CBD, THC and Hashimoto’s

Some strains of medical cannabis are bred to be high in CBD

In today’s post, I examine a boatload of research on CBD, THC and Hashimoto’s and autoimmunity. While there are lots of claims about it’s effectiveness, I was really surprised by how little critical analysis there is of the research that is out there.

So, naturally, I took it upon myself to dig in and see what I could find. And I’m posting this on 420 day for all you fans.

What Are Cannabinoids Anyway?

With the movement of many states here in the US legalizing marijuana for both recreational and medical uses, there has been a lot of attention over the last few decades on why this plant may be so effective in treating certain types of health issues.

One of the main reasons for the therapeutic value of marijuana is cannabinoids.

Scientists have identified close to 500 phytochemicals in hemp plants. Hundreds of them are compounds called terpenoids.

Terpenoids give fruits, flowers and herbs many of their pleasant aromas, flavors and other special properties. Cannabinoids are a sub-class of these terpenoids.

There are over 60 cannabinoids found in hemp and cannabis — it’s the only place they are found. This is one of the many reasons hemp stands alone in the plant kingdom as a potent repository of nutrition.

The Endocannabinoid System

What’s interesting to note about cannabinoids is that, for some reason, our bodies evolved with receptors for them. We have our own endogenous cannabinoid system.


In each tissue it seems that cannabinoids perform different tasks, but one thing that seems to be consistent is that they help promote homeostasis or balance within the body.

And this ability to promote balance exists on various levels of biological life, from the macrocosm to the microcosm.

For example, autophagy, the process where cells isolate parts of themselves to be self-digested and recycled is mediated by the cannabinoid system.

This is an area of extreme interest for those of us with autoimmunity because this is the very system that has gone haywire. In fact researchers are currently looking into find drugs that affect this system to improve outcomes for patients with autoimmunity.

Endocannabinoids Help Different Systems Talk to Each Other

Another interesting notion is that endocannabinoids and cannabinoids are important players in the communication and coordination between different systems of the body. And this occurs on both the macro and micro levels.

For example, at the site of an injury,  cannabinoids can be found decreasing the release of compounds from injured tissue, stabilizing the nerve cell to prevent excessive firing, and calming nearby immune cells to prevent release of pro-inflammatory substances.

Three very different mechanisms of action on three different cell types all working together for a single purpose: to minimize the pain and damage caused by the injury.

Cannabinoids are really effective in reducing pain and are a viable alternative to opiate based painkillers and have far fewer downsides. They are also clearly effective in helping to reduce inflammation systemically.

Again, this has important implications for autoimmune disease and Hashimoto’s. As I have said repeatedly in my writing and in my presentations.; Autoimmunity is a systemic problem, many systems of the body are impacted and begin losing balances.

This is why Hashimoto’s is literally a mind, body and spirit condition. And the endocannabinoid system, with its complex actions in our immune system, nervous system, and all of the body’s organs, is also a kind of bridge between body and mind.

By understanding this system we can see a mechanism that explains how things that affects the mind and spirit can promote health or disease.

THC and CBD (Cannabinoid) Receptors Are Everywhere

Virtually every species, from all vertebrae on down to tiny nematodes (worms), share the endocannabinoid system.

Cannabinoid receptors are present throughout the body, embedded in cell membranes, and are believed to be more numerous than any other receptor system.

When cannabinoid receptors are stimulated, a whole bunch of physiologic processes follow.


Many tissues contain both CB1 and CB2 receptors, each linked to a different action. And emerging research has found that immune cells may express both CB1 and CB2 receptors.

These receptors can be acted upon by our own natural cannabinoids (ends cannabinoids) or by plant based (phytocannabinoids)

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the most psychoactive and certainly the most famous of these substances, but other cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) are have become more popular with researchers due to a variety of healing properties. Here’s a good breakdown of a number of different cannabinoids.


Some studies show that treatment with endocannabinoids leads to increases in certain types of immune proteins (like IL-10) and that they help to diminish others (like IL-17), this can result in suppressing delayed type hypersensitivity response.

Both of these immune proteins have been found to play important roles in Hashimoto’s. IL-10 can block other destructive immune proteins and IL-17 is a kind of immune instigator that can make tissue destruction more intense.

If you aren’t familiar with these proteins, check out this post for detailed discussion of them in a Hashimoto’s context.

These studies also suggest that endogenous cannabinoid system is one of the homeostatic mechanisms that the body uses to down-regulate immune response to foreign antigens as well as combat autoimmunity.

Targeting of this system could yield valuable therapeutics in the future.

Let’s take a look at a few of these in the context or Hashimoto’s and autoimmunity.

The Cannabinoid System and Immune Regulation

In general, there seems to be a big connection between the brain and immune system and cannabinoids. As I have written about on many occasions, Hashimoto’s has a profound impact on the brain and much of autoimmunity’s impact on the body can be found in both the brain and the gut.

And the cannabinoid system seems to be firmly in the middle of this axis. For the purposes of this post, I have focused mostly on the THC and CBD research.

CBD and THC can have opposite effects on regional brain function, which may be why they cause different symptomatic and behavioral effects.

CBD is also known to be able to block the psychoactive effects of Δ-9-THC.



They also behave a little differently in the way that they influence the immune system.

