Thyroid [Energy] Health: 11 Tips and Strategies

Have you noticed? Thyroid problems are more prevalent today.

Yes, environmental factors, like toxins, EMFs, and wireless technology, may be contributing. But what about internal factors – things like energy blockages, negative emotions, and surgical implants?

The cause of thyroid-like symptoms is often multi-faceted, more than just food or toxins. So, let’s cast a wider net and look at what might be going on in the not-so-well-known realm of thyroid health.

I will give you 11 thyroid-related tips to consider and strategies you can implement.

Thyroid and the Rest of the Body

First, let’s look at the function of the thyroid and how it ties into the rest of the body. It is closely related to your metabolism, but it is more than that. Thyroid hormones can be found in every cell of the body, so they can potentially affect every organ and tissue as well as other hormone-producing glands. Too little thyroid hormones and everything in the body slows down. Too much thyroid hormones, which is not as common, and body processes speed up.

The thyroid controls many important processes. The health of your thyroid, for example, is closely tied to your heart rate, body temperature, appetite and weight regulation, bowel motility, cholesterol levels, kidney health, brain development, and mental activity as well as skin and bone maintenance. Fertility can be affected as well.

That’s why there is much more to consider than basic thyroid lab tests. Don’t get me wrong; lab tests can give you valuable information, especially when you are looking at the 6 to 8 additional thyroid markers that don’t often get tested. Lab results can also potentially be used to track your progress overall.

However, I am not sure they should be the only markers to track. There are people who either (1) have lab results that do not move no matter what they do, even after taking medications, or (2) have great lab markers but still have many thyroid-type symptoms. I believe there is more to consider.

Many Reasons for Thyroid Dis-regulation

Ready to think “outside the box” when it comes to your thyroid?  There is a reason it is not functioning optimally, but the reason will be different for each person. In fact, it is usually a combination of reasons. There are many to consider.

If you have worked with a practitioner that is more alternative, like a functional or integrative doctor, you may have already looked at some of the typical culprits like the foods you eat, the daily toxins you’re exposed to, your stress levels, and how much you exercise. However, there is so much more. You need to look at the physical as well as the emotional, mental, and energetic components of your body.

See if any of the following might apply to you.

Note: If your thyroid has been removed, your body still carries the energy of the thyroid so many of these same principles will apply. If you are currently taking a thyroid medication or supplement and start making changes based on what you learn here, be sure to work with your healthcare practitioner as less medicine may be required over time. Some changes may yield quicker results than others.

#1 – Endocrine dis-ruptors.

Also known as hormone disrupters and estrogen mimickers, endocrine disruptors are manmade chemicals found in many products we use daily. If you are not conscious of them and know what to avoid, they can wreak havoc with your health, especially your hormone health, including your thyroid.

Most of these toxic chemicals are considered “forever chemicals,” which means they persist in our environment for years and accumulate in our bodies over time. Bath and body products are a huge culprit, especially the ones used close to the neck, like lotions, perfumes, makeup, sunscreen, deodorant, etc. The chemicals in these products get absorbed into the skin. Many women, for example, daily apply perfume made with numerous chemicals directly on their neck, right against their thyroid. The more natural your bath and body products, the better.

The chemicals used in plastic are also considered endocrine disruptors: BPA, BPS (which is being found to be more toxic than BPA), phthalates, etc. Think about how much plastic you use daily to hold your body products, drinking water, and food in the kitchen. The chemicals in the plastic get absorbed into the products you use and the food you eat, especially greasy foods and oily products. Then, there is plastic in polyester which gets absorbed into your skin when you wear synthetic underwear/clothes and use polyester bedding. Think about scarves you may wear around your neck.

Even oral contraceptives can be considered an endocrine disruptor.

There are many manmade chemicals considered to be endocrine disruptors. Some more common ones directly tied to the thyroid include:

• Fire/flame retardants, which are typically odorless and can be found in loose-fitting children’s pajamas, most conventional bed mattresses (as it is required by law), certain furniture (especially in commercial spaces), car interiors, children’s car seats and strollers, Halloween costumes, outdoor tents, etc.
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (or PCBs) were commonly used in coolant fluids, carbonless copy paper, and heat transfer fluids until they were banned in 1979 but they persist in our waterways, parks, older buildings, and the food supply. It shares a similar structure and toxic effect as dioxin which is still in use today, especially on your typical store receipt and recycled paper products.
• Antimicrobial chemicals, like triclosan, which is still used in many hand sanitizers. (In 2017, the use of triclosan was banned in antibacterial handsoaps in the US, however, now other toxic chemicals are often used as a substitute.) Triclosan is also added to detergents, cosmetics, deodorant, toothpaste, clothing, sneakers, household items like furniture and toilet seats, and children’s products like toys. If you see a product with an “anti-microbial” label assume it contains a toxic chemical until proven otherwise. (Natural essential oils are a good alternative.)

