In this episode of the Fieldnotes Podcast, Dr. Rob Downey sits down with nurse and holistic health expert Esther Yunkin to explore Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism. Esther shares her journey from working in the ER to embracing a functional medicine and holistic approach, emphasizing the importance of looking at the body, mind, and spirit as a whole. They discuss the root causes of thyroid dysfunction, common misdiagnoses, lab testing strategies, and practical lifestyle adjustments to manage stress and autoimmunity. Esther provides actionable advice for patients to take agency in their health and simplify complex care plans, highlighting her own holistic practices and self-paced program.
Timestamps:
00:02 – Introduction to Esther Yunkin
06:51 – Importance of thyroid lab testing
10:03 – Ask why thyroid labs abnormal
21:36 – Stress and autoimmunity interplay
37:08 – Low vitamin D triggers discussed
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Key Takeaways:
Root causes key to thyroid health
Labs empower patient health decisions
Stress fuels autoimmunity, complicates thyroid
Simplicity aids sustainable lifestyle changes
Vitamin D often overlooked trigger
