By Dr. Glenn Harrison, DC, DACBN, CFMP
Doctor of Chiropractic | Diplomate, American Clinical Board of Nutrition (DACBN) | Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (CFMP) | Dr. Harrison’s Center of Functional Medicine, Westminster, Colorado
Quick answer: Functional medicine does not replace an endocrinologist. An endocrinologist diagnoses thyroid disease, prescribes and adjusts thyroid medication, and handles conditions like hyperthyroidism, nodules and thyroid cancer. A functional medicine evaluation looks at the wider picture around the thyroid: a fuller lab panel, thyroid antibodies, gut health, nutrients, stress and blood sugar. Many people with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s use both, with each provider doing what they are trained for.
What does an endocrinologist do for thyroid disease?
An endocrinologist is a medical doctor who specializes in hormones and glands. For thyroid patients, that usually means diagnosing the condition, prescribing thyroid hormone medication, adjusting the dose based on lab results, and managing conditions that need medical or surgical care. If you have an overactive thyroid, a thyroid nodule, a suspected thyroid cancer, or you are pregnant with a thyroid condition, an endocrinologist should be leading your care.
Conventional follow-up often centers on TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). That is a sensible screening test, and for many people it is enough. Some people, though, keep having symptoms like fatigue, weight changes, feeling cold, hair thinning or brain fog even when their TSH is in range. That is the group that most often looks for a second perspective.
What does a functional medicine thyroid evaluation add?
A functional medicine evaluation asks why the thyroid is struggling and what else is going on around it. At our Westminster clinic, that starts with a detailed health history and a review of every lab you have already had, then testing that may include:
- A fuller thyroid panel: TSH, free T4, free T3 and reverse T3, which show how much hormone is available and how well it is being converted into its active form.
- Thyroid antibodies (TPO and thyroglobulin): these show whether an autoimmune process such as Hashimoto’s is involved.
- Related factors: nutrients the thyroid depends on, blood sugar, stress hormones and gut health.
For a test-by-test breakdown, read our guide to advanced thyroid and hormone testing in Denver.
Functional medicine vs. endocrinologist: side by side
| Endocrinologist | Functional medicine (Dr. Harrison, DC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Diagnosing thyroid disease and managing it medically | Finding the contributing factors around thyroid symptoms |
| Prescribes thyroid medication | Yes | No. He works alongside your prescribing doctor |
| Typical labs | TSH, often free T4, antibodies when indicated | Full thyroid panel with antibodies, plus nutrient, blood sugar, stress and gut markers |
| Hyperthyroidism, nodules, thyroid cancer | Yes, this is their specialty | Not appropriate as the lead provider |
| Diet, nutrition and lifestyle plan | Usually brief | A central part of the plan |
| Visit length | Often short follow-ups | Longer visits with a written plan |
What about Hashimoto’s?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition and the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. Thyroid medication replaces the hormone the thyroid is not making, but it is not designed to address the immune process behind it. That is where a functional medicine approach may help: looking at gut health, food sensitivities, nutrient status and stress, which can all influence how someone with Hashimoto’s feels day to day. Thyroid antibodies are one of the markers tracked over time, alongside symptoms.
Read more in our posts on Hashimoto’s care in Denver and the gut and autoimmunity connection.
Will I have to stop my thyroid medication?
No. Dr. Harrison does not prescribe medication and never advises patients to stop or change it. If you take levothyroxine or another thyroid medication, keep taking it as prescribed. When lab results or symptoms suggest something is worth a closer look, we encourage you to share them with your prescribing doctor, who decides on any dose change.
Naturopath or functional medicine chiropractor for thyroid care?
Both may take a whole-person approach to thyroid symptoms, and the right fit depends on the individual practitioner more than the title. Training and scope of practice differ: naturopathic doctors and chiropractors are licensed under different rules, and Colorado law sets what each can do. Whoever you see, ask how they test, how they track progress, and how they coordinate with your endocrinologist or primary care doctor. Dr. Harrison is a Doctor of Chiropractic, a Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition and a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner who has focused exclusively on chronic illness for more than 10 years, using a lab-testing-first process.
When should you see an endocrinologist first?
- A racing heart, tremor, heat intolerance or unexplained weight loss, which can point to an overactive thyroid
- A lump or swelling in the neck, or trouble swallowing
- Pregnancy, or planning a pregnancy, with a thyroid condition
- A thyroid cancer diagnosis or history
- Very abnormal thyroid labs
Functional medicine can still be part of your care in these situations, but a medical doctor should lead it. If you have chest pain, severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911.
Working with Dr. Harrison in Westminster and Denver
Dr. Harrison’s Center of Functional Medicine is at 9035 Wadsworth Pkwy #3300, Westminster, CO 80021, serving Westminster, Arvada, Broomfield, Thornton and the north Denver metro, with telehealth visits for patients across Colorado. Care follows a 4-step process that starts with lab testing and ends in a personalized Clinical Master Plan. The first step is a free 15-minute discovery call. You can also call 720-449-6217.
Frequently asked questions
Can functional medicine replace an endocrinologist for thyroid disease?
No. An endocrinologist diagnoses thyroid disease and prescribes and adjusts medication. Functional medicine works alongside that care, looking at the fuller lab picture, thyroid antibodies, gut health, nutrients and stress. Many patients with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s see both.
Does Dr. Harrison prescribe thyroid medication?
No. Dr. Glenn Harrison is a Doctor of Chiropractic and does not prescribe or change medication. Patients keep taking any thyroid medication as prescribed, and he encourages them to share relevant lab results with their prescribing doctor.
What thyroid labs does a functional medicine evaluation include?
Testing often includes TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies (TPO and thyroglobulin), plus markers for nutrients, blood sugar, stress hormones and gut health when they are relevant to your symptoms.
My TSH is normal but I still feel hypothyroid. What should I do?
Talk with your doctor about your symptoms first. A fuller thyroid panel with antibodies may show things a TSH test alone does not, such as low active T3 or an autoimmune process. A functional medicine evaluation can also look at gut, nutrient and stress factors that may affect how you feel.
Do you see thyroid patients outside Westminster?
Yes. Patients come from across the Denver metro, including Arvada, Broomfield and Thornton, and telehealth visits are available across Colorado. Start with a free 15-minute discovery call.