Naturopathic & Functional Ways of Life to Manage Hyperthyroidism & Hypothyroidism

This one will be longer than usual since we are handling two lifestyle issues in one: hyperthyroidism & hypothyroidism.

Let me first explain something in very simple language because I have realized that many of us keep confusing some words: thyroid, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism.

Your thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck, but please do not let its size fool you. It plays a big role in your entire endocrine system — how your body uses energy, how warm you feel, how fast your heart beats, how your muscles work, the communication between your organs on matters of hormones, and even how your brain functions.

Think of the thyroid as part of the body's speed regulator.

When the thyroid is producing too much thyroid hormone, we call it hyperthyroidism. The body is being pushed to work faster than it should. One may experience things like a racing heartbeat, feeling unusually hot, sweating, shaking, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, frequent bowel movements, or unexplained weight loss.

When the thyroid is producing too little thyroid hormone, we call it hypothyroidism. The body starts functioning more slowly. You may experience tiredness, feeling cold, constipation, dry skin, low energy, difficulty concentrating, or unexplained weight gain.

But here is where I want us to be careful.

Not every thyroid problem is caused by the same thing and should be treated the same.

In this text, as usual, I will share what you may know about lifestyle adjustments — as we all know, thyroid-related issues, whether hyper or hypo, are lifestyle-triggered.

The first naturopathic and functional principle is not “take this and cure your thyroid.” Even conventional medicine sometimes acknowledges that there is no single cure, yet treatment often focuses on the tablets you are prescribed or surgery without advising on the other areas of life that one MUST be intentional about to support thyroid function.

How do we reverse? First, be very honest with what is happening in your body. Get the right tests to identify if it is hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Do not start any treatment based on guesses.

A thyroid function test goes a long way in identifying where your body stands. Take it.

So, what can we intentionally change in our ways of life?

1. Stop fighting your body. Create an environment that supports it.

What your doctor might not whisper to you is that your thyroid function can be affected by suppressed anger, trauma, grief, pain, unspoken words, thoughts, etc.

Some doctors will mention chronic stress as a cause of thyroid issues but might mention it in passing. Yet, if it is not addressed, even surgery, supplements, or medications may not be enough to support your overall well-being.

What am I saying? Look within and see where you have suppressed emotions, especially negative emotions. See where you have had to shrink yourself. Seek help if need be to be able to handle all that suppression; otherwise, you may find yourself going back and forth from one hospital to the other.

Doctors in the house: please look at your patients as a whole person rather than someone whose thyroid has an issue.

2. Diet.

As you intentionally handle emotional issues that may be affecting your well-being, be intentional about what you eat.

By the time there is an illness in your body, there may be high inflammation within, so the RNB Inflamyx Tea is an essential night tea to support your wellness. RNB Ginger Shot is another anti-inflammatory drink that will keep you in line.

Whether the thyroid is swollen or not, if you have hypothyroidism, massaging it with cayenne pepper mixed with castor oil paste twice a day revives the thyroid function.

Whether you have hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, stop taking table salt as it is highly processed, and switch to pink Himalayan salt, Celtic salt or sea salt, all taken in moderation.

There is a lot of conflicting information about whether one should avoid salt completely or whether someone with hypothyroidism should take table salt in excess. Sad.

You may also get your balanced iodine from sea moss gel. Another myth I have heard enough times is that sea moss gel makes thyroid issues worse. Sad again.

Yes, sea moss gel has natural salt and iodine, but it is a better option than the salts we take through processed foods and other sources. What matters is the preparation process of the sea moss gel and the dosage.

One thing I can take to the bank is that at RNB, we are careful about how we prepare the sea moss gel.

If you have hypothyroidism, 2–3 tablespoons of sea moss gel a day are all you need. For hyperthyroidism, 1 tablespoon is enough for an adult.

Sea moss gives other benefits alongside iodine.

Highly inflammatory foods are your worst enemy when helping the thyroid to restore its function. Drop, without a second thought: wheat — oats included; dairy — yoghurt and kefir included; processed sugars and salts — refined ugali and rice included.

Lean towards whole starches, vegetables and plant proteins. If you have hypothyroidism, make garlic and cayenne pepper your friends.

3. Add herbal teas.

Make Indigenous Leaves Tea, Mulberry Tea, Guava Leaves Tea and Hibiscus Tea your friends.

If you have hypertension or low blood pressure, do not take hibiscus tea.

Learn to listen to what your body is communicating.

If you are adding excess weight, eat more fibre-rich foods that will make you feel full for longer.

If you are losing a lot of weight, lean towards proteins and vegetables as opposed to eating excess starches just so you can add weight.

