Functional medicine support for hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease
We take a personalised, root-cause approach to hyperthyroidism. Care focuses on identifying how factors like immune reactivity, gut health, nutrient status, and environmental influences may be contributing to elevated thyroid activity, using targeted investigation and individualised treatment to support more stable thyroid function.
Is our hyperthyroidism care right for you?
If you’re still feeling wired, restless, or on edge even with treatment underway, or if your thyroid levels have come down but you still don’t feel like yourself, a more comprehensive approach can help make sense of what may be contributing. Our approach may suit you if:
You feel unsettled by ongoing palpitations, anxiety, or internal restlessness
You want to understand how thyroid results, medication changes, and symptoms connect
You're looking for a more thorough, personalised approach beyond medication changes alone
You want to investigate what may be keeping your immune system overactive and your thyroid overstimulated
Why you can be on medication and still not feel well
Hyperthyroidism usually results from Graves’ disease, an autoimmune condition. This means the body produces antibodies that attack the thyroid.
A conventional approach typically focuses on controlling how much thyroid hormone is produced. This often involves speeding up the destruction of the thyroid so it can no longer make excess hormone.
This approach doesn’t address the antibodies themselves. It doesn’t ask why they are there, or why the body has started attacking itself.
The approach is a bit like fighting one fire with another. It’s hard to keep hormone levels steady this way, because the immune activity behind the condition can change without warning.
Our approach to hyperthyroidism
We start with your full case history: your diagnosis, symptom pattern, testing, and how you’ve responded to treatment so far. Inflammatory and antibody activity are usually part of this picture, so understanding how active these are for you is often the starting point for care.
On its own, addressing inflammation isn’t enough to bring hyperthyroidism under control, but it’s always a step in addressing the autoimmune activity involved.
We build your care plan around your case and adjust it as you respond to treatment, so it keeps evolving to match what you need. Many people come to us wanting to reduce or avoid medication and surgery where possible, and our practitioners take a holistic, proactive, and preventative approach to hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease.
Depending on your presentation, care may include:
Dietary and nutritional support
Dietary changes are directed at reducing the immune activation that keeps antibody production active. Foods commonly removed or reduced include:
- Gluten-containing grains, which can trigger a gut-based inflammatory response that adds to antibody activity behind thyroid overproduction
- High lectin-containing foods that may have a similar inflammatory effect
- Caffeine and alcohol, which can worsen palpitations, tremor, and anxiety
- High-iodine foods, including seaweed and iodine-supplemented products, which can exacerbate thyroid overproduction
Nutritional support
Nutrient deficiencies are common in hyperthyroidism because the metabolic acceleration of the condition increases demand. Key nutrients that may require attention include:
- Selenium, which supports thyroid hormone conversion and has a role in modulating thyroid autoimmunity
- Zinc, which supports immune regulation and is commonly depleted in hyperthyroid states
- Vitamin C and other antioxidants to help quench the inflammatory fire
- L-carnitine, which can help slow the thyroid
- CoQ10 and other mitochondrial supportive compounds that support mitochondrial function, which is often depleted when metabolic demand is chronically elevated
- Vitamin D, which is central to immune tolerance and commonly deficient in autoimmune conditions
Gut health
In Graves’ disease, a more permeable gut lining allows inflammatory signals into the bloodstream, which keeps the immune system producing antibodies against the thyroid.
Repairing this involves an assessment of the composition and function of the gut microbiome, identifying food sensitivities, and selecting targeted support, which may include specific probiotic strains, gut lining support such as glutamine or zinc carnosine, and anti-inflammatory herbs.
Immune modulation
Several agents help calm an overactive immune response, though they act on it in different ways:
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Vitamin D
- Glutathione
- Bugleweed and lemon balm are among the herbs most commonly used in functional and naturopathic practice to help moderate thyroid stimulation and manage symptoms such as palpitations and anxiety
Bugleweed in particular is thought to work directly on the thyroid-stimulating receptors involved in Graves’ disease, which may set it apart from herbs used purely to ease symptoms. These are selected based on individual testing and presentation, not used as a one-size-fits-all approach.
