Turmeric For Your Thyroid and Hashimoto

turmeric for Your Thyroid and Hashimoto’s
DR. IZABELLA WENTZ / MARCH 1, 2018

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Turmeric can be helpful in reducing whole body inflammation, healing the gut, as well as
detoxifying from heavy metals in those with autoimmunity and Hashimoto’s.
I love the concept of healing with food, food as medicine, or as I like to call it, food
pharmacology.
I became a pharmacist because I was interested in the effect different substances have on
human physiology. Medications are an obvious example of how tiny substances can produce
a tremendous change in the human body, but what’s even more intriguing to me is the
profound effect that foods and natural substances can have on the body. I am always
fascinated by how we can incorporate the healing properties of food in our everyday lives.
Pharmacology is the term we use for the study of medicines derived from natural sources, and
the spice turmeric has received a lot of attention as a potential source of medicines due to its
healing properties.
History of Turmeric
Turmeric, whose botanical name is Curcuma longa, is a plant of the ginger family that was
first cultivated in India and Indonesia. Going back millennia, turmeric has been an important
part of Indian cooking, medicine, and religious practice. To this day, it is commonly used in
Indian and Pakistani cuisine, and curries around the globe.
Though we often think of turmeric as the spice that gives curry its characteristic golden color,
this plant has an equally long history of medicinal use. Historically, turmeric has been used to
treat pain, as well as stomach and liver ailments. Topically, turmeric was used to help with
treating many skin conditions, including healing sores, eczema and skin rashes.
To this day, turmeric is viewed as a sacred substance in much of Indian culture and is an
important part of Ayurvedic medicine – an ancient Indian system of natural healing that is
still practiced today.
How Turmeric Can Help Hashimoto’s

Excess inflammation is always present in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (the suffix “itis” denotes
inflammation in the thyroid gland), and intestinal permeability has been found as a common
factor in every case of autoimmunity. In some cases, people with Hashimoto’s may also have
heavy metal toxicity.
Curcumin, the most studied active ingredient in turmeric, has been shown to have anti-
inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral activity, all of which can provide
benefits to those suffering from Hashimoto’s-related symptoms.
Studies on the Effects of Curcumin
Multiple studies that have examined the effect of curcumin on on the thyroid gland and
autoimmunity have shown encouraging results. Results of some of these studies include:
 Curcumin can help to protect the intestinal barrier from invasion by bacterial infection
and can help heal a leaky gut.
 According to a 2014 study in the journal Food Chemistry and Toxicology; “Curcumin
reduces the hepatotoxicity induced by arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and
mercury, prevents histological injury, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione (GSH)
depletion, maintains the liver antioxidant enzyme status and protects against
mitochondrial dysfunction.”
 Curcumin showed tumor inhibiting activity in thyroid cancer.
 Curcumin was protective against the genetic damage and side effects induced by
radioactive iodine that is sometimes used to treat Graves’ disease.
 Curcumin has anti-inflammatory benefits that can be helpful in down-regulating
autoimmune conditions. Specifically, curcumin produces an anti-inflammatory effect
by down-regulating Th-1 cytokines (TNF-A, IL-1, 2, 6, 8, 12), which may be
overactive in Hashimoto’s. Curcumin has been found to reduce joint inflammation in
the Th-1 autoimmune condition rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, it seems to have
therapeutic anti-inflammatory effects in a variety of gastrointestinal conditions,
showing improvement in Crohn’s disease (Th-1), Ulcerative colitis (Th-2) and irritable
bowel syndrome.
Survey Results
In my survey of 2232 people with Hashimoto’s, 680 people reported that they had tried
curcumin. Fifty six percent reported that it was helpful, 40 percent did not see a change in
how they felt, while 3 percent said it made them feel worse.
When asked about the specific benefits seen from the use of turmeric, 64 percent of people
reported that it helped them with reducing pain symptoms. Other positive benefits were an
increase in energy (seen in 35 percent), improvement in mood (seen in 34 percent), and an
improvement in thyroid antibodies (12.5 percent).
Pain is the most obvious manifestation of inflammation in the body, so I’m not surprised that
those that had pain saw an improvement with curcumin use. While most people with
Hashimoto’s do have inflammation, only some will present with pain symptoms. Poor
energy, mood changes, and thyroid antibodies are also indicative of inflammation, and it was
encouraging that curcumin also impacted those parameters, but it should be noted that
improvements in those symptoms may be less obvious to notice, and may also take a bit
longer to manifest.
While curcumin can also boost glutathione (an antioxidant that’s often depleted in
Hashimoto’s), reduce inflammation, help with healing the gut, and detoxifying from heavy
metals, it’s difficult to assess these improvements symptomatically.
Although most people with Hashimoto’s will benefit from the addition of turmeric, if you are
currently experiencing pain, you will most likely see the most benefit.
How to Use Turmeric/Curcumin
Some researchers have suggested that the daily intake of curcumin in a typical Indian diet
may be anti-inflammatory. However, curcumin is cleared from the body within about an hour
and may not remain present in the body long enough to produce those anti-inflammatory
effects. Fortunately, there’s a hack for that! Combining curcumin with piperine, an alkaloid
found in pepper, extends the life of curcumin in the body, helping it to stick around longer.
My recommendation is to add more turmeric to your cooking (remember to add some pepper
to the mix), as well as a high-quality curcumin supplement. Be sure that the supplement
you’re taking either combines the curcumin with piperine or uses a suspended release
technology to help the curcumin stick around in the body. Curcumin appears to be extremely
safe, even at doses of up to 8 grams/day.
Curcumin Supplements
While piperine does increase the absorbance of curcumin, some people who are sensitive to
pepper may react to it. While pepper is technically considered Autoimmune Paleo, it’s also
considered a “suspect” spice, due to potential reactions.
Fortunately, I’ve been able to develop a new supplement that could be an ideal alternative for
those who don’t tolerate piperine but still want to incorporate curcumin into their routine.
Curcumin Absorb is a highly bioavailable curcuminoid formulation that contains a unique