If you are experiencing or want to avoid body weakness, take a tablespoon of Baobab Fruit Powder + a tablespoon of Collagen Powder + Sea Moss Gel + ¾ cup of Mama’s Immune Booster + 1 tablespoon of Ashwagandha.

If you are experiencing or want to prevent brain fog, low concentration, poor sleep or insomnia, anxiety, or heart palpitations, take 1 tablespoon of RNB Original Cocoa Powder + 1 teaspoon of Ashwagandha + 1 tablespoon of Propolis Suspension + 1 tablespoon of Black Seeds Oil.

Also, rosemary tea, if you do not have hypotension, works well for memory support.

Always hydrate. Sometimes your memory is going slowly because you could be dehydrated. Please hydrate.

All said and done, you must take fermented foods. I was a bit mean above when I said that; for a period of three months or so, you should withdraw even yoghurt and kefir milk. Yet your gut needs to keep helping you.

So get a glass of Kombucha or Tepache every day. Or eat some kimchi or sauerkraut.

4. Support quality sleep and reduce fatigue.

Frequent RNB Bliss Care Body or Foot Soaks can help a lot.

A bite of RNB Dark Chocolate boosts magnesium.

Our RNB Bedding Spray on your linen will help you sleep well.

RNB’s chamomile tea is another miracle worker.

Let food be your foundation.

Manage stress.

This one I will keep saying until we understand it.

Rest. Rest. Rest.

Your body does not distinguish between the stress of work, lack of sleep, emotional exhaustion, and everything else happening around you as neatly as we sometimes imagine.

Create moments of quiet. Pray. Walk. Breathe. Laugh out loud. Spend time with people who give you peace. Forgive. Let go of what you cannot control.

And where your faith allows, say the Serenity Prayer as often as you need it.

These are not substitutes for tablets, a good diet, exercise, or inner work. They are part of learning how to live in a way that supports the whole person.

Sleep is not a luxury.

Especially when your body is already struggling with energy regulation, make sleep part of your treatment conversation.

Create a consistent sleeping and waking rhythm. Reduce unnecessary stimulation at night — phones, TVs, coffee, alcohol, etc.

Give yourself permission to rest.

A body that is constantly being pushed cannot be expected to restore itself properly. Most likely, it fell ill in the first place from being overused, so it fell ill to beg for a break.

Move your body according to what your body can safely handle.

Movement is important for everybody. But here is an important distinction.

If someone has uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, they should not simply decide to exercise harder because they want to “burn more calories.” Hyperthyroidism can affect the heart and bones, so exercise intensity should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

At IFNHP (www.ifnhp.co.ke), we have a great physiotherapist and naturopath you can consult for exercises. IFNHP prides itself on having trained several of them.

Move, but do not punish your body.

Exercise, including sauna and steam baths, also helps revitalize the lymphatic system.

As we speak about exercise, allow me to remind you to protect your bones.

Thyroid health and bone health are connected. Too much thyroid hormone over time can contribute to bone loss, while untreated thyroid disease can affect many systems in the body.

So please do not wait until your bones complain.

Give your bones some collagen powder, avocado seed powder, black seed oil, and Thabiti Calcium Uji from RNB.

Pay attention to calcium, vitamin D, and other nutritional needs.

Final submission

You may ask, “But Carol, I had my thyroid removed. I am on thyroid medication. Do I need to do all the above?”

But Carol, I am on hyperthyroidism and/or hypothyroidism medication. Can I do all of the above?

I say yes to both questions.

The recommendations above are lifestyle tips that can help keep you healthy. Our goal at RNB (www.rnb.co.ke) is to help get you healthy and help you stay healthy.

They do not interfere with the sort of treatment you took or are taking.

But if you are on medication, I will pose the question for you: are you comfortable taking these medications for the rest of your life?

If not, you can adopt these lifestyle changes and consult functional medicine doctors, like some of our IFNHP alumni, and slowly drop the medication, which is possible.

Finally, always strive to find the root, not just the symptom.

This is where functional health education becomes important.

Do not simply ask:

“What can I take for thyroid?”

Ask:

“Why is my thyroid behaving this way?”

These questions help us move from managing a label to understanding a person.

Your diagnosis is information.

It is not your identity.

Hyperthyroidism does not mean your body is broken forever.

Hypothyroidism does not mean you can never feel well again.

But it does mean your body is asking for help.

At RNB, we believe in naturopathic and functional ways of life — helping people understand their bodies, improve their daily choices, and learn how to get healthy and stay healthy.

We do not believe one tea, one powder, one oil, or one product should carry the responsibility of healing your entire body.

Your lifestyle is bigger than any bottle.

Thank you for trusting RNB to walk with you.

Should you have further questions, feel free to ask.

Get healthy, stay healthy with Carol Your Health Coach.