Thyroid stimulating hormone, also known as TSH, is a pituitary hormone that stimulates your thyroid gland to produce T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). These are hormones that stimulate your metabolism as well as other major tissues in your body.
Typically, if you're having symptoms of fatigue, increased sensitivity to cold, dry skin, depression, impaired memory, muscle aches, unexplained weight gain, high cholesterol levels, slowed heart rate and thinning of your hair, your doctor might suggest getting a TSH test.
According to an article posted on Functional Medicine University, many labs are misleading physicians by using outdated ranges of normal TSH levels, which is preventing doctors from giving the proper care (and the most effective thyroid treatment) to their patients.
Holly Lucille, ND, RN, shares what TSH is and how you can get tested properly if you're feeling symptoms of an underactive thyroid.
Selected Podcast
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone: What You & Your Doctor Should Know
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Dr. Holly Lucille is a nationally recognized and licensed naturopathic doctor, educator, natural products consultant and television host. Dr. Holly is also the author of Creating and Maintaining Balance: A Women's Guide to Safe, Natural, Hormone Health.
An acclaimed expert in the field of integrative medicine, Dr. Holly lectures throughout the nation on a variety of natural health topics. Her appearances include national media programs and networks including Dr. Oz, The Doctors, Lifetime Television for Women, Montel Williams, PBS's Healing Quest, The Hallmark Channel and Discovery Fit & Health channel.
She is on the editorial advisory board of Alternative Medicine and Natural Practitioner and is also regularly quoted as an expert in both consumer and peer journals. In 2007, Dr. Holly was listed in Time Magazine's "Alt List" as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People."
Holly Lucille, ND, RN
Dr. Holly Lucille is a nationally recognized and licensed naturopathic doctor, educator, natural products consultant and television host. Dr. Holly is also the author of Creating and Maintaining Balance: A Women's Guide to Safe, Natural, Hormone Health.An acclaimed expert in the field of integrative medicine, Dr. Holly lectures throughout the nation on a variety of natural health topics. Her appearances include national media programs and networks including Dr. Oz, The Doctors, Lifetime Television for Women, Montel Williams, PBS's Healing Quest, The Hallmark Channel and Discovery Fit & Health channel.
She is on the editorial advisory board of Alternative Medicine and Natural Practitioner and is also regularly quoted as an expert in both consumer and peer journals. In 2007, Dr. Holly was listed in Time Magazine's "Alt List" as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People."