combination of three health-promoting curcuminoids: curcumin, bisdemethoxy curcumin and
demethoxy curcumin, along with turmeric oil. The three curcuminoids are the strongest, most
protective and best researched constituents of the turmeric root. Naturally occurring turmeric
root powder contains only 5-7% curcumin, while the blend in Curcumin Absorb™ is
concentrated to contain 95% curcuminoids.
The potential health benefits of curcumin are often limited by its poor solubility, low
absorption from the gut, rapid metabolism and rapid systemic elimination. Curcumin
Absorb is manufactured using an all-natural formulation that improves the absorption and
delivery of curcumin. This process uses a proprietary blend of MCT oils, non-soy derived
lecithin, and vitamin E, without the use of potentially harmful surfactants, increasing the
absorption rate.
For those that aren’t sensitive to piperine, an alternative supplement that I have personally
used is called Curcumin with Bioperine. It is free of gluten, dairy, and soy. The dosage I
used when working to detox my body of arsenic was 500 mg three times per day.
Cooking with Turmeric
Below are two of my favorite ways to add more turmeric to my diet. A few years ago I found
myself suffering from arsenic poisoning (yikes!) and used curcumin to detoxify my body.
Along with taking a curcumin supplement , I also made Turmeric Tea twice per day and ate
my Tandoori Chicken multiple times per week. I believe that the addition of turmeric helped
me clear out the arsenic within a month, and helped me to prevent long-term damage!
Turmeric is a powerful ingredient with both a long history and exciting new research showing
the positive effects it can have on the body.
My personal experience has shown the benefits it can have for detoxifying the body, and I
often recommend it for clients with Hashimoto’s to support the gut, liver, and inflammatory
pathways, especially if they are experiencing pain!
I hope this information helps you on your journey!
P.S. Be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get a free book chapter, recipes, Thyroid
Diet Starter Guide and notifications about upcoming events and my latest research.
References
1. Cho JA, Park E. Curcumin utilizes the anti-inflammatory response pathway to protect
the intestine against bacterial invasion. Nutrition Research and Practice. 2015;9(2):117-
122.
2. García-Niño WR1, Pedraza-Chaverrí J2. Protective effect of curcumin against heavy
metals-induced liver damage. Food Chem Toxicol. 2014 Jul;69:182-201
3. Tan C1, Zhang L1, Cheng X1, Lin XF1, Lu RR2, Bao JD1, Yu HX3. Curcumin
inhibits hypoxia-induced migration in K1 papillary thyroid cancer cells. Exp Biol Med
(Maywood). 2014 Oct 27.
4. Xu X1, Qin J1, Liu W2. Curcumin inhibits the invasion of thyroid cancer cells via
down-regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Gene. 2014 Aug 10;546(2):226-32.
5. Shafaghati N, Hedayati M, Hosseinimehr SJ. Protective effects of curcumin against
genotoxicity induced by 131-iodine in human cultured lymphocyte cells. Pharmacogn
Mag. 2014 Apr;10(38):106-10
6. Bright JJ. Curcumin and autoimmune disease. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2007;595:425-51.
7. Paul C. Curcum-EvailTM. Designs for Health. http://biorna-quantics.com/wp-
content/uploads/2016/01/Curcum-Evail_TechSheet.pdf. November 2015. Updated
January 2016. Accessed January 31, 2018.
Note: Originally published in July 2015, this article has been revised and updated for
accuracy and thoroughness.
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FILED UNDER: RECOVERY, SUPPLEMENTS TAGGED WITH: CURCUMIN, FOOD
PHARMACOLOGY, HEALING YOUR
GUT, HYPOTHYROIDISM , INFLAMMATION, LIFESTYLE
INTERVENTIONS, THYROID, TURMERIC
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eader Interactions
Comments
1. Lynn says
July 6, 2015 at 3:16 AM
Yes, I agree that curcumin helps. I been using it daily with almost each meal! I’ve heard too
that cayenne pepper mixed with freshly squeezed lemon juice mixed with water is also good.
Great way to give the metabolism a jump start!
Reply
o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

