What does it take to cure an illness?

by Richard Glickman-Simon, MD

I recently received the following request for advice:

"I am looking for a doctor who will work with me to cure my hypothyroidism without medication. My doctor has told me to take a pill for the rest of my life without knowing what the root cause of this problem is. At age 31, I do not want to take anything for the rest of my life without trying alternatives first. I feel that nothing is irreversible, and I need help finding more information about my hypothyroidism other than a TSH reading. Any help or direction you can provide would be much appreciated."

The implications of this question go well beyond the medical management of hypothyroidism. This patient

It can be extremely frustrating to receive a diagnosis for which there is no known cause and to then be told that there is only one treatment option with no other prospects. While I agree that, in most cases, there are currently no effective alternatives for thyroid replacement, the situation need not be so dire. The frustration is understandable, but not inevitable.

This patient

Supplementing iodine in the diet can reverse many cases of hypothyroidism worldwide. Iodine deficiency as a cause for hypothyroidism, however, is rare in the United States. Most cases, particularly in young women, are due to an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto