The Comprehensive Functional Medicine Approach to Hashimoto’s
What is Hashimoto’s?
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (commonly referred to as Hashimoto’s) is a widespread autoimmune condition that affects millions worldwide. This condition causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland, leading to inflammation and impaired thyroid function. Over the last several years, we have seen a drastic increase in the number of people with Hashimoto’s coming into our office, a number that continues to rise each year.
The Role and Functions of the Thyroid
The thyroid gland, located in the neck, plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions. It produces thyroid hormones such as thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones are essential for controlling metabolism (the conversion of food to energy), energy production, heart rate, body temperature, weight, and more. With Hashimoto’s, the immune system breaks down and destroys the thyroid tissues that create these hormones, resulting in hormone imbalances. This can lead to the development of several symptoms or even other autoimmune diseases.
Symptoms of Hashimoto’s
Common symptoms of Hashimoto’s include:
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Unusual weight gain
- Cold sensitivity
- Muscle aches and pains
- Brain fog
- Difficulty concentrating
- Anxiety or depression
- Hair loss
- Pale and dry skin
- Heavy periods
These symptoms often vary in type, frequency, and severity among individuals, making Hashimoto’s a challenging condition to manage.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Schedule a Consultation TODAY!
We would love to sit down with you and chat about your experiences and current pain points.
Consequences of Unmanaged Hashimoto’s
While Hashimoto’s is a lifelong condition, it is manageable through lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise. Without proper care and management, however, symptoms can worsen, leading to other complications like:
- Hypothyroidism: As Hashimoto’s progresses, the thyroid gland becomes less efficient at producing hormones, resulting in chronic fatigue, weight gain, and depression.
- Goiter: Chronic inflammation can cause the thyroid gland to enlarge, leading to visible swelling in the neck, discomfort, and changes in voice.
- Cardiovascular Issues: Thyroid hormones regulate heart function and blood pressure. Unmanaged Hashimoto’s increases the risk of high cholesterol, hypertension, and heart disease.
The Functional Medicine Approach to Hashimoto’s
At Back On Track 2 Wellness, we focus on finding the root cause of symptoms rather than merely masking them. Here’s how we approach Hashimoto’s:
- Comprehensive Testing: We like to start with comprehensive lab testing to get a true and deep understanding of your body. Our approach is all about finding the root cause of your problems. To understand this, consider an onion and its layers. To get to the center of the onion, we have to peel back the outer and inner layers. The body is similar. In order to find the reason behind your symptoms, we have to peel back the layers and dive deep into your body. We’ve found comprehensive lab testing is a great place to start. We assess various markers of Thyroid function, autoimmune activity, nutrient deficiencies, and underlying imbalances. This gives us an in-depth analysis of your body and allows us to create a personalized plan designed to specifically help you restore your health and optimize your wellness.
- Dietary Modifications: To begin with, our personalized plan will provide dietary recommendations that will be dependent on your lab results. We believe there is no one size that fits all solution to Hashimoto’s or any other autoimmune condition. While our dietary recommendations are dependent on your body and your unique situation, we almost always recommend you cut out gluten and dairy to the best of your ability. Furthermore, we provide updated recommendations as we continue to work together as we understand that your body may not like some foods and will react to these trigger foods. Finding and eliminating trigger foods from your diet is a very important aspect of any one of our plans.
- Lifestyle Modifications: We emphasize the importance of building healthy lifestyle habits that will last you a lifetime. We believe that regular exercise, proper hydration, and avoiding environmental toxins play a crucial role in managing your Hashimoto’s. We understand that avoiding all environmental toxins isn’t possible, but we recommend you do your best to minimize exposure as it could result in a flare-up. One of the most important aspects of any lifestyle is stress management. Stress is a big factor in many flare-ups and can drastically slow down the healing and recovery process. Stress is like wear and tear on the body, so we recommend minimizing as much as possible in your busy lives.
- Targeted Supplementation: We commonly find nutrient deficiencies in those with Hashimoto’s so part of your personalized plan will include supplements. These supplements may work to address deficiencies, or they may work to support optimal Thyroid function and reduce inflammation. The supplements we recommend all depend on your unique body and lab results.