November 15, 2016 at 5:20 PM
Lynn- That is great!! I hope you also try the recipes in the article!! I look forward to
hearing your progress on this page! I hope you also check out this article! 🙂
10 MOST HELPFUL DIY INTERVENTIONS FOR HASHIMOTO’S

https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-most-helpful-diy-interventions-for-
hashimotosaccording-to-my-clients
Reply
 Birgit Nerheim says
January 31, 2017 at 8:34 AM
I have hypothyroidism and take Levothyroxine and Liothyronine.
I want to start taking Tumeric supplements, but can it interact with my thyroid
meds?
I want to take the tumeric/curcumin supplements to help with my aching
muscles.
Do you know if there are any interactions with curcumin and the thyroid meds
and also Fluoxetine..
Reply
 Dr. Izabella Wentz says

January 31, 2017 at 11:33 AM
Birgit – I cannot tell you specifically what you can and cannot do over the
internet as I could be held liable for what would happen to you.
I do have a full supplements chapter in my book. Have you checked it out?

Not everyone should be taking every supplement and the book will help
uncover your root cause. This will help you figure out your
supplementation.
Hashimoto’s Root Cause

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789
&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Hashimoto’s Protocol
https://smile.amazon.com/Hashimotos-Protocol-Reversing-Thyroid-
Symptoms/dp/006257129X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482698453&sr=8
-1&keywords=Hashimoto%27s+Protocol
Reply
 Cat says
March 4, 2018 at 7:32 AM
How long should you steep it? Would fresh root have more curative properties?
Does it also require pepper for absorption?
Reply
 Dr. Izabella says

March 7, 2018 at 4:29 PM
Cat – thank you for following this page. Here is a simple recipe for making
turmeric tea:
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• Pinch of pepper
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Sweetener to taste (stevia and maple syrup are my top recommendations)
• 1 cup hot filtered water
Put all the spices and lemon juice in the mug of your choice, top off with
boiling water, mix and enjoy!
Reply
 Nitzia says
July 24, 2018 at 7:05 AM
How many times day should I drink the tea
July 26, 2018 at 3:53 PM
Nitzia – thank you for reaching out. I wish I could give you more
direct advice but, each person will react differently. I would advise
you to ask your trusted clinician who’s care you are under.
 Kelly says
March 13, 2018 at 5:15 AM
Dr. Wentz, Is it safe to take curcumin during pregnancy? After a few failed IVFs
(and a heartbreaking journey) I am getting ready for the embryo transfer this
week. I take curcumin regularly but read that it might not be safe for pregnant
women as it stimulates the system. I am quite dependent on turmeric so going off
it will be tough. I was wondering if you had any advice. Thank you so much!
Your book was a life-changing read for me!
Reply

March 19, 2018 at 7:24 AM
Kelly – you are very welcome! I appreciate your kind words and support! I
wish you the best with your IVF treatment. <3 As for the curcumin I
would advise you to ask your personal pharmacist or a trusted clinician
who’s care you are under. I am not able to respond directly to these types
of questions here.
Reply
2. Fran Dengler says
July 6, 2015 at 12:23 PM
I have hypothyroid and scalp psoriasis. Curcumin helps reduce the itching of the scalp so it is
manageable.
Reply

Fran- That is great!! Did you know that if you live in the United States, the UK,
Australia, Europe and most developed countries that add iodine to the salt supply and
take thyroid medications, there’s a higher probability that you do have Hashimoto’s?
Depending on the source, estimates are that between 90-95% of those with
hypothyroidism have Hashimoto’s.
But most doctors will never tell people that they have Hashimoto’s, or that their own
immune system is attacking their thyroid. People are told that their “thyroid is
sluggish”, and that these things happen with age and “Just take this pill, you’ll be fine.”
I hope you check out these articles that I wrote.
ARE YOU DOING EVERYTHING FOR YOUR THYROID BUT NOT YET WELL?
https://thyroidphramacist.com/blog/are-you-doing-everything-for-your-thyroid-but-not-
yet-well
DO YOU HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM OR HASHIMOTO’S OR BOTH?
https://thyroidphramacist.com/blog/do-you-have-hypothyroidism-or-hashimotos-or-
both
Here are the tests you need for diagnosis. Most endocrinologists don’t run them all so
you will have to request them. Make sure to request a copy of your labs as well.
TOP 6 THYROID TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS

