My Herbs 1

he purpose of the thyroid is to collect
iodine from the blood in order
TT
to produce two hormones: thyroxine and
triiodothyronine. It also regulates energy
consumption in all organs and cells in
the human body.
Among the most common thyroid diseases
around the world is Hashimoto’s
thyroiditis – chronic inflammation of the
thyroid of autoimmune origin, which is
manifested by hypothyroidism (reduced
performance resulting in inadequate secretion
of thyroid hormones).
In many cases, this thyroiditis occurs simultaneously
with other autoimmune
diseases such as type 1 diabetes, vitiligo,
alopecia, celiac disease, autoimmune gastritis
or Duhring’s disease. Initially, autoimmune
thyroiditis usually manifests
itself as latent hypothyroidism with hormone
levels close to normal, which, if
not treated, usually grows within a few
years into hypothyroidism. With
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the permeation
of thyroid lymphocytes occurs with
plasma cells producing antibodies. This
causes inflammation leading to tissue
changes in the thyroid gland and a consequent
reduction in its performance.
THE MAIN SYMPTOMS
OF HYPOTHYROIDISM
The most common symptoms of low
thyroid performance include sleeping difficulties:
inability to sleep, waking frequently
during the night, difficulty
waking up in the morning, sleepiness
during the day, prolonged fatigue, muscle
weakness, and lack of energy. One often
feels chilly, experiences sensitivity to the
cold and light, and has a low temperature
(below 97ºF / 36ºC), poor hair quality
(falling out), brittle nails, and dry skin.
Also, one experiences a number of neurological
signs of disability with the central
nervous system (loss of concentration,
memory disorders, impaired cognitive
performance) and the peripheral nervous
system (extended reflexivity, tingling
limbs). There are more than a few emotional
changes: mood swings, depression,
lack of motivation, irritability, weight
gain (especially due to fluid retention in
the body), difficulty with weight reduction,
swelling, indigestion, constipation,
craving for sweet food, menstrual irregularities
and premenstrual syndrome,
symptoms of estrogen dominance, reduced
fertility, unexplained joint and
muscle pain, hoarse voice, slow heart
rate, cardiac arrhythmia, and heart palpitations.
HOLISTIC HEALING
With autoimmune diseases, threats
against the immune system stem from its
own attack against cells of its own tissues,
instead of external ones. From the perspective
of psychosomatic medicine, our
body is trying to tell us that our life is not
in conformity with what is beneficial to
our health and is therefore trying to protect
us from ourselves. Reduced thyroid
performance as a consequence of autoimmune
inflammation can then be explained
by a lack of taste and zest for life,
or closing oneself up from the outside
world for fear of one’s own self-projection.
The thyroid gland is very sensitive to
disruptions in hormonal balance, adrenal
performance, or the activity of the digestive
system. Its disruption is partly caused
by chronic stress, hormonal changes, autoimmune
inflammation, food quality,
and eating habits, in addition to the levels
of environmental toxins and xenoestrogens;
these chemicals from our
environment disrupt our own hormones
in the body. Therefore, it is not possible
to successfully handle autoimmune thyroid
disease and prevent functional deterioration
without looking deep into the
core of this complex disease.
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