symptoms.

Natural Clinic Clinical Guide to Hypothyroidism

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Hormone Imbalances Icon

Work with you to determine any underlying thyroid autoimmunity

Nutrient Deficiencies Icon

Assess for, and treat imbalance in gut bacteria as a key driving factor for hypothyroidism

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Provide expert dietary and lifestyle coaching to heal your gut lining and normalise the immune response

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Give you access to practitioner-grade nutritional and herbal medicine tailored to you to correct pathways involved in thyroid activity

Book here to help your thyroid.

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To learn more about the condition and kickstart the healing process, read on for our Natural Clinic Clinical Guide to Hypothyroidism

Natural Clinic Hypothyroidism Consult: $75

Book a Consult
  • icon time 30-minute naturopathic consult to treat any gut imbalance and nutrient deficiencies contributing to underactive thyroid.
  • icon test Facilitation of further testing, where appropriate
  • icon pill Access to practitioner-grade products
  • icon script Prescriptions for custom-made products designed especially for you:
    • icon tick Liquid herbal formulas
    • icon tick Compounded creams
    • icon tick Compounded nutritionals
  • icon plan Written treatment plan, including dietary and lifestyle advice, to help you stay on track

Natural Clinic Clinical Guide to Hypothyroidism

First of all, what does the thyroid do?

The thyroid is a master gland that produces hormones to regulate the metabolic processes of the gut, heart, liver, kidney, and muscles.

THE ORDER OF OPERATION

THE ORDER OF OPERATION

Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) is produced by the hypothalamus, which stimulates the production and release of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) by the pituitary gland. The thyroid hormone cascade is dependent on sufficient iodine levels which come from diet.

TSH allows for hormone secretion of thyroxine T4 (85-90%) and triiodothyronine T3 (10-15%). T3 is the active thyroid hormone, whereas T4 is part of a self-regulatory negative feedback loop which functions to reduce TRH and pituitary production of TSH. T4 circulates in the body and is converted to active T3 as needed, but this can only occur with the right minerals and nutrients available.

If the conversion is not happening successfully, T4 is in excess and is converted to reverse T3 (rT3), which stops active T3 from getting to the cells. This tricks your body into thinking that it needs more thyroid hormones and the thyroid gland becomes overworked and exhausted.

WHY IS MY THYROID UNDERACTIVE?

Your thyroid may not be functioning properly due to nutrient deficiencies and gut disturbances affecting the production line above. It also may be due to fasting or starvation, systemic illness, and adjunctive health conditions.

More commonly, it is a result of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a form of autoimmune hypothyroidism that occurs when antibodies attack the tissue in the thyroid gland, causing reduced thyroid hormone production.

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CAUSES AND TRIGGERS

Low levels of iodine, selenium, and vitamins A, D and E will affect thyroid function and increase risk of autoimmunity.

Increased inflammatory markers due to systemic inflammation decreases serum T3 and increases rT3, inducing a hypothyroid state and driving a state of autoimmunity.

Oxidative stress within the thyroid gland not only induces DNA damage and destruction of thyroid cells, but inhibits iodide intake to disrupt thyroid hormone production.

Increased cortisol will both suppress TSH and increase the conversion of T4 to non-active rT3, having a double negative effect on thyroid hormone production.

Dysbiosis and a leaky gut wall has a bi-directional relationship with the thyroid. It drives autoimmunity and systemic inflammation to induce a state of underactivity or Hashimoto’s, and an underactive thyroid affects stool transit time which eventually results in overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria in the gut.

Coeliac disease and gluten sensitivity is highly correlated with autoimmune thyroiditis.

Bacterial and viral infections are strong triggers of autoimmune thyroiditis in susceptive individuals.

Dysbiosis and a leaky gut wall has a bi-directional relationship with the thyroid. It drives autoimmunity and systemic inflammation to induce a state of underactivity or Hashimoto’s, and an underactive thyroid affects stool transit time which eventually results in overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria in the gut.

Coeliac disease and gluten sensitivity is highly correlated with autoimmune thyroiditis.

Bacterial and viral infections are strong triggers of autoimmune thyroiditis in susceptive individuals.

Find out what is driving your underactive thyroid with a one-on-one consultation today.