https://thyroidphramacist.com/blog/top-6-thyroid-tests
Reply
3. ruthc says
July 6, 2015 at 2:17 PM
I also have tried curcurmin with piperine 1.4gm x2 three times a day, (Xymogen.com) as
prescribed by my alternative (Oriental Medicine) MD and must say the first bottle helped
tremendously, had less pain and more energy. Then I tried another product and the results
were not the same. So I went back on Xymogen Curcurma, however, noted also that my BP
went down after taking it, so I reduced the dosage but the effects on the pain are not the same.
HOWEVER, my lovely MD also has me on 2,000ml of GLUTATHIONE IV weekly [the
mother of all antioxidants 🙂 ]and my fibro, RA AND Hashi’s seems to be better controlled
and I am (most days) functioning ok. I am so happy I found my OM MD, who started me on
Armour a couple of years ago. I am also thankful that I found your wonderful informative
website. Thank you, Dr. Izabella in helping Hashi’s patients making sense of their dis-ease.
<3
Reply

Ruthc- Thank you so much for your support! I look forward to hearing more of your
progress on this page! Here are a couple of articles you may find interesting as well! 🙂
PAIN AND HASHIMOTOS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/pain-and-hashimotos
PAIN HASHIMOTOS AND FIBROMYALGIA…
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/pain-hashimotos-and-
fibromyalgia%E2%80%A6
Reply
 Nina says
March 6, 2018 at 8:35 AM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/pain-hashimotos-and-
fibromyalgia%E2%80%A6 For some reason this link isn’t working. Can you fix
please?
Reply
March 6, 2018 at 4:23 PM
Nina – I am so sorry that link did not work. Here is a link that should work
for you. <3
PAIN AND HASHIMOTOS

https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/pain-and-hashimotos
Reply
4. Amy says
July 8, 2015 at 10:12 AM
Where is this doctor? I have fibro & hashi’s too. I take armour, a Fibro multi-vitamin,
tumeric (curcumin) and malic acid. Where do you get the IV’s. I am in GA.
Reply

Amy- I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a
whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and
prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID

https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
Reply
5. Kim says
July 6, 2015 at 2:18 PM
I love this article about turmeric! I have enjoyed following your blog. Have you looked at
Protandim? It too has turmeric and others in the perfect combination. Created by Dr. Joe
McCord…..I would love to hear your opinion because of your expertise!
Watch http://www.abcliveit.com. I truly am anxious to hear your take on it all. Thank you for
all your great information!!!!
Reply

Kim- Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
Reply
6. ruthc says
July 6, 2015 at 2:21 PM
Dr, Izabella, I have one more question. I’ve enhoyed your book and your articles
tremendously, but wondered if your book is also available in GERMAN. As you know
Hashi’s and fibro and all those naughtly immune dis-eases run in families and I have two
sisters in Germany who could tremendously be helped with your book. Thank you.
Reply

Ruthc- Not yet! Thank you so much for your feedback! 🙂
Reply
7. Karen says
July 6, 2015 at 5:53 PM
First, I want to say thank you. On my last leg, giving up on body, I went to a naturopath.
After speaking with her I came home and did a lot of online research and your book was the
first one and the last one I purchased on the subject of hashi’s. Thank you for sharing your
story and your struggles. Secondly, I have a question about #4…”genetic damage and side
effects induced by radioactive iodine that is sometimes used to treat Graves’ disease.” Do you
have a link or information on what types of side affects that occur due to the radioactive
iodine treatment and all the steps you can take to help heal from that treatment?
Reply

Karen- Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid
because the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out
surgically, is ‘dead’, or treated with radioactive iodine the autoimmunity still persists in
most cases. Many people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new
autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system
just finds a different target. We need to re-balance the immune system to prevent this
(sometimes the autoimmunity can be reversed as well). The gut determines your
immune system. With the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing,
the majority of my website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system. The
info I present is based on my own research and journey for overcoming my
autoimmune thyroid condition.
HASHIMOTO’S ROOT CAUSE BOOK

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASI
N=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Reply
8. Sandy says
July 7, 2015 at 3:51 AM
Hi Dr. Wentz. Thank you for this information. My integrative physician recently suggested I
take curcumin which I promptly purchased from his pharmacy. I recently had 2 kidney stones
two months apart which I have discussed with this doctor. (I was under the care of a urologist
though). When I was reading about curcumin on line I came across some info that it should
not be used by those with kidney stone issues. I was surprised to read this since my dr. had
just recommended it. I was disappointed since I have some thyroid issues and wanted to try
this. Do you know this to be true, not to use if you have kidney stones? Thank you so much, I
find all your writing extremely helpful!
Reply