Immune System Effects of THC

Studies have shown that THC increases TH-2 and suppresses TH-1 by inhibiting IFN and IL-12 and it affects IL-12 receptors. IL-12 can turn on genes that cause destruction of certain tissues, like the thyroid. So, inhibiting it can be a good thing for people with Hashimoto’s.

In addition it promotes IL-4. This is not always a good thing. IL-4 can activate IgE which is involved with allergic reactions and some sensitivities.

Also, the fact that both CB1 and CB2 receptors have been found on immune cells suggests that cannabinoids play an important role in the regulation of the immune system.

Recent studies demonstrated that administration of THC into mice triggered apoptosis (cell death) in T cells and dendritic cells, resulting in immunosuppression.

In addition, several studies showed that cannabinoids downregulate cytokine and chemokine production and, in some models, upregulate T-regulatory cells (Tregs) as a mechanism to suppress inflammatory responses.

This is a very good thing for Hashimoto’s. Boosting T-regs is an important goal for calming the immune system and in maintaining health and balance in the gut ecosystem.

Later studies using activated peripheral blood T-cell cultures showed that treatment with THC inhibited cell growth and the generation of Th1 cytokines, including IL-12, by CB2-mediated mechanisms. Again demonstarting that THC can be a TH-1 suppressant.

So how does this relate to Hashimoto’s?

Hashimoto’s was originally thought to be a TH-1 dominant autoimmune disorder, but has since been shown to be an over simplification and some people have overactive TH-2 systems.

So while THC can definitely be anti-inflammatory, it may not be if you are TH-2 dominant or already have an over active TH-2 response. Context always matters when you make decisions on what is right for you.

That being said, there is ample evidence that it can help calm TH-1.

Negative side effects of THC

The most common side effects seem to be anxiety, potential for addiction, short term memory loss, loss of motivation.

Like any herb, or drug you can overdo it and this can result in adverse reactions.

Some people get really anxious and paranoid after consuming THC. CBD can help counter act this.

THC also has a profound effect on the brain and the hippocampus and cerebellum are both rich with cannabinoid receptors. These are both important parts of the brain for memory, learning and integration.

This can suffer with excessive THC consumption.

I also think the potential for addiction and abuse is also a real concern. Much of the hype around THC is that it is not physically addictive like opiates and this is true.

However, as anyone who lives in the 21st century knows, some people get hooked and smoke weed pretty religiously. It may be easier to quit, but it can still be habit forming if you are predisposed to addiction.

Next, let’s take a look at CBD and the immune system.

The Immune Effects of CBD (Cannabidiol)

CBD acts not only through the endocannabinoid system, but also has an impact on serotonin receptors.

Cannabidiol has also been found to calm glial cells in the brain. These are the immune cells in the brain and they are very easily excited and the body has no natural way to calm them down. So this is a very valuable outcome.

CBD has also been found to treat Type I diabetes by decreasing TH-1 and increasing TH-2.

However, In another study of the medical literature, the action of CBD was summed up this way:

“On the whole, our results and data from the literature indicate that cannabidiol can exert different effects on the macrophages. It seems to inhibit the precocious steps of the inflammatory process throughout reduction of chemotaxis and NO (nitric oxide) production, whereas it can activate the following phases of macrophage activation, by increasing IL-12 and decreasing IL-10 production therefore favoring the development of a Th1 response.”

Hold on what? This suggests that CBD increases TH-1 response. IL-12 is also involved in turning on genes that result in attacks on specific organs and has been implicated as an important player in Hashimoto’s. And this is clearly the opposite of what we just learned about THC.

They go on to say: “However, the inhibition of chemotaxis can also be interpreted as a signal of arrest, a fundamental step for the macrophage cell to fully express its antimicrobial and pro-inflammatory potential once it has reached the appropriate tissue. Indeed, it is possible that cannabidiol, by enhancing the efficacy of the macrophagic response, could lead to a faster resolution of an inflammatory/infective process.”

Or that this may mean that CBD speeds up the resolution of the immune response. This may be beneficial, but it could also be a problem if you have an overzealous TH-1 response in your body.

Certainly, this should give you pause if you are considering taking CBD supplements alone as these will not have the TH-1 reducing powers of THC.

However, CBD has been shown to be quite effective as a pain reliever, especially topically and it’s ability to clear out these circulating immune cells and proteins may be one of the reasons why.

Potential Negative Side Effects of CBD

This is one area that gets almost no attention and it took some digging for me to find it and I think it’s important to look at the whole picture.

In this paper, they looked at a number of studies and deduced:


All good things, obviously.


So let’s unpack that:

Inhibition of hepatic drug synthesis means CBD may impact how some drugs are metabolized. This is probably caused by CBD’s effect on the enzyme P450. Over 60% of medication that is prescribed is metabolized by this pathway including thyroid hormone.

In vitro cell viability: it seems that CBD helps promote apoptosis or the destruction of cells. This can good if they are cancer cells and not so good if they cells that you need. This property induced by CBD in normal lymphocytes (immune cells) could contribute to the immunosuppressive effects induced by this cannabinoid.

Decreased fertilization capacity: Suppression of follicular steroidogenesis (production of testosterone, progesterone and estradiol-17) has been demonstrated in vitro at a wide range of CBD concentrations (100-200μM).

