Butterfly Effect: How Your Thyroid Powers Your Day
Have you ever wondered why you feel tired, moody, or just not yourself, even when everything seems fine? The answer might lie in a tiny, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck, just below your Adam’s apple. Despite its size, it plays a huge role in your health, influencing everything from your energy levels to your mood, digestion, and immune system. Essentially, the thyroid acts as the body’s thermostat, regulating how fast or slow things move within your body by producing hormones like T3 and T4. When your thyroid is balanced, you feel energetic, clear-headed, and resilient. But when it’s out of balance, it can feel like your entire system is working against you—slowing you down, fogging up your mind, or even stirring up anxiety and digestive issues. This is especially challenging if you are on the autism spectrum or are dealing with symptoms of PANDAS, or PANS, where the body’s systems are often under significant stress.
Nourishing the Thyroid
The thyroid needs specific nutrients to function optimally—think of them as the fuel that powers this crucial gland. Iodine is essential for hormone production, helping to prevent symptoms like fatigue and weight gain. Selenium assists in converting T4 into T3, the active hormone the body can use, while zinc supports hormone production and balances the immune system.
However, it’s not just about individual nutrients; it’s about supporting the body as a whole. Many individuals on the autism spectrum or with PANDAS or PANS struggle with GI issues, which can impact nutrient absorption. This is why we emphasise healing the gut with probiotics, digestive enzymes, and anti-inflammatory foods. Probiotic-rich foods like yoghurt or fermented vegetables can help restore gut balance. Digestive enzymes, especially those containing bromelain and papain, aid in breaking down food and reducing inflammation. Anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric, garlic, and ginger support overall health and ease the burden on the thyroid.
Supporting the Adrenals First
In functional medicine, before directly addressing thyroid issues, we often focus on supporting the adrenal glands. The adrenals play a crucial role in managing stress and overall hormone balance. If the adrenals are overworked or underperforming, it can lead to thyroid dysfunction. Therefore, we start by stabilising adrenal function with targeted nutrients and adaptogens.
- Adrenal Cortex Extracts: These supplements can help replenish and support adrenal function, particularly in cases of adrenal fatigue.
- L-Theanine: This amino acid promotes relaxation without sedation, helping to balance cortisol levels.
- Magnesium Glycinate or Threonate: These forms of magnesium are highly absorbable and help to calm the nervous system and support adrenal function.
- Ashwagandha: A powerful adaptogen, Ashwagandha helps modulate the stress response, reduces cortisol levels, and supports both adrenal and thyroid health.
- Individual Amino Acids: Supplementing with specific amino acids can support neurotransmitter balance, further aiding in stress management and adrenal health. Of note are taurine, tryptophan, and GABA.
- Microimmunotherapy Formulations: Specific formulations can help modulate the immune response, offering targeted support to reduce inflammation and support both adrenal and thyroid health.
Integrating Mind and Body
Your body and mind are deeply interconnected, and this relationship is critical for overall health. Cranial osteopathy goes beyond improving blood flow; it enhances vagal tone, which is essential for the communication between the gut and the brain. The vagus nerve plays a key role in regulating this gut-brain axis, influencing digestion, mood, and cognitive function. By gently adjusting the cranial bones, cranial osteopathy helps balance the autonomic nervous system, improving digestive health, reducing inflammation, and fostering mental clarity. This holistic approach supports the body’s natural ability to heal and thrive.
Limbic retraining, on the other hand, is about rewiring the brain to respond more calmly to stress—a crucial aspect because chronic stress floods the body with cortisol, a hormone that disrupts thyroid function. By training the brain to handle stress better, we can help reduce the inflammation that often accompanies the symptoms experienced by those on the autism spectrum or those with PANDAS and PANS, giving the thyroid—and the rest of the body—a better chance to thrive.
Herbal and Nutritional Interventions
Alongside lifestyle changes, we use targeted herbal remedies and nutrients to support thyroid health. Chaste Tree is particularly effective in regulating menstrual cycles and reducing PMS symptoms, which can be aggravated by thyroid dysfunction. Saffron is another powerful herb known for its mood-enhancing properties, helping to alleviate anxiety and depression.
Magnesium is an essential nutrient for calming the nervous system and supporting overall well-being. We often recommend magnesium glycinate, a form that’s gentle on the stomach and highly absorbable. This nutrient is a simple yet powerful way to manage the anxiety and sleep issues that often accompany thyroid imbalances.
The liver also plays a crucial role in hormone regulation. It helps convert T4 into T3 and clears out excess hormones and toxins. By using herbs like Milk Thistle, we can support liver detoxification and protect it from oxidative stress, ensuring that the thyroid remains balanced.
