Thyroid nodules are solid or fluid-filled lumps that form within your thyroid, a small gland located at the base of your neck, just above your breastbone. They are almost always benign and don’t cause symptoms. There are ways to reduce thyroid nodules naturally, so let’s walk through how we can do this.
What are the Symptoms of Thyroid Nodules:
Oftentimes you won’t know you have a thyroid nodule until your doctor discovers it. But sometimes, they can become large enough for you to feel or see on your neck. Anytime you think you have a nodule, it’s always good to talk to your practitioner about it.
Sometimes thyroid nodules can produce additional T4 (thyroxine) which could then lead to hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of this can be:
Increased sweating
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Unexplained weight loss
Nervousness or anxiety
What causes Thyroid nodules?
Here are the three most common root causes from a functional perspective:
1. Iodine deficiency caused by low iodine in the diet, or exposure to chlorine, fluoride or bromine.
Swimming, bathing or drinking chlorinated and/or fluoridated water or a high consumption of bakery products (breads, pastas, etc. ) that contain bromide can cause iodine deficiency. And, vegan and vegetarian diets can sometimes result in iodine deficiency.
2. Poor lymphatic flow – 1/3 of the lymphatic system is in the neck and up. So, there is a lot of lymph in your neck where your thyroid is. If there is poor lymphatic flow throughout the body, this can cause or contribute to thyroid nodules.
3. A virus, bacteria or toxin – The body can store viruses, toxins and bacteria in various tissues of the body, including the thyroid.
Can you get rid of nodules?
Yes! They can definitely come and go on their own. And, I’ve worked with many clients who had nodules who followed the steps given below and saw their nodes (even multiples) go away. This was all confirmed by their doctor.
4 Ways to reduce thyroid nodules naturally
1. Avoid all chlorine, fluoride and bromine – Chlorine, fluorine, bromine and iodine are all halogens. Unfortunately, chlorine, fluorine and bromine are similar enough to iodine that they can be absorbed by the thyroid in place of iodine and “displace” the iodine.
The mechanism behind “halogen displacement” was probably best described by J.C. Jarvis, M.D., who wrote: “The clinical activity of any one of these four halogens is in inverse proportion to its atomic weight. This means that any one of the four can displace the element with a higher atomic weight, but cannot displace an element with a lower atomic weight. For example, fluorine can displace chlorine, bromine and iodine because fluorine has a lower atomic weight than the other three. Similarly, chlorine can displace bromine and iodine because they both have a higher atomic weight. Likewise, bromine can displace iodine from the body because iodine has a higher atomic weight.” (Meaning – all of the other halides replace iodine.)
If these other chemicals displace iodine, then your thyroid won’t be able to produce the proper amount of thyroid hormone needed for your body, leading to low thyroid levels, hypothyroidism and possibly goiter, nodules and cysts.
Here’s how I recommend avoiding these three chemicals:
– Filter your drinking and bathing water. Here are some of my favorite water filters at a variety of different price points:
Clearly Filtered pitcher (use the code CFPartner to save 10%)
Radiant Life Countertop Filter (use the code CARRIE to save 10%)
Clearly Filtered under sink filter (use the code CFPartner to save 10%)
Greenfield whole house filtration system – they also have replacement filters that you can use in your Berkey water filter (use the code ORGANIC10 to save 10%)
Radiant Life Shower Filter (use the code CARRIE to save 10%)
– Avoid using bromated flour or flour that contains potassium bromate. Keep in mind, pastas and baked goods can contain this kind of flour as well. In 1982, researchers in Japan published a series of studies showing that potassium bromate causes cancer in the thyroid in rats and mice. Potassium bromate is illegal in the EU, Canada and Brazil, but is still allowed here in the US.
– Reduce your exposure to fire retardants. Don’t purchase clothing that is sprayed with them, wash all clothing before wearing and, if possible, choose mattresses and carpets that are free of fire-retardants.
– If you can’t purchase any kind of filter for your water right now, it’s a good idea to get 3-4 servings of iodine-rich foods into your diet each week. I really love Dr. Cowen’s sea vegetable powder. You can add it to smoothies, salad dressing, soups, bone broth, etc. to get in an extra dose of iodine.
2. Avoid all processed foods – The foods you eat make up the cells of your body and also give your body the tools it needs to make thyroid hormones. So the foods you eat will play a role in the health of your thyroid tissues.
Here’s more info on the kind of nutrient-dense diet I recommend if you have thyroid disease.