Remove the guessing-game and get results

How your diet plays a role

The food on your plate should emphasise anti-inflammatory food groups and promote healthy intake of nutrients to support thyroid hormone production.

Include selenium and iodine-rich foods in the diet

  • brazil nuts
  • organ meats
  • oysters
  • seaweed
  • kelp
  • iodised table salt
  • eggs

Including a wide variety of seasonal produce

Aim to have 2-3 serves of fruits and vegetables a day to increase your nutrient and phytochemical content that will protect against inflammation and oxidative stress. Plant-rich diets will also support diversity of good microbes in the gut.

Increase healthy fats

Include cold-pressed olive oil, walnuts, macadamias, fish, grass-fed meat, and ghee to your diet to reduce inflammation. Avoid saturated fats in processed vegetable oils, cured meats, cakes, biscuits, pastries etc.

Increase polyphenol rich foods

To help heal your gut lining and reduce inflammation, consume green tea, organic cacao, organic berries, turmeric, olives.

Include high-fibre wholegrains

  • spelt sourdough
  • brown rice
  • oats
  • buckwheat flour
  • cooked quinoa

Avoid gluten

Healthy gluten free options include buckwheat and pulse pastas, paleo or gluten-free bread, gluten-free oats, and quinoa.

Avoid alcohol

Stick to clear spirits and soda water with citrus if consuming alcohol (gin, tequila, vodka).

Avoid dairy where possible

Dairy can trigger inflammation and may cause dysregulation in the immune response. Dairy intolerance is common in autoimmune presentations.

Pharmaceutical and conventional treatments for hypothyroidism

  • Levothyroxine: synthetic form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine to replace inadequate levels of T4 in the body.

Natural treatments to manage Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s

An essential cofactor for the production of thyroid hormones. Use of iodine should only occur once testing results have confirmed deficiency, and dosage should be determined by your practitioner.

We recommend Orthoplex Green Iodine

Selenium deficiency is associated with hypothyroidism, and selenium supplementation can both improve thyroid hormone production and reduce thyroid antibodies in Hashimoto’s.

We recommend Bioceuticals Selenium Drops

Zinc deficiency is associated with hypothyroidism, and zinc supplementation supports healthy thyroid hormone production. In combination with selenium, zinc enhances thyroid function in Hashimoto’s.

We recommend Orthoplex Green Zinc Citrate

Directly induces thyroid hormones at the glandular level, improves conversion of T4 to T3, and improves the overall stress response to reduce risk of autoimmunity.

Nature’s Sunshine Withania

Reduces inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and modules the gut-immune axis, helping to reduce autoimmune presentations of the thyroid. Probiotic supplementation will attenuate dysbiosis that may be driving Hashimoto’s.

We recommend Designs for Health Probiomed

hc-hypothyroidism

Thyroid Lift Nutritional Compound

Tired of taking multiple supplements for your thyroid symptoms?
Let us narrow it down to one that works. A custom-made, compounded product formulated only for you.

Hypothyroidism can have multiple causes and that’s why you often need to use multiple products.

We can compound ONE product that contains all the ingredients you need for optimal thyroid function, at therapeutic dosages specific to your health needs.

The benefits:

  • Ease & convenience of taking only one supplement
  • Your body is unique to you. Your medicine should also be unique to you.
  • Avoid the inconcenience of supplements in your protocol running out at different times.
  • Dosing is specific to your metabolic needs & deficiencies.
  • Formula can be adjusted over time to support each stage of the healing process.

Speak to one of our practitioners.

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Georgia Fugar
Georgia Fugar

Georgia Fugar

Clinical Naturopath

Book a Consult with Georgia

Areas of interest

  • Women’s health
  • Skin disorders
  • SIBO
  • Gut health
  • Mental health

Georgia is a passionate naturopath with particular clinical focus on supporting mental health, hormonal disorders, gut health and auto-immunity. With a long-standing interest in human biochemistry and its interplay with nutritional and herbal medicines, Georgia uses a range of standard and functional testing to determine the root cause of patient symptoms and provide treatment that is highly tailored and clinical.

