Restoring thyroid hormone balance

Functional medicine takes a personalised, root-cause approach to addressing chronic health issues, including thyroid conditions. Research now shows that factors such as diet, lifestyle, and environmental influences play a significant role in thyroid health. Rather than simply managing symptoms, functional medicine seeks to understand what’s driving your thyroid imbalance – whether it’s nutrient deficiencies, stress, gut health, or immune dysfunction.

Our practitioners take the time to assess your full health picture, considering your diet, lifestyle, and medical history. This process often includes functional pathology testing to uncover deeper insights. Once the root causes are identified, your practitioner will develop a tailored treatment plan designed to restore thyroid function and support your overall wellbeing.

Health coaches specialise in the science of behaviour change, helping you overcome obstacles with clarity and confidence. They understand the challenges of making long-term health changes because they’ve often faced similar struggles themselves. Acting as your guide, supporter, and accountability partner, your health coach helps you stay on track and make sustainable changes that support your thyroid health. Many of our patients find the support from their health coach invaluable – often realising its true impact only after experiencing it firsthand.

Health coaching is a key part of our program because it drives lasting change. While this approach differs from conventional healthcare, we believe that combining functional medicine with coaching is the most effective way to create meaningful, long-term improvements. This holistic model is why we’ve been recognised with multiple awards, including the 2024 ATMS Clinic of the Year. We’re confident that working with a coach will set you up for success.

Working with Melbourne Functional Medicine could be the right fit if you’re motivated, curious, and ready to take control of your thyroid health. If you’ve been struggling with ongoing symptoms like fatigue, weight changes, brain fog, or hormonal imbalances – and are looking for a personalised, root-cause approach – we’re here to support you.

Our team will work closely with you to uncover the underlying drivers of your thyroid condition. We go beyond symptom management, creating a tailored plan that addresses your unique health picture and helps restore balance.

If you’re ready to invest in your health, embrace new habits, and take an active role in your recovery, we’ll guide you through a transformative process designed to support long-term improvements in your thyroid function and overall wellbeing.

During your session, your practitioner will take a deep dive into the factors influencing your thyroid health, piecing together the bigger picture to uncover what’s contributing to your symptoms. By gathering details about your health history, diet, lifestyle, and any previous test results, they’ll create a mindmap to connect the dots and make sense of your unique health puzzle. This process helps identify the root causes of your thyroid concerns.

Throughout the session, you’ll have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you like. If you’ve been searching for answers about your thyroid health, bring them along – your practitioner will explain everything in clear, simple terms, avoiding technical jargon.

Towards the end of the session, you and your practitioner will work together to develop a personalised plan to investigate and address your thyroid condition. At this point, one of our health coaches will join the session to ensure you fully understand the plan and the mindmap. They’ll provide additional resources to support you and review the treatment plan you’ve designed with your practitioner.

If you choose to continue with our healthcare program, your health coach will help arrange supplements, coordinate any necessary testing, and schedule your first coaching appointment. Together, you’ll outline practical steps to implement your treatment plan effectively.

By the end of the session, you’ll have gained valuable insights into what might be driving your thyroid symptoms. You’ll likely leave feeling hopeful and empowered, ready to take control of your health.

A thyroid health mindmap is a powerful visual tool that distils and connects all the insights from your deep dive session, giving you a clearer, more holistic understanding of your thyroid health. It organises the information you share with your practitioner, mapping out your symptoms from a biological perspective and linking them to potential influences like diet, lifestyle, stress, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental factors. Many patients gain newfound clarity, finally seeing how different aspects of their health are interconnected.

As you progress through the program, your practitioner will continuously update and refine your mind map as new insights emerge – ensuring nothing is overlooked. This evolving tool guides your treatment plan, leaving no stone unturned in your journey to restoring thyroid health.

Here’s an example of what a mindmap looks like:

Yes, we work with patients worldwide via telehealth. However, managing international logistics, labs, and supplements often requires additional time and can lead to delays. To ensure we maintain the same high standard of care as for our local patients, international patients can access our 5 or 7 month program. This approach allows us to deliver a seamless and effective experience.

