Where is my Thyroid Gland? What does it do for me?

I have found in practice most people know more about their computers or their phones than how their bodies operate....Do you know where your thyroid gland is located?? Do you know what it does??

Your thyroid gland is the largest of the 7 glands that make up the endocrine system and is located in the front of the base of the neck.

Our thyroid gland controls the rate at which our motor runs when we are in neutral, so basically our metabolism. It controls the rate at which our body produces energy from food, therefore having an effect on our over all energy levels.

In children the thyroid gland controls the body's rate of growth as well as brain development, and has a primary affect on determining the child's IQ.

So we've all heard a family member or friend state they have a thyroid problem, or they are on thyroid medication. Perhaps that person still does not seem healthy, or they are still over weight, fatigue and lethargic. Well, that is because most doctors treat the thyroid with thyroid hormones only, which does helps initially, instead of supplying the body with the nutrients the gland needs to heal.

Signs and Symptoms you may have a Thyroid Imbalance:

Fatigue/Lethargic
Insomnia
Can't lose weight no matter how hard you try
Weight Gain (especially in the face and arms)
Puffiness around the face
Cold Hands and Feet
Hair Loss
Loss of otter third of the eye brow
The half moons on your finger nails are no longer visible
Depression/Lack of motivation
Sugar, Salt and Carb Cravings

Emotional Factors Seen in Thyroid Patients

In my practice I believe strongly that there is a mind-body connection, that holds true for each and every gland, muscle and organ we have, the thyroid being no exception. When Calcium and Magnesium (Mg) is not in balance the thyroid is affected. Mg carries Calcium in to the cell, the lack of Mg will cause Calcium to stay on the outside of a cell and build a "calcium shell" which allows a low cell hormone permeability. Meaning, thyroid hormones can not get into the cell because they can not pass through the Calcium build up.

Interestingly enough, people with thyroid disorders have personality traits of defensiveness, protected, decreased social activity - basically they "shell up"

What Can you DO to help support your thyroid:

**Take a natural source B vitamins. Synthetic sources - no good! Thyroid hormones can not get across the cell membrane and get into the cells without B's

**Maintain proper Calcium Magnesium ratios, as described above too much Calcium and not enough Magnesium will block the hormones as well.

**The thyroid can not function to it's fullest without the trace mineral iodine. If the thyroid has adequate amounts of iodine it plays a major role in the immune system because iodine is antimicrobial, and antiseptic body-wide and all the blood in the body passes through the thyroid every 17 minutes, there for all foreign microbes will be killed by the iodine.
***Supplement with Iodine only under the care of a Doctor.

In my practice I run numerous tests including saliva testing, blood labs, kinesiology, and iodine patch testing to determine the function of one's thyroid and to decide what is needed to heal the gland.