Home Remedies and Herbs for Hypothyroidism

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the lower neck that’s responsible for producing hormones that help regulate metabolism.¹ These hormones also affect the body’s use of energy, growth, heat production, immune regulation, and fertility.² Hypothyroidism is a condition of the thyroid characterized by low thyroid activity.¹ It’s related to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune disease that can cause hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism should not be confused with hyperthyroidism, which refers to the overactivity of the thyroid.¹

What Causes Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones. Among hypothyroidism causes, the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common.³ With autoimmune diseases, your body’s own immune system begins attacking itself. In the case of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the body attacks the thyroid tissue.⁴ 

Other common hypothyroidism causes include thyroid surgery, certain medications, treatment for hyperthyroidism, and radiation therapy near the neck. In less common cases, congenital diseases, pituitary disorders, iodine deficiencies, and pregnancy can lead to an underactive thyroid.³

Risk increases for women over the age of 60. Other risk factors include having:³

• An autoimmune disease
• Past thyroid surgery
• Delivered a baby in the past six months
• Treatment with antithyroid medications
• A family history of thyroid disease

Hypothyroidism can affect anyone at any age.²

Hypothyroidism Symptoms

Hypothyroidism causes a range of symptoms that can be slow to develop and difficult to detect.³ As thyroid hormone production drops, your body’s other processes start to slow down.² This leads to symptoms like fatigue and weight gain.³ As the condition progresses, other hypothyroidism symptoms emerge, including:^2,3 

• Difficulty concentrating
• Sensitivity to cold
• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Headache
• Puffy face
• Muscle and joint aches
• Decreased appetite
• Increased cholesterol levels
• Irregular menstrual patterns
• Hoarse voice
• Hair loss
• Slowed heart rate
• Poor memory
• Galactorrhea (milky discharge from the breasts)

Hypothyroidism can occur in infants. Symptoms to watch out for include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), puffy face, large tongue, frequent choking, excessive sleep, poor muscle tone, and constipation.³

If left untreated, hypothyroidism symptoms will gradually worsen.³ In extreme cases, hypothyroidism can develop into myxedema, which is a serious life-threatening condition. Symptoms of myxedema include decreased breathing, low blood pressure, and decreased body temperature. Coma and even death can occur.³

Hypothyroidism is diagnosed through a blood test that measures thyroid hormone.⁵ Hypothyroidism treatment involves the use of hormone replacement medications.⁶ Various hypothyroidism herbs and home remedies may be able to help ease symptoms, but they should not be used in place of your doctor’s recommendations.

References

1. http://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions-treatments/thyroid-disorders
2. http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/hypothyroidism
3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/symptoms-causes/dxc-20155382
4. http://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions-treatments/hashimotos-disease
5. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/diagnosis-treatment/diagnosis/dxc-20155353
6. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20155362