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Writer's pictureDr. Ray

Heal Your Thyroid With Natural Medicine: Embracing Truth, Community & Support

This year I am kicking off a new weekly video series/podcast on the state of Collective health. Each week, I will pull cards to obtain clear messages ("tarotscope") for the collective regarding which area of our health to address and heal.


As we learn which organ systems to support each week, we will also review spiritual guidance and ancestral wisdom on how to best support our self-healing using natural medicines.


During this week's video (January 2 - 6th, 2024), I pulled the Thyroid card (The Hierophant), which means we are all being called to pay attention to our thyroid and throat chakras as we start the new year. This area of the body and theme also represents:


1.) Finding your voice to speak the Truth

2.) Aligning with a Higher Calling/Purpose

3.) Moral Duty to carry out what is best for the Community.





The thyroid gland is a 'communal' gland that energizes our bodies and ensures the proper function of many systemic processes. Low thyroid hormone results in Hypothyroidism and high thyroid hormone results in Hyperthyroidism. The thyroid depends on a Balance of hormones to function at its best, otherwise, disease sets in.


Community ties into thyroid health because most people with thyroid disease have illnesses due to toxic relationships and/or toxic environments where they are not receiving healthy support. I have yet to meet a thyroid patient who did not share how stress is an issue for them in managing their thyroid.


Also, consider if your parent was exposed to challenging circumstances (i.e. iodine deficiency, radiation exposure, high stress, repressed voice, abuse, toxins, etc.) that caused their thyroid illness. Then, this same dysfunction can be passed on to your children and lead to hereditary disease as well. When the community is unhealthy then cycles of disease will occur. That's why community health is an important aspect of personal health. Without the right support, you cannot heal or thrive.


Watch my video to learn how to protect your thyroid and what is the impact of community as it relates to self-healing and growth this year!


Below are some of my best strategies for healing your thyroid with natural medicine and preventing thyroid disease.


Best Natural Support for Thyroid Health:


  • Seaweed Vegetables & Sea Herbs for Iodine:

    • Bladderwrack (Tincture, Capsules or Tea)

    • Irish or Jamaican Sea Moss (Algae Gel, Powder or Capsules)

    • Kombu or Dulse Flakes

    • Wakame Salad

    • Seaweed Chips


  • Brazil Nuts for Selenium (3 -4 nuts daily)

  • Black Seed Oil (Nigella sativa - 1 -2 tsp daily)

  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids (i.e. 3 -4 oz wild-caught fatty fish, or 1 oz walnuts & seeds, or 15mL fish oil)

  • High Antioxidant Foods (i.e. berries, pomegranate, cherries, turmeric, ginger, leafy greens)

  • Mushrooms for Immune Modulation (i.e. Reishi, Shiitake, Maitake, Portabella, Lionsmane, Cordyceps)





References:

  • Wu Q, Rayman MP, Lv H, Schomburg L, Cui B, Gao C, Chen P, Zhuang G, Zhang Z, Peng X, Li H, Zhao Y, He X, Zeng G, Qin F, Hou P, Shi B. Low Population Selenium Status Is Associated With Increased Prevalence of Thyroid Disease. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Nov;100(11):4037-47. doi: 10.1210/jc.2015-2222. Epub 2015 Aug 25. PMID: 26305620.

  • Patrick L. Thyroid disruption: mechanism and clinical implications in human health. Altern Med Rev. 2009 Dec;14(4):326-46. Erratum in: Altern Med Rev. 2010 Apr;15(1):58. PMID: 20030460.

  • Farhangi MA, Dehghan P, Tajmiri S, Abbasi MM. The effects of Nigella sativa on thyroid function, serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) - 1, Nesfatin-1 and anthropometric features in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016 Nov 16;16(1):471. doi: 10.1186/s12906-016-1432-2. PMID: 27852303; PMCID: PMC5112739.

  • Trigo JP, Palmnäs-Bédard M, Juanola MV, Undeland I. Effects of whole seaweed consumption on humans: current evidence from randomized-controlled intervention trials, knowledge gaps, and limitations. Front Nutr. 2023 Jul 20;10:1226168. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1226168. PMID: 37545570; PMCID: PMC10399747.

  • Benvenga S, Elia G, Ragusa F, Paparo SR, Sturniolo MM, Ferrari SM, Antonelli A, Fallahi P. Endocrine disruptors and thyroid autoimmunity. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Jan;34(1):101377. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2020.101377. Epub 2020 Feb 11. PMID: 32081544.

  • Yang X, Chen L, Zhao L, Yang Y, Wang J, Yan L, Tai G, Zhang H. Cordyceps sinensis-derived fungus Isaria felina ameliorates experimental autoimmune thyroiditis in mice. Biomed Pharmacother. 2021 Aug;140:111733. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111733. Epub 2021 May 21. PMID: 34029950.


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