Herbal traditions have used these plants for centuries, but we like to go a step further and look at what modern research actually shows. Below are the two herbs in our Hyperthyroidism blend, along with a plain-language look at the peer-reviewed studies behind each one.
Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus)
In a prospective clinical study of patients with mild hyperthyroidism, three months of Lycopus europaeus treatment measurably changed thyroid hormone excretion and reduced hyperthyroidism-specific symptoms, including elevated morning heart rate. In an animal study of thyroxine-induced hyperthyroidism, a Lycopus europaeus extract effectively reduced the raised body temperature associated with an overactive thyroid, with effects comparable to a reference beta-blocking medication. At the mechanistic level, laboratory research found that Lycopus extracts reduce the thyroid-stimulating effect of the antibodies responsible for Graves' disease, working by inhibiting the ability of both TSH and these antibodies to bind to and activate thyroid cell receptors. 🔗 Clinical study (PubMed) · Animal study (PubMed) · Graves' antibody mechanism study
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
In a laboratory assay developed to test substances affecting thyroid cell activity, Melissa officinalis produced a significant, dose-dependent inhibition of TSH binding to its receptor, as well as inhibition of the binding of Graves' disease antibodies to the same receptor. An earlier mechanistic study found that a freeze-dried extract of Melissa officinalis inhibited both the binding of TSH to human thyroid membranes and the resulting activation of adenylate cyclase, the enzyme that carries out TSH's stimulating effect inside thyroid cells. In a real-world case report, two patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism who were treated with herbal preparations containing Lycopus and Melissa officinalis extracts achieved a restoration of normal thyroid function and normalization of their thyroid-stimulating antibody levels. 🔗 TSH-binding inhibition study (PubMed) · Adenylate cyclase mechanism study (PubMed) · Graves' disease case report
Why This Matters
Both of these herbs have been studied for their ability to interfere with the same core process: the binding of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and the antibodies that mimic it in Graves' disease, to their receptor on thyroid cells. This shared mechanism is why they are traditionally combined — gypsywort and lemon balm both contain rosmarinic acid and related phenolic compounds that form weak, reversible "adducts" with TSH and TSH-receptor antibodies, blunting their ability to overstimulate the thyroid gland. This research spans laboratory, animal, and a small number of human clinical studies and case reports.
This post is for educational purposes and summarizes existing scientific literature. It is not medical advice, and our blend is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease are serious medical conditions that require monitoring by a doctor — please consult a healthcare provider before using this blend, especially if you have been diagnosed with a thyroid condition, are taking thyroid medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are trying to conceive, as both of these herbs can measurably affect thyroid hormone levels and may interact with thyroid medication or fertility treatment.