Sandy- I can’t make any direct medical recommendations to any single person for legal
reasons. Not everyone will need every single supplement! In fact, I believe that most
nutrients should come from the diet, this is why I always list food sources for most of
the nutrients, vitamins, minerals and probiotics that are depleted in Hashimoto’s in the
book and on the blog. However, some may require/prefer supplements and the
supplements on the website are a resource for those that do. I recommend getting tested
for deficiencies to determine your need for a supplement as instructed in the book and
blog. I also don’t recommend starting multiple supplements all at once. I recommend
starting one at a time and then adding another a week or so later once it has been
confirmed that the first supplement is not causing any harm.
I do have a full supplements chapter in my book. Have you checked it out? Not
everyone should be taking every supplement and the book will help uncover your root
cause. This will help you figure out your supplementation.
Reply
9. Lee Jenkins says

July 7, 2015 at 6:28 PM
I use turmeric pills from Banyan Botanicals. Very pure, no fillers like cellulose and so on.
Organic available as well. I highly recommend. Had lots of problems w leaky gut and banyan
turmeric helped clear up symptoms so I could eat broader array of foods.
Reply

Lee- That is great! Here are a couple of articles you may find interesting as well! 🙂
HASHIMOTO’S AND THE GUT

https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-the-gut
THE GUT AND AUTOIMMUNE THYROID CONNECTION
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/the-gut-and-autoimmune-thyroid-connection
Reply
10. Kim says

July 8, 2015 at 5:45 PM
I use Protandim, which has a patented form of turmeric, bacopa, ashwagndha, green tea, and
milk thistle. This product has changed my life and is changing health science as we speak! It
is specially formulated with the right amounts of each so that they work synergistically.
Reply

Kim- Thank you so much for sharing!! Here is an article you may find interesting as
well! 🙂
10 MOST HELPFUL DIY INTERVENTIONS FOR HASHIMOTO’S

https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-most-helpful-diy-interventions-for-
hashimotosaccording-to-my-clients
Reply
11. ruthc says
July 9, 2015 at 1:57 PM
Amy, my doctor is (unfortunately for you) in S. Florida. She is an MD, OMD, L.Ac, Dipl.
Ac. If you find yourself down here, this is her
website:http://www.joytheholisticmd.com/index.html . I also would suggest that perhaps, if
you call her office, maybe they can recommend someone in GA. Good luck <3
Reply
12. jwls says

July 15, 2015 at 8:33 PM
I been taking it for 30 days with msm and gloucosamine, is this ok if im mixing this with
turmeric. (also something call curramin bt terry naturally extra strength.
Reply
13. Beverly Garrett says

August 20, 2015 at 12:21 AM
I don’t know where to turn, have dealt with Hyperthyroidsm in the past, took Synthroid
starting out with three pills a day, then over a period of time two pills a day and then one pill
a day…then finally off of it all together….after moving to Tn. Over 6 yrs ago I have now
been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and have been off and on Medication…finally got tired
of the confusion and asked my Primary Care Dr. To send me to a Endro Doctor…he now has
tole me I have Hashimoto’s….I am totally lost…the new Endoc doctor has not told me
anything. I need help, I am losing my hair and eyebrows….and reading all your information
has confused me even more, I don’t know where to turn…I need to talk to a doctor who can
explain and tell me what to do and what not to do….thanks! Any help will be appreciated…
Reply
Beverly- Graves and Hashimoto’s are both autoimmune conditions that affect the
thyroid. They are thought to be closely related. Sometimes one turns into the other. The
difference is the site of the antibody attack. In Hashimoto’s, the antibodies are found to
thyroglobulin (in 80%) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) enzyme (in 95% of people)-
Hashimoto’s results in hypothyroidism and is usually treated with Synthroid and
replacement hormone.
The same antibodies may be present in a smaller percentage of people who have
Graves, but the main antibody is to the TSH Receptor (TSHR-Ab). Usually people with
Graves have hyperthyroidism and they are treated conventionally with thyroid
suppressing drugs (methimazole) or radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid. At that
point, the thyroid will no longer produce hormones on its own and these people end up
on Synthroid as well.
Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid because
the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out surgically or
treated with radioactive iodine the autoimmunity still persists in most cases. Many
people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new autoimmune disorders
such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system just finds a different
target. We need to rebalance the immune system to prevent this (sometimes the
autoimmunity can be reversed as well! The gut determines your immune system. With
the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing, the majority of my
website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system. The info I present is
based on my own research in journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid
condition.
Reply
14. Kim Griffis says

