There are a lot of excellent books on thyroid health, and so I figured I’d not only share some of my favorite books, but I’ll also ask you to share at least one or two of your favorite books on thyroid health as well. Although I’m sure some people will agree with my selections, others will disagree and will have their own favorite books. And so in the comments section below please let me know what is your favorite book on thyroid health, whether it be one on hyperthyroidism/Graves’ Disease, or hypothyroidism/Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause by Dr. Izabella Wentz. Everyone with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis should read this book. And this is one of those books where it probably would be a good idea to read more than once. Dr. Wentz is a pharmacist, and she does an amazing job of discussing some of the root causes of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Like myself, she has her own personal success story, as she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s in 2009 and took a natural treatment approach. In her book, Dr. Izabella starts off by discussing some of the basics related to thyroid function and Hashimoto’s. She also explains which thyroid hormone medication is best. As the title of the book implies, she spends time discussing how to find the root cause of your condition. Although the book focuses on Hashimoto’s, a lot of the information on finding the root cause can also help people with Graves’ Disease as well. She dedicates an entire chapter on the “iodine controversy”, and also has separate chapters where she talks about the gut, adrenals, infections, and toxins. Some of the last chapters in her book focuses on diet and supplementation, along with testing.
Graves’ Disease: A Practical Guide by Elaine Moore. In my opinion, everyone with Graves’ Disease should read this book. The book doesn’t focus on natural treatment methods, but it will help to provide a better understanding of your Graves’ Disease condition, as well the treatment options available. Plus, even though the book doesn’t focus on natural treatment methods, Elaine was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease many years ago and received radioactive iodine, and she admits that she chose this treatment a little too quickly, and hasn’t felt the same since. Her opening chapter discusses the pathology of Graves’ Disease, how some of the different systems of the body (digestive system, cardiovascular system, reproductive system, etc.) are affected. She then talks about the autoimmune component of Graves’ Disease, discusses the role of iodine and the physiology of the thyroid gland. One chapter talks about Graves’ ophthalmopathy and dermopathy (skin conditions). She also talks about the diagnosis of Graves’ Disease, and does an excellent job of discussing the different types of thyroid autoantibodies. She talks about both the conventional and alternative approach to treating Graves’ Disease. Towards the end of the book she has a chapter where she talks about Graves’ Disease during pregnancy, childhood, and the teenage years.
Some of the information in the book might be somewhat advanced for some people, but you should be able to follow most of the important information without much of a problem. She also has released a newer book entitled “Advances in Graves’ Disease and Other Hyperthyroid Disorders”, which I haven’t yet read, but it supposedly isn’t as technical as the “Practical Guide” book. For those who have read her newer book I’d be interested in hearing what you thought about it.
Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When My Lab Tests Are Normal: a Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Hashimoto’s Disease and Hypothyroidism by Dr. Datis Kharrazian. This is another book that everyone with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis should read. This is one of the first books on Hashimoto’s that went deep into the immunology behind the condition, as Dr. Kharrazian talks about cytokines, Th1/Th2 imbalances, and he explains why most people with this condition feel lousy…and what to do about it. Like Dr. Izabella Wentz does in her book, Dr. Kharrazian starts off talking about the basics of thyroid health and Hashimoto’s. It isn’t too long before he begins talking about Th1 and Th2 dominance, along with regulatory T cells. In one of his chapters he discusses six patterns of low thyroid function and how to find them on a blood test. He spends a good amount of time talking about blood sugar issues, and of course talks about digestion and the adrenals as well. He has a chapter dedicated to the brain as it relates to thyroid health, which shouldn’t be surprising, as he also has a “brain book” entitled “Why Isn’t My Brain Working?”. Towards the end of his book he discusses 22 patterns of low thyroid function.
Natural Treatment Solutions For Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease (2nd edition) by yours truly. While there is no question that I am biased since this is my book, the truth is that there aren’t too many books which focus on treating hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease naturally. The first edition of my book was very basic and was based more on my personal experience and the experience of my patients with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease. The revised second edition that was released in 2013 goes deeper into the science and is more research based.
Of course I have read other wonderful books on thyroid health, but these are some of my favorites. While I could have put together a post on my top ten favorite thyroid health books, or something similar, I figured it would be more interesting to list a few of my favorites, and then see if others would be willing to share their favorite book, and perhaps briefly mention why you like the book so much. Although most people usually won’t be able to get all of the information they need to restore their health by reading books, there still is a lot of great information you can obtain this way.