When I discuss natural treatment methods for Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (as well as primary hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism), I frequently talk about how following a natural treatment protocol can potentially restore someone’s thyroid health back to normal. But what exactly do I mean by this? Does this mean that some people with these conditions can be completely cured by following a natural treatment protocol?
To answer this last question, if you read my articles and posts on a regular basis then you might notice that I’m very careful about using the word “cure”. While I do use this word at times, the truth is that it is difficult, if not impossible to determine whether someone’s condition is permanently cured. For example, I’d like to think that I’m cured from my Graves’ Disease condition, as since I followed a natural treatment protocol I don’t have any hyperthyroid symptoms, and all of the tests are negative. But as I’ve mentioned in previous posts and articles, I’m a firm believer that if I neglected certain lifestyle factors there would be a good chance I would suffer a relapse.
So when I mention that people with hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions, as well as autoimmune thyroid conditions, can have their health restored back to normal, what I’m referring to is the following:
1. They will no longer have any hypothyroid or hyperthyroid symptoms
2. All of their thyroid blood tests will be negative, including any tests for thyroid antibodies.
3. Other “alternative” tests should ideally be negative, such as an Adrenal Stress Index test or a hormone panel. Now to be honest, these tests don’t confirm the presence of a hypothyroid or hyperthyroid condition. However, an imbalance in the hormone levels can cause or contribute to these conditions, which is why the obvious goal is to normalize the cortisol levels, as well as those of DHEA, progesterone, estrogen, etc.
How To Maintain A Permanent State Of Remission
While nobody can guarantee a permanent cure, the next best thing is to put the condition into a permanent state of remission. In other words, after restoring one’s health back to normal, the ultimate goal is to maintain one’s health so that one will hopefully never suffer a relapse. In order to accomplish this, the person needs to do the following:
Wellness Tip #1: Keep your adrenal glands strong. Strong adrenal glands are important in order to maintain your thyroid health, as well as your overall health. Eating well and minimizing the amount of refined foods and sugars you eat, obtaining sufficient sleep, and doing a good job of managing the stress in your life will help to keep your adrenal glands strong.
Wellness Tip #2: Maintain the health of your immune system. This of course is especially important for anyone who has Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, or any other autoimmune disorder for that matter. Keeping your adrenal glands healthy will in turn help with your immune system. You also want to try to minimize your exposure to environmental toxins, which also can compromise your immune system. Drinking high quality water is also important, as some people eat well, but drink tap water. Constant exposure to EMFs is also a factor, which I’ll discuss more in detail in a future post or article, as we’re being bombarded with EMFs on a regular basis which will weaken immunity.
Wellness Tip #3: Don’t neglect your digestive system. Once again, maintaining the health of your adrenal glands will help with digestion. With regards to nutritional deficiencies, even if you eat well you might also need to take some supplements, since many of the foods we eat are depleted of the necessary vitamins and minerals. Taking some basic nutritional supplements can make up for this, providing they are of high quality. It also might benefit you to take some digestive enzymes to help digest your food as well, and it’s a good idea to avoid acid-stopping medication of any type, as they will interfere with proper digestion.
Wellness Tip #4: Keep your hormones in balance. Doing all of the above will help to keep your hormones balanced, although if someone already has an existing hormone imbalance then they very well may need additional support. Not eating foods which contain xenohormones will help greatly, as well as avoiding cosmetics and other household products which contain these artificial hormones.
You Don’t Need To Lead A Perfect Lifestyle
As I’ve mentioned in the past, I don’t expect anyone to lead a perfect lifestyle. So once someone restores their health back to normal, this doesn’t mean they can never eat any refined foods or sugars, can’t get stressed out every now and then, etc. Doing these things on an occasional basis usually won’t cause a relapse. I’ve admitted numerous times that I still go out for pizza occasionally, or have some dessert, etc. It’s just not something I do on a regular basis, as most of the time I eat healthy. And it’s definitely not something I did while following a natural treatment protocol. Now of course people will have different sensitivities, and therefore might need to avoid certain foods on a permanent basis.
In summary, restoring someone’s health back to normal doesn’t necessarily mean providing a permanent cure to that person. The reason for this is because the person’s condition can always return should they neglect certain lifestyle factors. This doesn’t mean the person who follows a natural treatment protocol needs to live a perfect lifestyle, but they will need to do certain things in order to maintain their health and prevent a relapse from occurring.