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Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism: Bridging Traditional and Alternative Treatment Approaches for Total Patient Wellness
The first comprehensive book to challenge the traditional teachings by presenting a more effective approach to treating hypothyroidism
For many years, treatment options for hypothyroidism have remained relatively unchanged and new treatments have been unexplored despite the fact that this disorder affects tens of millions of people in the United States. In The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism , Dr. Kenneth Blanchard uncovers the truth about treatments and diagnoses and offers new insight into reducing symptoms for those with hypothyroidism. Dr. Blanchard has treated over 1,000 patients with hypothyroidism with great success. Through this experience, he has developed a unique approach to the field and has simultaneously enabled patients to better understand their condition, treatments, and the current findings. Patients and physicians alike will benefit from the wisdom and guidance found in this book.
The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism also includes explanations
* Why hypothyroidism is often misdiagnosed
* Misguided teachings on the treatment of hypothyroidism
* Effects of hypothyroidism on pregnancy, menstrual cycle, and fertility
* The connection between fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism
* The effects of hypothyroidism on weight, sleep, and motion sickness
* More effective treatments and advice for proper diagnosis
For many years, treatment options for hypothyroidism have remained relatively unchanged and new treatments have been unexplored despite the fact that this disorder affects tens of millions of people in the United States. In The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism , Dr. Kenneth Blanchard uncovers the truth about treatments and diagnoses and offers new insight into reducing symptoms for those with hypothyroidism. Dr. Blanchard has treated over 1,000 patients with hypothyroidism with great success. Through this experience, he has developed a unique approach to the field and has simultaneously enabled patients to better understand their condition, treatments, and the current findings. Patients and physicians alike will benefit from the wisdom and guidance found in this book.
The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism also includes explanations
* Why hypothyroidism is often misdiagnosed
* Misguided teachings on the treatment of hypothyroidism
* Effects of hypothyroidism on pregnancy, menstrual cycle, and fertility
* The connection between fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism
* The effects of hypothyroidism on weight, sleep, and motion sickness
* More effective treatments and advice for proper diagnosis
- GenresHealthNonfiction
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
18 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 11, 2019
This book is not for the average person who wants to tackle the thyroid problem.
The book contains recommendations for specific problems the author dealt with as a doctor, mainly with his opinion regarding the proper dosage of supplements.
No explanation about the mechanism of the problem or alternative ways to deal with Hypothyroidism.
Therefore, this book is mainly intended for physicians.
The book contains recommendations for specific problems the author dealt with as a doctor, mainly with his opinion regarding the proper dosage of supplements.
No explanation about the mechanism of the problem or alternative ways to deal with Hypothyroidism.
Therefore, this book is mainly intended for physicians.
November 7, 2023
This book offers a new perspective on hypothyroidism, challenging conventional treatments and focusing on symptoms over lab numbers.
Hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland fails to produce enough hormones, affects up to 5% of the general population, with a further estimated 5% being undiagnosed. Despite its significant prevalence, treatment options for this disorder have often remained stagnant, leaving many patients struggling with unresolved symptoms and misdiagnoses.
In this context, ‘The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism’ by Kenneth R. Blanchard, PhD, M.D., presents a groundbreaking perspective on managing this complex condition. In this review, we will delve into how Dr. Blanchard’s book addresses the issue of hypothyroidism and explore its fresh insights, evidence-based strategies, and patient-centred approach that have the potential to transform the lives of millions affected by this condition.
Author’s background
Kenneth R. Blanchard, PhD, M.D., is a certified endocrinologist by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Until 2000, he worked in general internal medicine but now focuses on thyroid disease and menopausal hormone replacement therapy. Since 1976, he has been serving in private practice in Newton, Massachusetts.
What is the book about?
‘The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism’ breaks new ground by challenging conventional teachings and proposing a more efficient method for treating hypothyroidism. Despite its significant impact on millions of people, treatment options for this disorder have remained stagnant and overlooked for a considerable period. As an experienced endocrinologist, Dr. Blanchard draws on his success in treating over 1,000 hypothyroidism patients to offer fresh insights that can lead to symptom reduction and improved overall well-being.
In this comprehensive work, Dr. Blanchard sheds light on the issue of misdiagnosis in hypothyroidism and highlights the problems arising from misguided treatment approaches. He covers crucial subjects, including the effects of hypothyroidism on pregnancy, the menstrual cycle, and fertility, as well as the intriguing link between fibromyalgia and thyroid disorder. Moreover, the book provides a deeper understanding of how hypothyroidism impacts weight management and sleep quality.
