CBD and Thyroid Dysfunction
Tens of millions of people worldwide suffer from a variety of thyroid problems and many are not aware of their health problems at all. Women are much more prone to thyroid disease than men. Doctors usually prescribe traditional medicines for people with thyroid problems. However, this medicine is not always the best solution. They usually cause quite a few undesirable side effects. Therefore, people are looking for a way to replace them with alternative medicines and therapies, treating the causes rather than the effects. Many studies indicate that CBD can be effective in treating various thyroid problems.
CBD oil can be a good supportive therapy and can help in many cases. It offers a wide range of support effects for this system and it can be exactly what we need for our body to recover.
It is worth noting that many studies point to how CBD could be potentially useful in treating thyroid disease and its symptoms. See study # 1 and study # 2.
The CBD and the endocannabinoid system play a key role in the endocrine system. Let’s see how it can be used as a treatment.
What are endocrine disorders?
Endocrine disorders result from dysfunction of the glands, producing and secreting hormones that help to control a number of important body functions. Hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency are among the most common endocrine disorders. Symptoms may include fatigue, upset stomach, dehydration and changes in skin condition.
There are a number of disorders that can be caused by a dysfunctional endocrine system. Some of these may seem unrelated but it is important to note that the endocrine system is very important and involves many different organs throughout the body and all are interconnected.
The endocrine system is responsible for controlling everything from energy metabolism to reproductive health and red blood cell production. If the system has malfunctioned, it can cause a variety of uncomfortable and often serious side effects.
For healthy people, the endocrine system constantly renews its feedback to itself by turning it on and off so that our various body parameters are in a constant plane or balance.
When the system is out of balance, it collapses and we suffer from health problems, some of which are more serious than others.
Examples of endocrine disruptors include: diabetes mellitus; metabolic syndrome (metabolic disorders); fatty liver disease; osteoporosis; Hashimoto’s thyroiditis; Cushing’s syndrome; Addison’s disease; Goiter disease; Graves’ disease; hyperglycemia; hyperparathyroidism; hypoglycemia; menopause; obesity; polycystic ovarian syndrome; Turner syndrome, etc.
In the case of endocrine disruption, we may experience various uncomfortable and often serious side effects. There are findings that CBD oil may be a good treatment option. We know that it offers a wide range of support effects for this system, and that is probably what we need to restore balance in the body. Here’s how it works.
Let’s summarize the effects of CBD on endocrine disruption.
Here’s a look at how CBD can help with endocrine disruption, but first let’s summarize its effects.
CBD is just one of many other cannabinoids found in the Cannabis plant. These compounds are considered cannabinoids because they are able to interact with the system in our body known as the endocannabinoid system we mentioned at the beginning of this article.
The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in the body by maintaining homeostasis. This is often called body balance. Interestingly, so does the endocrine system.
There are 2 major cannabinoid receptors in the body, the CB1 and CB2 receptors.
CB1 receptors are present in high concentrations in the pituitary and hypothalamus, which are responsible for the control of all other endocrine organs.
CBD and other cannabinoids can restore equilibrium in this system directly through the hypothalamus and pituitary gland and can also affect the endocrine organs themselves.
As the health of these organs improves, it becomes easier to control and regulate homeostasis in the body.
How does the endocrine system work?
The endocrine system is made up of a team of different glands located throughout the body and working together to maintain body balance (homeostasis).
These glands release hormones to work with the rest of the body.
You can think of the endocrine system as a company.
The Hypothalamus will be like CEO located at the center of the brain. It oversees the organization as a whole and decides where to make changes to the plan to make sure the company – our body – continues to operate.
Like the CEO of the company, the hypothalamus does not make any of these changes itself. Rather, it delegates roles to different departments formed by other executive organs such as the pancreas, the adrenal glands, the thyroid gland and others.
Each of these glands serves as the head of a specific unit. Some control energy metabolism, growth, immune function, body temperature, or bone structure.
When the hypothalamus gives command, they turn to their own teams of different hormones and neurotransmitters. It is these workers who are actually making changes to the hypothalamus.
This system constantly communicates with itself, constantly checking how these changes are being implemented and what is their impact.
Endocrine glands.
There are 9 major endocrine glands in the body. Each is considered an executive with a particular area of specialization, all of which respond directly to the hypothalamus (CEO).
Here we will investigate each of them in detail, highlight some of the common endocrine disruptors that can be caused, and how CBD and other cannabinoids are used to improve the function of these organs/glands.
- Pineal gland.
The pineal gland is responsible for controlling the sleep and wake cycle.
It gathers information from other areas of the brain that measure the visible light spectrum. It is designed to respond to changes in daylight from blue to red.
