15 Natural Remedies for Hypothyroidism

woman crying symptoms of hypothyroidism

Have you tried pretty much every diet known to mankind and still can’t seem to reach your weight loss goal or even lose more than a few pounds? If that is the case with you, you could have a condition which slows your body’s metabolic rate known as hypothyroidism. There is no need to panic, because there are natural remedies for hypothyroidism which you probably already have in your home.

Our 15 natural remedies can help you regain control of the hormones produced by your thyroid, but they are not all inclusive cures. For severe conditions related to thyroid dysfunctions, you should consult a health care professional for proper advice and treatment.

1. Coconut Oil

When it comes to dealing with hypothyroidism, few home remedies are more effective than the use of coconut oil. The medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil help to raise your basal body temperature to boost your metabolic rate by improving and promoting healthier thyroid function.

What to do:

  • Make use of extra-virgin organic coconut oil in your cooking.
  • In addition, you can add 1 or 2 Tbsp to a 12 oz. glass of warm milk and drink it along with your breakfast in the morning.
  • Make this a daily habit for best results.

pieces of coconut with milk and oil

2. Fish Oil

Fish oil is another home remedy for combating hypothyroidism in much the same way that coconut oil is. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fish oils help to fight inflammation and give your immunity a boost, which also helps to increase thyroid hormone uptake.

What to do:

  • Consuming wild caught, cold water fish like salmon, halibut, mackerel, pollock, sardines and the like several times per week, you can get your fish oil more naturally.
  • You may also take a fish oil supplement (krill oil is best), in the amount of 3 grams per day.

3. Vitamin D

Hypothyroidism has been connected to vitamin D deficiency, so it stands to reason that making certain that your body produces enough vitamin D is a simple home remedy that you can use to improve thyroid function as well as fight against other autoimmune diseases that can complicate your condition further.

What to do:

  • Exposure to early morning sunshine for 15 minutes a day helps your body to produce more vitamin D.
  • An early morning walk is one of the best ways to take advantage of this wonderful health improving vitamin.

4. Guggul

You are probably completely unaware of this herb unless you are acquainted with Ayurvedic medicine, but it is a natural remedy for hypothyroidism to keep in mind. Not only do the main compounds in guggul have anti-inflammatory and cholesterol lowering benefits, but they also promote the uptake of thyroid hormones by converting T4 hormones into more active T3 hormones as well.

What to do:

  • This herb can be taken in doses of 25mg three times daily.
  • However, be sure to consult a health care professional first because it can have adverse reaction with estrogen therapy, birth control pills, beta-blockers and some other medications you might be taking.

5. Primrose Oil

Primrose oil is an essential oil that is often utilized as a natural remedy for those struggling with hypothyroidism. Gamma linoleic acids (GLAs) are found in abundance in primrose oil and offer both anti-inflammatory benefits to reduce thyroid inflammation as well as helping to produce greater levels of thyroid hormones. Associated problems like hair loss and heavy menstrual flow are also aided by this oil.

What to do:

  • Between 2 and 8 grams daily can be taken after first consulting with a health care professional for suitable dosage for your condition.

6. Ginger

Hypothyroidism can be greatly effected through the use of a very common household ingredient; ginger. A good source of the minerals zinc, magnesium and potassium as well as its additional anti-inflammatory properties, ginger is one of the best natural remedies available for improving thyroid function.

What to do:

  • Consider adding powdered or fresh ginger into your dishes on a regular basis.
  • Additionally, brew ginger tea and consume it a couple of times daily, especially 15 to 20 minutes before meals.

7. B Vitamins

B Vitamins are essential to proper thyroid function, therefore they are an essential natural remedy for helping to correct hypothyroidism. Vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6, B9 (folate), and B12 all provide essential components to a healthier thyroid, with vitamin B12 being highly important as researchers have shown that hypothyroidism is regularly associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.

What to do:

  • Taking a vitamin B complex supplement which includes all of these vitamins will help.
  • Consume more whole grains, legumes, sea vegetables and fresh vegetables on a daily basis.
  • Avoid the consumption of alcohol as it tends to deplete vitamin B in your body.

ginseng in a box

8. Siberian Ginseng

Another natural remedy which helps to give your thyroid a boost is Siberian ginseng. Not only does this herb combat hypothyroidism by stimulating the adrenal and thymus glands, but it also helps to alleviate fatigue, which is a common symptom of hypothyroidism.

What to do:

You can take a supplemental dose of between 100 and 200 mg of Siberian ginseng extract twice daily before breakfast and your midday meal for best results.

9. Kelp

Those suffering from hypothyroidism can find relief in the consumption of kelp. Kelp is rich in iodine that corrects iodine deficiency, which is another cause of thyroid malfunction. However, if you are suffering from other autoimmune diseases, this natural remedy is not recommended as it can worsen those other conditions.

What to do:

  • You can take kelp supplements, but only after consulting with a health care professional for correct dosage.
  • You are apt to get more benefit from simply adding more kelp into your daily diet.