Key takeaways from the book
1. There is a connection between thyroid issues and premenstrual syndrome
In the book ‘The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism’, the author highlights the connection between thyroid issues and premenstrual syndrome (PMS), challenging the common belief that they are unrelated. Initially, a small trial showed promising results when using thyroid hormone to treat severe PMS symptoms, but problems arose due to incorrect dosing. Larger studies later confirmed that PMS and hypothyroidism have little or no significant link.
However, the author argues that PMS is fundamentally linked to thyroid problems, possibly affecting the production of ovarian progesterone. The book introduces a personalised approach to managing thyroid issues using a combination of T4 and T3 hormones, which has shown significant improvement in PMS symptoms for many patients.
While some suggest using antidepressant drugs like Prozac for PMS, the author questions the influence of drug companies on study outcomes. Instead, he advocates for thyroid treatment, which he claims to work effectively in addressing PMS symptoms.
2. Maintaining a healthy thyroid is crucial for a successful pregnancy
In the book, the crucial role of thyroid health during pregnancy stands out as a key focus. Untreated hypothyroidism has been linked to infertility, miscarriage, and premature delivery. The author advocates for managing thyroid health in pregnant women, especially during fall and winter.
Empirical treatment with low doses of T4 even in euthyroid pregnancies has shown promising results in reducing miscarriage and prematurity rates. However, due to medicolegal concerns, this approach may not become standard practice.
3. Hypothyroidism and depression are related
The book highlights the significant connection between hypothyroidism and depression, a relationship often underestimated in standard medical practices. Many depressed patients may have underlying hypothyroidism, even if their TSH levels appear within the normal range. The author advocates trying thyroid treatment alone in patients with a clinical picture of hypothyroidism and significant depression before crossing over to antidepressant medications.
The use of Prozac (fluoxetine) may artificially suppress TSH levels, leading to a misdiagnosis of hyperthyroidism. The author suggests checking thyroid tests after a period on Prozac to identify its effect on thyroid hormones.
Strengths and weaknesses, according to readers’ reviews
Strengths:
• Backed by scientific explanations, making it accessible and understandable even to non-medical readers.
• Challenges conventional medical practice by prioritising patient symptoms over lab numbers.
• Provides a comprehensive understanding of thyroid treatment beyond traditional T4 therapy, emphasising the importance of T3 in thyroid hormone balance.
• Presents real-life success stories, showing that Dr. Blanchard’s method has helped individuals reclaim their health and quality of life.
Weaknesses:
• The book does not address the auto-immune aspect of hypothyroidism, which is crucial for many sufferers, particularly those with Hashimoto’s.
• The repetitive nature of some chapters makes them difficult to read and may leave some readers feeling unsatisfied or unfulfilled.
Best quotes from ‘The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism’
“…in fact, the runs of rapid heartbeat often cease upon thyroid treatment.”
“If a patient comes to me with a good clinical picture of hypothyroidism with a significant component of depression, my policy is to try them on thyroid alone. Once the antidepressant bridge is crossed, the clinical picture is muddied, so that it is difficult or impossible to decide which component of treatment is causing the good or bad things that are happening.”
“An observation that has always intrigued me is that I have never seen a case of postpartum depression in any woman that I have ever managed thyroid-wise during a pregnancy.”
Final takeaway
Dr. Kenneth R. Blanchard’s book, ‘The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism,’ is a groundbreaking resource that challenges conventional medical practices in treating hypothyroidism. Dr. Blanchard offers fresh insights that prioritise patient symptoms over lab numbers and presents a more efficient method of managing thyroid health.
This book is a must-read for both medical practitioners seeking new perspectives and thyroid patients looking for effective treatment options beyond conventional approaches.
Hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland fails to produce enough hormones, affects up to 5% of the general population, with a further estimated 5% being undiagnosed. Despite its significant prevalence, treatment options for this disorder have often remained stagnant, leaving many patients struggling with unresolved symptoms and misdiagnoses.
In this context, ‘The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism’ by Kenneth R. Blanchard, PhD, M.D., presents a groundbreaking perspective on managing this complex condition. In this review, we will delve into how Dr. Blanchard’s book addresses the issue of hypothyroidism and explore its fresh insights, evidence-based strategies, and patient-centred approach that have the potential to transform the lives of millions affected by this condition.
Author’s background
Kenneth R. Blanchard, PhD, M.D., is a certified endocrinologist by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Until 2000, he worked in general internal medicine but now focuses on thyroid disease and menopausal hormone replacement therapy. Since 1976, he has been serving in private practice in Newton, Massachusetts.
