I have found one locally but no way of finding out if she is reputable. She says she does work with thyroid problems as part of a holistic approach often involving the adrenal glands and immune system. There are also nutritional supplements available that are formulated to support thyroid function, and herbs that can help balance endocrine glands.
Anyone had any success going down this route or is it all quackery?
Thoughts welcome 😊
If I were you, I'd steer well clear of anything that calls itself 'thyroid support'. Most of the time, for 'support' read 'stimulant'. And, the last thing you want to do to a sick gland is stimulate it. They usually contain all sorts of things you really don't want to take without first testing to see if you need it.
Be careful of 'herbs that can help balance endocrine glands' - usually known as adaptogens. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is - like a herb that can raise your hormone levels if they're too low, and decrease them if they're too high. Adaptogens appear to do one or the other, randomly, to different people. Like taking Ashwagandha to raise your cortisol, only to find it's reduced it.
From what I've read on here, functional doctors tend to have some very strange ideas about thyroid, and how to treat it, but no real knowledge. There are bound to be exceptions, of course, but do be aware of the possibility that they won't really know what they're doing.
Ok thanks for your input. Want to be sure before I part with £90 for the consultation and any herbs will be extra on top!
Understandable. If I were you, I'd ask her where she stands on T3 and NDT, never mind the herbs! You can't replace a hormone with a herb. And, if herbs are what you want, you'd probably find them cheaper on Amazon.
Haha that made me chuckle. She made no mention of T3 or NDT in her email reply so don't think I'll pursue. Unless anyone has had any success with herbs?
I have seen FM practitioners online recommending kelp,iodine,tyrosine-I think some underactive folk are still unaware that even taking a tyrosine supplement can be problematic, stimulating the thyroid,making you feel its helping,when it may be thrashing the gland.
no FM practitioner should attempt to diagnose / treat without seeing that person face to face.as a former herbalist , our code of ethics didnt allow us to dispense herbs without a face to face consultation.
Totally agree. I took some adaptagens including ashwagandha a couple of weeks ago and felt very unwell. I’d also like to find a functional doctor but so few really know about they thyroid. Maybe you greygoose as one of the trusted sage members on this forum should become one!
self medicating with things you dont fully understand is never a good idea.
a good practitioner will have spent at least 3 years in training and in the case of medical herbalists they will have far more in their dispensary to use than the usually touted "wonder herbs " that everyone has heard of
well as a retired medical herbalist , I think youre being over broad in your condemnation of it all as quackery. The point of an individual consultation is to find the right approach for that person not some random choice of stuff.Obviously the expertise and knowledge will vary depending on their training and that is something that needs to be established beforehand..
anyone who dispenses advice randomly on line or een in an e mail without your full history is to be avoided though
Did I use the word 'quackery'? Please show me where I said that.
My point is that no matter what the branch of medicine, nor how much training they have had in general, very few practitioners of any persuasion know anything about thyroid. And, the point about herbs is that - from my reading - they appear to work differently for different people. And I doubt any herbalist can look at a person and predict how any of them are going to work for that person.
Please do not put words in my mouth.
ok I apologise -the OP asked if it was all quackery .
However my point is that practitioners can be knowledgeable - I dont know why you think so few of them know anything about the thyroid ? you say herbs appear to work differently for different people - that's why you need to see a properly trained and qualified herbalist who knows how to choose the correct herbs based on that persons history ,constitution ,lifestlyle ,stressors etc rather than reading this herb is good for this condition as so many people do and then say it didnt work. I may have put words in your mouth but you are making generalisations about herbalists and other practitioners that I dont see as true
Why do I say few of them know about thyroid? Bitter experience! I've seen an awful lot of different types of practitioner in my time, and none of them had an inkling. OK, so, I've never seen a herbalist personally, but I've read about people that have.
