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In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, I interview Dr. Brittany Henderson, board-certified endocrinologist and founder of Charleston Thyroid Center, on one of the most debated topics in thyroid care: why the standard T4-only therapy doesn’t work for everyone. Dr. Henderson brings a unique perspective as a conventionally trained endocrinologist who chose to challenge the status quo after witnessing patients continue to suffer on levothyroxine alone.
We discuss the difference between T4 and T3 hormones, why a full thyroid panel is essential (and often skipped), and how Hashimoto’s and post-thyroidectomy patients often have vastly different needs. Dr. Henderson shares her journey from traditional medicine to a more integrative, patient-centered approach — and her story is both inspiring and validating for so many thyroid patients.
If you’ve ever been told your labs look “normal” while still feeling anything but, this episode will help you understand why that happens, and what you can do about it.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Why a full thyroid panel is essential. Conventional TSH lab tests can miss critical clues. A comprehensive panel — including free T3, reverse T3, thyroid antibodies, and even an ultrasound — paints a more complete picture of thyroid function and autoimmunity, helping identify issues like poor T4-to-T3 conversion or ongoing immune attacks.
- How T4/T3 combination therapy and NDT can change lives. For many patients, especially women and those with low muscle mass or inflammation, levothyroxine alone isn’t enough. Using natural desiccated thyroid or adding T3 can dramatically improve symptoms like fatigue, depression, hair loss, and stubborn weight gain.
- The truth about “normal” thyroid labs — and why you might still feel awful. Even with labs in the “normal” range, you could still experience classic thyroid symptoms such as anxiety, brain fog, and irregular periods. Dr. Henderson emphasizes aiming for optimal levels — not average levels — and the importance of tailoring labs to how you actually feel.
- Why identifying root causes is key to calming the immune system. Hidden triggers like gut infections (e.g., SIBO or H. pylori), mold exposure, nutrient deficiencies (like iron or selenium), or even oral infections can fuel Hashimoto’s. Identifying and addressing these drivers can significantly reduce thyroid antibodies and improve well-being.
- Yes, healing is possible — and meds aren’t always forever. Up to 20% of Dr. Henderson’s patients are able to reduce or even stop thyroid medication by identifying root causes early, lowering inflammation, and supporting thyroid regeneration. Especially in children, teens, and postpartum cases, early intervention can lead to full recovery.
Guest Resources / Connect with Dr. Brittany Henderson
- Learn more about thyroid health and connecting with Dr. Henderson at the My Thyroid Doctor website and the Charleston Thyroid Center website. (Note: telehealth virtual appointments are currently only available for patients in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.)
- What You Must Know About Hashimoto’s Disease: Restoring Thyroid Health Through Traditional and Complementary Medicine by Dr. Brittany Henderson – a practical guide to identifying symptoms and understanding thyroid testing and treatments.
- Follow Dr. Henderson on Instagram and Facebook.
Supplements We Discussed
- Selenium – Helps reduce thyroid antibodies in some individuals. I like Selenium + Myo-Inositol from Rootcology.
- Glutathione – Supports detoxification and reduces oxidative stress.
- Fish Oil and Curcumin – Fish oil and curcumin supplements can be used for lowering systemic inflammation.
- Vitamin D – A critical immune system modulator, often deficient in Hashimoto’s. I like this vitamin D3 supplement from Pure Encapsulations.
- Adaptogenic Supplements – to support adrenal health and sleep. Use code PODCAST for 20% off Rootcology Adrenal Support.
Other Tools and Resources
- Thyroid Ultrasound – Essential for assessing gland damage and making decisions on medication needs.
- 24-Hour Urine Iodine Test – For a more accurate assessment of iodine sufficiency.
- Cytokine Panels & Ferritin Testing – To assess underlying inflammation and potential triggers.
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is present in up to 70% of people with hypothyroidism. Small intestinal overgrowth (SIBO) can be tested with the Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth 3-Hr Lactulose-Genova Kit.
- Functional Stool Testing – You can use the GI-MAP (GI Microbial Assay Plus) – Diagnostic Solutions Kit to evaluate gut health, infections, and microbiome imbalances.
Books and Articles About Thyroid Health
- Clinical Study on T3/T4 Combination Therapy (The New England Journal of Medicine)
- Top 10 Thyroid Tests and How to Interpret Them
- Top 11 Things You Need to Know About Thyroid Medications
- A Pharmacist’s Review of Medications for Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism
- How to Reduce TSH Naturally
- How to Shrink Thyroid Nodules
- How to Get Accurate Lab Tests When Taking Thyroid Medications
- Why Thyroid Antibodies Matter
- Thyroid Antibodies Part 1: An Early Warning for Thyroid Disease
- Thyroid Antibodies Part 2: Mechanisms to Reduce Thyroid Antibodies
- Selenium: The Nutrient that Can Reduce Thyroid Antibodies by 40%
- Why Essential Fatty Acids are Essential for Hashimoto’s
- Turmeric for Your Thyroid and Hashimoto’s
- The Benefits of Vitamin D for Your Thyroid
- How Do Adaptogenic Herbs Benefit Hashimoto’s?
Get the Full Episode Transcript
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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
Brittany Henderson, MD, ECNU is board-certified in internal medicine and endocrinology, with advanced training in thyroid disorders, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, she graduated near the top of her class at Northeastern Ohio Medical University, where she received the honor of Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA). She completed her endocrinology fellowship training under a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research-training grant at Duke University Medical Center. She then served as Medical Director for the Thyroid and Endocrine Tumor Board at Duke University Medical Center and as Clinical Director for the Thyroid and Endocrine Neoplasia Clinic at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. She has also served as the President of the American College of Thyroidology.
She has received multiple prestigious grants from the American Thyroid Association (ATA) and ThyCa (Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.). Her work has been featured on the cover of Thyroid and in many other scientific journals, including Endocrinology, Gut, and Oncotarget. She desires to improve quality of life for those living with thyroid disease both through novel research and medical guidance. For patients living with Hashimoto’s disease, she believes that knowledge is power.
Her clinical practice is dedicated to patients with thyroid disease. She specializes in autoimmune thyroid disease, thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, ethanol ablation, and advanced minimally invasive techniques. In addition to using a mainstream medical approach, Dr. Henderson also uses complementary medicine to explore underlying root causes of thyroid disease.
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