Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Autoimmune thyroiditis, autoimmune thyroiditis, Hashimoto's disease

Hashimito's thyroiditis, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, is an inflammatory disease that is often associated with hypothyroidism. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks and destroys its own thyroid tissue. Hashimoto's thyroiditis owes its name to Japanese physician Hakaru Hashimoto, who first described this form of thyroiditis in 1912.

contents

• Autoimmune thyroiditis, autoimmune thyroiditis, Hashimoto's disease
• definition
• symptoms
• Diagnosis: Hints from the laboratory
• Conventional treatment and naturopathic views

In the past 20 years, Hashimoto's thyroiditis has been increasingly diagnosed. The percentage of sufferers in Western Europe should be 1 to 2%, with women being the most affected. Not infrequently, there is already another autoimmune disease (rheumatism, atopic dermatitis, etc.). The disease is particularly common in women after giving birth to a child.

In Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the immune system falsely attacks the thyroid gland. (Picture credits: Rainer Sturm / pixelio.de)

definition

Autoimmune thyroiditis describes inflammation of the thyroid gland as a result of immune system disorders that produce antibodies in the blood that attack the thyroid gland. The subsequent inflammation of the thyroid causes a disruption of thyroid hormone production, which in turn can cause the typical signs of disease. The most important feature of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, according to the German Society of Endocrinology, is the antibodies in the blood to thyroid peroxidase (TPO-AK) and the antibodies against thyroglobulin (Tg-AK).

symptoms

At first, the autoimmune processes lead to a transformation of the thyroid tissue into functionless connective tissue, whereby transitional symptoms of hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism) may occur. Here are internal restlessness, sleep disorders, nocturnal sweating or tachycardia and cardiac arrhythmia examples of a variety of complaints in hyperthyroidism. Later, however, there is a regular hypothyroidism, which may be associated with symptoms such as lack of drive, fatigue, a lump in the throat, depressive moods, hair loss, a reduced heart rate or growth disorders in children and adolescents, for example.

Repeated palpitations is a possible consequence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In addition, a variety of other complaints may be related to the disease. (Image: SENTELLO / fotolia.com)

Since the role of thyroid hormones is important for the entire metabolism, disorders can have far-reaching consequences, such as increased blood lipids and associated arteriosclerosis. In many cases, however, there are almost no complaints, long unnoticed progressions.

Diagnosis: Hints from the laboratory

The suspicion of Hashimoto's thyroiditis is often based on the symptoms, but these are - as already mentioned - not always available and they can theoretically go back to other diseases of the thyroid gland. In the blood in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis - despite sufficient iodine intake - a deviation of the hormone levels (T3 and T4 decreased, TSH increased) and an increased occurrence of the above antibodies (TPO-AK and Tg-AK, also called MAK and TAK ), which work against the thyroid gland. In ultrasound, the degree of destruction of the thyroid can be visualized. You can also see a characteristic restless fabric pattern there.

Conventional treatment and naturopathic views

Conventional treatment compensates for thyroid hypofunction by giving thyroid hormones (T3, T4) with regular monitoring of blood levels.

If the diagnosis is confirmed, Hashimoto's thyroiditis is usually treated with the administration of thyroid hormones. (Image: viperagp / fotolia.com)

Therapists with a naturopathic approach often add selenium, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, with the dose being individually determined and monitored according to blood levels. In this way, the antibody levels in the blood are to be lowered.
The triggers of the derailment of our immune system, which attacks the body's own tissue during the disease, are largely unexplained. Often, especially in the head area, there are chronic inflammatory processes which, from a naturopathic point of view, may be involved in the development of Hashimoto's disease. Also, the chronic exposure to viruses and bacteria (such as Yersinia, Epstein-Barr virus, herpesviruses) is suspected, the thyroiditis to cause with. The same applies to a possibly increased iodine supply by iodination of the salt.

Diagnostically, in natural medicine with EAV, bioresonance or by rubbing microbiological preparations for the source of inflammation sought and treated accordingly. The examination with the darkfield microscope reveals above all microbial stress and is in turn balanced with microbiological drugs. At the same time, a detoxification and elimination reaction against the autoimmune reaction can be used. As long as there is a need for a hormone, this should of course be maintained under naturopathic treatment and advice. (jvs, fp, updated on 14.11.2016)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)

Literature:

• Hp Peter Germann: Thyroid Diseases, from: "The Naturopathic & Folk Healing" 7/2009, p. 12-14
• Dr. Volker Schmiedel: "Common Hashimoto-Thyroiditis", from:
  Naturopathic Newsletter of the Habichtswald-Klinik Kassel, April 2007