Hypothyroidism

Why it works: Your thyroid must have iodine to make T4 and T3. When intake is insufficient, the gland can’t synthesize enough hormone and hypothyroidism can result; restoring iodine corrects thi...

Instructions: Confirm the cause first. Work with a clinician to confirm hypothyroidism (TSH, free T4) and assess for autoimmune disease. Consider iodine status only if dietary history suggests l...

Warnings: Autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s): Excess iodine can precipitate or worsen hypothyroidism in...

Studies: Biology & epidemiology: Authoritative reviews conclude t...

Why it works: The thyroid is rich in selenoproteins (e.g., deiodinases that activate/inactivate thyroid hormone; glutathione peroxidases that limit oxidative stress). Adequate selenium status su...

Instructions: Typical regimens used in trials:. • Dose & form: Most Hashimoto’s trials used 200 µg/day of organic forms (selenium-enriched yeast or L-selenomethionine) for 3–12 months; pregnancy...

Warnings: Do not exceed the UL (400 µg/day in adults) from all sources (diet + supplements). Chronic excess ca...

Studies: Overall evidence (systematic reviews/guidelines)Cochrane rev...

Why it works: Higher deficiency risk in thyroid disease: Autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s/Graves’) clusters with other autoimmune conditions like pernicious anemia (autoimmune gastritis),...

Instructions: 1) Test first (don’t supplement blind if possible):. • Start with a serum B12. If results are low-normal but suspicion remains (neuropathy, macrocytosis, vegan diet, metformin or P...

Warnings: Safety profile: B12 is water-soluble; toxicity is rare at typical doses, but side effects (e.g., hea...

Studies: Systematic review/meta-analysis (2023): Lower B12 levels in...

Why it works: Possible thyroid-stimulating effects (mechanism). Classic animal experiments found that ashwagandha root extract increased circulating thyroid hormones (particularly T4, sometimes...

Instructions: Who was studied: Adults with subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH 4.5–10 μIU/L; normal T3/T4). Europe PMC. Dose & extract: Ashwagandha root extract 600 mg/day (typically 300 mg twice da...

Warnings: Can push you hyperthyroid. Case reports describe ashwagandha-induced thyrotoxicosis that resolved af...

Studies: Randomized controlled trial (pilot).Sharma et al., 2018 (J A...

Why it works: Proposed mechanism (pre-clinical): The ketosteroid (Z)-guggulsterone increased thyroid activity in animal studies—raising iodine uptake in the thyroid and boosting enzymes such as...

Instructions: If someone still wants to consider guggul as a supervised adjunct (not a substitute for thyroid hormone), practitioners typically look for:. • Standardized extracts: Many commercia...

Warnings: Drug interactions (pharmacokinetic):. • May induce CYP3A4, potentially reducing levels of drugs meta...

Studies: Animal/mechanistic(Z)-guggulsterone stimulated thyroid funct...

Why it works: Core biology. Zinc is required for hundreds of enzymes and transcription factors, including those involved in thyroid hormone production and action. It influences TR (thyroid hormo...

Instructions: 1) Decide if zinc is appropriate. • Consider testing or dietary assessment if you have risk factors for low zinc (restricted diets, malabsorption, thiazide diuretics, etc.). Office...

Warnings: Do not exceed the UL (40 mg/day adults). Chronic high intakes can induce copper deficiency, leading...

Studies: Randomized controlled trial (JACN, 2015): 68 overweight/obes...

Why it works: Pattern logic (TCM): SJZT tonifies Qi and strengthens Spleen/Stomach—useful when fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools, weak voice, pale tongue, and thin/weak pulse signal Spleen-Qi...

Instructions: Classical composition & typical decoction amounts (per dose/day):. • Ren Shen (often Dang Shen substituted at 2–3× the Ren Shen weight in modern practice): 3–9 g (many modern sourc...

Warnings: SJZT contains Zhi Gan Cao (licorice) and Ren Shen (ginseng; often Dang Shen is used instead)—both ha...

Studies: Direct RCTs for hypothyroidism: None of high quality located...

Why it works: TCM rationale (pattern-based): In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), many hypothyroid presentations map to Kidney Yang deficiency (sometimes Spleen-Kidney Yang deficiency). You Gu...

Instructions: Who it’s for (pattern fit): Best when a practitioner diagnoses Kidney Yang deficiency (e.g., cold intolerance, fatigue, low back/knee soreness, edema, loose stools). If your presen...

Warnings: Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) toxicity risk: You Gui Wan contains processed aconite, which carries serious car...

Studies: Systematic review & meta-analysis (2022, World Journal o...

Why it works: Traditional (TCM/Kampo) pattern rationale. • BZYQT “tonifies Spleen/Stomach qi and raises yang,” classically used for fatigue, poor appetite, weakness, and “qi sinking” (e.g., prol...

Instructions: Formulations & typical adult dosing (standardized Kampo extracts). • Tsumura TJ-41 (Hochuekkito): usual adult dose 7.5 g/day granules orally in 2–3 divided doses before or between...

Warnings: General safety (authoritative monograph). • MSK monograph lists nausea/bloating and emphasizes discu...

Studies: Autoimmune thyroiditis / thyroid-relatedRat AIT model: Buzho...