Hypothyroidism is a common imbalance in women as they age, or after ­pregnancy, however it is often ­under-diagnosed, misdiagnosed or missed ­altogether.

One symptom of hypothyroidism is a swollen thyroid, which may present as a thickness in the throat or having a hard time swallowing. However, it is more common to have a combination of symptoms, such as consistent fatigue, dry hair, dry skin, muscle aches, feeling ­colder than others most of the time, swelling in the hands and feet, difficulty regulating body temperature, minimal sweating, heavy ­periods, problems with focus and memory, and unexplained weight gain ­despite regular exercise and proper diet.

Classic diagnosis
The classic medical test for hypothyroid is a TSH test, which stands for thyroid stimulating hormone. This test does not test thyroid function, but rather tests to see if the pituitary thinks the thyroid is working properly.

The thyroid puts out at least two hormones--T3 and T4. T3 is the active hormone while T4 is inactive and must be activated in the body, mostly by the ­liver, to be effective. If the thyroid puts out too much T4 and not enough T3, the pituitary thinks the thyroid is working well enough, and the TSH will show as "normal." Even if the T4 is not being converted to T3 by the body efficiently enough the TSH will still be "normal." Therefore the person with the combination of symptoms is told the thyroid is "normal" according to the TSH test.

More accurate diagnoses
The most recent studies have shown that a more accurate way to assess ­whether the thyroid is functioning properly is to collect a 24-hour urine sample and test it for T3. Another testing method is not only to test TSH, but T4 and active T3, as well as reverse T3. This gives a much more accurate picture of what the thyroid is actually doing, not simply what the pituitary thinks it is doing.

If this kind of testing is not possible, another option for getting an indication of thyroid function is to keep a record of body temperature readings. It doesn't matter when, and the more variety during the day, the better, since this will show whether the thyroid is keeping everything going consistently. 

A well-functioning thyroid should show temperatures between 36.7 and 37.2 degrees C (98-99 degrees F) on a regular basis. If the temperature is regularly below this, it is similar to a smoldering fire that never burns the wood completely. In other words, the food taken in is not fully burned and utilized, and may accumulate as weight gain. Also, when the thyroid does not function well, every other function in the body does not run as well as it should either. Delivery of energy and oxygen to the cells is poor, as is detoxification of waste products and by-products from the body. It is essential that the thyroid works efficiently.

One of the criticisms of using body temperature to indicate thyroid function is that more than thyroid is involved in setting body temperature. This is true. Ovulation will cause temperature fluctuation. Overloaded adrenal glands will cause body temperature to be lower than it should be. That is why evaluation of health and the thyroid must consider the person as a whole. 

Thyroid-healing diet
Re-balancing the thyroid gland will involve the whole system and one's whole life. In my practice we look at diet first. Reducing intake of caffeine, such as in coffee, tea and soda pop, down to two to three cups per week is essential. The ­liver, adrenal glands, immune system and many processes in the body cannot effectively handle any more than this amount. I advise cutting back on soy as well, since it inhibits the thyroid. Foods should be steamed, sautéed or lightly cooked most of the time, instead of raw. This takes a load off the thyroid, since it doesn't have to do as much work to break down the food.

Your calories should come from good quality proteins such as fish, chicken, turkey, dried beans and legumes, nuts and seeds; whole grain carbohydrates and the good fats such as olive oil, and nut, seed and fish oils. Dairy should only be used as a condiment and do not eat pork and beef more than twice ­weekly. Such a diet ensures that the calories ­eaten are utilized properly and are not stored on the body as fat, since excess weight is a common problem with an underactive thyroid. 

Since iodine is sometimes lacking in the case of low thyroid function I encourage the use of sea vegetables such as arame, hijiki, nori and others while making soups, stews or cooked beans.

Helpful homeopathics and supplements
Tyrosine and selenium are often deficient in underactive thyroids so supplementation may be helpful. Also, homeopathics can work nicely and there are many choices in this area. In my practice I usually test them all to see which ones would be most beneficial to each person. Also, glandulars may be needed to help give the thyroid gland a break. (If buying glandulars, be sure they are from organic sources.)

All of the above suggestions may or may not be needed in combination. The goal is to use the most appropriate options for each specific person to re-balance the system. 

If you suspect your thyroid may be low functioning, take your temperature and go from there. There is much that can be done to find balance and health in this area.

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