01/02/2019
Acupuncture for Thyroid Disease
Achieving Balance
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ that sits at the front of the neck. It secretes three hormones, namely the thyroid hormones (thyroxine/T4, triiodothyronine/T3) and calcitonin. The thyroid hormones primarily influence the metabolic rate and protein synthesis, but they also affect the mood, energy, skin, hair, nails, s*x drive, heart function, cholesterol, body temperature, joint pain, muscle aches, infertility and metabolism.
Thyroid disorders fall into two categories. There is hyperthyroidism characterized by an overactive thyroid gland that produces too much thyroid hormone. Hypothyroidism, on the other hand, is characterized by an under-active thyroid gland.
Traditional Chinese medicine regards both broad categories of thyroid disease—hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism—as being caused by an imbalance of yin (structure) and yang (function) in the body. The goal of Chinese medicine is to achieve a balance between these two forces.
From a Chinese medicine point of view, Hyperthyroidism is often referred to as the “hot” type and is often grouped into the “Yin deficiency” category in Chinese medicine. Yin is the cooling, moistening element in TCM (as opposed to Yang which is warming). When someone is deficient in Yin, sufferers therefore experience a relative excess of heat with symptoms such as: nervousness, irritability, sweating, palpitations, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, weight loss despite a high appetite.To treat Yin deficiency type hyperthyroidism, a practitioner must nourish Yin with the use of acupuncture.
According to Traditional Chinese medicine, hyperthyroidism is due to liver Qi depression. This leads to liver fire that can cause serious elevations in heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. The fire will make a person overeat but rapidly lose weight.
Acupuncture will help detoxify the liver and reduce the fire, balance and support the body and reduce the side effects that are caused by the conventional drugs.
With Hypothyroidism, there is a deficiency in the Yang energy which creates a relative excess of Yin – resulting in more “cold” associated symptoms. Yang energy is the hotter, faster energy when compared to Yin and when one is deficient in Yang, body processes tend to slow down and feel colder. Common symptoms would include: cold intolerance or an increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, fatigue, depression, weight gain and water retention, slow heart rate, dry, itchy skin and thin, brittle fingernails, hair loss.
Acupuncture treatment regulates meridians and improve circulation of energy and blood and balance whole body to support natural healing system.
In our practice we have found acupuncture useful for thyroid conditions and from the scientific point of view, there’ve been few studies that suggest acupuncture has effect in:
1. Increasing levels of thyroid hormones (FT4, FT3) in people with hypothyroidism (Xia 2012; Hao 2009; Hu 1993);
2. Lowering levels of thyroid hormones (TT3, TT4, FT3, FT4) in patients with hyperthyroidism (Li 2006);
3. Reducing sensitivity to pain and stress, as well as promoting relaxation by acting on specific areas of the brain responsible for anxiety and worry (Hui 2010; Hui 2009);
4. Increasing the release of the chemical adenosine, which decreases sensitivity to pain (Goldman 2010);
5. Improving muscle stiffness and joint mobility by increasing blood circulation in small blood vessels, which aids dispersal of swelling (Komori 2009);
6. Reducing inflammation (Kavoussi 2007).