What is the book about?
‘The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism’ breaks new ground by challenging conventional teachings and proposing a more efficient method for treating hypothyroidism. Despite its significant impact on millions of people, treatment options for this disorder have remained stagnant and overlooked for a considerable period. As an experienced endocrinologist, Dr. Blanchard draws on his success in treating over 1,000 hypothyroidism patients to offer fresh insights that can lead to symptom reduction and improved overall well-being.
In this comprehensive work, Dr. Blanchard sheds light on the issue of misdiagnosis in hypothyroidism and highlights the problems arising from misguided treatment approaches. He covers crucial subjects, including the effects of hypothyroidism on pregnancy, the menstrual cycle, and fertility, as well as the intriguing link between fibromyalgia and thyroid disorder. Moreover, the book provides a deeper understanding of how hypothyroidism impacts weight management and sleep quality.
Key takeaways from the book
1. There is a connection between thyroid issues and premenstrual syndrome
In the book ‘The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism’, the author highlights the connection between thyroid issues and premenstrual syndrome (PMS), challenging the common belief that they are unrelated. Initially, a small trial showed promising results when using thyroid hormone to treat severe PMS symptoms, but problems arose due to incorrect dosing. Larger studies later confirmed that PMS and hypothyroidism have little or no significant link.
However, the author argues that PMS is fundamentally linked to thyroid problems, possibly affecting the production of ovarian progesterone. The book introduces a personalised approach to managing thyroid issues using a combination of T4 and T3 hormones, which has shown significant improvement in PMS symptoms for many patients.
While some suggest using antidepressant drugs like Prozac for PMS, the author questions the influence of drug companies on study outcomes. Instead, he advocates for thyroid treatment, which he claims to work effectively in addressing PMS symptoms.
2. Maintaining a healthy thyroid is crucial for a successful pregnancy
In the book, the crucial role of thyroid health during pregnancy stands out as a key focus. Untreated hypothyroidism has been linked to infertility, miscarriage, and premature delivery. The author advocates for managing thyroid health in pregnant women, especially during fall and winter.
Empirical treatment with low doses of T4 even in euthyroid pregnancies has shown promising results in reducing miscarriage and prematurity rates. However, due to medicolegal concerns, this approach may not become standard practice.
3. Hypothyroidism and depression are related
The book highlights the significant connection between hypothyroidism and depression, a relationship often underestimated in standard medical practices. Many depressed patients may have underlying hypothyroidism, even if their TSH levels appear within the normal range. The author advocates trying thyroid treatment alone in patients with a clinical picture of hypothyroidism and significant depression before crossing over to antidepressant medications.
The use of Prozac (fluoxetine) may artificially suppress TSH levels, leading to a misdiagnosis of hyperthyroidism. The author suggests checking thyroid tests after a period on Prozac to identify its effect on thyroid hormones.
Strengths and weaknesses, according to readers’ reviews
Strengths:
• Backed by scientific explanations, making it accessible and understandable even to non-medical readers.
• Challenges conventional medical practice by prioritising patient symptoms over lab numbers.
• Provides a comprehensive understanding of thyroid treatment beyond traditional T4 therapy, emphasising the importance of T3 in thyroid hormone balance.
• Presents real-life success stories, showing that Dr. Blanchard’s method has helped individuals reclaim their health and quality of life.
Weaknesses:
• The book does not address the auto-immune aspect of hypothyroidism, which is crucial for many sufferers, particularly those with Hashimoto’s.
• The repetitive nature of some chapters makes them difficult to read and may leave some readers feeling unsatisfied or unfulfilled.
Best quotes from ‘The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism’
“…in fact, the runs of rapid heartbeat often cease upon thyroid treatment.”
“If a patient comes to me with a good clinical picture of hypothyroidism with a significant component of depression, my policy is to try them on thyroid alone. Once the antidepressant bridge is crossed, the clinical picture is muddied, so that it is difficult or impossible to decide which component of treatment is causing the good or bad things that are happening.”
“An observation that has always intrigued me is that I have never seen a case of postpartum depression in any woman that I have ever managed thyroid-wise during a pregnancy.”
Final takeaway
Dr. Kenneth R. Blanchard’s book, ‘The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism,’ is a groundbreaking resource that challenges conventional medical practices in treating hypothyroidism. Dr. Blanchard offers fresh insights that prioritise patient symptoms over lab numbers and presents a more efficient method of managing thyroid health.