10. Apple Cider Vinegar

Another natural remedy which shows up on so many lists because of its potent properties is apple cider vinegar. ACV helps to balance out your body’s pH, which, in turn, assists in the proper regulation of hormones, making it an excellent addition to your arsenal for combating hypothyroidism.

What to do:

  • Add 2 Tbsp of organic ACV to a 12 oz. glass of warm water.
  • Add a little honey if necessary to get it down.
  • Drink this mixture first thing in the morning on a daily basis.

11. Ashwagandha

The adaptogenic herb, ashwagandha, is a highly touted natural remedy when it comes to the treatment of hypothyroidism. Adaptogenic herbs are herbs which assist in controlling and decreasing stress. Reducing stress is a major factor in recovering from thyroid dysfunction.

What to do:

  • Add ¼ to ½ tsp of ashwagandha powder to any drink twice daily.
  • You can add 20 to 30 drops of ashwagandha liquid extract to a glass of water or juice 1 to 3 times daily as well.

12. Probiotics

Hypothyroidism has also been linked to a condition known as leaky gut syndrome. Gluten and other sugars manage to leak through your intestinal walls with this condition and enter your bloodstream causing inflammation, in specific, to your thyroid. Probiotics help to heal intestinal walls by providing healthy bacteria to aid in better digestion and the elimination of harmful bacteria.

What to do:

  • Make probiotics foods a regular part of your diet on a daily basis.
  • There are a wide variety of probiotics foods to consider, many of which you might already enjoy eating.

13. Proteolytic Enzymes

Another natural remedy for correcting hypothyroidism is the addition of proteolytic enzymes into your daily diet. These enzymes help to reduce inflammation, specifically the type of inflammation that is related to autoimmune and thyroid dysfunction.

What to do:

  • One of the most common proteolytic enzymes is bromelain, which is found in the core of pineapples, so when you extract juice from a pineapple, make sure to throw in the core as well.
  • Another common source is papain, which is an enzyme found in papaya.

14. Selenium

A critical nutrient which is a natural remedy for improving hypothyroidism is selenium. Not only is selenium a powerful antioxidant, but it helps to balance out the levels of T4 hormones in your body while helping to convert them into more effective T3 hormones.

What to do:

  • You can make sure that selenium is included in your daily vitamin supplement.
  • Your body will benefit far more from natural sources of selenium from foods like: brazil nuts, grass-fed beef, cold water fish, turkey, beef liver, eggs, and spinach.

15. Glutathione

Another powerful antioxidant that helps to fight inflammation and strengthen the immune system, which directly effects thyroid function, is glutathione. Through this natural remedy you can keep down auto-immune flare-ups which tend to complicate hypothyroidism.

What to do:

  • There are no glutathione supplements nor is it found in any foods, however, there are a number of foods that help your body to produce glutathione.
  • Add the following vegetables to your daily diet: asparagus, broccoli, squash, spinach, avocado, cauliflower and cabbage.
  • Also add grapefruit and peaches to your diet as well.

Additional Herbs for Hypothyroidism

Some individuals suffering from hypothyroidism problems find it most effective to use herbs and supplements for low thyroid function.Because of their natural properties, they find it beneficial to supplement herbs such as these below. These could work for you, we hope so.

Holy Basil

This herb is known for its antioxidant, immunity-boosting and anxiety-relieving properties. It is also an effective anti-inflammatory by blocking the pathways of enzymes.

Lemon Balm Herbal Benefits for Thyroid

The lemon balm is another one of the herbs for low thyroid function. Researches have shown that the lemon balm helpsregulate and stabilize the thyroid glands

Echinacea

This herb has medicinal properties that boost your immune system which can help cure thyroid problems.

Bugleweed

The herb bugleweed is used to is to treat thyroid conditions as well.

Rhodiola

The herb Rhodiola improves thyroid function.

Licorice

This herb is known to help maintain the balance in the production of thyroid hormones.

Bladderwrack Seaweed Benefit

Bladderwrack contains high levels of natural iodine making it one of the best plants or herbs to stimulate the thyroid gland.

Black Walnut

The Black Walnut is known to be a great source of magnesium that helps promote the healthy function of the thyroid.

Conclusion

Please note these herb remedies mentioned aren’t meant to replace thyroid hormone replacement medication. Always speak to your doctor before making changes to your medication protocol or starting supplements to be sure they are right for you. The goal is to share all the possible treatments for hypothyroidism in hopes that you find what works for you. Thanks to optimal thyroid treatment, finding the right types of thyroid medication and at the right dosage for your body along with many of the natural treatments can help you succeed in controlling negative symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Speeding up your metabolism will not only help you be better able to shed those extra, unwanted pounds and inches, but it can also help get rid of the fatigue and inflammation often associated with hypothyroidism as well. Make use of these 15 natural remedies to restore the proper function of your thyroid and you will begin to look and feel better than you ever have before. Be certain to add additional remedies, comments, and questions in the section below as well.

Images: depositphotos.com.