Thorough education around all symptoms, disease pathophysiology and treatment options can be expected from a consultation with Georgia, reflecting the importance of education as the first tool to achieving any health outcome. Continuous appraisal of progress throughout treatment protocols ensures that you leave feeling supported and confident in the healing process.

Georgia aims to correct imbalances on the deepest cellular and biochemical level to ensure healing occurs from the inside out.

Tayla Lovering
Tayla Lovering

Tayla Lovering

Clinical Naturopath

Book a Consult with Tayla Lovering

Areas of interest

  • Digestive
  • Skin health
  • Mental health
  • Migraines
  • General health
  • Fertility + pregnancy + post partum

Tayla is a qualified Naturopath with a passion for gut health, hormonal health (both males and females), fertility and mental health. Tayla combines clinical case taking, pathology and functional laboratory testing to get to the root cause of your symptoms. Her approach is truly wholistic and she will spend the time to uncover the uniqueness of your health.

A remarkably empathic practitioner with a real gift for making patients feel supported. Tayla understands how overwhelming it can feel to embark on a healing journey and focuses on simplifying this for you in a step-by-step manner, whilst also making changes that fit you and your lifestyle. Tayla has a particular passion for establishing a healthy foundation for her clients, so they can avoid traveling down the same path that led them here.

Tayla is happiest when amongst nature and when communicating with fellow humans. Tayla grew up on a farm on the beautiful Kangaroo Island of South Australia and quickly learnt the value of nature’s healing powers after her time at boarding school where she noticed nutrition and lifestyle choices began reflecting poor health.

Annie Stewart
Annie Stewart

Annie Stewart

Clinical Naturopath

Book a Consult with Annie Stewart

Areas of interest

  • Sports performance and recovery
  • Digestive conditions
  • Mental health
  • Men & women's health

Annie is a qualified Naturopath who considers herself a bit of a “professional generalist”. With experience treating a wide array of conditions, Annie particularly finds those more challenging multifaceted cases fulfilling. Her adventurous curiosity is what drives Annie to get to the underlying cause of disease adopting a truly holistic approach with each patient.

With 5+ years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under her belt, Annie has a keen interest in helping athletes reach their sport performance goals and draws on her competition experience to achieve this.

Evidence based medicine underpins all of Annie’s clinical decisions. She regularly uses standard pathology and functional testing to establish base line health parameters, which are then used to refine her treatment approach for each client. Application of nutritional and herbal interventions with an emphasis on lifestyle and dietary education can be expected in a consult with Annie.

Diana Boot
Diana Boot

Diana Boot

Compounding Pharmacist & Nutritionist

Book a Consult with Diana Boot

Areas of interest

  • De-prescribing – helping you to reduce your need for prescription medications
  • Mental health
    Digestive health
    Women’s health

Diana is the Co-founder and Clinical Lead of Natural Chemist. She has practiced as a community pharmacist for over 30 years and as a Nutritionist for 12 years. She is continually learning to update her knowledge and is on track to graduate in 2023 as a Naturopath.

Diana is a rare combination of empathy, balance, maturity and knowledge. She listens and asks sensitive questions. She provides answers about what’s behind your presenting symptoms and she offers feasible, evidence-based solutions to help you regain optimal health.

Diana’s approach is truly integrative. Her training and experience put her in a unique position to advise what combination of conventional/mainstream and natural/alternative treatments are best for your situation.

Diana is also the senior partner in two independent community pharmacies in Sydney. She launched Natural Chemist in 2014 with her husband and business partner. Their goal was to work out how to take the level of service provided in their physical pharmacies and make it available for more people. Diana is supported by a wonderful and growing team of qualified professionals; all with the same dedicated focus on quality health outcomes.

Natural Clinic Hypothyroidism Consult: $75

Book a Consult
  • icon time 30-minute naturopathic consult to treat any gut imbalance and nutrient deficiencies contributing to underactive thyroid.
  • icon test Facilitation of further testing, where appropriate
  • icon pill Access to practitioner-grade products
  • icon script Prescriptions for custom-made products designed especially for you:
    • icon tick Liquid herbal formulas
    • icon tick Compounded creams
    • icon tick Compounded nutritionals
  • icon plan Written treatment plan, including dietary and lifestyle advice, to help you stay on track