This book is a must-read for both medical practitioners seeking new perspectives and thyroid patients looking for effective treatment options beyond conventional approaches.
August 14, 2017
The author states he has never had a malpractice suit and yet he administers thyroid therapies to people who are symptomatic of thyroid syndromes despite their blood work showing their TSH levels as being in the normal range. In his experience his approach by treating the patient based on their symptoms and not simply practicing to the test (meaning going by the test result), he reveals he has had many many positive results for patients.
He claims the gold standard for testing thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) that has been in place for over 30 years is wrong. This would not be the first time someone made a counterclaim about a finding. But the reality is, his field is functional medicine, so rather than just relying on a test, he is relying on what the patient is saying and what the body is saying to the patient. If only I had a doctor such as this!
This book was written for the purpose of not only practitioner, but also for the patient. It gives method in the madness and if anyone has ever had thyroid abnormalities explained (if this is high that means it's under-active and if that's low then it means you're overactive - it's all upside down in speech) then it makes sense to take a monitoring approach rather than just throwing a bunch of other pill like anti-depressants to treat 'seasonal affective disorder', pain pills for migrating pain that could likely be resolved with the right dosage of thyroid medicine.
No two bodies are the same. We may have similarities, but our chemistry is our own, so it makes sense that the functional approach of listening and paying attention to the symptoms might go a long way in helping people get their homeostasis back. If I had a few dollars, I would buy several copies of this book and distribute them to local doctors and highlight a few pertinent chapters, in case they don't have time to read the entire 110 pages of this small book.
If you have come up with vague symptoms like fatigue, worsening PMS (if a female), increased aggravation, brain fog, headaches, sleep issues and your tests came back normal and there's nothing else that anyone can think of, I recommend you read this book. You might decide your test results need reviewed, to be retested, or dosages revisited. I'm not a doctor, but I am aware we are our own best advocate for our health.
The only difficult thing I found while reading this was reading the subscript numbers and my eyesight is pretty good.
He claims the gold standard for testing thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) that has been in place for over 30 years is wrong. This would not be the first time someone made a counterclaim about a finding. But the reality is, his field is functional medicine, so rather than just relying on a test, he is relying on what the patient is saying and what the body is saying to the patient. If only I had a doctor such as this!
This book was written for the purpose of not only practitioner, but also for the patient. It gives method in the madness and if anyone has ever had thyroid abnormalities explained (if this is high that means it's under-active and if that's low then it means you're overactive - it's all upside down in speech) then it makes sense to take a monitoring approach rather than just throwing a bunch of other pill like anti-depressants to treat 'seasonal affective disorder', pain pills for migrating pain that could likely be resolved with the right dosage of thyroid medicine.
No two bodies are the same. We may have similarities, but our chemistry is our own, so it makes sense that the functional approach of listening and paying attention to the symptoms might go a long way in helping people get their homeostasis back. If I had a few dollars, I would buy several copies of this book and distribute them to local doctors and highlight a few pertinent chapters, in case they don't have time to read the entire 110 pages of this small book.
If you have come up with vague symptoms like fatigue, worsening PMS (if a female), increased aggravation, brain fog, headaches, sleep issues and your tests came back normal and there's nothing else that anyone can think of, I recommend you read this book. You might decide your test results need reviewed, to be retested, or dosages revisited. I'm not a doctor, but I am aware we are our own best advocate for our health.
The only difficult thing I found while reading this was reading the subscript numbers and my eyesight is pretty good.
October 17, 2018
I think I made a mistake with this book - I only read it after I had read Barbara Lougheed's, so it struck me as significantly inferior, at least in terms of actual information I could use (and was not already familiar with). I probably should have read them in the reverse order - this way I could have appreciated Dr. Blanchard's book more and afterwards Barbara's book would still have left me with great impressions.
Anyway, I give this book 3 stars, although it probably deserves like 2.5. There were only three things I found here that could prove helpful:
1) The T4:T3 ratio of appr. 98.5:1.5 that Dr. Blanchard recommends (and the resulting low T3 doses) - I am still rather skeptical of it, but after all he does have 33 years of medical practice.
2) His advice to take T4 with the evening meal in order to improve sleep (and avoid food cravings in the morning, when T4 is taken on an empty stomach - for those who experience these). Once again his long years of experience with patience prove that this helps in the majority of cases and only a few people need to increase their dosage because of worse absorption. I still find this hard to believe, but it could be worth a try.