Cognitive Function and Brain Health in Autism
Impaired thyroid function can profoundly impact cognitive abilities, especially in those on the autism spectrum. Thyroid hormones, particularly T3, are crucial for brain development and processes like memory, concentration, and overall cognitive function. Low levels of these hormones can worsen difficulties with learning and attention, areas already challenging for many on the spectrum. By optimising thyroid health, we can help improve cognitive performance, enhance focus, and significantly boost quality of life, making daily tasks and social interactions more manageable and rewarding.
Diet and Autoimmune Thyroid Health
For those with thyroid issues like Hashimoto’s, diet is essential. Going gluten-free and focusing on anti-inflammatory foods can calm the immune system, reducing its attack on the thyroid and improving your health overall.
The Importance of Comprehensive Thyroid Testing
To truly understand what’s going on with your child’s thyroid, comprehensive testing is essential. We don’t just look at the basics; we delve deeper to get a full picture of thyroid health.
- TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone): TSH reflects how hard the thyroid is working. Elevated levels may indicate an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), while low levels could suggest an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
- Free T3 and Free T4: These are the active thyroid hormones circulating in the body. Free T3, the most active form, directly influences metabolism and energy levels. Free T4 is converted into T3 in various tissues, including the liver. Monitoring these levels helps us understand how well the thyroid is functioning.
- Reverse T3: This is a less active form of T3 that the body produces during times of stress. High levels of Reverse T3 can block the effects of T3, leading to symptoms of hypothyroidism even when T3 levels are normal. It’s an important marker for understanding how stress and inflammation might be impacting thyroid function.
- Thyroid Antibodies (TPOAb and TgAb): These antibodies indicate whether the immune system is attacking the thyroid, a condition known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Elevated antibodies can be present even when other thyroid markers are within normal ranges, signalling an autoimmune process that needs attention. Testing for these antibodies helps us understand whether an autoimmune condition is contributing to the symptoms.
- Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG): TBG is a protein that binds to thyroid hormones in the bloodstream, regulating their availability. Altered levels of TBG can affect the balance of free thyroid hormones, making this an important marker, especially when symptoms don’t match up with other lab results.
Each of these markers provides a piece of the puzzle. By looking at them together, we can identify not just whether the thyroid is functioning well, but also how it’s interacting with the rest of the body—immune system, metabolism, and stress levels. This comprehensive approach allows us to tailor a health plan that addresses the root causes of any thyroid dysfunction, ensuring that the whole body is supported.
Supporting the Whole Body
Ultimately, our goal is to help your child truly thrive—not just by addressing symptoms, but by supporting their whole being. Thyroid health is a crucial piece of this puzzle, and by working together to keep it balanced, we can enhance their energy, mood, and resilience. This journey is about more than managing a condition; it’s about empowering them to live their best, most vibrant life. By nurturing their thyroid, we’re building a foundation for long-term health and well-being that will support them in every aspect of life.
IMPORTANT
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is crucial to consult with medical doctors or qualified functional medicine practitioners to address specific health concerns and obtain personalised guidance tailored to individual needs. Never add any supplements to your plan until it has been assessed and approved by your medical doctor or suitable qualified practitioner who is familiar with your health history.
Concerned about your child’s health? We’d love to have a chat with you.
Click the link here to book your Free Discovery Call.
References
Silva, J. F., Ocarino, N. M., & Serakides, R. (2018). Thyroid hormones and female reproduction. Biology of Reproduction, 99(5), 907–921. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioy115
Brown, E. D. L., Obeng-Gyasi, B., Hall, J. E., & Shekhar, S. (2023). The Thyroid Hormone Axis and Female Reproduction. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(12), 9815. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24129815
Ren, B., & Zhu, Y. (2022). A New Perspective on Thyroid Hormones: Crosstalk with Reproductive Hormones in Females. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(5), 2708. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23052708
Santin, A. P., & Furlanetto, T. W. (2011). Role of estrogen in thyroid function and growth regulation. Journal of Thyroid Research, 2011, 875125.
Krassas, G. E., Poppe, K., & Glinoer, D. (2010). Thyroid Function and Human Reproductive Health. Endocrine Reviews, 31(5), 702–755. http://doi.org/10.1210/er.2009-0041
Redmond G. P. (2004). Thyroid dysfunction and women’s reproductive health. Thyroid: Official Journal of the American Thyroid Association, 14 Suppl 1, S5–S15. https://doi.org/10.1089/105072504323024543
Fan, H., Ren, Q., Sheng, Z., Deng, G., & Li, L. (2023). The role of the thyroid in polycystic ovary syndrome. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 14, 1242050. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1242050