5. Change as Needed: We commonly make changes to your plan as needed. This might be because you are progressing and we are now supplementing a new target, or because we have new information. New information might be insight regarding your triggers or how your body reacts to dietary and lifestyle modifications. For example, your body may not like a specific food you eat. If your body is being triggered by that food, we remove the food from your diet.
Functional Medicine Approach to Detoxification and Optimal Health
Functional medicine takes a holistic approach to detoxification and restoring optimal health. Here’s how this approach works:
- Personalized Detoxification Protocols:
- Based on specialized testing, functional medicine practitioners create personalized detoxification plans. These plans may include dietary changes, supplements, and lifestyle modifications to support the body's natural detoxification processes.
- Nutritional Support:
- Nutrient-dense diets rich in antioxidants, fiber, and essential nutrients support detoxification. Foods like cruciferous vegetables, garlic, and berries help enhance liver function and eliminate toxins.
- Supplementation:
- Supplements such as glutathione, milk thistle, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can support detoxification pathways. These supplements enhance liver function, promote antioxidant activity, and aid in the elimination of toxins.
- Lifestyle Modifications:
- Regular exercise, adequate hydration, and stress management techniques are integral to a functional medicine detoxification plan. These practices support the body’s natural detoxification processes and overall well-being.
- Ongoing Monitoring and Support:
- Functional medicine practitioners provide ongoing monitoring and support to ensure the effectiveness of detoxification protocols. Regular follow-ups and adjustments to the plan help maintain long-term health and prevent toxin accumulation.
Success Story: Sarah’s Triumph Over Hashimoto’s
Sarah’s Initial Struggles: Sarah came to us after years of battling fatigue, weight gain, and depression. She had been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s but felt her conventional treatment was only masking her symptoms rather than addressing the root cause.
Our Approach: We started with comprehensive lab testing, which revealed several nutrient deficiencies and underlying imbalances. Based on these results, we crafted a personalized plan for Sarah, focusing on dietary modifications, lifestyle changes, and targeted supplementation.
The Journey: Sarah embraced the dietary changes, cutting out gluten and dairy, and began incorporating more nutrient-dense foods into her meals. She also started a regular exercise routine and made efforts to manage her stress through meditation and yoga.
Results: Over several months, Sarah noticed a significant improvement in her energy levels and mood. She lost weight, felt more focused, and her thyroid function improved. Sarah's success story is a testament to the power of a holistic approach to managing Hashimoto’s.
"I had almost given up hope before coming to Back On Track 2 Wellness. Dr. Todd and his team took the time to understand my issues and provided a plan that addressed the root cause of my symptoms. Today, I feel like a new person. My energy is back, my weight is under control, and I’m no longer battling constant fatigue and depression. I can’t thank Dr. Todd and his team enough for their support and guidance."
Final Thoughts
Hashimoto’s is a challenging condition, but with the right approach, it is manageable. At Back On Track 2 Wellness, we are committed to helping you find the root cause of your symptoms and providing a personalized plan to restore your health. If you’re struggling with Hashimoto’s, we’re here to help. Schedule a consultation with us today and take the first step towards a healthier, happier you.
Schedule a Consultation TODAY!
We would love to sit down with you and chat about your experiences and current pain points.
The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other medical body. We do not aim to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. Information is shared for educational purposes only. You must consult your doctor before acting on any content on this website, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.
Dr. Todd W. Bunning, DC, PC
Dr. Todd W. Bunning’s chiropractic and functional medicine services reach far beyond the local Roseville area, with webcam consultations available for patients in any location. With over 20+ years of Private Practice experience, Dr. Todd continues to focus on the individual: science-based methods to address whole-body health factors.
Dr. Todd’s education didn’t stop when he graduated from Life West Chiropractic College in 2003. Today, he’s continuing to receive training and is chipping away on numerous post-graduate degree programs. This unique blend of clinical health investigation and Lifestyle Medicine application helps people of all ages find the underlying factors that result in chronic disease.