3) Women with PMS could benefit from taking less T3 and more T4 for the last week or so before their periods - this I am slightly more inclined to believe.
I am sorry to say this, but there was pretty much nothing else of value for me in this book, probably because I read it after I had learned so much from other sources.
Something else that left a bad impression on me was the condescending tone I perceived in Dr. Blanchard's writing, but this can easily be explained by the fact that he probably faced a lot of criticism, going against the grain of established medical practice.
Anyway, I give this book 3 stars, although it probably deserves like 2.5. There were only three things I found here that could prove helpful:
1) The T4:T3 ratio of appr. 98.5:1.5 that Dr. Blanchard recommends (and the resulting low T3 doses) - I am still rather skeptical of it, but after all he does have 33 years of medical practice.
2) His advice to take T4 with the evening meal in order to improve sleep (and avoid food cravings in the morning, when T4 is taken on an empty stomach - for those who experience these). Once again his long years of experience with patience prove that this helps in the majority of cases and only a few people need to increase their dosage because of worse absorption. I still find this hard to believe, but it could be worth a try.
3) Women with PMS could benefit from taking less T3 and more T4 for the last week or so before their periods - this I am slightly more inclined to believe.
I am sorry to say this, but there was pretty much nothing else of value for me in this book, probably because I read it after I had learned so much from other sources.
Something else that left a bad impression on me was the condescending tone I perceived in Dr. Blanchard's writing, but this can easily be explained by the fact that he probably faced a lot of criticism, going against the grain of established medical practice.
September 23, 2019
Really good information - I appreciate the science presented. Most of it is understandable to the lay person/patient. Unfortunately, he doesn't address the auto-immune piece of it, and in my mind this should matter. I read in another book that 75-80% of hypothyroid sufferers have Hashimoto's, the auto-immune response.
September 11, 2021
Interesting view point on hypothyroid management. I truly wish more doctors would educate themselves like this guy (most patients do a lot of research) regarding all things thyroid. Not sure if the T4/T3 combo is used today with his suggested dosage combos, but I am hopeful that others have caught onto this.
August 15, 2022
The title is misleading. This is not functional medicine. There is no talk about “going upstream” to look for root causes nor is anything other than pharmaceuticals addressed. The title should be something about “using T4 and T3 and empowering the patient to help adjust timing and dosing.”
November 29, 2017
Good ideas that I am implementing but this book was very hard to read. He repeated the same info over and over, kept coming back to the same ideas...I felt kind of gypped.
July 5, 2019
An endocrinologist who listens to his patients and writes about dosing and testing considerations for those with thyroid problems. Very helpful.
July 15, 2016
I bought this book as I started to see a functional medical practitioner in London and I hoped this would give me a better understanding on how function healing works. My understanding of functional healing is looking at all aspects of the thyroid condition and working to eliminate the root cause as well as treating the thyroid through natural methods. This book however talks about patients who are taking T4 medication only, levothyroxine of Synthroid. Anyway Dr Ken Blanchland explains in detail why t4 only Meds don't work for thyroid patience and that even if they work in the beginning the patience get worse. He talks about being open minded and also stating that in order for thyroid conditions to get better T3 needs to be added into a person's medication for them to be treated adequately. He states that many doctors won't do this as they feel it dangerous (a big conspiracy by pharmaceutical companies) and also explains how all his patience under his care have followed t3 and T4 Meds and it had helped them eliminate other factors they were dealing with such as not needing antidepressants any more or their menstrual cycle was improving etc. He suggests taking t3 Meds with breakfast as t3 is the active hormone that helps your metabolism and the at night time with dinner to take the T4 meds as when you sleep your body has a better chance of working properly to allow the T4 conversion to take place as it's slow release and helps the conversion of T4 to T3 to the next day especially when taking the t3 Meds in the morning it gives thyroid patients the boost they need. It was a very informative book amd i feel like Endocrinologists and GP'S in the UK could benefit from reading this book and if they are adamant on give t4 Meds they may realise that the t3 added will help patients in the long run and they won't keep spiraling and feeling ill because they are inadequately treated!
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April 8, 2013mid-way through reading this, i had more bloodwork done and discovered that i'd been able to get my TSH numbers back in the normal range after following an autoimmune paleo diet, rendering this book pointless and extra boring. so my recommendation to those considering reading this who have Hashimoto's, maybe you should look up some information on the paleo diet instead.
April 16, 2014
Interesting. No idea that motion sickness could be connected to thyroid, though I was suspecting that vertigo was.
November 29, 2015
All endocrinologists should read this
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews