Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

What is Hashimoto's thyroiditis?

Symptoms of Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Causes of / Risk factors for Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Prevention / remedies / cures / treatment for Hashimoto's thyroiditis

References

What is Hashimoto's thyroiditis?

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (lymphocytic thyroiditis) is an autoimmune disease in which the thyroid gland is attacked by the body's own immune system. The thyroid is a small gland located at the base of the neck, which produces hormones that regulate the body's metabolism. If the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, it causes inflammation and decreased thyroid activity.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common cause of autoimmune-induced hypothyroidism, being involved in about 90% of cases. It occurs between eight and fifteen times more often in women than in men, and is most common in women between 30 and 60 years of age, though it can occur at any age including in children.

Hashimoto's disease is more common in regions of high iodine or low selenium dietary intake, and among people who have been exposed to infectious diseases, certain pharmaceutical drugs, and those who are genetically susceptible.

Symptoms of Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Hashimoto's thyroiditis usually develops slowly over a number of years. The symptoms also develop slowly, though over time the damage and symptoms become more progressive and obvious. Hashimoto's thyroiditis often results in hypothyroidism with bouts of hyperthyroidism, with the symptoms varying under these two different conditions.

• Fatigue and tiredness.
• Dry and pale skin, sometimes with a feeling of pins and needles.
• Weight gain.
• Muscle aches and weakness.
• Depression (or mania under conditions of hyperthyroidism), panic, forgetfulness, and other mental and psychological maladies.
• Constipation.
• Excessive menstrual bleeding.
• Puffy or bloated face.
• Sensitive to cold.
• Hoarse voice.
• Migraines.
• Poor blood cholesterol profile and a slow pulse rate.
• Goitre. A goitre (goiter) is a swelling of the neck or larynx caused by an enlarged thyroid gland. The thyroid may or may not be functioning properly. About 90% of goitre cases are caused by iodine deficiency.
• Hair loss.

Causes of / Risk factors for Hashimoto's thyroiditis

The exact cause(s) of Hashimoto's thyroiditis are disputed. Likely causes and risk factors include:

• Mineral deficiencies, in particular iodine. Selenium is another common deficiency among the full range of minerals that are needed for good health. It is likely that digestion is compromised by irritable bowel or SIBO, and that minerals are not being absorbed properly.
• Coeliac disease. (4)
• Genetic factors, Hashimoto's thyroiditis runs in the same families.
• Diabetes. Diabetes results in a sustained and excessive level of insulin; this leads to upsets in the level of other hormones.
• Selenium deficiency. Several studies (1, 2, 3) indicate that selenium provides protection from and slows the progression of the disease.
• A viral or bacterial infection.
• Being female and middle-aged.

Prevention / remedies / cures / treatment for Hashimoto's thyroiditis

• A diet that soothes inflammation, encourages the production of steroidal hormones (and therefore hormonal balance), minimises allergic reactions and malabsorption of minerals, and normalises the levels of insulin and leptin, the master hormones. This diet is detailed in my ebook Grow Youthful, and here you can see an outline of this high-saturated fat, low-grain hunter-gatherer diet.
• Coconut oil. The diet mentioned above is high in saturated fats, and coconut oil is an excellent source.
• Gluten-free diet. (4) The diet recommended above is gluten-free.
• Iodine.
• DMSO.
• Urine therapy.
• See details of remedies recommended by Grow Youthful visitors, and their experience with them.

References

1. Nacamulli D, Mian C, Petricca D, Lazzarotto F, Barollo S, Pozza D, Masiero S, Faggian D, Plebani M, Girelli M E, Mantero F, Betterle C. Influence of Physiological Dietary Selenium Supplementation on the Natural Course of Autoimmune Thyroiditis. 2009, Clinical Endocrinology 73 (4): 535-539. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.2009.03758.x. PMID 20039895.

2. Turker O, Kumanlioglu K, Karapolat I, Dogan I. Selenium treatment in autoimmune thyroiditis: 9-month follow-up with variable doses. 2006, Journal of Endocrinology 190 (1): 151-156. doi:10.1677/joe.1.06661. PMID 16837619.

3. Van Zuuren E J, Albusta A Y, Fedorowicz Z, Carter B, Pijl H. Selenium supplementation for Hashimoto's thyroiditis. (2013). In Van Zuuren, Esther J. "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews". The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 6: CD010223. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010223.pub2. PMID 23744563.

4. Ventura A, Neri E, Ughi C, Leopaldi A, Citta A, Not T. Glutendependent diabetes-related and thyroid-related autoantibodies inpatients with celiac disease. J Pediatr 2000; 137: 263-65.