The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system, and is responsible for how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins, and responds to other hormones. Thyroid hormones affect how fast or slow your brain, heart, muscles, liver, and other organs work. It is very important this gland is working optimally for a timely conception, pregnancy, and after the birth. Studies show that there is a “higher prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in patients with infertility”.1 Symptoms of subclinical hypothyroidism are:
- Depression and anxiety
- Feeling cold
- Constipation
- Consistent weight gain
- Poor memory
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Hair loss
- Elevated LDL
- Decreased libido
- Abnormal menstrual cycles
- No symptoms at all
In the many successful fertility cases I have treated, I have approached subclinical hypothyroidism as a symptom. This means, when the root causes were corrected, the thyroid imbalance resolved, and patients conceived.
3 STEPS TO CORRECTING SUBCLINICAL HYPOTHYROIDISM WITHOUT EVEN TREATING THE THYROID:
SUPPORT THE ADRENAL GLANDS
The thyroid will often go out of balance when the adrenals are taxed, because cortisol, the stress hormone, blocks the cells from utilizing thyroid hormone, making the thyroid work harder. You can support the adrenal glands with herbs, acupuncture, nutrients, eating every 3-4 hours including a protein, and avoiding alcohol and stimulants like coffee. Meditation is an excellent strategy at changing the perception of stress. Along the same lines, the area of the body the thyroid is located is around the throat. This symbolizes communication. If you have an under-functioning thyroid gland, it may be symbolic for not speaking your truth, or problems with communicating. This can be a stress too. Reflect on where in your life you have not allowed expression and try to make any necessary changes.
HEAL YOUR INTESTINES
This is a very important factor for many reasons. Inflammation in the digestive tract will influence many aspects of your body, and especially the thyroid. If inflammation is high, it will block important thyroid nutrients from being absorbed (like zinc and selenium), and may stimulate the immune system to attack the thyroid, as in the autoimmune hypothyroid condition Hashimoto’s. The gastrointestinal tract also absorbs thyroid hormones, and “may also play a role in the regulation of hormone activity”.2 Antibiotic use, NSAIDS (aspirin, ibuprofen/advil, naproxen etc), sugar, processed foods, chronic stress, and over exercise, all affect the health of your gut and your thyroid.3 Of course, take a probiotic. Remove any food intolerances. If there is any indication of candida overgrowth, accompanied by parasites, you may want to use herbs such as black walnut, wormwood, and garlic extract. Foods such as slightly roasted pumpkin seeds, beet, cabbage, carrot, garlic, leek, onion, radish, and sorrel, fennel, clove, cayenne, garden sage, ginger, horseradish, and thyme have anti-parasitic properties. Incorporate them into your daily meals.
HEAVY METAL TOXICITY
Firstly, regarding fertility and heavy metals in general, one study reports, the “diagnosis and reduction of an increased heavy metal body load improved the spontaneous conception chances of infertile women. Adequate treatment provides successful alternatives to conventional hormonal therapy”.4 Heavy metals such as the mercury found in dental fillings can negatively affect thyroid function, and it has been found that if your mother had a heavy metal burden while pregnant, it can affect your heavy metal status and thyroid function.5 Start by decreasing your exposure to heavy metals; drink clean water such as reverse osmosis, if you or someone in your household smokes, stop. Cadmium, lead, and nickel are found in tobacco. Eat the fish listed as safe by the Environmental working group: wild salmon, rainbow trout, atlantic mackerel, mussels, sardines. Safely remove any remaining amalgam fillings by a trusted biological dentist. Consider approximately 100 hours of infra red sauna therapy, along with chelators such as chlorella, antioxidants, and fiber. Seeing a naturopathic doctor for assessment and treatment would be best for a comprehensive treatment plan.
These 3 steps will have a profound effect on your fertility, and on your future child’s health. As a generation we must take the time, get to the root, and be advocates of conscious conception for the future of our species.
Published on the NatPath website here