3. Increase Iodine Consumption – Iodine deficiency can cause thyroid nodules, so increasing your intake of iodine-rich foods or taking an iodine supplement can be helpful to reduce them.
How Much Iodine Do I Need Each Day?
While the RDA is 200mcg, most thyroid experts believe this is too low. Many medical doctors who specialize in thyroid health such as Guy Abraham, M.D., and David Brownstein, M.D. recommend amounts anywhere between 12.5 – 37.5 mg daily.
In our practice, we’ve found that doses closer to 600mcg – 6mg daily are well tolerated, but it’s important to remember that we are all biochemically individual, so what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another.
If you feel you need supplementation, I always recommend consulting with a practitioner who is well-versed in nutrition to help you figure out the best dosage for your body.
And, if you have elevated fT4 or Graves’ you definitely need to talk to your practitioner about the amount of iodine in foods that is appropriate for your situation.
Best Food Sources of Iodine
The body does not make iodine, so it’s essential to include it as part of your diet.
Here’s a list of the amount of iodine in various foods for reference (according to the NIH):
Seaweed, nori, dried, 10g or 2 tablespoons 232 mcg
Cod, 3 ounces 158 mcg
Plain yogurt, 1 cup 116 mcg
Oysters, 3 ounces 93 mcg
Milk ~85 mcg (this various according to the season)
Egg 26 mcg
Cheese, 1 ounce 14 mcg
Liver 14 mcg
Shrimp, 3 ounces 13 mcg
Tuna, 3 ounces 7 mcg
4. Castor oil packs over the liver and thyroid
One-third of your lymph is located in the neck and into the brain. Your thyroid is also located in your neck, so putting a castor oil pack over the thyroid can help improve blood flow, bring more oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, reduce swelling, and remove toxins.
How to do a castor oil pack over the thyroid:
Please note: It’s imperative to first do castor oil packs over the liver for several weeks before trying one over the thyroid. Follow the directions below (but use the entire piece of flannel) and do a pack over the liver 3-4x a week for 4 weeks. After you’ve been consistent doing this for 4 weeks, then cut a small rectangle out of the flannel that will fit easily over the front of your neck where your thyroid is located.
1. Drizzle the castor oil over a small rectangular piece of cotton flannel that fits easily over your neck. I keep my flannel in a large glass Tupperware to catch any oil that might drip and then I drizzle the castor oil over the flannel.
2. Fill up your hot water bottle.
3. Set the dish with the flannel, the ziploc bag (or piece of parchment paper), and old towel on your nightstand or next to your bed.
4. Lie down and place the cotton flannel over the thyroid. Remember: only do this after you’ve been consistent with doing a castor oil pack over your liver 3-4x a week for 4 weeks.
5. Put the ziploc bag (or parchment) on top of the flannel. The plastic should not touch your skin.
6. Place one layer of the old towel over the pack.
7. Place the hot water bottle on top of the towel.
8. Lie down and keep the castor oil pack on the thyroid for 15 minutes*. Remove the pack and wipe the area with the old towel to remove any castor oil. Follow with a pack over the liver for 45 minutes.
9. Repeat as necessary.
*If you have been diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism or Graves’ then it’s usually best to only do the pack for about 5-10 minutes.
How long should I do the castor oil packs?
I recommend first doing a castor oil pack over your liver 3-4x a week for 45 minutes. Then, start doing them over the thyroid as directed above.
I would continue doing a pack over the thyroid and liver 3x a week along with the other steps listed above until you see the results you are looking for.
5. Daily movement – Did you know that 1/3 of your 600+ lymph nodes are in the neck?! So, if you have poor lymphatic flow this can lead to or contribute to nodules. So, moving the body daily is imperative for good lymphatic flow.
I’m also a big fan of doing the Big 6 daily. This will help improve the lymphatic flow in your head and neck.
Most of my clients see changes in their nodules (confirmed by their doctor) within 3-4 months when they are following all of the steps listed above (avoiding chlorine, fluoride, eating a nutrient-dense diet, etc.)
If you’d like to learn from first steps you can take to help support your thyroid, check out my class, “5 Keys to Thyroid Hormone Balance”. It’s just 45 minutes and I promise you’ll learn something new!
Disclaimer: The purpose of this post is to give an overview of thyroid nodules from a holistic perspective. Due to biochemical individuality there can be many various reasons for the root causes of thyroid issues, and many ways to help improve thyroid in balance in the body. This information is not intended to take the place of your doctor’s advice.
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