The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, but it plays a major role in your health. It regulates your metabolism, energy, mood, temperature, digestion, and hormone balance.
When you experience thyroid dysfunction, it can affect nearly every system in your body—and often, the root causes are missed or misunderstood. That’s where functional medicine steps in.
Common Types of Thyroid Dysfunction
- Hypothyroidism – An underactive thyroid that slows down metabolism
Common symptoms: fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, depression, constipation, hair thinning, cold intolerance - Hyperthyroidism – An overactive thyroid that speeds up metabolism
Common symptoms: anxiety, insomnia, weight loss, rapid heartbeat, sweating, irritability - Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis – An autoimmune condition and the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the U.S.
The immune system attacks the thyroid over time, leading to fluctuating thyroid levels - Graves’ Disease – An autoimmune form of hyperthyroidism
Can cause goiters, eye problems, and other systemic symptoms
What Causes Thyroid Dysfunction?
From a functional medicine perspective, thyroid disease is usually not just a thyroid problem—it’s a whole-body issue. We look deeper to find out why the thyroid is struggling.
Root Causes We Investigate:
- Autoimmune activity (especially in Hashimoto’s or Graves’)
- Chronic stress + adrenal dysfunction (HPA axis imbalance)
- Leaky gut and dysbiosis
- Nutrient deficiencies (iodine, selenium, zinc, iron, vitamin D, B12)
- Environmental toxins and endocrine disruptors
- Food sensitivities (especially gluten, which can trigger autoimmune flare-ups)
- Viral infections (like Epstein-Barr)
- Poor liver detoxification (impacts hormone conversion and clearance)
How Functional Medicine Helps
We don’t just look at your TSH levels and send you on your way. Functional medicine uses comprehensive lab testing and a root-cause approach to create a personalized plan that supports your thyroid—and your whole body.
Your Healing Plan May Include:
- Comprehensive thyroid panel testing (TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, antibodies)
- Gut healing protocols to reduce autoimmune triggers
- Nutritional support for key thyroid nutrients
- Stress and adrenal balance using lifestyle, adaptogens, and breathwork
- Detoxification support to reduce chemical interference with hormones
- Targeted supplementation to support thyroid hormone production and conversion
- Thyroid-friendly, anti-inflammatory nutrition
