- Category : Thyroid
The liver is a complex organ that is involved in many different metabolic and immune processes. If it is not functioning properly, then a number of bodily processes may be thrown off. In many cases, a poorly functioning liver is responsible, at least in part, for thyroid issues and hormonal imbalances.
Sadly, many medical doctors do not run a thorough analysis of the liver before issuing hormonal treatments. Over time, this can cause more problems than it solves. If the liver is unable to metabolize the hormones being given, then the un-metabolized hormones will build up in one’s body. If they become too concentrated, they will cause abnormal hormonal responses. Find Out Dr. Hagmeyer’s 10 Steps to Supporting Your Thyroid Naturally.
Taking a Comprehensive Approach to Hormonal Treatment
This is why our revolutionary holistic medicine approach, which takes a comprehensive look at one’s health, is so effective. Before we recommend any hormonal treatments, we want to make sure that the liver is capable of processing those hormones, so that they will not block receptors or cause abnormal responses.
WATCH how Dr. Hagmeyer’s Thyroid Treatment Program Changes our patient’s lives!
When we look at the liver, we must look at the three key factors that affect it’s ability to detoxify the body: genetics, exposure to toxins and nutrition. Medical studies have shown that a poorly functioning liver can cause fatigue and autoimmune diseases, both of which are factors that influence the health of one’s thyroids.
Thus, although the symptoms may point toward a thyroid issue, the underlying problem may lie or be triggered by poor liver clearance and liver function. If the liver is not affectively metabolizing the hormones that the thyroids needs, then you will exhibit low thyroid symptoms. The liver must first metabolize the hormones into a usable form. Some of the most significant hormones that go through this process are those that affect one’s sex drive, such as estrogen, progesterone, cortisol and thyroxine.
WATCH Dr. Hagmeyer explains the relationship between thyroid symptoms and sex hormones.
The Livers Role in Healthy Thyroid use
Your thyroid gland produces two main hormones: T4 (also called thyroxine) and T3 (also called triiodothyronine). These hormones help to control your metabolic rate, that is the rate at which your body burns calories. They also have a huge bearing on your energy levels and maintenance of normal body temperature.
T4 is not the active thyroid hormone; it must be converted into T3 in your body in order to exert its effects. The majority of this conversion does not occur in your thyroid gland. Research shows that 60% of T4 to T3 conversion happens in your liver. If you have a fatty liver or a sluggish liver, this conversion will not be effective. This can leave you feeling tired, depressed, puffy, overweight and with dry skin and thinning scalp hair. Indeed you would have a thyroid problem caused by a faulty liver.
If you are taking thyroid hormone medication in the form of thyroxine, it too must be converted into the active form in your body. Therefore if you are taking thyroid medication but still not feeling much better, your liver could be to blame! It is vital that you work on improving the health of your liver if you want healthy thyroid hormone levels.
GI-Liver-Thyroid Connection- It’s All Connected
When the GI tract is out of balance from dysbiosis, inflammation, leaky gut, infections or too many food allergies, this puts a major strain on the liver’s ability to metabolize hormones and thyroid-disrupting chemicals. This leads to a toxic liver impairing its ability to activate thyroid hormone. This scenario also increases the chances of thyroid-disrupting chemicals recirculating and impairing thyroid function. This continues the vicious cycle of the enzyme beta glucuronidase which undoes what the liver has done to metabolized hormones which may be reactivated and reabsorbed into the bloodstream and the liver. When the intestinal barrier is broken, autoimmune thyroid may result. Infections such as candida, parasites and bacteria are a constant stress on the adrenal glands and also contribute to chronic inflammation. These infections must be eliminated in order to have optimal thyroid function.
Detoxification in the Liver
Detoxification is broken into two phases, which are creatively named Phase I and Phase II. The cytochrome P450 enzymes are involved in Phase I. Phase II is further segmented into six pathways, which can be supported by the methods listed below each:
• Methylation- Support by taking vitamins B6 (pyridoxal-5-phosphate), B12, (methylcolbalmin), C, E and magnesium.
• Glucuronidation- Support by taking B-vitamins, magnesium and glycine.
• Acetylation- Support by taking vitamins B1 (thiamine), B5 (pantothetic acid) and C.
• Sulfation-Support by taking amino acids that have sulfur, such as glycine and methionine.
• Glutathione conjugation
• Glycine conjugation
These processes can be inhibited for a number of reasons, some more serious than others. Inflammation can easily be reduced with natural treatments. Curcumin, zinc, alpha-lipoic acid and fish oil all help reduce inflammation in the liver. Similarly, Choline, l-methionine, inositol and l-carnitine metabolize fat found in the liver, which counteracts fatty liver disease (which is caused by insulin resistance) and improves the liver’s ability to function. Perhaps most well-known, the damaging effects of alcoholic cirrhosis can be minimized by taking phosphatidycholine, and glutathione.
Watch my video below about the powers of Glutathione.
Supporting Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism Through The Liver
The liver will only function properly when the processes that can be supported are. Often people are tempted to jump to treating the symptoms that seem to be causing problems. We prefer, however, to take a deeper look and treat the whole body. By coming up with a customized plan for treating the liver, we can treat the thyroid. For many thyroid problems, all that may be needed is a slight modification in one’s nutritional supplements, which will help the liver do its job.
Although considered alternative medicine, a thyroid treatment that seeks to improve the thyroid by treating the liver with natural supplements requires advanced medical training. The compounds listed above have advanced molecular structures and interact with the body in complex ways. Before starting any treatment, one should consult a doctor who is properly trained in this field of medicine. We would love to help you understand this process in more depth and develop a personalized plan for your health.
The first step is to contact us for your free phone consultation. As we run a variety of tests and learn more about what you are feeling, we will begin to get an understanding as to how your digestive system is functioning and determine what can be done.
Visit DrHagmeyer.com to receive a free guide that describes our metabolic approach and how we’ve helped many people suffering from thyroid conditions like you find relief.
