- Natural Endocrine Solutions Dr. Eric Osansky, DC, IFMCP - https://www.naturalendocrinesolutions.com -

Can Natural Thyroid Treatment Methods Cure Goiter?

Many people with both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism have a condition called goiter, which is an enlargement of the thyroid gland that can be caused by numerous factors.  In people with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease this is commonly due to the overproduction of thyroid hormone.  In both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions and iodine deficiency can also lead to goiter.  In rare cases it can be caused by a malignancy.  When it’s due to an excess production of thyroid hormone or an iodine deficiency, then in most cases a natural thyroid treatment protocol can help to reverse this condition.

When I was personally diagnosed with Graves’ Disease, I didn’t have a “full blown” case of goiter, as I would consider mine to be a mild case, although if left untreated it probably would have become larger.  The reason I say this is because I did have some problems swallowing, and this was in the earlier phases, right after I was initially diagnosed.  I remember I had an especially difficult time swallowing my fatty acid supplements, and actually switched to the children’s version for awhile.

How Can Natural Thyroid Treatment Methods Help Cure Goiter?

The way natural thyroid treatment methods can help cure goiter is by getting to the root cause of the problem.  Of course if it’s caused by a malignancy then natural treatment methods probably won’t be the best option.  So the first obvious step in curing goiter is to determine what the underlying cause of the condition is.  When I was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease, the two primary causes of my autoimmune hyperthyroid condition were a weak immune system, which is of course a problem with every autoimmune thyroid disorder, along with weakened adrenal glands, which was confirmed with the Adrenal Stress Index test I received.  These are two common areas that are affected in people with both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and other areas of the body can be causing or contributing to the thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition as well (poor digestive health, nutritional deficiencies, and/or hormone imbalances are some other potential causes).

If you have read other articles on this website, then you almost definitely know that I would recommend consulting with a competent natural endocrine doctor in order to determine the cause of your condition.  In addition to looking at the thyroid blood tests that most endocrinologists and other types of medical doctors evaluate, a good natural endocrine doctor will most likely recommend other tests to find out the underlying cause of your hyperthyroid condition.

If your goiter is due to an iodine deficiency, then obviously you will need to correct this deficiency.  Many people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions do have such a deficiency, which can be determined through a 24-hour iodine loading urine test (or you can get a general idea of whether a deficiency exists through an iodine patch test).  If it’s determined that you have an iodine deficiency, then it will be necessary to begin supplementing with iodine, which is what I did when I was diagnosed with Graves Disease (and I still currently take daily iodine supplements).  People with hypothyroidism can also supplement with iodine, although those with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis will need to be careful, as many people with this condition need to first address the autoimmune response before being able to supplement with iodine.

How Long Will It Take To Cure Goiter Naturally?

This is a question everyone has about their specific condition, as once they find out there is a cure, they want to know how long it will take.  There is of course not a specific answer for this, as it depends on the individual.  While many people respond quickly to natural thyroid treatment methods, it’s impossible to predict whether someone will be completely cured after a few weeks or months.  Typically it will take at least a few weeks before the person begins experiencing some significant changes in their symptoms.  But as for completely curing the condition, this will take more time to accomplish.

The main key for curing goiter through natural thyroid treatment methods is to be compliant with the treatment plan.  This is obvious, yet it’s amazing how many people don’t follow through with the recommendations given by the holistic doctor, and then wonder why they didn’t receive optimal results.  Those who completely “ditch” the treatment plan of course don’t think this way, as they obviously won’t receive any benefits.  But many people deviate from the natural thyroid treatment plan that’s recommended to them, and then wonder why they don’t fully recover.  In order to receive optimal results it’s best to follow the treatment plan exactly as it’s recommended to you.

Not Everyone With A Goiter Can Be Cured.

Unfortunately, not everyone who has a goiter can have this reversed.  If it is due to an excess in thyroid hormone or an iodine deficiency, then this usually can be cured.  On the other hand, sometimes people don’t see much of a change when following a natural treatment protocol when it comes to the size of a goiter.  So I don’t want to give you any false expectations, as if you have a goiter it is definitely worth giving natural treatment methods a try, but not everyone will see positive changes.

Will Receiving Conventional Medical Treatment Cure Goiter?

Receiving conventional medical treatment very well might cure goiter, but one needs to keep in mind that doing this won’t get to the underlying cause of the disorder.  This of course means that the goiter may return over time.  For example, giving antithyroid drugs to treat hyperthyroidism might help with the excess production of thyroid hormone, but won’t cure the hyperthyroid condition.

Radioactive iodine might be recommended to treat the hyperthyroid condition, but anything that obliterates the thyroid gland should usually be a last result.  This applies to thyroid surgery too, which is another option for some people who have a large goiter which is uncomfortable, or is causing difficulty swallowing or breathing.  This is why you might want to consider a natural thyroid treatment protocol first.  Obviously if someone has difficulty breathing and/or swallowing then surgery might be the only option.  But most cases of goiter can be helped through natural methods.

In summary, it is possible to cure goiter permanently when following a natural thyroid treatment protocol.  If using conventional medical treatment methods, this can also help with this condition, but just keep in mind that such treatment methods won’t get to the underlying cause of the problem.  This is why I usually recommend to begin a natural thyroid treatment protocol first, unless if the person is experiencing severe symptoms which need to be addressed immediately.