The red light waves are associated with early morning and late afternoon when the sun rises and sets. The angle of the sun shining through the atmosphere reflects the blue light waves, allowing more transparent red light waves to pass through.
It helps the body to decide that at night we should feel tired and go to sleep.
Blue light passes through the atmosphere only when the sun is directly facing us. This is the light we see during the day, which the pineal gland determines to be the time when we should be wide awake.
When the pineal gland only receives red light, it releases the sleep hormone melatonin. When interrupted by blue light, melatonin secretion slows down, making it difficult to fall asleep.
The effects of blue and red light waves are well documented. Major electronics manufacturers such as Apple have begun incorporating it into their design. Many computer screens now have a blue light filter that prevents blue light from activating in the pineal gland, which affects sleep when working late at night.
Side effects of pineal gland dysfunction: mood disorders; sleep cycle disorders; insomnia.
- Hypothalamus.
The hypothalamus is the CEO of the endocrine system, as we found out earlier.
It is responsible for controlling most of the functions of the endocrine system by delegating the organs what has to be done; regulated functions of the hypothalamus: body temperature; thirst and appetite; weight control; emotions, sleep cycles; libido; reproductive health; blood pressure; heart rate; digestive function, etc.
If you have problems with the hypothalamus, it can cause problems with any other part of the endocrine system.
Hypothalamic dysfunction can cause the following conditions: hypopituitarism; neurogenic diabetes insipidus; hypothyroidism; hyperthyroidism; eating disorders.
- Pituitary gland.
If the hypothalamus is the CEO, then the pituitary gland is the vice president.
It listens to messages sent from the hypothalamus and, through hormone secretion, carries this message to other endocrine glands.
Pituitary hormones are: thyroid-stimulating hormone; luteinizing hormone; follicle-stimulating hormone; prolactin; growth hormone; melanocyte-stimulating hormone; adrenocorticotropic hormone.
If you have problems with your pituitary gland, it can cause problems with all organs.
Dysfunctional pituitary side effects: chronic fatigue syndrome; low libido; headache; menstrual disorders; infertility; erectile dysfunction; Cushing’s syndrome; depression.
- Thyroid gland.
The thyroid gland is responsible for controlling our metabolism.
The pituitary gland receives information from the hypothalamus, which is then transmitted to the thyroid gland.
Using hormones, it tells the thyroid gland to either speed up or slow down.
In this way, the thyroid gland essentially controls how we consume energy throughout the body.
The thyroid gland can increase metabolism by burning more energy, generating more internal body heat or burning excess fat.
It can also slow down to save energy and help us cool down in hot weather, avoiding the generation of excess heat as a by-product of metabolism.
There are two main problems that can arise with dysfunctional thyroid glands; hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
In hypothyroidism, we are under-metabolized, everything slows down and we are tired and without energy. It also becomes easier to gain excess weight than to burn it.
In the case of hyperthyroidism, we metabolize too quickly. As a result, we may experience anxiety, insomnia, diarrhea and palpitations. Losing weight becomes easier than getting it in this condition.
- Parathyroids.
These are small glands located behind the thyroid gland. Their function is to control our calcium balance in the body and therefore play an important role in maintaining blood pH homeostasis, calcium, phosphorus and bone metabolism.
Like the thyroid gland, it has two major problems arising from dysfunctional parathyroid; hypoparathyroidism and hyperparathyroidism.
Hypoparathyroidism alters the balance of calcium and phosphorus and can lead to long-term cardiovascular and nervous system problems. This results in lower calcium levels and higher levels of phosphorus above healthy levels.
Hyperparathyroidism is a serious condition. It causes an increase in calcium levels, resulting in osteoporosis, joint pain, kidney stones and low immune function.
- Thymus.
Thymus is the college of the immune system. It matures immune cells, such as T-lymphocytes.
Immunity and blood cells are first made in the bone marrow before going to the thymus, where they are made for the immune system as trained killers.
Thymus problems can affect our immune function and are one of the major causes of autoimmune conditions such as myasthenia gravis (a long-term neuromuscular disease) and rheumatoid arthritis.
In these diseases, the cells of the immune system are trained to attack the body, not invade pathogens, causing targeted damage to the joints or tissues in the body by our own immune cells.
- Adrenals.
Adrenal glands are responsible for everything from blood pressure to heart rate. The hormones produced by these glands include cortisol or cortisone. These hormones control our stress levels in response to ‘fight or flight’.
The adrenal glands also control our energy levels throughout the day and also help to regulate our sexual function.
Adrenal gland problems include: Cushing’s disease; chronic fatigue syndrome; fibromyalgia; anxiety; insomnia.
