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Been given medication without thorough labwork?
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Been told you are “fine” by a healthcare professional, but you don’t feel fine?
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Felt like you’ve been doing “all the things” to care for your struggling thyroid, but still felt unwell?
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Keeping toxin load low
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Learning techniques to mediate physical and emotional stress. Imagine the health benefits if this was learned at a young age!
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Eating nourishing foods that are high in micronutrient content
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Restorative sleep
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Exercise daily for improved blood flow throughout the body (cleansing and nourishing the thymus). Yoga is particularly beneficial for supporting thymus function.
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Thymus thumping/tapping. Thump or tap gently (with either the tips of your fingers or the palm of hand) on your sternum for 30-60 seconds a couple times a day to stimulate the thymus.
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Olive Leaf (YL’s Olive Essentials)
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Melatonin – A 2003 study found a correlation between melatonin supplementation and a notable increase in thymus weight (size) and function. Additional studies have found that even when melatonin supplementation begins late in life, age related thymus “decay” is reversible and immune system function often improves. A 2006 study in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine found that supplementing melatonin during times of acutely severe or chronic stress prevented atrophy of the thymus. I am an enormous fan of Young Living’s Immupro for a good night’s sleep, and this is an additional reason to keep several bottles of this melatonin containing supplement on hand! (Great news for those of us who know and love it already…. It is scheduled to be back in stock later this month!). Sleep Essence is another night time product that also contains melatonin.
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Thyroid hormone production slows down
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Reduced conversion of T4 (inactive) to T3 (active) thyroid hormone occurs
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Thyroid receptors become less receptive to receiving thyroid hormones. This is important because even if you happen to be on thyroid medication, it won’t be utilized properly during a stress response. Recall that thyroid receptors are located throughout the body and must function properly in order that we may function optimally day to day. (Go back and read the section on thyroid and the gallbladder for a refresher!)