Luteinizing hormone (LH)-stimulated accumulation of progesterone and testosterone decreased, while estradiol accumulation was only slightly affected. Low progesterone is a common problem for women with hypothyroidism, so this is a real concern is you are struggling with infertility issues or low progesterone.

A probable mechanism is that cannabinoids modulate the release of cholesterol from its ester storage in lipid droplets and, thus, limit the availability of the substrate for steroidogenesis.

Many people with Hashimoto’s have altered cholesterol metabolism because of the effects of thyroid hormone on this process. Some have high cholesterol and others have low cholesterol. If your is low, CBD might make that problem worse.

It has also been found to decrease Testosterone and lower sperm count. Of course dosage matters and this is less significant in lower doses.

Bottom Line:

All in all, I think there are some significant potential benefits for to using THC and CBD, but like anything there are risks of over doing it.

As in all decisions regrading your body, context really matters. You need to look at your underlying issues and weaknesses and then look at how THC and CBD behave.

The do a risk/benefit analysis. Are you TH-1 or Th-2 dominant? If you’re TH-1, then strains with more THC might better for you.

If you are TH-2 dominant, then strains with more CBD might be better for you.

If you are low in cholesterol or low progesterone, then CBD might cause more problems. If you are high in cholesterol, it could be beneficial.

Finally, I think, in moderation, and applied in the appropriate context both THC and CBD could be beneficial for some of the underlying issues of Hashimoto’s.

Particularly for important issues like pain, anxiety and some types of immune system imbalances.

Here’s a cool infographic that summarizes some of the pain relieving effects of both. This is courtesy Greencamp.com.




https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26054920 Autophagy and autoimmunity

http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2013.00088/full Autophagy and autoimmunity crosstalk

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/269432.php THC alters gene expression and can help calm autoimmunity.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140602150914.htm THC suppresses immune function

CBD, THC and the Immune System:




http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3448900/ CBD calms glial cells and makes opiates more potent!

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/269432.php Marijuana for autoimmune disease

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140602150914.htm THC and immune functions

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2270485/ CBD arrests Type I Diabetes


http://files.iowamedicalmarijuana.org/science/cancer/Klein%202003.pdf The cannabinaoid system and immune regulation FASCNATING!

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v394/n6690/full/394277a0.html Control of pain by endogenous cannabanoids

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/ Cannabanoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1576166/ CB2 receptors, cannababoids IL12 and IL10

http://www.jneurosci.org/content/23/16/6470.full.pdf IL-1 and Cannabanoids

http://www.febsletters.org/article/S0014-5793%2898%2900851-5/abstract Cannabanoids potentiate IL6

http://www.ukcia.org/research/CannabidiolModulatesChemotaxis.pdf Cannabanoids other than THC and IL10 and IL12

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3974854/ Cannabanoids reduce IL 17 and Increase IL10


https://www.zamnesia.com/content/260-cbd-thc-cbg-exploring-cannabinoids different types of cannabinoids

General Information:


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22625422 Mechanism of action of CBD




http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4023456/ CBD as a sleep deterrrent

http://www.medicinalgenomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Bergamaschi_2011.pdf safety and side effects of CBD

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3055598/ Opposite effects of CBD and THC

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2697699/ Cannabanoids as treatment for motor dysfunction

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3579248/#b98 Cannabanoids for neurdegenerative disorders



Osteoporosis and Hashimoto’s: Part I of A 2 Part Series

Osteoporosis can be a problem for people with Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism.



Menopause and Thyroid Medication Can Make It Worse



Approximately 40% of all postmenopausal women will eventually experience fractures.





Quick Review of How Bones Grow






Types of bones include:

Flat bones like ribs, and the bones in the skull

Irregular bones like the vertebrae

Long bones like arm and leg bones

Short bones like the small bones in the wrists


What Happens with Osteoporosis?



To Understand Osteoporosis You Need to Understand Bone Cells


There are three specialized cells that are unique to bones:









What Happens with Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism?

There’s an interesting relationship between thyroid hormone and bone density.









What Happens in Menopause?







Wait What?

Calcium Can Act As Gas Pedal For Bone Loss?












Wait, There’s More! Autoimmunity and Bone Loss












What About Hormone Replacement Therapy and Osteoporosis?











This process is explained here.

What About Corticosteroid Use?




This study looks at this problem in detail.






What About Calcium Supplementation?













Bottom Line: Here’s A Summary of the Takeaways









Click here to learn more.


https://www.iofbonehealth.org/facts-and-statistics/index.html#category-299 Statistics

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2266953/ Bone loss in menopause

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4199196/ TSH and Levothyroxine and Bone Loss

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3279063/ High prevalence of oesteoporosis in women with subclinical hypothyroidism treated with levothyroxine

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4199196/ Effects of levothyroxine and TSH on bone loss

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18981975: Bone loss in worse in post menopausal women treated with levothyroxine



https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19885809 Actions of thyroid hormone in bones

Bone loss in worse in post menopausal women: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18981975

Bone Loss and Autoimmunity: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1308846/

Osteoimmunology -link between immune system and bone loss http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23457765

Cytokines and Bone Loss: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC294166/pdf/jcinvest00033-0178.pdf IL-11 and bone loss

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8275387 Cytokines and bone reabsorption

http://www.nature.com/nrd/journal/v11/n3/fig_tab/nrd3669_F3.html Inflammatory bone loss illustration

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18992710 NfKb and osteoclasts

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18365831 Osteoclasts, innate immune cells of the bones

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16831928 Autoimmunity and bone

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281395069_Journal_of_Autoimmunity Bone erosion and autoimmunity


A Metric Ton of Additional Research









































Intermittent Fasting and Hashimoto’s



How does Intermittent Fasting (IF) Work?






