Cryotherapy Relieves Hypothyroidism by Reducing Inflammation

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland is underactive and doesn’t properly make or release thyroid hormones. The thyroid gland normally releases many crucial hormones that travel through the bloodstream to reach receptors found throughout the body. So a disturbance in thyroid function can cause widespread, noticeable health problems.

The thyroid is considered a “master gland.” In addition to producing crucial hormones, it helps regulate the process of converting nutrients from food into usable energy that the body runs on. Because the thyroid plays such a major part in your metabolism, dysfunction can affect almost every part of the body, including your energy levels and ability to burn calories.

Key hormones produced by the thyroid also help the liver break down cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream. The thyroid can also stimulate enzymes needed to regulate triglyceride levels; this is why changes in thyroid function can lead to heart problems.

Other noticeable effects of hypothyroidism include moodiness and a sluggish metabolism. Essentially, when your thyroid is underactive, your metabolism will slow down, which might mean you always feel tired or struggle to lose weight.

Your mood is especially susceptible to changes in hormone levels, so some people with hypothyroidism deal with depression, anxiety, trouble getting good sleep, and low immunity. The thyroid gland helps regulate chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, which control your emotions and nerve signaling. This is why an out-of-balance thyroid can lead to drastic emotional changes at times.

According to the American Thyroid Association, 12 percent of Americans will develop a thyroid condition at some point in their lives. (1) Some estimates suggest up to 40 percent of the population suffers from at least some level of underactive thyroid. Women — especially older women — are the most susceptible group for developing hypothyroidism. People who are elderly or who have other existing autoimmune diseases — like type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and celiac disease, for example — are also at a higher risk.

The thyroid is a small gland located at the base of your neck, sometimes described as butterfly-shaped. In one way or another, your thyroid is connected to the way every organ in your body functions.

Some of the most common warning signs of hypothyroidism include:

• Fatigue
• Depression and anxiety
• Weight gain
• Infertility
• Goiter (nodules at the base of the neck, sometimes accompanied by tightness in the throat, coughing or swelling)
• Feeling cold
• Constipation
• Muscle aches and tenderness
• Stiffness and swelling in the joints
• Hair loss
• Rough, cracked skin
• Trouble breathing
• Changes in the menstrual cycle
• More frequent cold or flu due to low immune function

What Causes Hypothyroidism:

1. Inflammatory disorders of the thyroid. The most common cause of hypothyroidism in developed nations is a condition called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This is an autoimmune endocrine disorder that occurs when the thyroid becomes inflamed. When someone has Hashimoto’s, their own body essentially begins to attack itself by producing antibodies that try to destroy the thyroid gland. (4) Why does this happen? The immune system mistakenly thinks that the thyroid cells are not a part of the body, so it tries to remove them before they can cause damage and illness. The problem is that this causes widespread inflammation, which can lead to a range of issues. According to Dr. Datis Kharrazian, 90 percent of people with hypothyroidism have Hashimoto’s, which inflames the thyroid gland over time, but this isn’t the only cause of hypothyroidism. There are other inflammatory conditions of the thyroid that may cause thyroiditis.
2. Poor diet (especially one lacking in iodine and selenium). A diet low in nutrient-rich foods, especially in iodine and selenium (which are trace minerals crucial for thyroid function), increases the risk for thyroid disorders. The thyroid gland needs both selenium and iodine to produce adequate levels of thyroid hormones. (5) These nutrients also play other protective roles in the body. For example, severe selenium deficiency increases the incidence of thyroiditis by inhibiting the activity of a potent antioxidant, glutathione, which normally regulates inflammation and combats oxidative stress. (6)
3. Hormone imbalances. In rare cases, because the pituitary gland produces a hormone called thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) — which controls the levels of hormones produced by the thyroid — a problem with the pituitary gland can affect thyroid function. (7)
4. Gut inflammation (Leaky Gut Syndrome). An unhealthy gut environment can contribute to nutrient deficiencies and raise autoimmune activity in the body. Food sensitivities or allergies, including those to gluten and dairy, can trigger gut inflammation. Other causes of a damaged gut are high stress levels, toxin overload from diet and the environment, and bacterial imbalances. When leaky gut occurs, small particles that are normally trapped in the gut leak into the bloodstream through tiny openings in the gut lining, triggering an autoimmune cascade and a series of negative symptoms.
5. Genetics. Although it’s not very common, newborns are sometimes born with a dysfunction of the thyroid gland, a genetic condition called congenital hypothyroidism. Some evidence shows that people are more likely to develop hypothyroidism if they have a close family member with an autoimmune disease. But according to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the likelihood of congenital hypothyroidism is very low, and only about one out of every 4,000 newborns is born with a thyroid disorder. (8)
6. Pregnancy. During or following pregnancy, although it’s not exactly known why, some women begin to produce very high levels of thyroid hormones, followed by a very rapid decline. This condition is known as postpartum thyroiditis. The symptoms often disappear within 12–18 months, but can also lead to permanent hypothyroidism.
7. Interactions of certain medications. Specific medications seem to frequently lead to the development of an underactive thyroid. The most common of these include drugs to treat cancer, heart problems, and certain psychiatric conditions.
8. High levels of emotional stress. Stress impacts hormones and is known to worsen inflammation. Stress can raise levels of cortisol and adrenaline, which disturb neurotransmitter function and worsen symptoms of thyroid disease. These include low energy levels, poor mood, low concentration, disturbed appetite and weight gain, and the inability to get restful sleep. (9)
9. Inactivity and lack of exercise. Exercise and a healthy diet are important for controlling chronic stress and managing hormone-related neurological function. Research shows that people who regularly exercise usually get better sleep, deal with stress better, and more often maintain a healthier weight, all of which reduce some of the biggest risk factors and symptoms associated with hypothyroidism.

