Holistic Thyroid Doctor Paramus NJ

Moody, fatigued, forgetful, gaining weight, and unsure why? Your thyroid hormone levels might be too high or too low.

Traditional doctors often misdiagnose these symptoms as non-thyroid-related issues, and traditionally-trained endocrinologists often use one thyroid test and compare the findings to an outdated "normal" range.

Dr. Borenstein is a functional medicine doctor and thyroid specialist with highly-specialized integrative knowledge. He uncovers the root cause of your symptoms and rejects general reference ranges, aiming to determine which hormone levels are optimal for you and getting you symptom-free.

Reach out to Manhattan Integrative Medicine for a holistic thyroid doctor in Paramus, NJ – call (201) 514-5099 or contact us here today.

Thyroid Imbalance Symptoms

The thyroid gland is located at the base of your neck and makes hormones responsible for biological functions like sexual function, sleep, and digestion.

Thyroid production issues may cause symptoms like:

• dry, brittle nails
• hair loss
• feeling too cold or hot
• hand numbness
• anxiety and irritability
• neck swelling
• water retention
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• abnormal periods
• constipation
• fatigue
• insomnia
• weight gain
• memory impairment
• high blood cholesterol
• frequent infections and colds
• depression

Dr. Borenstein will examine any nodules or lumps on your thyroid to determine if they are due to thyroid cancer – a rare condition.

Hypothyroidism vs Hyperthyroidism

Common root causes behind these symptoms are the thyroid glands under- or over-production of hormones.

Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid that cannot produce the thyroid hormones your body needs. Hypothyroidism can lead to:

• coldness
• muscle weakness
• joint stiffness or pain
• fatigue
• high cholesterol
• depression

Losing weight is hard with hypothyroidism. Research has linked hypothyroidism and obesity, which is why Dr. Borenstein is passionate about addressing your weight-loss saboteurs like energy production and basal metabolism. The thyroid gland also controls blood sugar, affecting your feelings of hunger and fullness.

Causes of hypothyroidism include:

• Hashimoto's thyroiditis: the most common cause, it's autoimmune inflammation that affects thyroid production
• surgical thyroid gland removal: partial or complete, both impair hormone production

Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid makes too much hormone, which can lead to:

• excessive sweating
• hair loss
• irritability
• fatigue
• unexplained weight loss

You may not need a psychiatrist – Dr. Borenstein will address your mood swings and fatigue by tweaking your thyroid, other hormones, and nutrient levels until you feel like yourself pre-imbalance.

Hyperthyroidism causes include:

• thyroiditis: thyroid gland inflammation
• Graves' disease: an autoimmune dysfunction
• growths: thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer (less common)

If left untreated, both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can cause gland swelling that leads to a goiter (causing neck swelling and swallowing problems).

Thyroid Diagnostics

Dr. Borenstein will perform a thorough analysis of the following during your first appointment, as they might contribute to your symptoms: medical history, general health, lifestyle, genetic predispositions, and stress levels. Then, he will start diagnostic testing.

TSH Test

Dr. Borenstein will test for your Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH), which tells the thyroid gland to produce and release hormones into the bloodstream.

Many traditional doctors will stop at this, and unfortunately, there are varying ideas of what a "normal" TSH range is, meaning that your hypothyroidism might go undiagnosed.

Dr. Borenstein will investigate further to optimize your thyroid levels by also testing:

• free T4: measures inactive thyroid (T4) in your bloodstream
• free T3: measures active thyroid (T3) in your bloodstream
• reverse T3: measures the inactive form of T3 which can be heightened in those with poor T4 to T3 conversion

This in-depth testing is crucial, as you may present "normal" levels of TSH despite low T4 and T3 levels and thyroid-damaging antibodies.