What’s the Point of IF?




This All Happens in People Who Don’t Have Hashimoto’s




Preserving Your Circadian Rhythm Trumps Everything Else







When Are the Best Times To Eat?























No matter how you calculate it, that’s just too long.

What’s the Best Approach?











Check out this post to learn more

Bottom Line:






https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3680567/ IF research overview

http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v35/n5/full/ijo2010171a.html IF and insulin sensitivity

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/86/1/7.full Review of trials IF


Hashimoto’s Diet in 5 Steps

Hey people!

I get a lot of requests for advice on diet and though it can be really tricky and complicated, I decided to create an infographic to give you a Hashimoto’s diet in 5 steps for reducing systemic inflammation.

As I am fond of saying, when it comes to Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism, inflammation is the root of all evil. And diet is a big player in inflammation.

Here’s the entire 5 steps in an easy to follow infographic. Feel free to download it and share.

Hashimoto’s Diet in 5 Steps

The diet is pretty straight forward, but for some people it can be a radical departure from what you are used to.

Let’s break down some of the most important elements.

1. First of all, get a journal. 

Not to eat ;), but to keep track of everything you are doing. Some of us operate under the delusion that we are good at remembering things. When it comes to your diet and reactions to what you eat, you aren’t. There are way to many variables and things going on, you can’t possibly remember it all.

And why does it matter? Your immune system lives in your digestive tract (an estimated 70-80% is found there) and when you have autoimmunity, interactions with your immune system can have consequences.

When you react to certain foods or herbs or supplements, this can cause an immune response, which can lead to more inflammation and it can promote an attack on your own tissue.

So it’s really important to identify what foods in your diet cause responses. And some of these responses are digestive and others may be emotional or neurological. That’s why we need the journal to look for patterns.

2. Simplify Your Diet

If you’re just starting out. It’s time to simplify. Too many variables means that you don’t know what’s causing what. You need to simplify things (often in more than one part of your life).

Start with your diet. And start with the foods that can have the biggest impact. These are: gluten, dairy and soy.

There are reams of research on gluten and thousands of success stories from people who have gotten off of it and feel significantly better. If you doubt that this is true, here’s a post where I looked into this topic and a metric ton of research.

Same is true of dairy, Both lactose and casein (a protein found in milk) can be problematic for Hashimoto’s folks. They can hamper conversion and absorption of thyroid hormone. Still not convinced? Read this post that also looks at tons of research.

And soy is a goitrogen and can also hamper thyroid hormone behavior in the body. Go off of all three for 30 to 60 days minimum, 100%. Note all the symptoms you have in your journal before, during and after. Then review the journal and see how many remain.

3. Remove Inflammatory Foods

The next step is to take this to the next level. The reality is that gluten, dairy and soy may just be the tip of the iceberg.

Other foods like refined sugars, alcohol, grains, nuts and seeds, and nightshades (tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and white potatoes) can also cause inflammation. This is basically the Autoimmune Paleo Diet, you can learn more about it in this post.

You can test to see whether or not you have sensitivities to these foods, but sometimes these tests are inaccurate and you may react to those foods any way.

The best way to find out is to eliminate these foods for a period of time (usually 30 to 60 days) and then reintroduce them in a systematic way, one food at a time (More on that in a moment).

Here, again, your journal is a very important tool. Note all the symptoms you had when you started this phase of your recovery and keep track before, during and after.

During this period, it’s also a great time to detoxify your liver, work on healing leaky gut, boost stomach acid, balance blood sugar and work on all the systems of your body that may be compromised.

4. Re-evaluate and Test

Once you’ve gone through this process, you need to re-evaluate. This is where your journal becomes worth it’s weight in gold. You took the time to keep track of what you did, now go back over it and analyze the data.

What improved and what didn’t? Where did you cheat? What happened when you did? How much better are you know than when you began?

If you like many of the people I work with, chances are you got some improvement from this process. But if you still aren’t satisfied with your results, the it may be time to dig a bit deeper and do some testing (this can also be done at the beginning, of course).

You might want to rule out SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth), candida, H.pylori, blastocystis, parasites and more. Most of these can ordered in a single stool test.

5. Re-introduce and Double Down

The final step is to go through the re-introduction process. Again, you’ll need your journal. Introduce one food at a time as the only variable. Start small and keep track of your reactions.

This will give you invaluable information on what foods you react to and it will help you create a solid foundation for healing.

Once you go through this, you will be able to identify what works and what doesn’t. Double down on what works and tweak or experiment with variations of what didn’t.

Awesome! Great job! Now you are on your way to getting your Hashimoto’s into remission. Remember remission is a journey a destination, you are now on the right path in your journey.

P.S. Staying on a restrictive diet for too long a period of time also can have consequences. Read this post to learn what I mean.

Need help?

Feeling a little overwhelmed by all this? No worries, reach out to Marc and set up a consultation to help guide you on your way.