How much training does a herbalist have in thyroid? How can you even think that a herb can replace a hormone? And, of course I make generalisations about practitioners, I haven't met them all personally, what else can I do. But, if you were to read what I actually said - which you obviously haven't - I also said 'There are bound to be exceptions, of course, but do be aware of the possibility that they won't really know what they're doing.' So, a very long way from calling them all quacks, I think you have to agree.
And, remember, I was only talking about treatment of thyroid. I'm sure they can be good in other areas. But, if you knew anything about the training doctors receive in med school, in thyroid, I'm pretty sure you'd have to agree they know next to nothing about it.
So, are you claiming that a herbalist can cure a faulty thyroid with their herbs?
no a herbalist would not claim to " cure " a faulty thyroid but they would work towards optimising that persons health and looking at other issues downstream from the symptoms. eg auto immune thyroiditis is not primarily a thyroid disease - it is manifesting itself in the thyroid but it is a dysfunctioning immune sytem and that needs addressing .
You said : " How can you even think that a herb can replace a hormone? " -now who's putting words into mouths : where did I ever suggest that?
When you say how much training does a herbalist have in the thyroid -well they may well have done loads of continuing professional development if that is what they are interested in . All practitioners of my knowledge are constantly keeping themselves up to date with current research in areas of health or doing further study .
your words : " but do be aware of the possibility that they won't really know what they're doing. " -how do you know they WONT know what they're doing ...
It's not nice when people put words in your mouth, and twist what you were saying, is it. So, now you know.
When you say how much training does a herbalist have in the thyroid -well they may well have done loads of continuing professional development if that is what they are interested in . All practitioners of my knowledge are constantly keeping themselves up to date with current research in areas of health or doing further study .
They may have done continuing professional development. But, then again, they may not. How would we know? I've never met a practitioner that has.
"but do be aware of the possibility that they won't really know what they're doing. " -how do you know they WONT know what they're doing ...
I don't know. That's why I used the word 'possibility'. Once again, you are not understanding what I actually said, just misinterpreting and twisting it. And if you don't like it when people do that to you, please don't do it to others.
"They may have done continuing professional development. But, then again, they may not. How would we know? I've never met a practitioner that has. "
well if none of the practitioners you've met have never done any then I'm not surprised you havent had great experiences with them ( Im inferring that - do forgive me -as you say you have seen a lot )
All practitioners registered with their professional body are required to do CPD in order to remain insured and a member of that body -all you need to do is firstly make sure they are a member of a professional body and no practitioner would mind being asked both about their training and experience
I may be misunderstanding -I am not twisting -that assumes it is deliberate.
"It's not nice when people put words in your mouth, and twist what you were saying, is it. So, now you know. " - oh crikey that sounds so childish and 2 wrongs dont make a right do they...
All practitioners registered with their professional body are required to do CPD in order to remain insured and a member of that body
Where are you talking about? I live in France, and a couple of doctors have even said they just don't have time to do CPD. But, all the doctor I saw when living in the UK seemed just as ignorant. Besides, does it actually say they have to do it in thyroid? Thyroid seems to interest very few doctors because they just don't believe it's as bad as we make out - due to what they learnt in med school - and that doesn't vary very much from country to country, you only have to read on here to see that.
I may sound childish, but nobody's perfect. And, there was nothing in the post I wrote above for you to take exception to, but you did anyway. It was just a warning to the OP to be careful - as you should be with any doctor, and not just assume they know what they're talking about, just because they're professionals. But, you just seem to want to quibble. If you have better advice, why don't you give it, instead of just criticising what others have written.
when I was talking about practitioners ,I wasnt talking about doctors. I could take exception to you telling the OP if all they wanted was herbs they could get them cheaper on Amazon - to my mind that's really bad advice unless she knows what she's doing rather than symptomatically treating herself.
any hoo dont bother with any more replies as I've lost interest in this tit for tat exchange -oh gosh how childish of me...
I could say that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but I won't bother. And, once again, you misunderstood what I was saying, but never mind, I'm sure the OP has understood. And that, after all, is the most important thing. Have a nice day. 
