Over the past year or two, when I woke each morning I felt like I hadn’t slept. My limbs were heavy, thoughts scattered like windblown seeds, and my spark ~ that steady inner flame ~ had dimmed to embers. I was gaining weight, feeling increasingly depressed and the sheen of the every day was fading.
Initially, I blamed parenthood, owning a business, the garden, homeschooling and of course, perimenopause. But as time went on, my energy was crashing more than seemed likely for a 43 year old. I took a step back and looked at all the shifts I'd been experiencing over the past few years..
I recognized the signs. My thyroid had gone quiet, whispering instead of singing. My adrenals, the ever-patient guardians of my energy, were depleted from long seasons of “doing” when what I truly needed was to soften into being.
This is for you if you’re feeling the same. If your body has slowed, your heart feels weary, and you’re ready to rebuild from the root up.
Nutrients + Nourishment
When the thyroid and adrenals under-functioning, it’s often a call for deep replenishment ~ not only rest, but true nourishment.
Selenium:
The thyroid needs selenium to convert inactive T4 to active T3 — and just one to two Brazil nuts a day can provide your daily dose. (Yes, it's really that simple.)
Licorice Root:
Licorice is a classic adrenal tonic — known for helping the body hold onto cortisol just a little longer, buying us time when we're running on empty. But here’s the magic: licorice also gently supports the thyroid by improving hormonal signaling and reducing inflammation.
It has a sweet, nourishing nature. I often reach for it when I need to feel held and fortified at once. (Note: avoid in cases of high blood pressure)
B12:
Especially important if there’s fatigue, brain fog, or low mood. A liposomal B12 (methylcobalamin) bypasses sluggish digestion and lands where it’s needed, fast. It's easier to absorb than traditional B12 which many of us struggle with. This has been a game changer in my own healing.
Iron:
Iron is the mineral of vitality, warmth, and oxygen carried and received. When thyroid and adrenal function dip, low iron often walks hand-in-hand — especially in menstruating folks or those with sluggish digestion.
What many don’t realize is that even low-normal iron can make fatigue feel insurmountable, especially when paired with low thyroid output. Without enough iron, your body simply can’t convert T4 to the active T3 your cells need ~ and the fatigue loop deepens.
I recommend checking ferritin levels and choosing iron supplements that are gentle on the gut. If you’re more herbal at heart, consider yellow dock, nettles, dandelion root, or molasses — all rich in iron and mineral-building nourishment. I personally love using Floradix liquid Iron as it's plant based, easy to digest and does not lead to constipation.
As always, iron supplementation should be based on lab work, not guesswork; too much can be just as problematic as too little. But when you’re truly low, replenishing iron can feel like relighting the hearth fire in your belly.
Iodine:
Iodine is the elemental spark the thyroid craves; essential for the creation of thyroid hormones themselves. This trace mineral once flowed freely through our food ~ in ocean plants, mineral-rich soils, and salt from the sea. But now, between depleted soils and processed diets, many walk through life quietly iodine-deficient.
Kelp, dulse, and bladderwrack (seaweeds) are my favourite gentle sources; offering not just iodine, but a symphony of minerals that nourish the thyroid deeply over time.
For those considering supplementation, it’s important to go slowly. The thyroid is sensitive, especially if there’s autoimmune activity like Hashimoto’s — where iodine can be too stimulating. As with all things thyroid, it’s not just about adding more, but listening for what your body truly needs to feel safe, supported, and seen.
Glandular:
For those who feel deeply depleted, glandular extracts (like bovine adrenal or thyroid glandulars) can act as a spark to the system — reminding the body how to function again. Think of them as ancestral whispers, echoing the structure of our own organs. These are best used intentionally and temporarily, with guidance as your thyroid might cease function of hormones entirely when the body is receiving them in another way.
Other Allies:
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Vitamin C and B-complex to soothe frazzled adrenals.
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Magnesium (glycinate or malate) to calm the nervous system and support sleep while supporting the absorption of other minerals.
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Ashwagandha, Eleuthero or Rhodiola (adaptogens) to rebuild resilience gently over time. You can find these in our energy + focus building Brain Tonic.
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Seaweeds and mineral-rich herbs (like nettle and oatstraw) to nourish thyroid tissue deeply. Seaweeds also contain iodine, often needed in cases of under functioning thyroid.