August 20, 2015 at 1:40 PM
Beverly, so sorry to hear how you are struggling. I remember how frustrating it can be. I had
an endo that wouldn’t listen nor want me to ask questions – he just wanted to prescribe a
script and move me out. I finally found a great internal medicine doctor and after a few trials,
we found that Armour Thyroid worked the best for me. Have you ever heard of it? My
thyroid was removed back in 2004 so I have nothing working for me. I also take Protandim
which is a natural supplement that has been proven to reduce oxidative stress in ALL people
by 40% in 30 days. It has turmeric, green tea, milk thistle, bacopa, and ashwaganda combined
in a special patented blend. Those of us on thyroid drugs usually have more oxidative stress
because of our meds alone. Check out this video at http://www.abcliveit.com My 13 year old
daughter was diagnosed almost 2 years ago with full blown Hashimoto’s as well – makes me
so sad. They have her on levoxylthyrone (sp?), which I was on for years, but if her aches and
tiredness don’t improve, I am going to ask them to put her on Armour. Staying away from
sugar, processed foods, and drinking a ton of water is very beneficial – whole foods is the
way to live. I hope things improve for you!
Reply
15. Char says

August 20, 2015 at 12:53 AM
I had an allergy test done that said I had an allergy to Turmeric…but I had been taking it
daily. I didn’t notice a change when I was using it in my smoothies and cooking. So should I
go back to using it? It never had issues using it, but I was abiding by the allergy test.
Suggestions?
Reply

Char- Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms,
skin breakouts and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also
see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people, will
actually be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the
foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing
their thyroid function! Here are a couple of articles you may find helpful.
FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S

https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet
Reply
16. Raghubir says
August 20, 2015 at 8:19 AM
I have thyroid problem means low thyroid and I get very much sore throat and it’s difficult to
cure it please advise so I can feel better with my throat
Reply

Raghubir- Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain
symptoms, skin breakouts and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some
will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of
people, will actually be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by
getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even
normalizing their thyroid function! Here are a couple of articles you may find helpful.

Reply
17. Ekta Joshi says

August 20, 2015 at 11:58 AM
I am 41 year old female, papillary carcinoma of thyroid, .Not on any thyroid specific
medications. Treated with high dose radioactive iodine (50mci) for remnant ablation. Above
is done before two months back. Presently I am suffering from swelling problem on different
parts of my body & also suffering from itching on that swelling .please tell me about
precaution for said above problem. Thanks.
Reply
Ekta- Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid
because the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out
surgically, is ‘dead’, or treated with radioactive iodine the autoimmunity still persists in
most cases. Many people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new
autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system
just finds a different target. We need to re-balance the immune system to prevent this
(sometimes the autoimmunity can be reversed as well). The gut determines your
immune system. With the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing,
the majority of my website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system. The
info I present is based on my own research and journey for overcoming my
autoimmune thyroid condition.
HASHIMOTO’S ROOT CAUSE BOOK

Reply
18. Tricia Case says

August 20, 2015 at 2:16 PM
I’m so excited to read this! I started taking golden paste 2 weeks ago after a friend told me
about her results on it. I can truly say that it has helped with inflammation. Although the taste
is something I had to get used to, the benefits far outweigh the bitterness of the turmeric.
Thank you so much for keeping us all informed.
Reply

Tricia- Thank you so much for sharing!! I hope you also try the recipes in the article
and let me know what you think! 🙂
Reply
19. Daniela says

February 13, 2017 at 4:27 AM
Dr. Wentz, in case of Hashimoto is it OK to take curcumin without checking if we have Th1
or Th2 immune system? Thank you in advance!
Reply

February 13, 2017 at 10:54 AM
Daniela – please, understand that due to liability issues, I am unable to answer specific
medical questions.
I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole
medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of
serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.

WHAT TYPE OF DOCTOR SHOULD YOU SEE IF YOU HAVE HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/what-type-of-doctor-should-you-see-if-you-
have-hashimotos
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-
have-told-me
CLINICIAN DATABASE
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
Reply
20. Juliene Munts says
March 22, 2017 at 2:02 AM
So glad to be a new member of those reading your loving posts!
Reply

March 22, 2017 at 9:25 AM
Juliene – thank you for following this page and for referring. Do you have Hashimoto’s
or a thyroid condition?
Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled.

While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category
and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone,
Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles
that I wrote. I hope they help 🙂
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S

https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year
Reply
21. Lola says

June 29, 2017 at 4:36 AM
Dear Izabella,
I have serious gut lining inflammation, I can hardly digest anything and anything little acidic
touches my stomach (apple, etc) it hurts. I started taking turmeric but I have little burning
sensation for 1-2 hours even after that I have my meal, Is it okay in the beginning or is it
normal? I use turmeric powder mixed in half glass water. How am I supposed to take it?
Before/with/after meal? What is the best way to get healing? Thank you!
Reply

