What Is Hashimoto's?
The most common thyroid condition in America impacts at least 14 million Americans. Hashimoto's was originally discovered in 1912 and is named after the Japanese physician Hakaru Hashimoto.
Hashimoto's is also the most common cause of hypothyroidism.
Although some people have Hashimoto's without hypothyroidism or vice versa, these conditions have so many similarities that we might be able to look at them in the same way for the most part.
Hypothyroidism affects up to 5% of the world population (roughly 400 million), and it's estimated that another 5% are undiagnosed (so potentially almost a billion people). Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of worldwide thyroid disorders.
Hashimoto's is sometimes called chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis or autoimmune thyroiditis.
Most Doctors Are Not Looking for It
Most doctors are not running tests to look for Hashimoto's or other thyroid issues, whether people request them or not. So it's possible that a lot of people are experiencing this situation without even realizing.
Even when doctors do test and do find markers that indicate thyroid issues, they rarely have useful solutions. If anything, they give us thyroid hormone supplements to mask some of the symptoms. If antibody markers for Hashimoto's are found, doctors very rarely have any solutions or even directions to look in.
Symptoms of Hashimoto's
Some, but not all, of the symptoms we may experience with Hashimoto's: Fatigue and sleepiness. Always cold or sensitive to cold. Constipation. Weakness. Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness. Joint pain. Irregular or excessive menstrual bleeding. Depression. Anxiety. Problems with memory or concentration. Goiter (swelling of the thyroid). Puffy face. Brittle nails. Dry skin. Hair loss. Swollen tongue.
Hypothyroid also has connections to heart disease, infertility, and poor brain development in children.
What Does Mainstream Say Hashimoto's Is?
The general idea is that the immune system is haphazardly attacking the poor thyroid cells and there is nothing we can do but buy more prescriptions.
An Alternative View of Hashimoto's
I think Hashimoto's is as simple as immune functions being used to inhibit the thyroid. I think this is happening because the body is not able to make the proper substances or communications in order to run the thyroid at proper speed.
I think the metabolism is not capable of running at the overall agreed-upon idea of what speed it should run. I think this is due to mercury impeding the system as well as lack of proper stomach acid causing a lack of available nutrients. This is part of the reason for frequently discussing mercury and stomach acid.
Histamines and Hashimoto's
Histamines and hyperthyroid issues tend to go hand in hand. There are several reasons they tend to influence each other, and it likely has to do with trying to live in a toxic environment for several generations now.
Histamines are worth exploring no matter what our wellness goals are. It's pretty easy to see if our symptoms match histamines.
Oxalates and Hashimoto's
A study of thyroid autopsies found that 79 percent of adults had oxalate crystals in their thyroid glands, with prevalence increasing with age. Interestingly, people with Hashimoto's had a lower incidence of oxalate crystals, especially in the parts of their thyroid gland that were inflamed.
This led the scientists to conclude that oxalates may play a role in contributing to Hashimoto's, potentially causing inflammation that may trigger the autoimmune response that, in turn, results in the destruction of the oxalate crystals and the surrounding thyroid tissue. In some cases, giant cell reactions were found around the crystals, suggesting an ongoing immune response.
The deposition of oxalates in the thyroid has been documented since 1868.