7 Complementary Therapies for Hypothyroidism

How acupuncture, in which thin needles are inserted in the skin to stimulate specific points on the body, works baffles many modern-day researchers, but the centuries-old technique may help by stimulating the body’s pain-killing chemicals or stimulating a release of chemicals that modulate the blood’s flow and pressure, according to theNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health(NCCIH). In a small study, a U.S. researcher, following the belief that acupuncture can help thyroid function byreducing a person’s stress, found a decrease in thyroid symptoms in the study’s two participants after once-a-week acupuncture sessions over 12 weeks. The findings were published in November 2013 in the journalGlobal Advances in Health and Medicine.

A review of acupuncture’s contribution tothyroid disorders, published in November 2018 in theJournal of Integrative Medicine, examined data from 29 clinical projects involving 1,757 patients from China, Italy, Korea, Macedonia, and Russia. The review found indications that acupuncture, when used alone or with other treatments, may lead to a reduction in symptoms and other improvements in patients withhyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, or other thyroid-related illnesses.

If you’re considering trying acupuncture, the NCCIH recommends looking for a licensed acupuncturist or physician. A diploma from theNational Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicineis required for licensing in most states.

Meditation is a mind-body practice that may help increase calmness and relaxation, reduce blood pressure, easesymptoms of anxietyand depression, and improve overall health and well-being, according to theNCCIH. While there’s little scientific evidence of the benefits of meditation on hypothyroidism specifically, it’s believed that it may help because of its effect on the nervous system, according to Merel Martens, a yoga instructor and founder of Dutch Yoga Academy in the Netherlands who also organizes meditation trainings in her country and others with the Institute for Meditation. One theory is that the sympathetic nervous system — the part of the body concerned withreacting to stress— may be overstimulated at times, which can throw the entire endocrine system out of balance. Meditation can help bring back balance, and Martens recommends doing it for at least 20 minutes a day. If you’re new to meditating, try taking a class at a local yoga studio or meditation center or downloading an app on your phone, and start with a few minutes per day.

瑜伽还可以帮助内分泌平衡,马顿斯says. “The reasoning behind the benefit of yoga is that yogic practices such as asanas [postures] and pranayama [breathing exercises] are said to balance theendocrine systemin its entirety,” she says. “Since the function of the thyroid is heavily influenced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus, [it] is affected positively.” For example, the fish pose, shoulder stand, and plough pose are said to massage the thyroid, stimulating blood flow.

A small study published in June 2016 in theJournal of Complementary and Integrative Medicinefound that practicing yoga for 6 months was associated with improvements in cholesterol andthyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) levels, as well as a reduced need for thyroid replacement therapy in women with hypothyroidism.

Other examples of mind-body practices you might want to talk to your doctor about include Pilates, tai chi, qigong, and hypnosis, according to theAmerican Thyroid Association(ATA).

Massage therapy has been found to help with a variety of ailments, ranging fromanxiety and depressionto high blood pressure, sleep problems, pain, and more, according to theAmerican Massage Therapy Association(AMTA). While massage therapy hasn’t been studied directly for hypothyroidism, Dr. Brownstein believes it helps the lymph system and stimulates blood flow, which is beneficial for thyroid function. Massage can also have a positive effect onstress levels, which can help withhypothyroid symptoms, the AMTA reports. To find a licensed massage therapist, ask your doctor for recommendations or use theAMTA’s online locator service.

What you eat or don't eat can make a difference in your hypothyroidism, says Natalie Bozinovski, ND, a naturopathic doctor at Health and the City in Toronto. For instance, she says, if you haveceliac disease, which is more common inpeople with hypothyroidism, avoidingglutencan help you manage hypothyroid symptoms.

While it’s important to note that there is no such thing as a “hypothyroidism diet,” eating a healthy, well-balanced diet can help you manage your symptoms and improve your overall health. Eating foods containing nutrients such as iodine and selenium is important for good thyroid function, while certain foods and supplements — walnuts; soybean flour; cottonseed meal; iron and calcium supplements — may interfere with how well the body absorbs thyroid hormone medication, according to the ATA. You should avoid eating these foods or taking these supplements a few hours before or after your thyroid medication dose. Work with your doctor or a registered dietitian to develop a meal plan that’s right for you.

Certain nutrients — tyrosine, iodine, selenium, zinc, copper — are needed for the synthesis of the thyroid hormone, Dr. Bozinovski says, so determining if a nutritional deficiency exists and then supplementing your diet with the missing nutrients (with your doctor’s guidance) may also benefithypothyroid treatment.

It’s important to talk to your doctor before you take any supplements or increase specific nutrients in your diet. For example, while a doctor may recommend increasing or decreasing the amount of iodine in a patient’s diet, consuming too much iodine may actually be harmful in some cases and worsenhypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, according to the ATA.

One study, published in January 2017 in theInternational Journal of Endocrinology, found that getting adequate amounts of selenium in the diet, either through food or supplements, is required not only to prevent thyroid disease but also to maintain overall health. Foods that are high in selenium include Brazil nuts, tuna, sardines, beef, and turkey, according to theNational Institutes of Health.

Research has shown that exercise may be an important part of improving thyroid function. A small study published in December 2015 in theArchives of Medicine & Health Sciencesfound that thyroid function improved in hypothyroid patients who engaged in regular exercise. The study found that medium-intensityaerobic exercisewas associated with the best results for improvingthyroid-stimulating hormonelevels, but even gentle exercises such as swimming or yoga improved thyroid function.

Another small study, published in October 2018 in theArchives of Endocrinology and Metabolism, found that 16 weeks of aerobic exercise training was associated with improved quality of life, including general function and emotional, mental, and physical health, in women withsubclinical hypothyroidism.