A Naturopathic Approach To Goiter, Part 1: Toxic Nodular Goiter

Do you have a lump in your throat?

I’m not talking about the one you get from stage fright.

With some thyroid conditions, your thyroid swells to a larger size than it normally should be – this is called goiter.

There are different types of goiter, and different reasons for its arrival, but it always signals a deeper issue with your health.

I’m Dr. Pat Nardini, a naturopathic doctor in Toronto with a special interest in thyroid health.

As a result, I can offer naturopathic treatments for goiter.

But first, let’s take a deeper look at goiter.

In particular, we’ll be exploring the first of three types of goiter – toxic nodular goiter.

Watch next week for the second in this series, nontoxic goiter, and the following week for colloidal goiter.

What Is Goiter?

In your neck, just below your Adam’s apple if you have one, is a gland called your thyroid.

This butterfly-shaped gland secretes hormones that aid in your body’s regulation of metabolism, respiration, mood, digestion, and heart rate.

In particular, it’s responsible for producing T3 and T4 hormone – triiodothyronine and L-thyroxine, respectively.

When your thyroid is enlarged, it’s called goiter.

What Is A Toxic Nodular Goiter?

A toxic nodular goiter is a condition in which your thyroid gland is enlarged by one or more small rounded masses called nodules.

These nodules cause hyperthyroidism, stimulating your thyroid to produce excess thyroid hormones.

This condition is also known as Plummer’s disease, toxic adenoma, or if there are multiple nodules, toxic multinodular goiter.

However, not every case of hyperthyroidism develops goiter.

Your thyroid needs iodine to produce T3 and T4 hormones.

So if you aren’t getting enough iodine in your diet, your thyroid can’t produce enough thyroid hormone, this forces your thyroid to work harder to absorb the iodine it needs from your bloodstream, which can cause it to swell.

Because not every case of hyperthyroidism is linked with iodine deficiency, not every case of hyperthyroidism causes goiter.

In fact, most cases of hyperthyroidism are caused by Graves’ disease, a condition that rarely leads to goiter.

In rare cases, toxic nodular goiter can be cancerous, but in the vast majority of cases it’s benign.

Symptoms Of Toxic Nodular Goiter

There are many symptoms of toxic nodular goiter.

Because it’s so intimately related with hyperthyroidism, however, you’ll find many of the symptoms are similar.

The most telltale symptom of toxic nodular goiter, of course, is a swelling in the front of your neck, where your thyroid is.

Other than that, symptoms include:

• Muscle cramps
• Restlessness
• Nervousness
• Chronic fatigue
• Increased sweating
• Heat intolerance
• Weight loss
• Increased appetite
• Menstrual irregularities
• Frequent bowel movements
• Tremors
• Heart palpitations
• Coughing
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing

For some people, other than the swelling, they experience no symptoms.

Risk Factors For Toxic Nodular Goiter

Anybody can develop goiter.

However, there are some factors which can increase your risk. These include:

• Being a woman
• Being over 40
• Having a genetic history of thyroid disorders
• Living in areas where iodine is limited
• Being pregnant
• Being menopausal
• Having been exposed to radiation

Naturopathic Treatment For Toxic Nodular Goiter

Naturopathic treatments for toxic nodular goiter involve providing treatment for the underlying hyperthyroidism.

First, consider a hyperthyroid diet.

This is a diet designed to help manage your hyperthyroidism.

In particular, include the following items in your diet:

• Bone broth – this helps with leaky gut syndrome, which can worsen the effects of hyperthyroidism
• Leafy greens – like kale, spinach, spirulina, Swiss chard, etc.
• Anti-inflammatory herbs – basil, oregano, and rosemary have anti-inflammatory properties and can help to improve thyroid function; ginger can also boost the immune system and reduce inflammation.

As well, make sure you’re getting enough iodine.

Foods that contain iodine include:

• Cod
• Tuna
• Seaweed
• Shrimp
• Dairy products

You can also get iodine from iodized salt, but this is not generally the healthiest option, as foods high in iodized salt tend to be bad for you in several other ways.

Make sure you’re eating mostly whole foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, and lean protein.

Beyond that, you may consider supplementing with vitamin B12.

While this isn’t a treatment for goiter itself, a B12 deficiency can be a side-effect of goiter and can lead to weakness, dizziness, and fatigue.

Foods To Avoid

It’s equally important, though, to avoid foods that can make it worse. This includes:

• Gluten
• Dairy products
• Sugar
• Artificial dyes and flavouring
• Most processed foods

Book An Appointment With Nardini Naturopathic

Have you noticed a swelling in the front of your neck?

Did you read the above symptoms and think “hey, that’s me”?

If so, book an appointment with me, Dr. Pat Nardini, ND.

I’m a naturopathic doctor in Toronto with a special interest in thyroid health.

Together, we can get to the bottom of your symptoms and put together a customized treatment plan.