Have you been recently diagnosed with Graves’ disease? As a naturopath specialising in thyroid disorders, many of my patients have thyroid issues such as Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, thyroid nodules, Graves’ disease or a history of thyroid cancer. For many of these patients, learning more about their condition gives them a greater sense of control and autonomy over their health, allowing them to play a more active role in the management of their condition. In this series, I’ll be taking a more comprehensive look at Graves’ disease and how naturopathy can serve as a wonderful adjunct to treatment.

Are you taking Thyroxine but not feeling any better? Is your TSH still high despite increasing your dose? Do you have issues with low T3 or high reverse T3? Perhaps you’re not converting your thyroid hormone effectively! Read on to learn about the factors that might be impairing your thyroid hormone conversion, and thus your ability to benefit from thyroxine effectively.

There are many nutrients that have been researched for their role in women’s health, but one often overlooked nutrient is iodine. Largely recognised for the role it plays in thyroid health, iodine is an oft-forgotten nutrient when it comes to women’s health, and yet this nutrient plays a significant role in processes such as oestrogen metabolism, breast tissue development, ovulation, conception and more…

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is perhaps the most well-known hormone when it comes to thyroid function and is often used in isolation as a screening tool for thyroid dysfunction. Interestingly however, debate has been raised as to just how sensitive TSH testing is for identifying thyroid dysfunction, in particular, in light of research suggesting the current reference ranges used by most labs are too wide. For this hormone, it’s essential to get your results “just right”. Read on for more.

It is well known that stress can have a major impact on our health, but perhaps what is less well known is just how much our stress can impact not only our risk of autoimmune disease but our thyroid function as well. If you've been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, managing stress is ESSENTIAL to any holistic approach to improving your health. Read on to learn why and find out how!

It is well-recognised that many drugs, foods and nutrients interfere with the absorption of thyroxine, and for this reason, most patients are instructed to take their thyroxine first thing in the morning, at least 30-60 minutes before any food or drinks. But is first thing in the morning really the best time to take your thyroid medication? The answer is, it really depends, so let’s explore a little deeper!

Period pain and cramping are often written off as a ‘normal’ part of being a woman - something you might come to expect after years of watching your mum or older sisters pop Panadol or Ibruprofen each time “that time” of the month rolls around. But did you know severe pain and cramping associated with your menstrual cycle is NOT normal? It’s a sign something else might be going on and needs to be investigated…