Objective

There currently exist two Western treatments, Levothyroxine (LT4) and Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT), for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (HT). These treatments restore hormonal balance but do not address the underlying pathogenesis. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), herbal medicine (HM), dietary changes, and targeted supplementation (TS), while also examining the link between environmental toxins and the increasing prevalence of autoimmune disorders. Recent research and discoveries, such as the interstitium, provide greater context and evidence that these alternative therapies offer promising immune-modulating, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and endocrine-regulating properties.

Methods

A comprehensive search strategy was developed and conducted across ScienceDirect, The National Institutes of Health, Nature, and The Chinese Medical Journal databases between 1985 and 2025. Keywords included "TCM," "HM," "Selenium," "Glyphosate,” “Autoimmune Conditions," "Interstitium,” “Celiac.” Human and animal studies were included, given that the study helped assess the effects of TCM, HM, or targeted supplementation. Some TCM studies, not specifically about HT but focused on other health conditions, were included to extrapolate more information about the healing effects, given the limited research on this niche subject.

Results

A total of 5,189 studies were retrieved, of which 457 were included in the meta-analysis and 25 were finally selected for detailed review. Duplicates and irrelevant papers were excluded. Overall, the findings suggest that TCM, herbal treatments, and targeted supplementation, when used in combination with Western medicine, enhance the clinical efficacy of treating HT. However, further research is needed to understand the potential of this integrative approach.

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