- Pancreas.
The pancreas is responsible for controlling our blood glucose levels through the hormones insulin and glucagon.
Insulin is important for transporting sugars from blood to the cells, where they are used to power the cells. Glucagon is used to break down stored sugars to provide the body with enough energy to function.
These two hormones require careful attention and balance by the hypothalamus, or they can cause serious problems. Too much sugar can damage organs, while not enough sugar causes us to become tired, confused and dizzy.
The pancreas is also responsible for producing many of the enzymes that we use to break down the food we eat.
Pancreatic dysfunction can cause problems such as: diabetes (type 1 or 2); metabolic syndrome; fatty liver disease; indigestion; weakness, hypoglycemia; polycystic ovary syndrome.
- Testes / ovaries.
Last, but not least, we have gonads. They are the genitals of the human body.
They release hormones that control everything from growth habits, immune function, sexual health to mood.
Both of these organs respond to hormones released by the pituitary gland to control their action.
Dysfunctional testes/ovaries can cause the following conditions:
- for men – low libido; erectile dysfunction; infertility; low immunity; prostatitis; loss of muscle mass; fatigue; heart disease
- for women – menstrual disorders; polycystic ovary syndrome; infertility; menopause; low immunity; hirsutism (excessive hair growth); chronic fatigue syndrome; low blood pressure; anemia.
Use of CBD for endocrine disorders.
The CBD operates directly through the CEO, the hypothalamus.
It works as a business strategist, helping the hypothalamus do its job better than ever before.
CBD can help to support endocrine disorders such as diabetes mellitus; reproductive health; thyroid problems; adrenal disorders; stunted growth; mood disorders and disease side effects like insomnia; eating disorders; chronic fatigue syndrome; low libido; headaches; menstrual disorders; infertility; erectile dysfunction; anxiety; depression; osteoporosis, pain in joints, kidney stones; low immunity; rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
Because of its ability to improve the functioning of the hypothalamus, rather than direct it in one direction or another, it is useful for restoring homeostasis overall.
This helps to correct the conditions associated with dysfunction in both directions:
1. Metabolic excess:
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid activity).
Hyperparathyroidism (excess parathyroid activity).
Hyperadrenalism (excess adrenal activity).
2. Metabolic deficiency:
Hypothyroidism (deficient thyroid activity).
Hypoparathyroidism (incomplete parathyroid activity).
Hypoadrenalism (inadequate adrenal activity.
Therefore, the use of CBD oil in endocrine disruptors is simple. Once the correct dose has been found, you will simply continue to use the oil as the conditions gradually improve.
Of course, as with any medical condition, it is important that you take other measures to treat the condition. It is always advisable to consult your doctor before planning to stop using any medication instead of CBD oil.
Many of these conditions are chronic (prolonged and self-sustaining). Therefore, it may take a long time before you start to see the significant benefits of supplementing your diet with CBD oil.
By using CBD oil, you are essentially toning the hypothalamus. You may not see an immediate change in the benefits of CBD oil in these circumstances. In some cases, the CBD will never completely eliminate the problem.
Be patient. You probably won’t get sick in one day, so you can’t expect to get better in one.
Finding the right dose of CBD Oil for endocrine disorders.
The first time you try CBD oil, it is important to start with the lowest dose and gradually increase it as needed.
Although CBD oil from Cannabis is not psychoactive, it affects each person differently.
Some people require high doses, while others require very low doses of about 2 mg daily.
Finding the right dose requires trial and mistakes.
You know you have found the right dose when you start to feel the troublesome symptoms disappear.
Which is the best CBD product to use for endocrine disorders?
Today, there are many CBD products on the market: Full-spectrum extracts contain all the phytochemicals naturally found in the Cannabis plant, including THC. The broad-spectrum extract contains everything except THC and the CBD isolate removes all compounds and leaves pure CBD.
When using CBD oil for chronic or severe medical conditions, including endocrine disruption, it is very important to use high-quality products inaccurate doses.
The information on the internet about CBD products and their use will be ambiguous, so we always recommend reading safe and reliable sources. We also use websites related to the Cannabis industry, research and education to prepare information.
The content of this site is for informational purposes only. We are not medical experts and this should not be interpreted as medical advice. Be sure to consult your doctor before undergoing CBD or other treatment.
The chemistry of every human body and brain is unique, so the use of CBD to improve mental as well as physical health does not guarantee results. However, many GWEEPRODUCTS CBD oil users have included it into their daily routine as one of the therapies for improving mental, physical health and quality of life.
References: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – National Center for Biotechnology Information. dailycbd.com