Today’s post features a few key takeaways from Dr. Megan’s Wellness Your Way podcast interview with Dr. Eric Balcavage.  Find the full episode here and be sure to subscribe to Wellness Your Way so you don’t miss future episodes!

Guest Bio: Dr. Eric Balcavage

Dr. Eric Balcavage DC, CFMP, BCIM, is the owner and founder of Rejuvagen. Dr. Balcavage is widely recognized around the world as a leader in Functional Medicine and Thyroid Physiology. In over 20 years of practice, he has successfully helped thousands of people suffering with thyroid problems and other chronic health conditions.

Dr. Balcavage received his Doctorate of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic Davenport, Iowa in 1995, and has been in practice since 1996. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology. Dr. Balcavage is Board Certified in Integrative Medicine, a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and a Certified Nutrition Specialist. He spends hundreds of hours every year advancing his knowledge base on functional medicine, thyroid physiology, functional neurology, immune system function, hormone function, and regenerative therapies. Dr. Balcavage’s quest for advanced research and training is the result of his passion and determination to help patients who have been unable to heal and recover from chronic illness in the Allopathic medical model.

Top Insights from Dr. Eric Balcavage’s Interview

1. Hypothyroidism Is Often an Adaptive Response, Not a Disease – Dr. Balcavage explains that low thyroid function isn’t always a malfunction but rather the body’s way of conserving energy in response to stress, inflammation, or chronic health burdens.

2. Standard Thyroid Treatment Doesn’t Address the Root Cause – Simply taking T4 medication doesn’t necessarily fix thyroid dysfunction, especially if the body is intentionally downregulating thyroid activity due to underlying stressors. Addressing diet, lifestyle, and stress is crucial for true recovery.

3. You Can Choose Management or Recovery – There’s a difference between managing thyroid symptoms with medication and actually working toward long-term healing. Recovery requires identifying and reducing stressors, optimizing nutrition, and supporting overall metabolic health.

4. Why Standard Thyroid Medication Might Not Be Working for You – Millions take thyroid medication, but many still don’t feel better. Discover why simply adding T4 might not be the answer.

5. The Truth About Reverse T3—Is Your Body Trying to Slow You Down? – Reverse T3 levels might hold the key to understanding why you’re still feeling sluggish, even with “normal” labs.

6. Are You Stuck in “Survival Mode”? – Dr. Balcavage explains how chronic stress pushes the body into a protective state that impacts thyroid function and overall health.

7. Thyroid Issues? It Might Not Be Your Thyroid – Many symptoms blamed on the thyroid may actually be signs of a deeper imbalance. Learn what else could be at play.

8. The One Question You Need to Ask About Your Thyroid Labs – If your doctor only looks at TSH, you might be missing critical information about your health.

9. Why Some Supplements Might Make You Feel Worse – More isn’t always better. Learn why taking certain vitamins or minerals can actually backfire depending on your body’s state.

10. The “Board” Analogy That Will Change How You See Stress and Health – Dr. Balcavage shares a powerful visual that explains why your body can only handle so much before breaking down.

11. The #1 Most Overlooked Factor in Healing the Thyroid – It’s not a supplement, medication, or diet—yet it plays a huge role in how well your thyroid functions.

Want to hear the full episode, including the #1 most overlooked factor in healing the thyroid, why thyroid medication may not be working for you, the importance of recovery over management, and so much more? Check out the podcast episode here!