 The Bottom Line: The first step in natural treatment of hypothyroidism is to eliminate the causes of thyroid dysfunction, such as inflammation, overuse of medications, nutrient deficiencies, and changes in hormones due to stress.

Whole body cryotherapy is an excellent method for relieving the symptoms of hypothyroidism and for potentially improving thyroid function:

1. Whole-body cryotherapy has been shown to decrease TNF-α and IL-2, pro-inflammatory cytokines. (10) By lowering these pro-inflammatory cytokines, autoimmune dysfunction in the thyroid is reduced, and normal hormonal secretion of T3 + T4 may be induced.
2. WBC reduces cortisol levels—cortisol has been shown to lower hormonal secretions, leading to hypothyroidism.(11)
3. WBC is an excellent symptomatic treatment for hypothyroidism—boosts energy, relieves brain fog and improves memory and focus, improves blood circulation and cold sensitivity, relieves inflammation and edema, and can aid in weight loss.

Clients may be able to reduce their pharmaceutical use—but only at their physician’s discretion.

At ChillRx, we also recommend an infrared sauna to treat hypothyroidism. The benefits of infrared sauna include detoxification, reduced inflammation, weight loss, pain relief, cardiovascular health, an immune boost (increases white blood cell count), and a mild increase in body temperature. These all improve hypothyroid symptoms. Additionally, medical-grade chromotherapy (red light) has been shown to improve thyroid function

The ChillRx Cryotherapy Hypothyroidism treatment program includes whole body cryotherapy and an infrared sauna. Our treatment program relieves symptoms of hypothyroidism and can potentially reverse low thyroid function.

1. https://www.thyroid.org/hypothyroidism/
2. https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid/hypothyroidism-too-little-thyroid-hormone
3. https://www.piedmont.org/living-better/the-difference-between-hypothyroidism-and-hyperthyroidism
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26361257
5. http://www.europeanreview.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/3611-3618.pdf
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24938534
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25248584
8. https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/congenital-hypothyroidism#statistics
9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21880214
10. Whole-body cryostimulation as an effective method of reducing low-grade inflammation in obese men. The Journal of Physiological Sciences September 2013, Volume 63, Issue 5, pp 333-343
11. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2014 Apr-Jun;28(2):291-300.
Salivary steroid hormone response to whole-body cryotherapy in elite rugby players.
Grasso D1, Lanteri P1, Di Bernardo C1, Mauri C2, Porcelli S3, Colombini A1, Zani V4, Bonomi FG4, Melegati G2, Banfi G1, Lombardi G1.