What is Hashimoto's disease and how is it treated functionally?
TL;DR: Hashimoto's is an autoimmune condition that is the root cause of 97% of hypothyroid concerns. A functional approach treats it not just as a thyroid issue, but as a systemic immune and inflammatory condition, addressing gut health, environmental inputs, and nervous system regulation.
Understanding Autoimmune Thyroiditis
As functional nutrition expert Andrea Nakayama notes, "97% of hypothyroid concerns are actually Hashimoto's or Autoimmune Thyroiditis." You cannot functionally address Hashimoto's without fully understanding the physiology across all body systems. It is an immune system error, not simply a broken thyroid gland.
The Functional Nutrition Approach
Treatment requires investigating eight foundational aspects of health: GI health, immune and inflammatory response, environmental inputs, oxidative stress, detoxification, hormones, musculoskeletal integrity, and spirit/connections. We often use food sensitivity testing or elimination diets to identify hidden inflammatory triggers that provoke the immune system.
The Role of Yoga Therapy
There are definitely poses that support hormonal balance, cycle regulation, and bathe the thyroid in fresh blood. For hormone and thyroid work, I depend more on yoga, some nutraceuticals, and functional labs. They go hand in hand — especially with chronic conditions where there is often inflammation. If we can calm the inflammation, we can make everything feel better with the yoga.
Frequently Asked Questions
What labs are needed to diagnose Hashimoto's?
A complete thyroid panel is necessary, which includes TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, and crucially, thyroid antibodies (TPO and TgAb). Standard medical testing often only checks TSH, missing the autoimmune component entirely.
About the Author
Tiffany Bergin, C-IAYT, CIYT, is a certified Iyengar yoga therapist and functional nutrition practitioner. She addresses physical pain and disturbance from a yogic perspective while discussing dietary and lifestyle adjustments that may be supportive.
Learn more about Tiffany