I saw a functional medical person last year. She was knowledgeable about thyroid, more so than my GP but no more knowledgeable than forum members here. Her advice was very much in line with balancing nutrients, taking medication properly, checking hormone levels and trying gluten and dairy free to see if it improved things - all advice that exists here. More than anything, having not been listened to by doctors and before I started looking after my dose myself, I think it helped to speak to someone who believed me and could almost validate my experience. It’s a lot of money to pay for just that though.
My view in the end was that, had I not found this forum, she would have been very useful to me. Because I had found the forum though, I don’t think it told me a great deal more than I already knew or could find out here at no cost.
Good to hear, thanks for your reply 😊
I second that. I'm currently seeing a Functional Medicine practitioner and it's helping me put into practice what I've learned from reading both on here and in books like Izabella Wentz's excellent guides. I found it overwhelming on my own and she's been able to guide me through the various tests too to look for root causes. She also keeps me balanced as I'm inclined to take an extreme approach and due to her I've added in a few legumes and grains (non gluten) into my diet after having been on the AIP for a while. Most importantly, she referred me to someone who could prescribe NDT which has made SO muchl the difference.
Thanks Cats interesting and great to hear this approach is proving helpful to you. I am still weighing it up all before planning my next move 😊
Is this practitioner BANT registered?
Functional medicine is brilliant, it’s about treating the root cause.
Dr Rangan Chatterjee is a brilliant functional medical dr, treating the root cause, not just prescribing drugs.
I know of several people who are hypothyroid but manage it naturally, and there are many ways because hypo is different for everybody.
Dr Izabella wentz is the perfect example - her books and documentary series are brilliant.
It is NOT quackery.
Have you come off your prescription thyroid meds?
No StitchFairy I chickened out of doing that hence looking into other ways 😊
Sorry Syd35 that question was meant for Chippysue I wouldn't trust anyone who said I could manage my thyroid problem 'naturally'.
I am slowly working at coming off my thyroid medication, I have reduced them. If I had my time again I would never have started them. I know several people who manage their hashimotos fine without medication, as Dr Izabella Wentz does
It's possible that many of us might have been able to avoid thyroid medication if we had known about all this right from the very beginning. Hindsight tells me my thyroid was wonky many, many, many years before it finally collapsed altogether. Up and down over the years, with periods of stability in between. Until I was finally diagnosed (really severely hypo by then), I had no idea that I had a thyroid, let alone what it was for and that it could cause such devastating illness. I feel trying to come off thyroid medication now really is like flogging a dead horse.
I'm always wary of people who say that. If you have Hashis you can have hyper and euthryoid episodes that can last months, if not years. I suspect that is what many so-called natural cures actually are. And I've seen people saying they are well with a TSH of 4 (I'd be permanently asleep). Most of us staggered on for years when hypo before getting a diagnosis and I don't think that most natural cures are any different from that, except that better vitamin status may be helping. How do they all feel after 15 years of natural management?
There is no such thing as a cure. It’s about managing the disease, so if toxins are reintroduced or gluten and dairy for instance then the symptoms will return.
The people I know are well, they know that it is their choice to live the life they live naturally.
managing your thyroid naturally doesnt mean coming off your meds it just means supporting your body to function optimally and reduce the risks of future health issues
I mentioned coming off thyroid meds because that's what Chippysue had originally said about some people she knows. That's why I asked her if she had come off her meds. I think she may have since edited that out of her comment though.
oh right I didnt see that bit before I replied.Yes she does in fact say " managing without medication "
Quite honestly, I dislike this implication that those of us who take thyroid medication are somehow in the wrong, because we're failing to heal ourselves. It smacks of the same 'blame the patient' attitude that many get from the medical profession. Thyroid meds are just replacement hormones. It's not as if we're taking addictive meds like opioids, street drugs or whatever. I wonder if people with Addisons also get badgered to heal the root cause and come of their life essential hormones.
not quite sure who you are directing that reply to? I've never suggested taking thyroid meds is wrong ? I'm an ex herbalist but take thyroxine as I know I cant replace the hormone with herbs nor have I ever indicated that you could or should?!