A payment of $870 is due at the time of booking your deep dive consultation. The program fee is payable upon signing up for one of our programs, with the option to split the payment into monthly instalments through our trusted payment partners.

To find out more about payment solutions download our resource here.

Any supplements or lab testing will be charged separately.

A thyroid condition refers to any disorder that affects the function of the thyroid gland, a small butterfly-shaped organ in the neck responsible for producing hormones that regulate metabolism, energy levels, and hormone balance. Common thyroid conditions include hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), and autoimmune thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease. These conditions often develop gradually and can lead to a range of health issues, from fatigue and weight changes to heart problems, digestion issues, and disrupted sleep, depending on whether the thyroid is underactive or overactive.

Thyroid dysfunction can manifest in a variety of symptoms, depending on whether the thyroid is underactive or overactive. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) commonly causes fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, hair loss, depression, sensitivity to cold, brain fog, and constipation.

Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) may lead to unexplained weight loss, anxiety, insomnia, rapid heartbeat, heat intolerance, and digestive issues.

Since these symptoms can overlap with other health concerns, a thorough evaluation, including comprehensive thyroid testing, is essential for an accurate diagnosis.

Thyroid problems can be caused by various factors, including autoimmune diseases, nutrient deficiencies, stress, genetics, and environmental toxins. Autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland. Nutrient deficiencies, particularly iodine, selenium, and zinc, can impair thyroid function. Chronic stress can disrupt hormone balance, affecting the thyroid. Environmental toxins, such as heavy metals and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, may also contribute to thyroid dysfunction. A comprehensive approach by one of our thyroid health functional medicine experts is helpful to identify the underlying cause of thyroid imbalances and restore optimal health.

A functional medicine thyroid specialist takes a root-cause approach to diagnosing and treating thyroid imbalances. Instead of relying solely on TSH levels, they assess a full thyroid panel including free T3, free T4, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies to uncover deeper dysfunctions. They also evaluate medical history, symptoms, nutrient status, inflammation, and hormone interactions to identify contributing factors. Rather than just managing symptoms, they develop a personalised treatment plan that may include targeted nutrition, supplements, lifestyle changes, and stress management to restore thyroid function naturally. This comprehensive approach supports long-term health and optimal hormone balance.

Thyroid testing often goes beyond the basic TSH measurement, as it may not provide a full picture of thyroid health. A comprehensive thyroid panel in functional medicine typically includes:

• TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone): Regulates thyroid function
• Free T3 & Free T4: Active thyroid hormones that directly impact metabolism and energy
• Reverse T3 (rT3): Indicates thyroid hormone conversion issues
• Thyroid antibodies (TPO & TG): Detects autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease
• Nutrient testing: Assesses levels of key nutrients like iodine, selenium, zinc, and vitamin D that are essential for thyroid function
• Adrenal & gut health markers: Evaluate stress and inflammation, factors that can significantly affect thyroid health

While we do not provide ultrasounds or biopsies, we collaborate with trusted specialists when further investigation is needed. By integrating these advanced diagnostic tools, we can pinpoint imbalances and design a personalised treatment plan that supports long-term thyroid health and optimal function.

Yes, thyroid function can often be improved naturally with a functional medicine approach. At Melbourne Functional Medicine, our functional medicine practitioners, who have decades of experience supporting people with thyroid conditions, focus on addressing the root causes of thyroid imbalances by considering factors like diet, lifestyle, nutrient deficiencies, stress management, and gut health. This may involve optimising iodine and selenium intake, improving gut function, managing stress, and supporting detoxification pathways.

By developing a personalised plan that integrates these approaches, we work to restore balance to your overall health and thyroid function – without relying solely on medication. If you’re unsure whether this approach is right for you, we invite you to book a discovery call to book your deep dive session or explore how we can help you achieve optimal thyroid health.