Before jumping into several supplements and herbs, it's best to get a full thyroid panel done of your blood. You can get a very in depth test and follow up done with your naturopath or you can get a free one (in Canada) with your GP. If using your GP, be sure to ask for the FULL panel. Jenn Pike has a great freebie on this along with a very handy chart of appropriate levels.. which, no surprise, are quite different than the appropriate levels issued by your doctor. So ask for a copy of the report and compare!
Other Supports
Red Light Therapy:
Light is medicine, and red light, especially, speaks in the language of mitochondria.
Low-level red and near-infrared light (600–850 nm) has been shown to support thyroid function by increasing cellular energy (ATP), reducing inflammation, and even gently stimulating hormone production in underactive glands.
The thyroid, sitting close to the surface of the skin, is uniquely accessible to light. Just a few minutes of red light exposure daily can remind it of its rhythm; like morning sun warming a chilled seed back to life.
Lately, I’ve been using a red light eye mask, it sits perfectly across the neck and easy to wear for 20min in bed each night while I read. It’s subtle, but powerful. On another note, I've used this eye mask on incredibly swollen bug bites/stings and saw an immediate shift in inflammation in just one use. While we can't see the thyroid in the same way, I can feel it being nourished and supported by this warming light.
It’s a passive kind of healing — no force, no fixing. Just light. Just being.
Castor Oil:
Thick, golden, and deeply penetrative, castor oil is one of the oldest healing allies we know. When placed over the thyroid, it acts not only as an anti-inflammatory and lymphatic stimulant, but as a soft invitation to unclench, to soften the tissues that have held too much, for too long.
The practice is simple:
Pour a little castor oil on a flannel cloth or castor pack eye mask, and place it gently over the neck. Add a heating pad or hot water bottle if desired. Rest. Breathe. Let it soak in for 30-60min. I love to start with the red light eye mask and then apply the castor oil pack. You can also simply massage on a little of sticky oil without a pack and apply throughout the day (it will be shiny!). Check out our organic castor oil infused with deeply healing herbs for double duty.
This isn’t about forcing the thyroid to work harder. It’s about reminding it that it’s safe to come back online.
The Conflict Behind the Condition
In German New Medicine, the THYROID relates to time conflicts ~ often when we feel too slow, too late, or we’re trying to hurry to catch up. It’s about urgency and not being able to respond in time. Think constant deadlines, not being fast enough to finish projects, to learn something, to make a decision or to be where others are.
ADRENAL fatigue corresponds to a sustained existence conflict ~ feeling unsafe, unsupported, or that our very survival is under threat. Living in a constant state of “fight or flight” until the system eventually waves the white flag. Think constant pressure with work, with finances, or with your role as a parent/leader/student/healer/etc.
From this lens, healing is not just about supplements, it’s about resolving the emotional conflict or perspective behind the symptom. This was a turning point for me: understanding that my body wasn’t broken, just faithfully responding to an outdated survival script.
In TCM, the kidneys (which include adrenal function) are our life-force reserves — our jing. They govern willpower and vitality. When depleted, we feel fear, fatigue, and bone-deep exhaustion. The thyroid isn’t separate, it’s part of this greater water element that governs our flow, adaptability, and inner strength.
Understanding the emotional conflicts at the root of the issue can take some time, or it can be quick. Sometimes we know the exact moment we first felt rushed, not fast enough or where we felt unsafe. Other times, it can take a bit of digging to find it if we find it at all.. but knowing the exact moment of it's inception is not necessary. We can work with the feeling of it. Addressing our beliefs around these issues, making changes either practically or perceptually can have great impact on our health going forward.
Are you willing to rest before you feel you deserve it?
Are you willing to take your time and move with intention?
Are you willing to digest slowly?
How long have you been rushing?
Where do you rush?
Where do you take your time?
What would it look like if you let something go?
These glands are deeply intertwined with how we metabolize life; not just food, but emotion, responsibility and stress. They govern our energy, our rhythms and resilience. And when they've been overdrawn for too long, the recovery can come slowly.
It’s About Being, Not Just Doing
True healing doesn’t come from hustle. It comes from softening.
From no longer needing to prove, but allowing yourself to receive.
It’s permission to rest. To feel safe in your body again. To trust that your system knows the way back, when given the right conditions.
This was my path. Is my path. And it’s still unfolding.
I’m not here to “fix” you — but I can walk beside you as you return to yourself.
If this speaks to you, I invite you to book a one-on-one session.
Together, we’ll uncover the deeper patterns, craft a custom herbal formulation tailored to your needs, and explore the subtle shifts — in thought, in belief, in nourishment — that help the thyroid and adrenals remember how to hum again.