Oh I wasn't aiming it at you personally I was just saying how I feel about the whole issue of "managing without medication" and healing "the root cause" that Chippysue wrote about.
oh right - sorry
I take purified levothyroxine and ndt. I don't want to take it and am working at reducing it and possibly being able to stop taking it. That does not mean that I think less of anyone who takes thyroid medication. At the start of my journey I just thought that I needed the medication, I have learnt so much more, whether you agree with it or not, many of us who still have some working thyroid do not need to take thyroid medication. I wish I had learnt this in 2006. Now when people join my thyroid support group I point out to them that there are brilliant documentary series, books and websites by experts like Dr Izabella Wentz, Dr John Bergman, Dr David Brownstein, Dr Amy Myers, Dr Mark Hyman to name a few. Some people find that a nutritional deficiency helps, for instance one member found that what she thought were thyroid symptoms were in fact a dairy intolerance and is well since stopping dairy.
People who take thyroid medication are not failures in any way, but wouldn't it be great if we were all given all of the information to start with rather than given a pill after blood test results were at the right number?
Thanks Chippysue, not sure about the BANT I will look into that if I decide to pursue.
a practitioner doesnt have to be BANT registered -that is only for nutritional therapists -there are other forms of qualification and other regulatory bodies for natural medicine.The key is to find someone with a degree level training and membership of a professional body that has codes of ethics /ongoing professional development and so on
I haven’t been to a functional medical practitioner but wouldn’t rule one out necessarily. I think it depends what your needs are mentally and physically and what level of support you’re looking for. I’m Graves and following a supplement and diet protocol to manage my condition so I’m perhaps in a slightly different place. However, I’ve had to forge my own path to where I am today and find sometimes you just need someone to take what you’re doing seriously and support you. However, just as we look objectively to what the medical profession advise us to do you need to question and research herbal recommendations as well. What works well for one person doesn’t necessarily work well for someone else. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this forum but I still find mine is a lonely route.
I have a feeling that in the UK anyone can call themselves a functional medicine doctor, but very few have actually trained as a medical doctor,so they can't prescribe prescription medicines like levo and T3. That's one reason why they push so many herbal remedies instead. I think you could simply spend some time reading this forum and then set yourself up as a thyroid specialist without having any other training!
I bet!
@StitchFairy - That's interesting. TBH, I was wondering if the Functional Medicine Doctor that the OP is referring to is one that I have been communicating with this week. Have had fairly long email responses, but my direct question of how much she charges for a repeat prescription has been ignored more than once. Having seen your post, that makes me wonder if she is actually unable to prescribe, in which case she has no value to me. In the list of groups of letters after her name, are there any that I should look out for that mean she is able to prescribe, or is there an online registry of who can prescribe?
I'm not sure about which letters after name to look for, but if she's listed them, a search engine might be helpful! You could also have a look on the GMC website to see if she's registered GP too.
I would think though that if she is actually medically qualified, she would say so. If she's not, she should also be upfront about that and tell you.
Oh, that's interesting. I did a search on the GMC database at gmc-uk.org/registration-and... . I could not find this particular Functional Medicine "Practitioner". Needless to say, I won't be paying for a consultation in that case.
why is " practiitoner " in inverted commas as if only qualified doctors can call themselves that ? if she is calling herself a doctor then that is a different kettle of fish
providing the person you are seeing is fully qualified in their modality they can be helpful. Genuine practitioners of any nature -herbal ,nutritional whatever -will never take you off your medication but rather work with you to get you to function as well as you can
Just making clear that this particular person does not call herself a functional medicine doctor, but instead a functional medicine practitioner. I'm assuming that in the UK somebody can only call themselves a doctor if they are registered with the GMC, whereas anybody can call themselves a practitioner. Happy to be corrected if wrong.
no exactly my point - if they were calling themselves a doctor in order to imply they are medically qualified then that is wrong - (although they can call themselves doctor if they have a PhD providing they are not trying to imply the aforementioned)
But you seem to think that because this practitioner is not a medically qualified doctor and therefore not on the GMC register then you wont go to see them -even though they are not calling themselves a doctor??
