Have you ever heard friends complain about their over- or under- active thyroid? Or maybe you’re experiencing thyroid issues. You might even be dealing with the sluggishness, fatigue and weight gain that come with an underactive thyroid or the nervousness, weight loss and anxiety that accompany hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid gland. Most people take synthetic thyroid hormones to address these conditions but is there a natural way to treat thyroid dysfunction?
Figures from the American Thyroid Association show that 12 per cent of Americans will experience some kind of thyroid disorder and that women are eight times more likely than men to have issues with their thyroid gland.
Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) is more common, affecting about 4.5 per cent of the population, while hyperthyroidism is less prevalent (only about 1.6 per cent).
Although most of us have heard of the thyroid and know it’s somewhere in the neck area, we’re not really very sure about the specifics.
The thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly and is found under the skin in your neck. It’s small – just 5cm across. Normally, we can’t feel it but if it becomes inflamed, it can bulge out and in hyperthyroidism, it can cause a goitre or a protruding lump in your neck.
The thyroid gland may be small but it has a number of big roles in the body. It regulates many bodily functions, including our heart rate, digestion and even how fast our hair grows. It also controls the rate of metabolism, or how our bodies transform food into energy. This energy is needed by all our cells, so when the thyroid isn’t working properly, it can affect our entire body.
For such a tiny gland, the thyroid functions in a rather complex way. It releases two hormones, T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine).
T4, the major hormone produced by the thyroid gland, has only a slight effect, if any, on speeding up the body’s metabolic rate. Instead, T4 is converted into T3, the more active hormone. This conversion happens in the liver and other tissues. Many factors control the conversion of T4 to T3, including the body’s needs from moment to moment and whether the body is fighting an illness.
To produce thyroid hormones, the thyroid gland traps and processes iodine, an element contained in food and water. As thyroid hormones are used, some of the iodine contained in the hormones is released, returns to the thyroid gland, and is recycled to produce more thyroid hormones.
The pituitary gland at the base of the skull also helps to calibrate the amount of thyroid hormone being released. It does this by producing TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). As the name suggests, TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones, slowing or speeding up the release of TSH, depending on whether thyroid hormone levels are too high or too low.
Thyroid disease occurs when the thyroid gland produces an abnormal level of hormones, either too much (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism). The thyroid gland can also be affected by Hashimoto’s syndrome (an autoimmune disorder that attacks the thyroid, causing it to become underactive).
When the thyroid isn’t working well, it can cause a bewildering range of symptoms: fatigue, anxiety, depression, unexplained pains throughout the body, nervousness, intolerance to cold or heat, weight changes, insomnia, dizziness, “brain fog”. Sometimes though, people only discover thyroid disfunction after having a blood test that shows abnormal levels of T3.
For most common thyroid issues, Western medicine usually attempts to address the issue with medication — most commonly, synthetic hormones such as levothyroxine (Synthroid). Many people take medication for thyroid issues for their entire lives.
However, it has been shown that there some potential negative consequences of taking the thyroid medication levothyroxine over the long term, including bone loss, cardiac dysfunction and left ventricular hypertrophy, or the thickening of the walls of the heart.
It was long thought that natural remedies were not very effective at treating thyroid disorders. However, a natural healing friend of the thyroid has emerged and a number of studies have had exciting results about its benefits in treating thyroid disfunction, particularly the auto-immune disorder, Hashimoto’s.
Black seeds (Nigella Sativa) are a potent traditional medicine, used as a healing remedy for thousands of years and prized as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Containing more than 100 known chemical compounds, Black Seed oil has been researched extensively is highly effective at increasing the body’s immunity and decreasing inflammation. It contains a complex blend of ingredients: thymoquinone (TQ) thymohydroquinone (THQ), nigellone, chlorophyll, lignan, omega 3-6-9, minerals, proteins and amino acids, as well as calcium, folic acid, copper, zinc and B vitamins. These work in tandem to make Black Seed oil a turbo-boosted healing agent for total wellness.
Black Seed oil has been the subject of a range of studies and has been proven to reduce inflammation and promote healing. It has also been shown to be effective as an alternative treatment for hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes. Now, research has begun to consider its ability to treat and improve thyroid issues. Several studies have had impressive results.
