Thyroid Support with Essential Oils

The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped endocrine gland located in the front of the throat. The thyroid releases hormones that control our metabolism. Due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to poor diet, chemicals, medications, and stress, many of us have what is considered hypothyroid, or an under functioning thyroid.

According to the American Thyroid Association, “Nearly 12 percent of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime. Of these, nearly 60% are completely unaware” [1].

This is not from a lack of symptoms, but not being properly diagnosed. Any woman that has gone to their Endocrinologist and been told “Your numbers fall within the normal reference range, so nothing is to be done”, knows how frustrating this is. Many have all of the symptoms and more that we are about to share, but are being told, “Your thyroid is normal”.

Women are much more likely to have thyroid issues then men, and there are many symptoms. Some of the more common ones are:

Fatigue
Insomnia
Aches & Pains
Irritability/Brain Fog

It is imperative to understand, that currently there are no definitive studies that show that any essential oil will directly cure you of your condition, despite what you may have read. The following is not meant to replace thyroid medication or a consult with an Endocrinologist. Essential oils can be complementary to assist with many of the symptoms. The root cause still needs to be addressed.

Fatigue

There are essential oils that have been shown to provide us a pick-me-up, to give us a little bit more pep in our step. Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is one of those oils.

Peppermint was the focus of a study in 2012 of 12 healthy male athletes to determine if it could enhance their performance. The men used peppermint essential oil for 10 days and numerous vitals were taken after a period of time on a treadmill. The results were positive, and showed an increase in deep breathing (increase in ventilation) and an increase in oxygen to the brain [2]. This study was completed by placing peppermint essential oil in water, but we would suggest that inhalation of this essential oil would be equally effective, and safer than consuming it in water.

Barefut offers a .5 oz Peppermint Ready to Go Balm. Apply to the back of the neck for best results and inhale.

If you like to blend your own oils, this inhaler blend smells great, and all three oils will help when fatigue is present.

Wake Up Inhaler Blend

Peppermint (Mentha Piperita) 7 drops
Lime (Citrus aurantium) 5 drops
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) 3 drops

Slowly drip the oils onto your cotton wick, place into the sleeve, and snap on the cap. Inhalers last 5-6 months, on average. Close tightly when not in use.

*If you get your blood flowing and open up the airways before inhaling this blend, the two actions together will be more effective.

Insomnia

Sleep disturbances are very common for those with a low functioning thyroid. Dr. Kristine Arthur, MD states, “Because thyroid hormones are involved in so many bodily processes, when they are low you can have both daytime and nighttime symptoms, including fatigue during the day and poor sleep at night” [3].

There are a few essential oils that can help address this. The constituent linalool, found in high amounts in Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), is the most commonly recommended oil because it is the most studied, and has been shown to be effective.

A study published in 2012 from the Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Journal, showed that Lavender essential oil was very effective for insomnia. This case-controlled study was performed on 67 women from the age of 45-55. Lavender inhaled (20min) over a 12-week time period showed a significant improvement in sleep patterns [4].

Insomnia Diffuser Blend

*Amount of drops are appropriate for our Aroma Mist diffuser (115 mls). Adjust drops accordingly for your diffuser.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) 3 drops
Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) 1 drop
Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) 1 drop

Aches & Pains

According to the Mayo Clinic, hypothyroidism can leave sufferers to deal with issues like muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness primarily in the shoulders and hips, and joint pain [5].

Essential oil blends can be very beneficial for what are considered the more common aches and pains of an under functioning thyroid gland. There are various therapeutic benefits that we are looking for when we are tackling aches and pains.

The first is inflammation. A great essential oil to help soothe inflammation is Frankincense. We recommend trying our Frankincense vital oil (Boswellia carterii). Frankincense vital is a proprietary distillation process invented by Dr. Robert Pappas of Essential Oil University.