I just want somewhere I can get repeat prescriptions for NDT easily. That requires somebody who can prescribe. This practitioner seems to be avoiding questions relating to prescribing. Looking at the NHS page about who can prescribe, I don't see any criteria that I am aware that she meets. That's why I won't be going to see her. As I said in my first post above "that makes me wonder if she is actually unable to prescribe, in which case she has no value to me". Please don't read more into it than that, because there is nothing more (other than a question of is she being deliberately vague in order to earn a consultation fee for a consultation that does not satisfy the requirement I have made explicit to her).
oh well fair enough , if you are wanting someone to prescribe but look for someone called functional medicine doctor rather than practitioner! I cant imagine anyone medically qualified would want to avoid that term in their professional " title " and if she is not being transparent by addressing your initial questions then she is definitely to be avoided..
Same thought in USA. I went to one this year and he was all about the wallet. He offered me a special blood work, diet, etc. All I got was a skinnier wallet. The bloodwork order had another doctor's name. He was a chiropractor so he could not prescribe anything either. Be carefull and good health and luck!
Syd35,
I’m seeing a “Functional Medicine” doctor in London. He and his team are excellent. They specialise in lots of different health conditions not just Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. He’s a naturopath and has several qualifications - ND, Dip Nut, MNNA , MIFM etc and is always updating his knowledge. He’s found several root causes for me which I am currently treating and feeling much better.
I feel he knows what he’s doing. I’ve seen lots of doctors and endocrinologists and they don’t compare. His experience and knowledge is far more advanced than any forum knowledge or other specialist I’ve seen. Definitely not quackery as some misinformed people might think.
Really good to hear that it is working for you Serendipitious. Shame I am not in the London area anymore. Have they suggested any supplements/herbs or NDT/T3? How did they get to the root cause?
They do Skype appointments too.
Well I started off filling out a lengthy questionnaire before my first appointment and then going through different testing based on what he thought could be the causes. Obviously there’s so many things that can predispose you to bad health but testing helps identify pathogens and nutritional deficiencies.
Yes I’m taking lots of supplements, vitamins and herbs. He’s helped me with my Metavive dose. I’m also taking LDN through him. Still got a way to go yet.
If you have time would you mind messaging me the name of the place you go as I like the sound of their approach? Thanks 😊
I’ve sent you a PM
If you're getting LDN through this practitioner, does that mean he's medically qualified to prescribe prescription medications? If so, I might have more faith in this practitioner than those not medically qualified.
But the talk about getting to the root cause always worries me. It might be that there are some things you can do for that, but what about the potential environmental contributors we see mentioned, like BPAs, pesticides, fire retardents etc?
I expect he is qualified to prescribe things like LDN. Otherwise you could end up in a lot of trouble?
Well you could try and avoid environmental toxins for a start? Drink out of glass bottles and tumblers. Use “clean” products to wash and bathe. Avoid products containing pthalates, SLS etc. Be careful what mattress and sofa you choose?
Yes sure you can do all those things I was thinking more about the possibility that the environmental factors had already done the damage and it may not be reversible regardless of what you do today or how many supplements you take.
But then I do think our bodies have the ability to detoxify and we can help that process.
I know what you mean. I watched the Broken Brain 1 and 2 docuseries and Dr Mark Hyman tells us that we’ve been exposed to some 80,000 chemicals since the 1800s. More chemicals than ever before in the history of mankind. As much as humans have the ability to adapt to their environment our bodies have not yet had the time to fully adapt to this onslaught which is predisposing many of us to autoimmune conditions etc.