The first step to reducing the endocrine disruptors in your body is to remove them from your life. In the kitchen, for example, use glass to store food and ditch the plastic cooking utensils. Read the ingredients in all your household and body products. This may take some time. However, as you slowly change out the products you use, especially the toxic ones you use most often, you will slowly reduce these chemicals in your body. Eventually, you can work with an alternative practitioner to more purposely detoxify them as some chemicals get stored in the body, including the thyroid, and are more persistent than others.

#2 – Halide consumption.

We are regularly exposed to halides and these halides compete with iodine in the body, a critical nutrient for the thyroid. The three main halides include fluoride, chlorine, and bromide. The thyroid (as well as every other cell in the body) requires iodine to function properly. Halides compete for the same receptor sites as iodine, so the more halides you consume the fewer receptor sites there are for the iodine to attach.

Fluoride and chlorine are most commonly found in our drinking and bath water. Avoid drinking tap water. Some bottled waters still contain these (as well as potentially leach the endocrine-based toxins mentioned in #1.). Filtered refrigerator and pitcher water are not good enough either as these typically have carbon filters only, which may remove most chlorine but not the fluoride. Instead, use natural spring water if you have a good source near you or purified tap and bathing water. (See this article for more information about water purification.)

Consider pool water and hot tubs as well. Even salt-water pools contain chlorine. Fluoride is often added in many dental products such as toothpaste; get products without fluoride instead. You can also refuse fluoride treatments in the dental office. (Fluoride is known to lower I.Q. and is banned in many countries.)

Bromide is commonly found in bread and other baked goods, where it might show up as “potassium bromide,” for example. (Bromide has been used for over 80 years in the US. Other countries have banned it.) Bromated vegetable oil (BVO) can be found in many citrus-flavored soft drinks and some sports drinks. Be sure to check ingredient lists.

Note: If you know you have had long-term exposure to halide, be careful if you decide to take iodine or eat more iodine-filled foods like seaweed. You will start to displace the halogens from the iodine receptor sites and might feel worse before feeling better. There are multiple forms of iodine. Consider working with an alternative healthcare practitioner.

#3 – Surgical implants.

When we think of toxins, we often consider the toxins we are exposed to in our air, food, water, body products, etc. However, man-made materials surgically inserted into the body should also be considered. Examples include:

• Dental materials – Your mouth and teeth are close to your neck and thyroid. Consider that mouth/teeth infections and sub-optimal dental materials may directly affect your thyroid. Examples include amalgams (metal fillings), root canals (typically packed with toxic material), cavitations (jaw bone infections), and metal implants. Even white fillings can contain plastic chemicals (ceramic is best). (Learn more about dental materials here and other dental considerations here.)
• Breast implants – Whether leaking or not, the silicone shell is man-made, contains chemicals, and is in direct contact with your body tissues. Breast implants can also potentially leak mold into the body. The breast area, especially under the arms, contains many lymph nodes. If these lymph nodes get over-burdened, it can potentially affect the nearby thyroid “upstream.”
• Metal plates and joint replacements – Examples include metal plates or pins, knee and hip replacements, dental implants, etc. Some people are more sensitive to the metals, plastic, and other materials in these implants, causing the lymph and immune system to work overtime.

Each person will react differently to the materials in these implants. It will depend on your health history and the overall strength of your immune system. Some of these implants are closer to the thyroid and can create a more direct effect. Additionally, these foreign materials can potentially cause your body to work harder to stay in balance, which puts a burden on other parts of the body, including the thyroid.

The best way to determine if an implant is affecting your thyroid (or another system in your body) is to use muscle testing. (Find a practitioner or learn how to do it yourself here.) It is not always about removing the implant. You may need additional support for your body to accept it and/or regularly detox from the manmade materials. The right binder or a drainage product, for example, may be helpful.

#4 – Lymphatic system.

The neck is where 20% of your lymphatic system resides. In fact, the main lymph drainage points, known as the termini, are located at the base of the neck in the soft tissue area above the clavicle. Your lymphatic system is necessary to remove debris and toxins from the body and works in tandem with your blood vessels and fascia as well as various drainage pathways. You don’t notice your lymphatic system unless it gets overburdened when you get sick, for example, and your lymph nodes get swollen.

