The standard treatment for hypothyroidism is taking daily thyroid hormone replacement medication. Of course, medicines often come with side effects, and forgetting to take a pill might lead to more symptoms. In some cases, natural remedies may cause fewer side effects and fit into your overall lifestyle better.The goal of natural remedies or alternative medicine is to fix the root cause of the thyroid problem.
Thyroid problems sometimes start as the result of poor diet, stress, or missing nutrients in your body. Changing your diet and taking an herbal supplement are two ways you can help your thyroid condition.
These options may have fewer side effects than taking thyroid medicine. Also, using an herbal supplement for treatment of a low or underactive thyroid may be helpful for people who aren’t responding well to medicines.
Consider the following five natural remedies as additions or alternatives to your treatment plan.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), selenium is a trace element that plays a part in thyroid hormone metabolism. Many foods on the market today contain selenium, including grass-fed beef, tuna, turkey, and Brazil nuts.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an immune system attack on the thyroid, often diminishes the body’s selenium supply. Supplementing this trace element has shown to help balance thyroxine, or T4, levels in some people. It’s important to talk with your doctor about how much selenium may be right for you since every person is different.