Dr. Borenstein sees weight loss as a serious professional accomplishment, and thus might also test and rebalance:

• insulin: a sugar level marker that could explain your weight-loss difficulty or detect the future possibility of pre-diabetes
• cortisol: a stress hormone made by your adrenal gland
• leptin: signals hunger satisfaction to help regulate appetite

Dr. Borenstein will also:

• identify any dairy or gluten sensitivities
• determine whether you have leaky gut syndrome
• screen for viruses like Epstein-Barr virus and human herpesvirus (HHV6)

He will also optimize levels of:

• folic acid
• iodine
• ferritin
• iron
• B vitamins like B12
• vitamin D3
• magnesium
• zinc

Dr. Borenstein will then test your blood for these raised antibody levels:

• anti-TPO: detects anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies that attack the thyroid
• anti-TGAb: targets thyroglobulin (your thyroid hormones' storage form)

He may also test for MTHFR (genetic defects in methylation enzymes) if other protocols aren't showing effects.

Holistic Thyroid Imbalance Treatments

Once a root cause of your symptoms has been discovered, Dr. Borenstein will explain which treatment(s) can be used to resolve your thyroid dysfunction.

For example, he will prescribe an anti-viral protocol like Valtrex or Valcyte for a viral infection, or for botanical medicine, a hand-crafted anti-viral Byron White Formula that supports the immune system, the body's homeostatic mechanisms, and detoxification.

Thyroid Optimization Therapy

Dr. Borenstein prefers to supply and optimize your thyroid levels (very important) in the most non-invasive and natural way possible.

Extracted from dried pig thyroid glands, natural desiccated thyroid is the most common natural thyroid replacement treatment. These drugs are FDA-regulated and proven in a federally-funded study to be safe and effective when used properly. The following drugs regularly undergo rigorous quality-control testing and contain the main thyroid hormone levothyroxine: Armour®, Nature-Throid®, Westhroid®, and WP Thyroid®. Dr. Borenstein also offers Tirosint®, a liquid, hypoallergenic levothyroxine supplement.

Other Thyroid optimization therapies offered include:

• Cytomel® T3 – active, direct, and most powerful of the thyroid medications; use exactly as prescribed
• Slow-release T3 – a time-release formula to help prevent a possible hormone "rollercoaster"
• Compounded sustained-release T3 – prevents or treats goiter

Supplements

Dr. Borenstein might prescribe custom doses of the following to complement hormone replacement:

• L-glutamine: an anti-inflammatory amino acid that fuels gut enterocytes
• zinc: an anti-oxidant that keeps your intestinal wall non-porous and strong and also moderates insulin and thyroid functions
• probiotics: help to resupply good bacteria in the gut and remove bad bacteria with enzymes
• aloe: a prebiotic that dulls inflammation and lowers acid reflux
• digestive enzymes: amylase, lactase, lipase enzymes, and protease break down gut fats, dairy, starches, and proteins
• betaine HCL: helps with digestion, raises stomach acid production, and betters nutrient absorption

Low Dose Naltrexone

Low Dose Naltrexone helps normalize immune function and lowers thyroid antibodies. Dr. Borenstein may use Low Dose Naltrexone if your thyroid doesn't respond to other supplements. A premium compounding pharmacy will make your exact dose to use only as long as needed.

The Autoimmune Protocol Diet

Dr. Borenstein has investigated a diet that has helped hundreds of patients treat leaky gut and inflammation. The diet has been successfully prescribed for years and involves removing or restricting inflammatory foods like:

• refined sugars and alternative sweeteners
• spices like coriander and cumin
• vegetable and canola oils
• nuts and seeds
• legumes (soy, peanuts, beans, hummus)
• chocolate
• eggs
• nightshade vegetables like peppers, potatoes, eggplants, and tomatoes
• dairy products
• grains
• alcoholic beverages
• processed foods

You will also be asked to remove or restrict gum, food with emulsifiers and food thickeners, and NSAID painkillers like naproxen sodium (Aleve), aspirin (Bufferin), and ibuprofen (Advil).

Rather, raise your consumption of:

• coconut oil
• sprouted seeds and beans
• probiotic-rich kefir and yogurt
• sauerkraut and kimchi
• wild-caught fish
• bone broth
• antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables

Dr. Borenstein will monitor your custom protocol and continually check for feedback before adjusting it. He is well-versed in preventing both negative interactions between treatments and contraindications with medications you're taking.

Reserve your appointment

Dr. Borenstein is a functional medicine doctor with 20 years of experience and hundreds of dysfunctional thyroid glands treated. If you're tired of doctors with stale thyroid testing standards, call (201) 514-5099 or contact us here for your first appointment.