At the same time there were so many patient success stories so as long as we adopt a good lifestyle and manage our conditions I wouldn’t say the damage is entirely irreversible. Many of us need professional help in doing so. I’m sure it depends on the person too but I’m remaining optimistic. That’s a big part of recovering.
I was also watching the Abundant Energy Programme series by Niki Gratrix and it’s incredible how simple steps such as sleeping at the right time, exposing our selves to the right light at the right time, meditation and positive thinking can impact our hormones and wellbeing. She cited several medical studies as evidence where also the placebo effect really does work. So it’s not all doom and gloom.
I find daily journaling and meditation makes a significant impact personally.
StitchFairy,
Just thought of something else and for anybody else interested. Avoiding non stick cookware contain Teflon, Scotchguard which are PFOAs and are known endocrine disrupters and using cast iron, ceramic and glass instead. Cast iron pans can boost your iron intake too if you need it. We need to trade our conveniences for our health.
This is a little off topic, but you mentioned being careful about what mattress you choose and I am looking for a new one, can you please expand on that?
I would definitely avoid memory foam as the chemicals involved in making it so can leach out causing respiratory problems
Thank you, yes, I try to stay away from things with foam in them, seems like they are making too many products with it nowadays. I’ve been looking for a plain old mattress without out all the gimmicks and they are hard to find.
have a look at loaf.com.I bought a bed and a mattress from them and it is the comfiest mattress ever -it's filled with wool and cotton so you dont overheat and is breathable along with individual pocket springs
Thank you, I will do that! Sounds like a healthier mattress.
Sorry I cited that as one of the many things you can do. It’s not something I’ve done yet. I do avoid plastics where possible.
Another common source of BPA which is proven to be an endocrine disrupter are till receipts. Easily avoided.
Thank you, I guess I need to do some research on it to try to keep from getting a mattress that can cause more health issues, I’m glad you brought that up though.
Hiya could you please let me know the functional medicine doctor you used please!
Could you PM me details of which doctor it is that you see please Serendipitious . I avoid going to London where possible, but Skype appointments would be good.
I would be interested to know about this doctor. Could you please PM me. Thank you
Could you please PM me and I will respond. Thanks.
Please could you PM me with the name of your Functional Medecine doctor? Many thanks, Susie
Good luck! You want to be sure as it will be expensive.
Syd35, my feeling with these kinds of things is they can be useful, but you've got to go in very prepared to take things with a pinch of salt and double check.
One thing to consider right from the start is the cost. If you can afford it easily then you've got nothing to lose. If the cost is a big issue and you can only afford to see them a limited number of times or only afford one doctor then immediately it's a bit less viable. My rule of thumb would be to assume that you will need to see several private doctors before you see one that really helps you, so when you consider the cost bear in mind that you might get very little out of it with that money all but wasted, and you'll have to pay a similar amount of money to the next one and the next one, and budget it that way.
I think there are lots of benefits you can get out of a private doctor besides them being 100% correct in everything they advise you and prescribe, and their treatments making you completely better. Sometimes a doctor can just give you a steer so you have the strength to do something on your own, sometimes they can piss you off enough to do it on your own 
Sometimes they help you with one set of symptoms you don't feel are too important but are no help at all with your main illness, or just recommend a few books or treatment lines you didn't know much about before, or help you try one little thing they specialise in, or just talk to you and make you feel understood, etc, etc. All these things might make it a worthwhile experience and then a personal question is whether the money would be worth it to get that. Of course it's a roll of the dice because some people on the forum have had excellent experiences, and you might be one of them.
I think it's important going in to double check everything a private doctor says in the same way you would check what an NHS doctor says. Don't start taking a herbal mixture or whatever unless you know what is in it and have done some checking. But of course herbs are recommended on the forum and by well loved doctors like Dr Myhill, so don't rule it out completely.