Dr. Pappas indicates that “the oil from this special process is beyond an essential oil, I call it a Vital Oil or the VO. I like this term because the process pulls out more the heavier “vital” components that traditional distillation cannot access. These heavier components not only make the oil more therapeutic but they also impart an extra layer of depth and complexity that is just not there in the traditional EO” [6].

Secondly are essential oils that provide a warming effect. Black pepper (Piper nigrum) has a nice spicy, woody scent, and is warming and soothing when applied topically to the area. Effective for common aches and pains.

The third thing we should look for in an essential oil is anti-spasmodic capabilities. A study performed in 2006 by the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology showed that the constituent linalyl acetate relaxed the vascular smooth muscle in rabbits [7]. This indicates that both Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and Sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana) will be helpful to relax our muscles.

Lastly, we need to be sure to look for an analgesic. Assisting with aches and pain would be incomplete without an analgesic. Copaiba (Copaifera langsdorffii) essential oil has both analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

We recommend this recipe. See how beneficial it can be for your common aches and pains. This is approximately a 3% dilution, which is suitable for using on smaller areas of the body.

Salve for Aches and Pains

2oz container/tin (Glass or metal)

1 oz avocado oil
½ oz St. John’s Wort oil (can replace with jojoba oil)
1 tbsp beeswax
15 drops Frankincense vital (Boswellia carterii)
10 drops Sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana)
10 drops Black pepper (Piper nigrum)
5 drops Copaiba (Copaifera langsdorffii)

Melt the beeswax and carrier oils over very low heat, melting beeswax very slowly. Remove from heat and let mixture begin to cool. Now add essential oils. Mix well and transfer into your container to harden.

Irritability/Brain Fog

One of the most beneficial ways to use essential oils is to support our mental wellbeing, our moods and even our thoughts.

Barefut has a beautiful blend to offer you that will help to bring focus and aid in reducing brain fog called Clear Mind Eternity Blend.

This blend contains Lemon (Citrus limon), Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) and Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi). Grounding and calming, this blend helps to bring focus to the user. Shipped to you undiluted so be sure to properly dilute if you are looking to apply topically. Place in an inhaler or diffuser for best results.

Finding the Root

As we mentioned above, essential oils can be very helpful to manage the various symptoms of thyroid imbalances, but the root cause still needs to be addressed.

Nutrition should not be overlooked. Foods high in healthy omega-3’s, selenium, and zinc should be added to the diet to address inflammation and imbalances. Healthy fish, nuts and seeds (in moderation) are essential. Load up your plate everyday with the color of the rainbow to ensure plenty of nutrition.

There are also specific foods that should be avoided when a thyroid issue is present. There are foods that are considered goitrogens that include processed soy and even certain vegetables [8].

Nutrients should be eaten in food, be sure to speak to your doctor before adding any significant vitamin supplementation to your diet.

Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is a common health problem. Following a thyroid-friendly diet can help minimize your symptoms and essential oils can provide great complementary care.

The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only. Review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician.

References

[1] General thyroid information. American Thyroid Association. https://www.thyroid.org/media-main/about-hypothyroidism/

[2] Meamarbashi, A., Rajabi, A. (2012) The effects of peppermint on exercise performance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1550-2783-10-15

[3] Bowers, E. 7 ways to sleep better with hypothyroidism. https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/healthy-living-with-hypothyroidism/sleep-better/

[4] Wei Whien, L. et al (2012) The effect of lavender aromatherapy on autonomic nervous system in midlife women with insomnia. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2012/740813/abs/

[5] Nippoldt, T. Hypothyroidism: Does it cause joint pain? https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/expert-answers/hypothyroidism/faq-20057789

[6] Essential Oil University Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/EODoctor/posts/1872610916337947

[7] Koto, R. et al (2006) Linalyl acetate as a major ingredient of lavender essential oil relaxes the rabbit vascular smooth muscle through dephosphorylation of myosin light chain. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16891914

[8] Raman, R. (2017) Best diet for hypothyroidism: Foods to eat, foods to avoid. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/hypothyroidism-diet