Thyroid Disease
Using Functional Medicine to treat Thyroid Disease
Thyroid hormone is needed by the whole body for energy production and metabolism and thyroid levels contribute to the balance of the other hormones in the body. Untreated thyroid problems can lead to fatigue, mental health issues, adrenal and sex hormone dysfunction, weight gain and the associated risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Early identification of thyroid malfunction or antibodies towards the thyroid gland may give us an opportunity to prevent the need for eventual Thyroid hormone replacement. For patients with inadequate thyroid function, functional medicine helps to optimise hormone levels with a holistic treatment plan including diet, nutritional support, stress reduction and appropriate hormonal replacement therapy where needed.
Thyroid Screening
Given its importance, we offer full thyroid screening to all of our patients, to ensure we are not missing an opportunity to restore health and function to this vital organ. Although you may have had previous NHS thyroid levels and been told they are ‘normal’, our aim is for optimal health and our new patient screen includes:
This panel allows us to identify patients with early thyroid autoimmune disease (who may not yet be symptomatic), and to identify and treat the cause of many cases of fatigue and other health problems. We are seeing increasing numbers of patients who have problems with thyroid hormone metabolism. These may not be identified by the standard NHS screening panels. Our tests enable us to identify patients who are not able to process Thyroxine (the standard replacement hormone), normally.
Functional Medicine looks to treat the causes of thyroid disease by:
Signs you may have Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) include:
Those with Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone), may experience:
If any of these issues affect you, we would be delighted to offer you screening and Functional Medicine support. Contact the clinic and book an appointment with our Doctors
Patient Testimonials for the Functional Medicine Approach to Thyroid Health
I still remember the April day I miscarried. I was so cold I was wearing a thick down parka made for the mountains, even though the weather was sunny and warm to everyone else.
It was, I think, in hindsight, a very obvious – and grief-filled – indication that the level of active thyroid hormone in my body was very low.
I’d been feeling unwell for years at this point, sub-optimal, sluggish, tired, brain-fogged and very cold. I think I’d assumed it was an inevitable consequence of my thyroid cancer and that I just had to accept my body was slowly winding down.
Certainly, the specialists in the NHS had been both dismissive of my gentle concerns and reassuring me that because my TSH was suppressed (for the cancer) and my T4 was within range, all was well.
Dr Davies made me realise that it was possible to feel well again. She took careful note of my symptoms – she listened – and decided to order blood tests beyond those offered by the NHS, through which she found out that I was an extremely poor converter of T4.
We experimented with adding different amounts of T3 to my T4 for several months. She persevered to find the right protocol and the right levels of medication that would work for me.
My work is demanding and often stressful, and it can necessitate very long hours, but taking slightly less T4 and a small amount of T3 means I feel I have fuel in the tank and am less likely to hit a brick wall.
I am warmer. My internal thermostat is no longer set to freezing, and my bowel movements are now regular.
I am much sharper and much less sluggish.
I no longer sit at a desk with my head in my hands through exhaustion.
Perhaps most importantly, I no longer experience the intermittent but fairly regular chest pains I experienced for several years while on a post-cancer t4-only prescription.
I am thriving, not just surviving.
Dr Davies worked so hard to restore my health. She persevered. She cared. I am profoundly grateful for her help.
There are doctors who want to find and treat the cause of ill health and not just medicate the symptoms. Dr Davies is one of them.
Dr Davies changed my life for the better.
I have already recommended Functional Nexus to several friends experiencing ill health. I have no hesitation in recommending Dr Davies and Functional Nexus to anyone with a chronic health condition.
I am incredibly grateful for the transformative care I received from Dr Sarah Davies during my journey with hyperthyroidism.
A few years ago, I was struggling with my health, feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to regain my vitality.
Dr Sarah Davies took the time to understand my condition thoroughly. She tailored a comprehensive treatment plan that included a clean diet, targeted supplements, and herbal remedies, along with low-dose naltrexone.
Over a year, I experienced a remarkable reversal of my hypothyroidism, something I had never thought possible.
Thanks to Dr Sarah Davies’ expertise and holistic approach, I’ve not only regained my health but have also adopted a sustainable lifestyle centred around clean eating and essential supplementation.
I truly believe that the nutritional support I now prioritise is crucial for maintaining my well-being, as modern diets often fail to deliver the necessary nutrients. I’m thrilled to say that my health has remained strong and stable since my treatment, and I owe so much of that to Dr Sarah Davies.
I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone seeking a compassionate and effective approach to their health.
Read our latest articles
The Functional Approach to Thyroid Disease
OCD or Graves’? A case of missed hyperthyroidism and the Functional Approach to Graves’ Disease.
