Regulating the metabolism is a primary job of the thyroid gland. Hormones manufactured by the thyroid act as messengers to other body systems. Maintaining a regular and ample supply of these messenger hormones is in part, dependent upon the health of the thyroid. Iodine is the primary elemental fuel that keeps this gland functioning, and herbs with bio-available iodine and other thyroid-supporting nutrients can be part of a holistic approach to good health.
Significance
When the thyroid gland is not functioning correctly, the whole endocrine system is adversely affected. Thyroid hormones act as messengers to various organs. When these messengers are in short supply, the whole body pays the price. One example is explained by the Infertility Awareness Association of Canada: "An under-active thyroid gland may compromise a woman's fertility."
Supportive Herbs
The rhizome part of the fritillaria beimu plant, also known as the oriental lily, is used for medicinal purposes. It acts to break up accumulations of phlegm and mucus, according to Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Traditional Medicine in Portland, Ore. This herb is also recommended to treat thyroid nodules. Not merely a nut, the black walnut is an herb of herbs, with many healing properties. Even the hull is ground up for medicinal uses.
Among the long list of the herb's nutritive qualities is its high concentration of iodine, the thyroid's favorite element. All usable parts of the black walnut contain iodine, but the highest concentration is found in the hull, according to author Phil Fritchley in his book "Practical Herbalism." Liquefied black walnut hull can be found at health food stores.
Effects
The positive effects of healthy thyroid function are tenfold. Plenty of life-enhancing energy, deep sleep, healthy skin and hair, good circulation and mental clarity are some effects of a thyroid gland in good health. Herbal supplements may assist in both maintaining optimal thyroid function and improving symptoms of weak thyroid function.
Benefits
Herbs supplying the element iodine offer the greatest benefit to the thyroid gland. Bladder wrack, a sea vegetable, offers one of the best edible sources of iodine. This herb has a trickle-down effect in that it benefits other systems as well, winning it a place on the list of "super foods." A diet rich in sea vegetables may prevent thyroid nodules and/or goiter, since most incidences of goiter occur in regions far from the ocean.
Warning
Herbal supplements are not meant to be a substitute for conventional medical intervention. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, bladder wrack acts as an estrogenic receptor modulator and should be used with caution in patients with hormonal-sensitive cancers. Check the source of bladder wrack carefully to ensure that it was harvested from toxic-free water. Bladder wrack absorbs all minerals and elements, including toxic ones.
References
- The Hormone Foundation: Thyroid Problems
- IAAC: Fertility and Thyroid Function
- Institute for Traditional Medicine: Treatment for Thyroid Disease with Chinese Herbal Medicine
- Herbs 2000: Fritillaria
- "Practical Herbalism" by Phil Fritchley (Wendell W. Whitman Publishing Co.)
