Hypothyroidism - Natural Solutions To Help

Hypothyroidism causes underactivity of the thyroid gland.

It may be primary from disease of the thyroid gland or secondary to hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

Autoimmune disease (Hashimoto's thyroiditis): Autoimmune disorders occur when your immune system produces antibodies that attack your own tissues, as is the case in Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Sometimes this process occurs within the thyroid gland.
Treatment with radioactive iodine: The most common treatment for people who produce too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) is radioactive iodine. Sadly on many occasions this form of treatment can have the effect of curing a person of their over active thyroid and leave them with an under active one.
Radiation therapy: Radiation used to treat cancers of the head and neck can affect your thyroid gland and may lead to hypothyroidism.
Thyroid surgery: Removing all or a large portion of your thyroid can diminish or halt it capability to produce hormones. Thyroid hormone treatment would then have to be taken for life.
Medications: A number of medications can contribute to hypothyroidism. One of the most common is lithium, which is used to treat certain psychiatric disorders.

Congenital disease: babies born born with a defective thyroid gland
Iodine deficiency: The trace mineral iodine; found primarily in seafood, seaweed, plants grown in iodine-rich soil and iodized salt, is essential for the production of thyroid hormones.
Pregnancy: Some women develop hypothyroidism during or after pregnancy (postpartum hypothyroidism). They produce antibodies to their own thyroid gland. Left untreated, this form of hypothyroidism increases the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery and preeclampsia.
Pituitary disorders: About 1 percent of cases of hypothyroidism are caused by the failure of the pituitary gland to produce enough TSH.