Click here to set up a consulting call with Marc.

Lots of Things Impact Thyroid Hormone Absorption

Hey people,

I had a question recently from someone asking what foods can hamper thyroid hormone absorption. This is an important question, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to answer it.

How Hormones Bind

The first thing to understand about thyroid hormone is that it behaves a little differently than many of it’s hormone cousins and binds quite easily to stuff.

Let me break it down for you:

The ability of a hormone to bind to a receptor inside or outside a cell depends on the chemical makeup of that hormone and how compatible it is to the cell’s fatty outer membrane.

Some hormones can go easily into cells to find receptors. For example, fat based steroid hormones like estrogen, progestins, etc. belong to this category. They prefer fatty surroundings (fat or lipid soluble) and they don’t like water.

As a result they can pass easily through the cell membrane, but they need proteins to help them through the watery bloodstream (these are the binding globulins that you may have heard of).

Receptors for these steroid hormones are found in several different places: the cells outer membrane, the cytoplasm and/or the nucleus inside the cell.

Other hormones stay outside the cell and attach to receptors found in the outer membrane. Insulin, growth hormone and other protein based peptide hormones prefer water (water soluble) and don’t like fat (fat insoluble).

The cell’s fatty membrane makes it difficult for these messengers to enter the cell. This keeps these peptide hormones outside the cell where they only bind with receptors found there.

Thyroid Hormone Is Unique

Thyroid hormones, which are derived from amino acids, behave more like steroids than its peptide cousins and can actually bind to receptors both inside and outside the cell.

Which means they are very adaptable and flexible and it can also mean that they are able to bind to other things as well, like food, chemicals and minerals.

Many Drugs and Supplements Bind to Thyroid Hormone

Many commonly used medications or supplements like iron, calcium, estrogen, proton pump inhibitors, and statins can cause affect thyroid hormone absorption or binding to plasma proteins.

Sometimes, if the doctor is paying attention, this may require making changes in dosage of levothyroxine. If you have been prescribed any of these drugs with your thyroid medication, you need to be aware of this.


Alcohol can disrupt thyroid function in a number of different ways. There are some indications that it may lower peripheral T4 and T3 levels.

In addition, it has a toxic effect on thyroid cells and ethanol is actually used to treat thyroid nodules in some cases. It can also, potentially, reduce the risk of certain types of thyroid cancer.

On the flip side, alcohol is very hard on the digestive tract and can also lead to destruction of the gut lining and make leaky gut worse.

I generally recommend avoiding alcohol, especially if you are trying to heal the gut.

Coffee and Tea

Coffee also impacts the absorption of levothyroxine; this is why thyroid patients need to take their hormone replacement pill at least an hour before drinking coffee.

Caffeine found in coffee can also increase blood sugar levels . This is especially bad for people with hypoglycemia (or low sugar levels) because it can lead to complications.

For example, blood sugar fluctuations can cause cortisol spikes, which not only exhaust the adrenals, but also can wreak havoc on the immune system. Obviously, this is not a good thing for those of us with adrenal fatigue, and/or Hashimoto’s.

I recommend avoiding coffee if you have adrenal issues or hypoglycemia.

Black and green tea also has caffeine (though in lesser amounts than coffee), and it contains tannins which can hamper iron absorption and many teas also contain fluoride which blocks iodine absorption and may hamper thyroid function.

Green and Black tea are also Th2 stimulants. Drinking it in moderation may be ok for some and not good for others. If you drink a lot of tea, you may want to eliminate it for a period of time to see if it has an impact on your symptoms.

High doses of green tea have also been found to cause a significant decrease in serum T3 and T4 and increase in TSH levels has been reported along with decreased TPO and deiodinase activity in response to dietary green tea extract in rats.


There is ample evidence that gluten can lead to poor absorption of thyroid hormone. This is true for a couple of reasons; it can lead to destruction of the intestinal lining (which can hamper absorption), and it can cause systemic inflammation (which can clog receptors) This can lead to hypothyroidism and/or poor results from medication.

If you follow this page, you know I recommend eliminating gluten 100%. (For an in depth look at this read this post.)


Lactose has also been found to hamper thyroid hormone absorption. And casein, a protein found in milk is similar in protein structure to gluten and can also cause gluten like problems.

I also recommend eliminating dairy 100%. (Grass fed butter is one possible exception) (For an in depth look at this read this post.)


Soy is rich in phytoestrogens and affect levels of thyroid binding globulin (creating more of it). It can also hamper thyroid hormone absorption. Soy can also be goitrogenic in large quantities.

Soy protein and isoflavones doesn’t seem to harm people with sufficient levels of iodine, but it still may interfere with absorption of thyroid medication.

I generally recommend avoiding soy with the occasional exception of miso and fermented soy products like tempeh.


As mentioned above, the adrenals release cortisol to compensate for low blood sugar levels.

Cortisol directly inhibits the enzyme (5’-deiodinase) which converts inactive T4 into active T3.  This can lead to low T3 levels.


Cortisol will also increase the production of reverse T3 (rT3) which is inactive. (It’s kind of like the anti-hormone.)

rT3 can cause an increase in the production of substances known as thyronamines that can cause hypothyroid symptoms (like, low basal body temperature,fatigue, depression, etc.) along with insulin resistance symptoms of increased blood sugar.