Addressing toxic load and underlying infections
Where testing identifies contributing factors, treatment may include:
- Heavy metals like mercury, environmental toxins, or mycotoxins can affect how the thyroid works and interfere with the immune activity driving Graves’ disease. Reducing exposure and supporting the body’s ability to clear toxins forms part of the plan where toxic load is confirmed
- Chronic infections: Epstein-Barr and other viruses, as well as gastrointestinal infections, can keep the immune system switched on in ways that standard blood testing does not always catch, and can feed the same antibody activity that contributes to Graves’ disease
Monitoring stress and cortisol
Ongoing stress raises cortisol, which can worsen the immune response behind antibody production, so we monitor and reassess as treatment progresses. In a system already running hot from excess thyroid hormone, added cortisol can compound symptoms like anxiety, poor sleep, and a racing heart rate. Practices such as regular gentle movement, consistent sleep, and breathwork can help regulate this alongside medical treatment. This is an area your practitioner will advise on, and our health coaches can add real value.
How we assess hyperthyroidism more closely
Investigation can be supported using insights from functional testing. Test selection is guided by your history, your diagnosis, and how your symptoms and thyroid levels have been changing, rather than being routine for everyone. In some cases, recent blood work already provides a clear starting point. In others, further testing can help explain why symptoms don’t seem to match what’s happening on paper, and to track how things are changing.
Where investigations are used, they are selected to add clarity around immune activity, nutrient status, and how the thyroid is being regulated.
- Advanced thyroid panel
- Advanced hormone profile
- Nutrient deficiency testing
- Microbiome testing
Case study
See how our approach helps our patients achieve better health and richer lives.
Caroline was 8 months postpartum and experiencing a relapse of Graves disease, an autoimmune thyroid condition.
Caroline was working concurrently with her GP and endocrinologist, and experiencing ongoing symptoms including feeling very fatigued, heart palpitations, body tremors, hair loss, insomnia, heartburn, diarrhoea, an ongoing cough, swollen thyroid, sudden irritability, and mood swings.
Read Caroline’s story by hitting the button below
Caroline’s story
Caroline was 8 months postpartum and experiencing a relapse of Graves disease, an autoimmune thyroid condition.
Caroline was working concurrently with her GP and endocrinologist, and experiencing ongoing symptoms including feeling very fatigued, heart palpitations, body tremors, hair loss, insomnia, heartburn, diarrhoea, an ongoing cough, swollen thyroid, sudden irritability, and mood swings.
Understanding the problem
As we often see with thyroid conditions, there was a strong familial pattern with Caroline’s female relatives, including her mum and aunt both experiencing thyroid conditions. Autoimmunity was also evident in her immediate and distant family members.
Caroline had all of the classic Graves disease symptoms. She also had food sensitivities and hayfever – showing a dysregulated immune system. Due to a strong hormonal shift postpartum, and along with her genetic profile, the autoimmune condition Graves was triggered.
Caroline was most concerned about her mood, and her ability to parent the way she wanted to. Alongside her physical symptoms, it was her lowered tolerance, ‘snappiness’ and impatience with her two small children that were her most pressing emotional symptom.
We used functional testing to learn more about her physiology, including digestive health and function, thyroid function, autoimmune markers, and organic acids.
After addressing her thyroid health for several months, we furthered gut investigations, and Caroline tested positive for SIBO.
Implementing the solution
Stress and dietary factors were significant triggers for Caroline’s autoimmune condition. From the outset, it was clear that her primary obstacles stemmed from balancing her role as a mother to two young children, managing a job, and shouldering the bulk of household responsibilities. This overwhelming load left her feeling stretched thin and, most importantly, caused her to feel she wasn’t being the mother she aspired to be. She often found herself reacting impulsively, lashing out in ways that didn’t align with her values.
Coaching Caroline through the chaos of her life focused on two key elements:
Practical strategies: We worked on creating structured plans for her day and week, ensuring she could fulfil her commitments while also carving out time for personal self-care practices.
Emotional resilience: A significant part of Caroline’s coaching centred on reshaping her perception of stress, and managing her mindset. We delved into her psychometrics to uncover the beliefs driving her responses to stressors. By adopting the perspective of an observer rather than a judge or controller, Caroline learned to approach stressful situations with curiosity. This shift allowed her to soften her reactions, fostering a more balanced internal dialogue. For example, instead of reacting with anxiety to an elevated heart rate, she began to notice it with interest: “Oh, I see my heart is racing. How fascinating.”. This non-judgmental awareness made a substantial difference in her experience.
