How Functional Medicine Approaches Thyroid Health Differently: 5 Myths Busted

Catherine Brigger
Aug 6
3 min read

If you're tired of being told your thyroid is “normal” when you feel anything but, you're not alone. Millions of patients—especially women—struggle with fatigue, weight gain, hair thinning, mood swings, and brain fog, only to be handed a clean bill of health because their TSH falls within range.

At TRUE Rejuvenation, we take a different approach—one rooted in functional medicine. Rather than relying on outdated, one-size-fits-all protocols, we dig deeper, evaluate comprehensively, and treat you—not just your lab results.

Let’s break down how functional medicine stands apart, and bust 5 of the biggest myths you’ve likely been told about your thyroid.

🌿 What Makes Functional Medicine Different?

Functional medicine is about root-cause healing. Instead of suppressing symptoms or masking dysfunction with band-aid solutions, we ask: Why is the thyroid underperforming in the first place?

We examine:

Full thyroid panels, not just TSH
Nutrient deficiencies (like selenium, iron, zinc, iodine, B12)
Gut health and autoimmunity
Hormone interplay (especially estrogen, cortisol, insulin)
Lifestyle factors: stress, sleep, toxins, inflammation

This systems-based approach lets us create personalized protocols that are far more effective than the standard conventional model.

❌ 5 Common Thyroid Myths—Debunked by Functional Medicine

Myth #1: “Your TSH is normal, so your thyroid is fine.”

👉 Truth: TSH is not a thyroid hormone—it's a pituitary signal. Many patients have “normal” TSH but low Free T3, elevated Reverse T3, or high antibodies, all of which point to dysfunction that TSH alone misses.

🧠 TSH is only one data point. True thyroid assessment requires a full thyroid panel: TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, and antibodies (TPO & TgAb).

Myth #2: “Synthroid (levothyroxine) is the only treatment.”

👉 Truth: Levothyroxine is a T4-only medication. The body must convert T4 into T3 (the active form), and many patients struggle with this conversion. Functional providers often prescribe T3-containing meds like liothyronine, compounded T3, or natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) for better results.

Myth #3: “You only need one thyroid pill, once a day.”

👉 Truth: T3 has a short half-life, and many patients benefit from split dosing (morning and afternoon) to prevent mid-day crashes and improve symptom control.

Myth #4: “Thyroid antibodies don’t matter unless you’re really sick.”

👉 Truth: The presence of thyroid antibodies = autoimmune disease (like Hashimoto’s). Even with normal TSH, elevated antibodies mean your immune system is attacking your thyroid. Functional medicine treats autoimmunity beforeit destroys tissue—not after.

Myth #5: “Thyroid problems are only about the thyroid.”

👉 Truth: Thyroid dysfunction is often a symptom of larger issues like poor gut health, estrogen dominance, adrenal dysfunction, chronic stress, or toxin overload. Functional medicine treats the entire system, not just one organ.

🌿 Real Healing Happens When You’re Heard

If you’ve been dismissed, overlooked, or handed cookie-cutter solutions that left you feeling worse, you’re not imagining things. Conventional care isn’t built to handle the complex interplay of hormones, immune function, and metabolism.

Functional medicine is.

At TRUE Rejuvenation, we look deeper. We help you understand your body, restore your vitality, and finally feel like you again.

📚 References:

Gharib, H., et al. (2012). "Clinical Practice Guidelines for Hypothyroidism in Adults: Cosponsored by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the American Thyroid Association." Endocrine Practice, 18(6), 988–1028.
Wiersinga, W. M. (2014). "Paradigm shifts in thyroid hormone replacement therapies for hypothyroidism." Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 10(3), 164–174.
Celi, F. S., et al. (2011). "Meta-analysis: comparison of monotherapy with levothyroxine and combination therapy with levothyroxine plus liothyronine for hypothyroidism." The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 96(10), 3426–3435.
Dayan, C. M., & Panicker, V. (2009). "Hypothyroidism and depression." European Thyroid Journal, 2(Suppl 2), 109–117.
Root, A. W., et al. (2020). "Hypothyroidism in Patients with Normal Serum TSH Concentrations." Clinical Thyroidology, 32(9), 410–416.