Ask the Naturopath ...

Thryoid problems ... when you feel bad, and the blood tests are fine By Dr. Ann Aresco Natropath Special to PRIME Dear Dr. Aresco, I think I have a thyroid problem. The weight just won't come off, I have a whole list of symptoms for hypothyroid but every time my MD does a blood test the labs show normal values and the doctor says I'm fine. Is it all in my head? Must be Crazy, Springfield, MA Dear Crazy, I have many patients who have been diagnosed with "it's all in your head" disease. Being a Naturopathic Doctor means we don't rely solely on lab reports. Symptoms can paint a picture of imbalance that the lab reports don't confirm. Naturopathic doctors will treat a problem with natural remedies even though there is no official diagnosis. We believe that where there are symptoms there are imbalances that need to be addressed. Hypothyroid cases often fall into this category of symptoms with no labs to prove pathology. The thyroid is the gland that has the most effect on all of the metabolic processes in the body. This means that if it is metabolic, your thyroid dysfunction can put a wrench in it which covers just about everything in the body in one way or another! This explains why a thyroid imbalance can result in a long list of symptoms. Body temp and hypothyroidsmTreating hypothyriodism Since Dr. Barnes was an MD, he helped his patients with thyroid medications. There are a number of Naturopathic options that can be pursued to help balance thyroid function without the use of medications. In each case we of course treat the individual, so the recommended therapy will be different according to the patient and symptoms. Foods & thyroid function Here are some things that anyone who thinks they may have a thyroid problem should consider. Are you getting enough nutrition to keep your thyroid functioning happily? Good foods: foods that your thyroid needs include foods that have iodine in them. These will include legumes, most vegetables, whole grains, and sea vegetables such as: kelp, dulse, wakame, and hijiki. Potentially bad foods: there are also some foods that are considered to be a hindrance in one way or another to thyroid function. However cooking them deactivates the problematic constituents. These foods include: Brassica vegetables (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower), turnips, mustard, soybeans, cassava root, peanuts, pine nuts, and millet. Limiting consumption or cooking these can resolve any issues that they may cause. Rapeseed (used to make canola oil) is also on the list but cooking with any oil other than olive oil isn't recommended anyway. Exercise & thyroid function Are you getting enough exercise? Exercise, of course, is always essential. Whenever we talk about metabolism, we have to talk about moving, getting the blood flowing, oxygen increasing etc. This one can be tricky for the thyroid patient as fatigue is on the top of the list of symptoms that will be present when the thyroid is not functioning properly. Getting moving when all you want to do is rest, is not any easy thing to overcome. Once you get moving you will find that you have more energy to exercise. What about supplements? There are other supplements and herbs that can also help balance out the thyroid function but this is usually best done with the supervision of a professional who can help monitor the situation. Got a question for Dr. Aresco? If you have a question you would like to have addressed, send them to drannaresco@comcast.net. Dr Ann Aresco is a member of the The Integrative Health Group at 1502 Allen St., in Springfield Mass. She can be reached at 413-783-1932.