June 29, 2017 at 6:16 AM
Lola – thank you for following this page. – In general, most people with autoimmunity
need to find their food sensitivities, heal from infections, and eat organic; however,
bioindividuality is important, not everyone will respond to the same interventions. The
foods that heal one person, may not be the same for another. It might seem like a lot to
give up, but feeling your symptoms fade away can make it feel like it’s all worthwhile.
And don’t forget it’s not forever! You will be reintroducing these foods once your gut
heals.
WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY

GUT https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causing-your-leaky
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Reply
22. Kristy says

July 4, 2017 at 7:19 AM
I’ve been reading your book this week Dr Wentz and it’s been incredibly interesting,
insightful and albeit a little depressing.. haha but I’m glad to know there’s a lot I can do to
help myself. Silly question perhaps but in your book you don’t mention rice – are we able to
have it with the tandoori chicken? Or best to avoid? Thank you 🙂
Reply

July 5, 2017 at 10:04 AM
Kristy – Thank you for following this page. Did you know that reactive foods trigger
an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten
sensitivity in particular has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well
known risk factor for Hashimoto’s), and can also produce intestinal permeability
whenever they are eaten?
Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin
breakouts and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a
significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people, will actually
be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the foods
they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their
thyroid function! Here are a couple of articles you may find helpful.

Reply
23. Annola says

July 10, 2017 at 9:18 PM
I’m extremely grateful to have discovered your page on hashimoto’s. Thank you.
Reply

July 11, 2017 at 12:09 PM
Annola – thank you for following this page.
Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled.

While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category
and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone,
Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I hope you check out my books. 🙂
thyroidpharmacist.com/protocol
Reply
24. Karolina says

August 14, 2017 at 6:29 AM
Hi Dr Wentz – I’ve been drinking the Turmeric tea in the morning (lemon, turmeric,
cinnamon,honey, etc), 30 min after taking synthroid, can any of the ingredients
interact/decrease the affects of synthroid? My TSH was 1 end of June(around the same time I
started drinking the tea) but now it has gone back up to 3.5.
Thanks!
Karolina
Reply
o Dr. Izabella says

August 14, 2017 at 10:14 AM
Karolina – Thank you for following this page. Please, understand that due to liability
issues, I am unable to answer specific medical questions, but I highly recommend that
you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s an entire medical specialty
dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic
disease rather than disease symptoms.

CLINICIAN DATABASE
https://ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
Reply
25. Maria3667 says
October 1, 2017 at 11:35 PM
Hi Dr. Izabella,
Thank you for your informative article, I read it with keen interest.
I am hypothyroid and have Sjogren’s syndrome too. Aside from a slight heart burn turmeric
caused severe anxiety in me. I wonder if it’s due to turmeric’s healing abilities and thus my
thyroid meds being too high? Turmeric really benefited my joint pain so I was sorry I had to
let it go. Unfortunately I did not have a blood test during this period because I wasn’t aware
of a correlation. Have you heard of this interaction? Primarily I suspected I had Hashimoto’s
– which is common with Sjogren’s – but repeated blood tests have ruled this out. Thank you
for answering.
Reply
o Dr. Izabella says

October 3, 2017 at 11:06 AM
Maria – Thank you for following this page. Please, understand that due to liability
issues, I am unable to answer specific medical questions, but I highly recommend that
you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s an entire medical specialty
dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic
disease rather than disease symptoms

CLINICIAN DATABASE
https://ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
Reply
26. Shannon says

Hi! I have been struggling with low thyroid levels for quite some time now. I found an
integrative medicine specialist who finally LISTENED to me and switched me from
Synthroid/levothyroxine (which was not really working for me, despite increasing dosage) to
Nature-throid and it is definitely more effective for me. I am also battling adrenal fatigue, so I
am VERY sensitive to upping the dosage on the Nature-thyroid and am having to titrate up
much more slowly than most. Good news is that everything is improving now, and she has
recommended I take a turmeric/curcumin supplement (plus increase use in diet) so I have
been doing tons of research to determine how much, when, etc. I have purchased Pure
Encapsulations Curcumin 500 (which includes piperine), but in some research I was doing I’d
found recommendations to take it on an empty stomach. I would love your opinion on this?
My concerns being the following: I want to try to take it 3x daily between meals (per the
directions on the bottle and in line with the recommendations I found); however, the only
way for me to get in a morning dose is to take it an hour before breakfast (i.e. as soon as I
wake). However, this is also when I take my Nature-throid. Can I take them at the same time?
I know with certain medications, the piperine can increase the effects because it blocks
certain enzymes in the liver which causes to body to metabolize the medications more slowly.
However, the main ones I’ve seen mentioned are blood thinners and a few heavy-duty neuro
drugs (theophylline, dilantin, etc.). Is there a concern for this with Nature-throid, or is it
metabolized by different liver enzymes? (In addition to the thyroid issues and overall
inflammation that is at play here, I also have a family hx of Alzheimer’s and want to do
ANYTHING possible to protect myself from developing this! I know that curcumin has
shown a lot of promise in that area and I think that may have been where I found the
recommendation to take it on an empty stomach?). Any insight you can offer would be
greatly appreciated!!
Reply
o Dr. Izabella says