And finally, elevated cortisol will slow TSH production by messing with hypothalamic-pituitary feedback leading to lower TSH production.

Sugar should be treated as the addictive drug that it is. Use with extreme caution.

Processed Foods

Processed foods tend to be high in both sodium, sugar and saturated fat. High sodium levels have been linked to autoimmunity and to thyroid disease. Sodium is important for getting iodide into thyroid cells.

Excess amounts of sodium can lead to higher amounts of iodine in the thyroid which can lead to a more aggressive autoimmune attack.

We have already discussed problems caused by low sugar. High blood sugar levels can lead to insulin resistance. This can also cause a reduced conversion of T4 to T3 hormones.

Eat real whole food. Processed food has little or no nutritional benefit. Don’t eat it.


Diets high in polyunsaturated fat caused significant thyroid dysfunction in rats. High triglycerides, decreased total T4 and free T4 levels and elevated TSH were all noted.


Naturally Found in found in legumes, plants, amiodarone, lithium, as well as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, turnip, forms of root cassava. These may reduce T4 absorption if iodine and/or selenium levels are low.

Generally, I think these foods have so many health benefits that they should be eaten. Goitrin is an active goitrogen present in plants of Rutabaga, turnip and Brassicae seeds.

Steam or blanch the vegetables as cooking destroys the enzyme responsible for activation of progoitrin to goitrin thus negating its anti-thyroid effects.

So, eat these vegetables, but don’t eat wheel barrels’ full. Normal moderate amounts are fine, in my opinion.


This common gluten free ingredient contains C-glycosylflavones which may inhibit TPO activity. Be cautious with millet. In moderate amounts it is probably ok.

Environmental Toxins

Pesticides can lead to decreased half life of T4.

BPA (bisphenol-A) has been found to be an endocrine disruptor and may have direct action on thyroid receptors.

Percolates found in rocket fuel, thiocyanates and nitrates interfere with iodine uptake. A study in California on pregnant women found a strong association between urinary percolate levels and decreased total and free T4 and increased TSH.

Heavy metals like cadmium and lead are also known to affect thyroid function. In a study on pregnant women, those from lead exposed town had lower mean free thyroxine (FT4), higher mean TPO antibodies along with higher lead concentration suggesting stimulation of auto-immunity by prolonged lead exposure.

Bottom Line:

As you can see, there are many things that can bind to thyroid hormone both natural and chemical. All must be considered when deciding on dosage and when trying to improve thyroid hormone function in the body.


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25040647 Drugs and thyroid hormone interactions

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3743356/ Alcohol and the thyroid axis

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9846599 Affects of caffeine on glucose levels

http://www.thyroid.org/patient-thyroid-information/ct-for-patients/vol-5-issue-6/vol-5-issue-6-p-3-4/ Gluten, celiac and thyroid hormone absorption.


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16571087 Soy and Thyroid hormone absorption

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15642784 Sodium and thyroid hormone

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20561943 Green tea and thyroid function

in rats

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4220075/ Fat and rats

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26485730 California Percolate study

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24866691 Lead exposure and thyroid function

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740614/#b52 Possible Toxicants Involved in thyroid dysfunction

Kichari: Cleansing, Detoxifying & Delicious

detoxifying kichari

Hey people!

Here’s an awesome recipe for one of my favorite dishes called Kichari.

It’s a delicious dish, traditionally made in India that is easy to digest, detoxifying and anti-inflammatory.

It’s really easy to make too!

I like to make a big batch and then eat it for the rest of the week. It can also be eaten as a fast to detoxify the body and lose weight.

It’s not exactly AIP perfect, but it’s still quite beneficial. (This is better after you’ve gone through the elimination phase and have reintroduced foods.)

One of the ingredients is mung bean. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s small green bean is used in Chinese Medicine to clear heat and toxins and was used traditionally as an effective antidote for overdose from a variety of toxins.

This dish is also flavored with turmeric, a fantastic anti-inflammatory.


Equal parts:

Powdered turmeric, cumin and coriander. (1 tbsp or so of each)

1 cup white basmati rice

1 cup mung beans (if you feel ambitious you can sprout these first)

ghee or coconut oil (1-2 tbsp)

1 tbsp fresh grated ginger

Coconut yoghurt

Cilantro and lime to garnish

  1. Wash and soak the rice and beans separately.
  2. Cook each separately and set aside. (I like to use a rice cooker for the rice.)
  3. In a deep pan, heat the ghee or coconut oil until it is melted. Add the spices and mix altogether until all the spices meld together and you smell the aroma. Add the fresh grated ginger.
  4. Add the cooked rice and beans.
  5. You can also mix in cubed, cooked winter squash (butternut or kabocha) and/or some sautéed vegetable like spinach or kale.
  6. Garnish with a few sprigs of cilantro, a spoonful of coconut yoghurt and a lime wedge and enjoy!


The Earth Element: Emotions and Spheres of Influence

In previous a previous post, we looked at the role of blood sugar imbalances on the thyroid and the thyroid axis. The endocrine gland that is in control of sugar balance in the body is, of course, the pancreas.


The Earth Element

The pancreas is part of the Earth Element in Chinese Medicine. In this post, which is an excerpt from my book, Roadmap to Remission, we explore some of the important concepts related to the Earth Element and how they affect the thyroid axis.