The studies considered participants with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the most common cause of hypothyroidism. In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, usually causing destruction of the thyroid gland’s cells, leading to low thyroid hormone levels (T4 and T3). In response to low thyroid hormones, the pituitary gland produces elevated levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). Patients with this condition often have elevated markers of immune reaction against the thyroid, called antibodies, and the most common ones are called anti-TPO antibodies.
Forty patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, aged between 22 and 50 years were randomly allocated into two groups. One group received powdered Nigella sativa and the other was given a placebo daily for 8 weeks
The study found that Black Seed improved thyroid status and also reduced body weight and VEGF (a substance that encourages the growth of new blood vessels but also plays a role in cancer growth).
Participants who took Black Seed also saw the following results:
None of these changes were observed in placebo treated group.
The compound thymoquinone in Black Seeds is the one with the goodies! Thymoquinone has been heavily studied and it has been found to suppress the COX-2 enzyme resulting in reduced inflammation. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as Celebrex function in a similar way, but often with unforeseen side effects.
A later study by the same research team, using a similar test format and subject group but this time looked specifically at black cumin seeds and their effect on lipids and glucose metabolism for those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
High cholesterol levels often accompany hypothyroidism and one of the signs of successfully managing hypothyroidism is observing the drop in cholesterol levels as thyroid function improves. Hypothyroidism also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes, which also contributes to heart disease. Up to 38 per cent of patients with type 2 diabetes also have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
At the start and end of the study, participants were given fasting blood tests to measure total cholesterol, fasting glucose, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and insulin. Bodyweight, BMI and waist circumference were also recorded.
The weight and the BMI of those taking black cumin seed significantly reduced after 8 weeks compared to the placebo group, which had no changes. Other findings were as follows:
BMI may have decreased because black seed increases the feeling of fullness. It also decreases the absorption of lipids, which can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. And black seed has been shown to reduce fat storage and the spread of fat cells as well as increasing the breakdown of fat.
These studies show that Black Seed oil is a valuable and important supplement to take as an adjunct to thyroid medication for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Pumpkin seeds are another superfood for thyroids. Eating an ounce of dried pumpkin seeds a day is a healthful way to meet your daily needs for zinc, which is a mineral needed for thyroid hormone production. Aside from that, pumpkin seed oil helps to prevent further hair loss due to thyroid imbalance.
From the article published on Anatomical Science, a study showed that pumpkin seed is beneficial of Papillary Thyroid Cancer (PTC).
According to the literature, the present study was the first to investigate the effects of hull-less pumpkin seed on thyroid cancer. Previously, pumpkin therapeutic effects on breast, blood, and prostate cancer have been proven. Richter et al. investigated the phytoestrogen extracts isolated from pumpkin seeds on breast cancer. Their results highlighted a potential role of pumpkin seeds in breast cancer prevention and treatment . As previously mentioned, the inhibitory action of pumpkin is also proven on leukemia and prostate cancer.
Flaxseed oil has shown promise in regulating thyroid function, particularly for conditions such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Here’s a detailed look at the connection based on research:
Research Findings
Practical Implications
While flaxseed oil can be a beneficial addition to the diet for managing thyroid conditions, it should not replace medications prescribed by a healthcare professional. Those with thyroid issues should consult with their doctor to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that may include dietary changes alongside conventional treatment methods.
In summary, flaxseed oil can help control thyroid function through its anti-inflammatory properties, omega-3 fatty acid content, and dietary fiber. However, it should be used as a complementary approach rather than a primary treatment.
You can take all 3 oils one by one to help to balance your thyroid hormone but the question is what would be the right proportion. An even easier way is to take Activated Black Seed Oil. A teaspoon every morning, before food is all you need. Activated Black Seed oil contains organic black seed oil, organic pumpkin seed oil, organic flax seed oil and oregano and lemon oil to fight inflammation in the body.
If you’d like to take Activated Black Seed oil as a supplement, in addition to thyroid medication, have a chat with your endocrinologist first, just to make sure it’s a good fit for your unique thyroid situation. A cooperative effort, combining conventional and complementary therapies, might produce the best results.