There is growing evidence for multiple toxic causes, as well as other causes stemming from the gut. For so many people, their experience of this is: receiving a diagnosis, then a prescription for thyroid replacement, without their physician ever asking the question “Why?”  Simply replacing thyroid hormone further suppresses thyroid activity.  But trying to restore thyroid activity ahead of prescribed hormones is well worth the effort. First, it is important to determine whether your thyroid condition is caused by autoimmunity. If it is, the most important place to focus is your gut, and other aspects of your systemic health – not your thyroid! If you don’t have an autoimmune condition, there are a number of causes that should be addressed before rushing to replacement.