Thyroid dysfunction—how do you know?

Many women suffer from sub-clinical thyroid dysfunction. I say ‘sub-clinical’ because their blood work shows that their thyroid panel is in the appropriate reference range. The appropriate range is a bell curve. This is what is normal for most people. We are not ‘most people’. We are individuals. As individuals, each of us has a ‘point’ where the thyroid is functioning normally. We need to be able to tell if it is functioning well for ‘me,’ not the reference range of ‘most people.’

We know that 80% of women have thyroid issues. Two of the reasons are all the xenoestrogens in the environment, and the preponderance of soy in the food supply. For that reason, I do not recommend soy products for my female client base. To learn more about xenoestrogens and the effects of soy on thyroid function click HERE and HERE.

So, how can you know where you fit in as far as YOUR thyroid? It is pretty easy. Follow the steps on the chart below and then get with your naturopath and find a personal solution for your needs.

As I shared on a recent Facebook Live HERE, the MDs in our community are going to look at your blood work and prescribe a Rx of levothyroxine or armour thyroid. They will keep increasing the dosage every time your TSH numbers are out of range. According to a seminar I attended last year, taught by a Board Certified OB/GYN, MDs do not think about the thyroid being one gland which works interdependently with other glands, most notably: Hypothalamus, Pituitary, and Adrenal. This HPA axis HERE has a role to play in proper thyroid function. If the need for cortisol is too great (stress!) then the DHEA (a hormone precursor) will be robbed to fulfill the cortisol need. If the DHEA is being robbed, then the rest of the hormone cascade will not function properly.

BARNES AXILLARY TEMPERATURE TEST-Purple Background
This is a very complex subject. Hormones are tricky! In our clinic, we test (vibrationally) for the different glandular functions, and we now offer a blood spot thyroid panel test. This test is a simple finger prick. We send it to the lab, and when the results come back, we have another set of data to help us know which direction to pursue.
Hormone balancing is difficult. We can help!

Until next time,
Dr. Polly

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