I would also say don't consider seeing one until you have quite a good understanding of thyroid yourself, and have tried most of the obvious things recommended on the forum. Get a full thyroid panel and basic vitamins from Medichecks or Bluehorizon, and understand what it means. If you have Hashi's try being gluten and probably dairy free. If it's within your power, dose Levothyroxine correctly and confirm that is not enough to get you well. Don't pay money just to be told things we're giving out here for free 
This will also set you up well to evaluate whether it's pure nonsense you're being offered (although again, it depends how much the money matters - it would be nice to be led by the hand and coached to do these things).
Personally, because I am too ill to read as much as I really want to and would need in order to try all the fairly clear cut treatments beyond the basics, I would be happy to pay someone if I thought they'd read all the books and papers in my pile and could apply them to my condition. Probably even if they'd read half of them. Some people on the forum, who are good at reading and researching would probably consider that a rip off!
It also depends how complex your situation is. If all you hope to do is try T3, a lot of doctors will prescribe this if you have the money. If you have already exhaustively tried that yourself and a few things beyond that and are still sick, it becomes more and more unlikely you'll find a doctor who can help you.
I've written too much, but if I found anyone local to me who called themselves a functional doctor or naturopath, I would almost certainly go to see them. I've been ill a long time, and have tried a lot of things, and at the moment it's my own understanding and ability to research that are holding me back.
I would go just on the hope they had some little idea I don't know about, or could give a good analysis of my iron results, sex hormones and heart related symptoms. Or even could just say a few confident words about these things. But I would definitely walk in the door prepared for them to be as clueless as my own doctor
Thanks SilverAvocado, some more things for me to ponder. I will be sure to update and share if I find something that works 😊
This is what appears after her name - BSc MNIMH MNNA - anyone know what they stand for?
Well, BSc is just a Bachelor of Science degree without honours. I got one of those last year. Other than meaning that you can put up with the tedium of the courses, and put up with questionable marking schemes (or as I did, challenge them and escalate things until the university admitted they had things wrong, repeatedly), it means very little IMHO. Even if it was BSc (hons), all it means is that you could put up with things for another year. I was on target to get a "first" at hons, but stopped as I couldn't face the stress of challenging incorrect marking and the tedium for the final year.
I think MNIMH means Member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. nimh.org.uk
MNNA means Major non-NATO ally according to Google en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major... . Not sure what to make of that one in relation to functional medicine! Maybe there's another meaning.
MNNA is a member of the naturopathic nutrition association.MNIMH means she is a medical herbalist -minimum 3 years training ,I did that myself but no she isnt a doctor and wont be able to prescribe thyroid meds
You can search the institute for functional medicine website to find a practitioner near you. It lists all their qualifications etc too, plenty that are medical doctors that have moving into functional practice.
I saw one and he was able to advise on what tests I should do as well as order tests that are only available to doctors. I found it exceptionally helpful to validate my own research plus learn more.
It is expensive though and essential to research the practitioner thoroughly first too.
You can specify a country first, then a city, state, and zip (don't know how that works in the UK). I put in my US information and they returned 89 results. (I live close to Washington, DC) ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
Here is a list of persons who can write a prescription in the UK. nhs.uk/common-health-questi...
Thanks for that vocalEK . Still not clear from her bio whether any of those bits applies to the practitioner I have been communicating with. I am going to assume that she cannot prescribe as she has failed to answer the question about repeat prescriptions more than once.
Hey! I have gone to one, in Dublin, who charged me so much money twice and threw million of supplements at me at the same time. Also got iv with vitamins, the biggest scam on this planet, vitamins through veins, ridiculous. He also prescribed me estrogen patches and progesterone pills as he couldn't recommend anything else, and may I add, this guy also does Botox and other stuff. I'd steer clear, unless it doesn't cost much (like mine, about 400 euro for a visit). May I also add, these people treat women with low dhea, dhea which is checked by saliva only. There is info out there that dhea has to be checked with blood serum, not saliva. Adrenals are okay to be done through saliva. No one knows that and then you have glorified GPs aka functional medicine doctors treating people left and right with dhea. Also may I add, GABA doesn't cross brain barier if taken in a pill form, totally innefective. It boils my blood thinking that these people charge so much money for being greedy and having zero knowledge. I am sure some of them are genuine, but honestly, doubt anyone who charged hundreds has good intentions. Sorry, I have been to too many idiot doctors!