However, your lymph only moves and drains when you move your body, so if you are not moving regularly (or purposely massaging that area of your body), your lymph is not moving optimally. If the lymph gets stagnate in the neck and surrounding areas, especially the termini, I have found that toxins can accumulate there and affect your thyroid.

Getting exercise and moving your body in general will help move your lymph and keep your lymph nodes from getting overburdened. Mini trampolines are especially good for overall movement of your lymphatic system, even minimal bouncing helps. Walking is also good. Moving and stretching the neck as well as gentle neck massage and things like tuning forks can be helpful.

#5 – Brain drain.

Another reason toxins can get stuck in our neck is that our brain drains its toxins on a nightly basis while we sleep, which is why getting a good night sleep is so important. While you sleep, your brain shrinks around 60%! It is like a sponge squeezing itself out to allow the toxins to move into the brain’s lymphatic system (called the glymphatic system) and down through your neck to enter the body’s lymphatic system.

But, again, if you are not moving during the day and keeping your lymph moving, the brain toxins can get stuck and accumulate at the base of the neck and affect your thyroid. I teach my clients to do a neck massage before bed, to make sure the lymph system is open and flowing (as I briefly explain in this video.) Then, as your brain drains while you sleep, the toxins can move to the liver and other organs of elimination. Taking a binder at night might also be helpful, especially when you first get more proactive about “draining your brain.”

#6 –EMFs and wireless radiation.

All of our glands and organs can potentially be affected by electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) and the wireless radiation that is emitted from cell towers, cellphones and other wireless devices. However, the thyroid can especially take the brunt because it is so close to the surface of the skin, and especially close to our ears, where we tend to hold our phones and/or wear Bluetooth headgear like AirPods or headphones. These wireless manmade energies affect the natural frequency of the thyroid.

There are a number of ways to help counteract the negative frequencies that EMFs and wireless radiation emit. The number one strategy is to minimize use and maximize distance by turning devices off when not in use, keeping them away from your body, etc. When you use your cellphone, for example, use the speaker or an air-tube headset to keep the radiation away from your head and neck. Do not wear wireless wearables. Do not use a laptop computer on your lap.

Wireless systems are a big culprit. In fact, many EMF-literate practitioners have seen an underactive thyroid go back to normal just by turning off the Wi-Fi router at night. That would be a good first step. (The thyroid could shift quickly so you might need to adjust your medication.) However, many people now also have a smart meter as well as multiple other wireless systems in their home such as smart assistants, like Alexa or Eco, as well as smart TVs, thermostats, appliances, light and sound systems, etc. Each device is “broadcasting” wireless radiation throughout your house, so depending on your situation, you may need to address more than the Wi-Fi router alone.

There are many additional suggestions in my EMF Basics article. Grounding on the earth should also be done as much as possible, as the natural, positive earth energies can help counter some of the man-made negative frequencies.

#7 – Throat chakra (energy center).

Many people first get introduced to the chakra system in a yoga class. Each of us has seven main energy centers, or chakras, that start at the root of the spine and end at the crown (or top) of the head. They have been studied for thousands of years. The thyroid happens to be located at the seat of your throat (or fifth) chakra, which means that if your throat chakra is not optimal it can affect your thyroid function.

The energy or frequency of a chakra can be out of balance, fully closed, or anything in between. EMFs can affect the energy center, but so can traumas or out-of-balance emotions and mental thoughts. The throat chakra is about self-expression. Many women, for example, hesitate to speak “their truth.” Believe it or not, depending on your situation, finding your voice and standing up for yourself, or for something you know is right, may be the key to improving your thyroid health.

I have seen it in myself, where I hesitated to move forward with something in my business and my voice became shaky when I spoke or read. That stuck energy also affected my thyroid for a brief period, until I found the courage to move forward. The thyroid is about timing as well: how and when to say something and the possibility of saying too little or too much.

Energy healing modalities can help clear and balance the chakras, however, in other cases, you may need to correct a life imbalance for these energies to hold. Think about your situation and what you may need to verbally express. You could also express it in more creative ways like writing, painting, cooking, etc. There are concrete exercises that can help shift the energy in this area as well, like singing, chanting, or reading out loud as well as using a journal to at least get your truth on paper. I like using chakra tuning forks as well, as I explain in this video.

#8 – Meridian (energy) pathways.

In addition to the chakra system, we all have a meridian system, or what I call your secondary energy system. These are energy pathways that travel through your body in a distinctive pattern, connecting various organs and glands. The heart meridian, for example, travels through your left arm to your pinky, which is why a radiating pain down the left arm is one of the common signs of a heart attack.

