If you suffer from thyroidism, disease of the thyroid gland, your physician has likely prescribed medication. The thyroid can either be under-active, called hypothyroidism, or it can be overactive, called hyperthyroidism. There are many herbs that can increase or decrease the function of your thyroid.
Treating Hyperthyroidism with Herbs
When too much thyroid hormone is produced, the thyroid is considered to be overactive. This causes your body's metabolism to speed up and can lead to rapid heart rate and other problems. Sometimes the thyroid can become overactive when too much thyroid medication has been prescribed for an under-active thyroid. Some herbs and supplements help the overactive thyroid and some can hinder the overactive thyroid.
Include an antioxidant green tea in your diet if you have an overactive thyroid. Consume 250 to 500 mg of green tea per day. Try adding 300 to 500 mg of lemon balm tea three times each day. Include more cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage, in your diet to help slow the thyroid function. Two herbs that can cause your thyroid to become overactive are ashwagandha and bladderwrack, so avoid those.
Treating Hypothyroidism with Herbs
An under-active thyroid can lead to a sluggish metabolism, causing weight gain, among other problems. Women who suffer from hypothyroidism often develop menstrual problems. Black cohosh has been used successfully to treat some problems in women suffering from under-active thyroid. Kelp is rich in iodine and is a nutrient that is sometimes deficient in the diet of patients with hypothyroidism. Seaweed can be purchased from a health food store and be included in soups or the kelp can be taken in capsule form. When the thyroid is working at a sluggish pace, it often causes depression. St. John's Wort has been used successfully to help with the feelings of depression. Guggul and Irish Moss both aid in hormone secretion and have been used successfully in treating hypothyroidism.
Herbs to avoid when trying to increase thyroid function include lemon balm, ginger, ginseng, astragalus, burdock and wheat grass. Also avoid cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage as these can slow down the function of the thyroid.
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