In short: If you are looking for a thyroid doctor in Maryland, your primary care doctor or an endocrinologist manages thyroid testing and medication. Many people also want a natural, functional medicine perspective that takes time to look at sleep, stress, nutrition, and the full set of thyroid labs together. Dr. Ryan Kneessi is a licensed naturopathic doctor (ND) in Maryland who offers that perspective, working alongside your other doctors, in person in Odenton and by video statewide.
Have thyroid questions or lab results you would like to understand better? Start with a short, free conversation.
Why so many people look for a thyroid doctor
The thyroid is a small gland in the front of the neck that helps set the pace for energy, temperature, digestion, and metabolism. When people feel tired, cold, foggy, or unlike themselves, the thyroid is often one of the first things they wonder about. Some people have been told they have Hashimoto’s or another thyroid condition and want more time to understand it. Others have been told their labs are “normal” and still have questions.
Wanting to understand your own body is completely reasonable. A thyroid-focused visit can be a place to slow down, look at your results in plain language, and see how they fit with the rest of your health and daily life.
How a natural, functional medicine approach fits with your other care
Endocrinologists and primary care doctors play the central role in thyroid care, including ordering tests, identifying thyroid conditions, and prescribing and adjusting medication. A functional medicine approach from a naturopathic doctor does not replace that care. Instead, it adds time and a whole-person view, looking at how sleep, stress, nutrition, blood sugar, iron, and other nutrients may relate to how you feel.
Dr. Kneessi encourages you to keep your current doctors and is happy to share notes with them. You can read more about this approach on the Functional Medicine Doctor in Maryland and Naturopathic Doctor in Maryland pages.
Hashimoto’s, explained simply
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition, which means the immune system makes antibodies that target the thyroid. Over time, this can affect how much thyroid hormone the gland makes. It is one of the most common reasons people in the United States have an underactive thyroid, and it is more common in women.
Hashimoto’s is usually identified with a combination of symptoms, TSH and thyroid hormone levels, and thyroid antibodies. Many people with Hashimoto’s want to understand how nutrition, sleep, stress, and nutrients such as selenium and iodine fit into the bigger picture. Those are good questions to bring to a visit, and you can read more in thyroid nutrient support and who should consider selenium.
The thyroid labs people often ask about
Each thyroid test shows a different piece of the picture. They are most useful when read together, over time, and alongside how you actually feel.
- TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). TSH comes from the pituitary gland in the brain and tells the thyroid how hard to work. It is the most common first test. Read more about TSH.
- Free T4. T4 is the main hormone the thyroid makes, and “free” means the portion that is available for your body to use. Read more about free T4.
- Free T3. T3 is the more active form of thyroid hormone, and much of it is made from T4 in other tissues of the body. Read more about free T3.
- Reverse T3. Reverse T3 is an inactive form made from T4. People often ask about it when stress, illness, or low calorie intake are part of the picture. It is not part of every routine panel. Read more about reverse T3.
- TPO antibodies (anti-TPO). These antibodies target an enzyme the thyroid uses to make hormone, and they are often checked when Hashimoto’s is being considered. Read more about TPO antibodies.
- Thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-Tg). These antibodies target thyroglobulin, a protein the thyroid uses to store hormone. Read more about Tg antibodies.
Lab ranges can differ from one lab to another, and a single number rarely tells the whole story. In a visit, Dr. Kneessi walks through your results with you in plain language and talks about whether more information would be useful to share with your thyroid doctor. You can browse all of our lab explainers on the biomarkers page.
Bring the thyroid labs you already have to a free 15-minute consult and ask your questions.
What a thyroid-focused visit looks like
- Free 15-minute consult. A short conversation to share what is going on and see whether the practice is a good fit. There is no exam and no plan at this step.
- New patient visit. The in-depth first visit, where your history, symptoms, habits, and any thyroid labs you already have are reviewed together.
- Follow-up visits. Shorter check-ins to review how things are going and adjust your plan alongside your other doctors.
The conversation often covers sleep, stress, energy, meals, iron and other nutrients, and how your thyroid results have changed over time. You can also read our longer educational guides, a naturopathic doctor’s guide to thyroid health and thyroid health support from a naturopathic doctor.
Visits are available in person in Odenton or by secure video anywhere in Maryland. The practice is cash-pay, and HSA and FSA cards are accepted. Whether a specific service is reimbursable depends on your plan, so please check with your plan administrator.
When to get help right away
Please call 911 or seek urgent care for a racing or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, confusion, a high fever with a fast heart rate, severe weakness, or sudden swelling in the neck that makes it hard to swallow or breathe. Please also contact your prescribing doctor promptly if you think your thyroid medication dose may be too high or too low. A naturopathic visit is not a substitute for emergency or urgent care.
Not sure whether it is your thyroid?
Fatigue, weight changes, and brain fog can have many causes besides the thyroid. If you are not sure where to start, read What kind of doctor should I see for fatigue, hormones, or gut issues?
Frequently asked questions
What kind of doctor should I see for my thyroid?
Your primary care doctor or an endocrinologist manages thyroid testing and thyroid medication. Many people also want a natural, functional medicine perspective on sleep, stress, nutrition, and their full lab picture, and a licensed naturopathic doctor can offer that while working alongside those doctors.
Can a naturopathic doctor help if I have Hashimoto’s?
A naturopathic doctor can explain what Hashimoto’s is, walk through your thyroid labs and antibodies in plain language, and talk about nutrition, sleep, and stress as part of a whole-person plan. This works alongside your endocrinologist or primary care doctor, who manages your thyroid care and any medication.
Which thyroid labs do people often ask about?
People commonly ask about TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies, which include TPO antibodies and thyroglobulin (Tg) antibodies. Each one shows a different part of the picture, and they are most useful when read together and alongside how you feel.
Should I stop or change my thyroid medication?
No. Please never stop or change thyroid medication on your own. Any change should be discussed with the doctor who prescribes it.
Can I see Dr. Kneessi by video for thyroid questions?
Yes. Video visits are available to adults located anywhere in Maryland, and in-person visits are available in Odenton. You are welcome to bring any thyroid lab results you already have.
How do I get started?
Book a free 15-minute consult. It is a short conversation to ask questions and see whether the practice is a good fit, with no exam, no plan, and no pressure.
Ready to talk through your thyroid questions with a licensed naturopathic doctor?