Most of the meridians end at your fingers and toes as well as your teeth. However, each meridian takes a different path through the body; some get close to each other in certain areas. The pathway of the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine meridians, for instance, all move through the front of the neck, near your thyroid. This means that other parts of your body can potentially affect your thyroid energetically and present as a thyroid issue.

You may need to work on a different part of your body to help your thyroid, especially the stomach and intestines. You may consider taking digestive enzymes with meals for better digestion and absorption of nutrients, for example, or optimizing your microbiome. Frequency-based healing modalities, like acupuncture, hands on healing, and bioenergetics, work with these meridians and can be helpful as well. It is quite amazing how everything in the body is so interconnected.

#9 – Emotional and mental energies.

How you talk to yourself and think and feel about yourself on a regular basis can affect the health of your thyroid. Negative emotions and thoughts can create energy blockages in the body. Some are specific to the thyroid. Louise Hay, for example, determined years ago that thyroid issues are often due to humiliation and/or the feeling that you “never get to do what you want to do” or “always have to wait for your turn?”

In her book, The Secret Language of Your Body, Inna Segal takes a deeper look. She explains that an overactive thyroid is tied to constant rushing and feeling under pressure. You may feel like the world will collapse if you don’t get things done or that you have to always be there for everyone else. An underactive thyroid is more about holding back and feeling like everything is too much effort. You may have difficulty speaking up and instead let others make important decisions. . . See how this ties back to the throat chakra?

It may seem that your thyroid problem is creating this spiraling negative cycle, yet often it is the other way around. You are much more powerful than you realize. The more you can work on shifting your feelings and thoughts to the positive, the more you help your thyroid. Take the time to stop and be still so that (1) you listen to what your body is telling you and (2) you can give it the loving attention it needs. Listening to your thoughts and emotions, rather than suppressing them, can make a powerful impact.

Visualization, affirmations, energy work are great tools. I especially like flower essences mixed with frequencies for faster processing of emotions and thoughts. Meditation and prayer can help as well. Hay’s classic affirmation for the thyroid is “I move beyond old limitations and now allow myself to express freely and creatively.” Saying this out loud in front of a mirror before you high-five yourself, will make the affirmation more powerful. :)

#10 – Unusual stressors.

It is more than the typical stress of everyday life and the more common big stressors of divorce, death, abuse, surgery, etc. You also need to consider some of the activities you do daily. Are you exercising too much? Are you continually dieting? Are you overdoing intermittent fasting (which can affect women and men differently)? All of these will put additional stress on your body and tax your thyroid.

The spike in cortisol that typically accompanies stress can also block enzymes your thyroid needs to convert and/or utilize its hormones.

If you are a highly sensitive person like me, you may be absorbing little stressors throughout the day without realizing it. These mini stressors build up over time and you need to learn some tools to calm down your body. You can start by incorporating some helpful daily habits. Deep breathing and grounding on the earth are two simple strategies. (Learn about these and other strategies in my free resource 9 Positive Frequencies, available here.)

#11 – Food choices.

And, we can’t forget about food. Food can make a difference when it comes to your thyroid, especially when there are autoimmune factors. Hashimoto’s (high thyroid) and Graves (low thyroid), for example, can often be improved by diet alone. (Mold exposures might need to be considered as well.) Cleaning up your diet of pesticides, preservatives, and food dyes/additives is generally important for a healthier thyroid. Cutting out gluten, dairy and genetically modified foods (or GMOs), like corn and soy, can help even more, especially if it is related to an autoimmune condition.

The goal is to heal the gut and reduce inflammation system-wide to help your thyroid. You can try cutting out the foods mentioned above for a two-to-four-week period, in what is called a food elimination diet, and see if you notice a difference.

If your body is really out of balance there could be other food culprits like oxalates, lectins, nightshades, etc. that you need to address. When it gets complicated it is best to work with a food specialist or find someone who can muscle test and find the right options for you. (You can also learn how to muscle test yourself in my course here.) If you start removing too many foods long term, you can get nutrient deficient.

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There is much more to the health of your thyroid than you realize. As you can see, it is best not to concentrate on the thyroid alone. Rather, take a holistic approach.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing thyroid issues or symptoms of thyroid imbalance, consider the items above. Making improvements in your life will help your thyroid and so many other systems in your body, including your emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Contact me to learn more.

There is hope for healing, especially once you start looking “outside the box” and consider other health and lifestyle factors. I believe our bodies were created to self-heal when given the right tools. You need to know where to look and be prepared to make some changes.