About this condition
Hypothyroidism — an underactive thyroid — can be easy to miss, particularly in women, since standard TSH testing doesn't always capture the full picture, including autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto's. Naturopathic doctors can offer more comprehensive thyroid testing as part of a broader assessment, working alongside your family doctor or endocrinologist.
What a naturopathic doctor can do
- Full thyroid panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, TPO and thyroglobulin antibodies)
- Hashimoto's identification and autoimmune management
- Selenium — reduces TPO antibodies in Hashimoto's
- Iodine, zinc, and iron optimization for thyroid hormone production
- Gluten-free trial for Hashimoto's patients
- Adrenal support — thyroid and adrenal dysfunction frequently coexist
- Gut healing for autoimmune thyroid disease
Also known as
Common questions
Hypothyroidism is the state of having an underactive thyroid. Hashimoto's is the autoimmune condition that causes most cases of hypothyroidism. You can have Hashimoto's with normal thyroid function — and addressing the autoimmune component early may help prevent progression to overt hypothyroidism.
For overt hypothyroidism, thyroid medication is usually necessary. For subclinical hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's with normal thyroid function, naturopathic interventions may be sufficient to prevent progression. This is assessed individually.
Gliadin shares a molecular structure similar to thyroid tissue. In people with Hashimoto's, gluten consumption can cross-react with thyroid antibodies, worsening autoimmune activity. The evidence supports a gluten-free trial for Hashimoto's patients.