Caroline shared, “Having that reframe allowed me to keep going. Taking the judgement out of what I was doing helped me relax more. I think it really did help my heart rate slow.”
When things didn’t go as planned, Caroline initially felt rattled. Her coach supported her in exploring the roots of her perfectionism, guiding her to leverage it as a strength rather than a source of stress. This transformative coaching process helped Caroline cultivate new habits and mindset strategies, ultimately enhancing her well-being and ability to manage life’s challenges.
Achieving an incredible result
Towards the end of the program, Caroline did a follow up SIBO test which was still positive. She did a course of Rifaxamin which remarkably improved her remaining GI symptoms, and because it is important to have healthy transit time, especially if SIBO has been present, Caroline used high fibre fruits and vegetables to support digestive function.
Even though Caroline’s primary presentation was thyroid, digestion was an ongoing theme, and much of the focus throughout was on gut health.
By the conclusion of the program, Caroline experienced a significant transformation. She had regained her energy, developed a deeper understanding of her stressors, and acquired robust skills for managing her mindset. Her hair loss had ceased, her energy levels returned, and she was able to consistently attend the gym, feeling stronger than ever. Importantly, she became more patient and resilient, moving closer to the mother she aspired to be.
In February 2023, Caroline’s pathology report indicated a TSH level of 0.03 (normal range: 0.5 – 4.0), a T4 level of 12.5 (normal range: 10.0 – 23.0), and a T3 level of 8.8 (normal range: 3.5 – 6.5), along with TRAb antibodies at 15.5 (normal range: < 0.55), signifying significant Graves’ disease activity. By November 2023, her results showed considerable improvement: TSH increased to 1.29, T4 to 14.6, and TRAb antibodies decreased to 0.34.
It’s essential to note that these positive changes resulted from a combination of Graves’ disease medication and the comprehensive program we implemented, as Caroline was solely dependent on medication at the beginning of the year.
We support steadier thyroid function and calmer symptoms
We work with people at different stages of hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease, from new diagnoses to those still searching for answers after years of treatment. Start your care journey today.
Your thyroid health care team
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1-hour initial apt
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- Review your health history and current concerns
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WHAT PATIENTS SAY
Why Melbourne Functional Medicine is trusted for Functional medicine support for hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease
Patient experiences
Our award winning approach is personalised, collaborative and focused on your health.
See what past patients say about their experience below.
Frequently
Asked
Questions
Do I need a confirmed diagnosis of hyperthyroidism or Graves’ disease before starting care?
Not necessarily. Some people come in with a clear diagnosis, while others have abnormal thyroid results or symptoms that haven’t been fully explained. If your TSH has been low, or there’s been discussion of Graves’ disease but no clear direction yet, that’s often enough to begin. We work with what’s already known and help clarify what still needs to be understood. This avoids delays while things are still being investigated elsewhere.
Why do I still feel wired or on edge even when my thyroid levels are improving?
Thyroid levels improving doesn’t mean the immune activity behind Graves’ disease has settled down yet. Even when thyroid hormone levels are coming down, the body can remain in a heightened state, especially if this has been ongoing for some time. People often describe feeling internally restless, with sleep, heart rate, or anxiety not quite settling. This is where looking beyond the numbers becomes important. It helps explain why symptoms don’t always track neatly with blood results.
Can I work with you if I’m already seeing an endocrinologist or taking medication?
Yes. Many people are already under endocrinology care when they come to us. Medication is often an important part of managing thyroid levels, and we work alongside that rather than replacing it. The focus is on understanding what may still be driving the condition or affecting how stable things feel. This can be particularly relevant when considering longer-term decisions about treatment.
Why does hyperthyroidism sometimes flare up, even without changes in treatment?
Symptoms can pick up during periods of stress, after illness, or around hormonal changes such as postpartum. In Graves’ disease, the immune system can remain active even when treatment hasn’t changed, which can influence how symptoms present. These flare-ups can feel unpredictable without a clear explanation. Looking at these patterns more closely often helps make sense of what’s happening.
Where can I learn more about hyperthyroidism?
For a deeper look at how hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease affect the body and why symptoms can come and go, read our detailed guide to hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease.
Ready for a more personalised way forward?
We take the time to look more deeply at what’s still overstimulating your thyroid and work with you toward feeling steady again, not just medicated.