The Spleen/Pancreas: It’s a Hybrid

Okay, so now let’s take a look at the Earth Element and its sphere of influence. As I said, the yin organ is the spleen, and the yang organ is the stomach.

The endocrine gland associated with the Earth Element is the pancreas. In fact, a lot of what the ancient Chinese ascribed to the spleen sounds, in my opinion, very much like the pancreas.

The other parts of the system that represent the Earth Element are the mouth, saliva, flesh, or muscles. It governs the sense of taste.

The spleen governs digestion and keeps the blood circulating. We know that it is also responsible for cleaning old and dead red blood cells from the bloodstream. It also stores platelets that aid in clotting and coagulation.

The ancient Chinese recognized the spleen as an important organ for immune function. We know now that it also stores monocytes—the Pacman white blood cells—and that B and T cells are made and mature in the spleen.

Remember in the last chapter when we spoke about certain immune cells producing TSH? Well, some of those cells come from the spleen.

The sense organ associated with the spleen is the mouth and health issues involving the spleen sometimes manifest on the lips and the corners of the mouth.

The negative emotion of the spleen is worry or obsessive thinking, and the energy or vitality of the Earth Element is intent.

This energy is linked with mental and physical activity of the body. Lack of desire or difficulty with coordination and movement of the body may reveal an issue with intent and, therefore, the spleen.

This difficulty with coordination is a problem with moving and articulating the limbs, and it is associated with poor utilization of nutrients by the muscles.

What are they talking about? It could be insulin utilization—the state of insulin resistance that we spoke about in the last chapter.

Almost all cells in the body have insulin receptors. So intent involves a major mental component and is also under the influence of insulin, but not always for the purpose of just utilizing glucose. Insulin can also help with the uptake of certain amino acids.

Serotonin Is a Great Example

One interesting example of this relationship involves serotonin.

The brain’s ability to absorb serotonin is enhanced by insulin. If you become insulin resistant, what happens emotionally? You lose this intent, you become depressed, and you crave carbs to try and make you feel better.

Do you see how this is all connected? These are examples of spheres of influence.

In a spiritual sense, this intent affects the digestive functions of thought that allows for the processing and assimilation of our life experiences in a nourishing way.

Unbalanced function leads to brooding, worry, and excessive thought patterns, such as obsessive compulsive disorders. People who think obsessively can become stuck in a pattern of thinking for thinking’s sake alone, and they don’t get nourished by their experiences, because they can’t move on.

One of the health issues that is problematic for the spleen is dampness. Internally, this can take the form of phlegm. Phlegm is made in the spleen and then sent up to the lung.

Metaphorically, dampness is an accumulation of everything that should be nourishing, but instead has become a burden. In a psychological sense, it manifests as lethargy, boredom, mental sluggishness, obsessive thinking, and brooding.

On a physical level, phlegm dampness accumulates in the spleen, stomach, lungs, and large intestines. Sweetness is the flavor of the Earth Element. We’ve seen the problems excess sugar can cause.

Well, from a spiritual/psychological standpoint, this phlegm dampness represents the excessive need to give or receive sympathy. Therefore, it’s spiritual phlegm. It is giving too much and not taking care of yourself or demanding too much so that it becomes a burden to others.

 That’s the beauty of Chinese Medicine. It looks at the connection between things, mind, body and spirit are not separate. They all influence one another.

Pumpkin Pot Pie With Cranberry Chicken



Damn that looks good!

This is my partner, Olesia Farberov’s (she also took the photos!), take on the famous chicken pot pie but Autoimmune-Paleo style. This labor of love will definitely make an impression on your guests and kids.

What can be better than a perfectly wrapped, edible present!

Happy Holidays!



4 medium or 6 small Pumpkins, scraped of seeds and strings

3 lbs Chicken breast, cut in bite-size pieces

¼ lb Uncured Bacon

4 Carrots, cut in thin rounds

1 large or 2 small Yucca root (optional)

1 large yellow onion, chopped

4 Bay leaf

4 Savory sprigs, thinly sliced

2 Oregano sprigs, thinly sliced

2 Sage leaves, thinly sliced

½ tsp Salt

½ tsp Pepper

1 ½ cup Cranberries, fresh

pumpkin-3-prepared1. Give your pumpkins a bath with soap and water to rid of any loose dirt. Using a small knife, cut out a hole 4-5” in diameter around the stem and open the “lid”. Scrape the insides of seeds and gooey strings and discard. Set pumpkins aside.2. Peel and cut yucca root into 2” rounds. Cook, covered in water, until easily pierced with fork. Drain and leave it to cool. Once cool enough to handle, cut each piece into bite-size pieces, eliminating the hard, rope-like core. Set aside.

3. In a large pot, fry bacon until golden and crisp. Take out bacon and reserve for later.

4. Preheat oven to 395F.

5. Into the pot of bacon fat, throw in onion and cook until browned. Add chicken, yucca, bay leaf, herbs, salt & pepper and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through, about 15-20 min. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add cranberries and stir to distribute evenly.



6. Stuff each pumpkin with chicken mixture, including liquid. Cover with pumpkin “lid”. Place on a large sheet, covered with foil, and bake on middle rack at 395F for approximately 1hr or until pumpkin can be pierced easily with a fork.

