LISTEN TO THE PODCAST – Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
When I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I thought sleeping 10 to 12 hours a night meant I was well rested. But despite all those hours in bed, I woke up exhausted. As I started digging deeper into root causes, I realized that not all sleep is restorative sleep, and for those of us with thyroid issues, quality sleep can be hard to come by.
That’s why I’m so excited to share this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, where I interview Dr. Damiana Corca, a functional medicine practitioner and acupuncturist who specializes in sleep disorders. She’s also the author of The Deep Blue Sleep, a compassionate and comprehensive guide to identifying your unique sleep pattern and solving it naturally.
In our conversation, we dive into the five types of insomnia, the connection between thyroid health and sleep, and why sleep deprivation can set off a domino effect on our hormones, brain function, and immune system. If you’re tired of being tired — and nothing seems to work — this episode is for you.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- There are five distinct types of insomnia, and each requires a different healing strategy. Understanding your type is key to finding relief.
- Hashimoto’s often overlaps with adrenal dysfunction, which can make it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep — even if you’re utterly exhausted.
- Gut infections like H. pylori and Blastocystis hominis can be hidden culprits behind both thyroid flares and sleep disruptions, even without obvious digestive symptoms.
- Hormonal imbalances in perimenopause are a major trigger for sleep issues, especially when paired with blood sugar imbalances and chronic stress.
- Histamine intolerance is an under-recognized cause of insomnia, especially in people who struggle with nighttime itching, swelling, or racing thoughts.
- Sleep quality — not just quantity — is crucial, and Dr. Corca shares what healthy sleep actually looks and feels like, including tips for waking up refreshed.
Guest Resources / Connect with Dr. Damiana Corca
- Learn more about Dr. Corca on her website
- Check out Dr. Corca’s book, The Deep Blue Sleep, a comprehensive roadmap to help you fall asleep and stay asleep naturally. This book is based on traditional Chinese medicine and functional medicine, and it features Dr. Corca’s experience with thousands and thousands of patients over the years – a great resource to keep by your bedside and come back to when you need it!
Supplements We Discussed
- Magnesium (including Epsom salt baths for deeper sleep)
- Melatonin (useful depending on the type of insomnia)
- Herbal hormone support: Vitex, Maca, Black Cohosh, Wild Yam
- Evening Primrose Oil (for hormone balancing)
- GABA and L-Theanine (for anxious and overthinking types)
- DAO supplements (for histamine-related sleep issues)
Other Tools and Resources
- DUTCH test – a comprehensive assessment of sex and adrenal hormones, their metabolites, and other key biomarkers
- GI-MAP (GI Microbial Assay Plus) – Diagnostic Solutions Kit – functional stool testing for infections like H. pylori and Blastocystis hominis
- Oura Ring – for tracking sleep patterns and stages
- TrueDark – blue-light blocking glasses
- Lumebox – light therapy lamps for circadian rhythm regulation
Books and Articles About Sleep & Thyroid Health
- Hashimoto’s Protocol by Dr. Izabella Wentz
- Adrenal Transformation Protocol by Dr. Izabella Wentz
- Are Your Adrenals Sabotaging Your Health?
- Why Addressing Adrenals Is a Must if You Have a Thyroid Problem
- Does Adrenal Fatigue Exist?
- Sleep Solutions for Hashimoto’s
- Hashimoto’s and Sleep Apnea
- Histamine and Hashimoto’s
- Hashimoto’s and Graves’ Remission after Helicobacter Pylori Eradication
- Is Blasto Behind Your Hashimoto’s and Hives
- Why Balancing Blood Sugar is Vital for Hashimoto’s Health
- Studies on Magnesium and Thyroid Health
Get the Full Episode Transcript
Let’s Connect!
- Follow me on Instagram:@izabellawentzpharmd
- Get my FREE weekly thyroid & gut health newsletter: Sign up here
- Subscribe & Review: If you loved this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!
If this podcast resonates with you, don’t forget to share with a friend who needs this information!
Got questions? Drop them in the comments! 🙂
About Our Host
Dr. Izabella Wentz
Dr. Izabella Wentz is a compassionate, innovative, solution-focused integrative pharmacist dedicated to finding the root causes of chronic health conditions. Her passion stems from her own diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009, following a decade of debilitating symptoms.
Dr. Izabella Wentz has written several best-selling books, including the New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, the protocol-based #1 New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back, the Wall Street Journal bestseller Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, and her latest book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol.
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About Our Guest
Dr. Damiana Corca is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, and is certified in Functional Medicine by the Institute for Functional Medicine. She is also the author of The Deep Blue Sleep: A Roadmap to Fall Asleep and Stay Asleep Naturally.
As one of the few acupuncturists in the world specializing in sleep disorders, Dr. Damiana Corca has dedicated her career to helping patients overcome challenges such as insomnia, sleep apnea, nightmares, and other sleep-related conditions. Initially, she ran a general practice treating a wide range of conditions, including back and neck pain, depression, fatigue, digestive issues, and hormonal imbalances. Over time, her focus narrowed to sleep health, recognizing its critical role in overall well-being.
Understanding that sleep problems are often connected to broader imbalances, Dr. Damiana Corca also addresses underlying issues such as hormonal dysregulation, gut health, thyroid dysfunction, and emotional challenges. To deepen her ability to identify and address root causes, she expanded her expertise by incorporating functional medicine into her practice, offering a holistic approach to restoring health and vitality.
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