Izabella Wentz - she is basically trying to sell her own supplements. And books. I would take everything with pinch of salt - my Hashis is after Chernobyl explosion and my mam and gran had it too, so I doubt I'd be cured by gut protocols etc. But yes, people should find their roots causes, mine I have discovered already that was a bit of rant, bit I hope, an useful one!
Sorry you seem to have been to a cowboy. So bad these people prey on those who just want to feel better it really shouldn't be allowed.
Rant away anytime I love a good rant myself 😁
Thanks Syd35 rants are good for you, very healthy
He certainly is a cowboy and he is on the recommended list of doctors. I was extremely ill, barely sitting in a front of him at the time, and he was coming up with copper toxicities and other crap for hundreds of euros, while basically all that had to be done was changing my dose! I was extremely overdosed, you could see it by my labs, increased shbg, pulse, tremors and the fact that I looked like a shadow of a person. But he just wanted to have a chit chat with me about my personal life and how stressful my childhood was. So I asked finally, could it be that my dose is too high, and he said, yes, possibly, cut it in half. Wow, I could have done it myself! As*hole, never again
Botox! Nothing puts me off a dentist more than one who does Botox as well as teeth.
I’ve changed my dentist now but the one I used before actually offered to treat a friend’s wrinkles while she was having her teeth looked at, I was never asked - I don’t have that many wrinkles.
😂
I've seen a functional medicine doctor who was on the list of practitioners recommended by people on this site. He is also a qualified GP so can prescribe if necessary. It is expensive but I have found it very helpful and I'm feeling so much better. He listens to you, takes note of symptoms and advises tests if he thinks they're necessary.
I think you have to be careful who you choose, do your research on them and trust your instinct - if you get a feeling they're dodgy then they probably are!
If anybody is interested in knowing which specialist I am seeing can you please send me a message rather than asking me to PM you.
As you can imagine I’m getting a lot of requests in all sorts of places. It will make it easier for me to respond. Not sure why I can’t give the clinics name here as I don’t think there’s any risk of them getting struck off as they’re not a traditional medical doctor but anyway. Thanks.
Serendipitious, Not sure why I can’t give the clinics name here as I don’t think there’s any risk of them getting struck off as they’re not a traditional medical doctor
Giving the clinic's name on thread would of course make things easier all round. However as HealthUnlocked does not allow advertising, and as this is (presumably) a private clinic with commercial reasons for existing, it's best to play safe and keep the details off the forum.
RedApple,
Fair enough and thanks for clarifying. Yes they are a private clinic. However, I should probably get commission too for the number of people I’ve told 😂
Maybe you should chat with them about it. You know the saying... if you don't ask, you don't get
RedApple,
Interesting idea, might ask them the next time I go 😁
I doubt they do anything like that. The most I get is a few tiny freebies like sachets of liposomal Vitamin C and Glutathione to try out.
This is an extremely long thread but I thought it worth mentioning that my partner is seeing a functional
Medicine doctor, an English GP who does FM privately in the NW snd works alongside a FM nutritionist. It has cost a lot of money (mostly indirectly on top class supplements and tests) but is proving worthwhile. This GP prescribed T3 only after finding she was functionally hypo (among many other things). Her understanding of biochemistry is excellent, and brought home to me the complexity of the results and what they meant.
Good to hear it is helping your partner. And yes it has become a huge thread I am trying my best to keep up with all the replies. Never thought it would be such a popular topic my posts normally only attract a couple of replies 😊
Please could I have the details of this doctor. Many thanks
Please could I also have this doctors details. Many thanks
Functional Medicine Practitioner 
Functional doctor / naturopath recommendations 