7. Let pumpkins cool for at least 10 minutes with “lid” slightly open. Before serving, remove lid and sprinkle crumbled bacon into each pumpkin then place the “lid” back on.

pumpkin-5-stuffedEach pumpkin can be served whole or cut into either half (for adults) or quarter size (for kids).

 Have Fun & Enjoy!!


Recipe and photos by Olesia Farberov, L.Ac.

Health News: New Study on Sweet Beverages and Diabetes Risk

sweet beverages and diabetes risk
















How does this relate to Hashimoto’s?

There are few interesting links between these two diseases.







We explore this idea in depth in this post.



What does candida thrive on?










Treat sugar like the potentially dangerous substance that it is.



https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15182509 LADA and Thyroid autoimmunity

http://www.eje-online.org/content/175/6/605.abstract?sid=93eb363b-97d3-4f35-92cd-11e7c2ed5ee4 sweet

beverage consumption and LADA

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313612.php Diabetes risk doubled with soda consumption-diet doesn’t change anything

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18800291 Sucralose alters microbiome

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20693348 Previous research on soda and type 2 diabetes

http://media.aace.com/press-release/cause-and-effect-case-report-shows-association-between-sugar-substitutes-and-common-th Case study on artificial sweeteners and Hashimoto’s

https://www.sav.sk/journals/endo/full/er0301e.pdf   LADA and Autoimmune Thyroiditis

http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2010/may/the-other-diabetes-lada-or-type-1-5.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/ LADA or Type 1.5 diabetes  

http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/diabetes-resources/definitions/type-1-5-diabetes/ More on LADA

The Emotions of the Metal Element

lungs metal element book excerpt

In this contentious election season, there are going to be winners and there are going to be losers. Whenever you lose something, whether it’s a friend, loved one or your team or candidate is not victorious, then you can experience grief.

In Chinese medicine, traditionally, it is believed that emotions impact different parts of our bodies more than others and the metal element (which includes the lung and large intestine) is thought to be vulnerable to the impact of grief.

The Nei Jing, or The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine, a classic text that dates back 2,200 years, describes the lungs as minister and chancellor. It helps the heart to regulate the body’s qi or energy.

The lungs govern the wei qi, which guards our outer most boundary, and prevents all that doesn’t match our true self from getting inside to our core.

Grief is the negative emotion of the lung, and grief can weaken them.

My father died when I was nine. The next year I got pneumonia. Maybe it was a coincidence or maybe there is some connection.

The lungs are very vulnerable to dryness, as well. If this boundary to self becomes too dry, then finding our true self can become more difficult.

If the lungs become too moist, then phlegm builds up and blocks our connection to the essence of life.

In health the lungs are thought to empower us to stay connected to the essence of life even after the material things disappear.

For example, after the loss of a loved one, a healthy lung can empower a connection to the spirit of that person.

But if the lung is weak, you could become fixated on the loss, become lost in that grief, and lose appreciation of the present moment.

This grief can become manifest as phlegm, a chronic cough, constant dripping sinus, like internal tears.

Phlegm is a very important thing in Chinese medicine. Like qi, it has a number of different definitions.

Good phlegm clears pathogens; it’s the first line of defense. Bad phlegm, (“Bad Phlegm!”), accumulates in the joints, the kidneys, the brain, and the thyroid in the form of nodules.

In the Chinese character of phlegm, we see the character that means inflammation. Phlegm can also represent the antibody response to pathogens that cross react to healthy tissues.

This kind of phlegm impairs cellular immune function leading to chronic disease.

Understanding the Large Intestine’s Role

The large intestine is the yang partner to the lung. According to the Nei Jing, the large intestine is responsible for transit. All waste products go through this organ.

This is true of waste moving through the large intestine, which returns to the earth. It’s also true metaphorically.

The large intestine constructs a barrier between self and non-self by sorting out the things we take in and then determining which acquired influences need to be kept and which need to be let go.

With autoimmune disease, so much of which begins and is perpetuated in the intestines, the barrier between self and non-self, is lost.

We lose self tolerance. And a lot of this happens in the intestines.

Failing to respond in a balanced way to loss in life (and not just loss of a loved one—any loss: a job, a relationship, a pet, an election), the large intestine reacts to the presence of grief and longing.

This grief can become distorted and it can be difficult to let go in that you keep holding on to things that no longer serve you. And what happens?

Diarrhea—where you loose important minerals, or constipation where you are literally holding onto things that no longer serve you.

This condition can make you pessimistic, cynical, and generally negative. It can make you judgmental of others.

Leaky gut or intestinal permeability is caused by a breakdown of the intestinal lining and cell walls.

Many researchers believe that it is one of the root causes of autoimmunity and the loss of self tolerance. (We will explore this in depth in the section on the Earth Element )

Leaky gut may also have an emotional root. It can make you feel not properly valued by others.

You see how this is all connected?

The ancient Chinese believed that emotions are not just things that we feel, they have real physical consequences and can profoundly impact our health and well being.

This is also why cultivating practices like meditation can be so valuable. You learn to not be ruled by your emotions and by observing them instead, you can also learn how to separate them from your physical body.

That can be a very valuable skill.

As always, we appreciate your comments, shares and insights.

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