Shannon- thank you for reaching out. I wish I could give you more direct advice but,
each person will react differently. I would advise you to ask your personal pharmacist
or a trusted clinician who’s care you are under. I am not able to respond directly to
these types of questions here. I also don’t recommend starting multiple supplements all
at once. I recommend starting one at a time, and then adding another a week or so later
once it has been confirmed that the first supplement is not causing any harm.
I do have a full supplements chapter in my book. Have you checked it out? Not
everyone should be taking every supplement and the book will help uncover your root
cause. This will help you figure out your supplementation.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8…
thyroidpharmacist.com/protocol
Reply
 Shannon says
Dr. Izabella,
Thank you for your prompt response! While I appreciate your legal and ethical
limitations on offering advice/tx recommendations in this forum, I was simply
wanting to know if (1) there is any *known* interaction between curcumin
w/piperine and thyroid medications (dessicated “natural” varieties in particular),
and (2) whether you had found in your research/experience any benefit to taking
a curcumin or turmeric supplement on an empty stomach vs. not. I apologize if
this seems redundant; I was thinking those questions were of a general-enough
nature to be answered by any pharmacist and therefore relevant here (given your
expertise related to the thyroid in particular, I figured you would know better
than any other pharmacist I could contact!?). However, as you can see, I do tend
to be too long-winded, so I just wanted to clarify my questions thinking that
perhaps they got “lost” in my original message…. ?.
I just found your site yesterday and subscribed to the newsletter so I am looking
forward to checking out the other resources you’ve mentioned, including the
book! Thank you again!
Reply
27. Elaine says

March 4, 2018 at 12:41 PM
Doctor…I have just finished the 3 month diet/supplement protocol and find that I am feeling
so much better. I’m now preparing for another blood test to check antibodies and hormone
levels. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find any information from any of your
publications regarding some sort of maintenance protocol to maintain health.
Are there supplements I could/should be taking daily to keep my hashimoto’s in check now
that I’m feeling better? Will it help to take the same supplements listed in the protocol, but at
a lesser dose (especially probiotics)? I realize that each person’s condition is different, but I
do not know where to start.
Reply
o Dr. Izabella says

March 4, 2018 at 3:38 PM
Elaine – thank you for following this page. I am so happy to hear you are feeling so
much better. For questions pertaining to the protocols please contact my team
at info@thyroidpharmacist.com and they will be happy to help you. <3
Reply
28. margo says

March 21, 2018 at 11:58 AM
Isabella, Thank you so much for all you do for people with Thyroid problems. I’ve read you
book and followed your website since you started. Your advice has helped me so much. It’s
been not a cure but a 10% better improvements, one at a time which have changed my life!
Thank you so much!!!!!!
Margo
Reply
o Dr. Izabella says

March 21, 2018 at 4:00 PM
Margo – thank you so much for your support and kind words! <3
Reply
29. Maggie says

April 13, 2019 at 10:54 AM
I think it should be mentioned that turmeric is effective with oil. So before the tea take spoon
full of oil. I know, quite unpleasant (for me atleast), but it actually helps the tea to work.
Reply
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turmeric for Your Thyroid and Hashimoto’s

DR. IZABELLA WENTZ / MARCH 1, 2018

How Turmeric Can Help Hashimoto’s

Curcumin Absorb is a highly bioavailable curcuminoid formulation that contains a unique

I hope this information helps you on your journey!

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 MTHFR, Hashimoto’s and Nutrients

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

10 MOST HELPFUL DIY INTERVENTIONS FOR HASHIMOTO’S

 Dr. Izabella Wentz says

I do have a full supplements chapter in my book. Have you checked it out?

Hashimoto’s Root Cause

 Dr. Izabella says

 Dr. Izabella says

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

TOP 6 THYROID TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

PAIN AND HASHIMOTOS

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

HASHIMOTO’S ROOT CAUSE BOOK

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

9. Lee Jenkins says

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

HASHIMOTO’S AND THE GUT

10. Kim says

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

10 MOST HELPFUL DIY INTERVENTIONS FOR HASHIMOTO’S

12. jwls says

13. Beverly Garrett says

14. Kim Griffis says

15. Char says

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S

17. Ekta Joshi says

HASHIMOTO’S ROOT CAUSE BOOK

18. Tricia Case says

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

19. Daniela says

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled.

WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S

21. Lola says

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY

22. Kristy says

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S

23. Annola says

o Dr. Izabella Wentz says

Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled.

24. Karolina says

o Dr. Izabella says

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID

o Dr. Izabella says

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID