Thyroid Disorders and Treatment with Chinese Medicine
Low Thyroid function or Hypothyroidism is an increasingly common chronic health condition in the United States. This condition is more common in women, however, it does occur in men as well. Both men and women showing signs of low thyroid function can benefit greatly from acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. At out clinic we use Western lab testing, traditional therapies, modern nutrition and thyroid glandular supplements to reverse low thyroid function.
To understand why optimal thyroid function is so important for health we can start with the basic facts: Every cell in the human body has receptors for thyroid hormone. With every organ system “listening” to the thyroid, it’s function has impacts on all major systems of the body. A thyroid disorder can cause a range of health problems and often influence the following body systems: immunity (or autoimmunity), reproduction, libido, digestion, cardiovascular, and muscular. In addition, physical symptoms are most often accompanied with emotional problems, including depression or anxiety.
Common thyroid disorders include:
- Hyperthyroidism – overactive thyroid,
- Hypothyroidism – low thyroid function,
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – an auto-immune condition,
- Subacute thyroiditis – thyroid symptoms that occur in the background of lab tests that are “in-range” and therefore left untreated,
Current medical treatment for thyroid disorders (excepting iodine-deficiency goiter) are often not adequate to restore full health and optimal thyroid function. As a result, patients often experience only partial relief of symptoms based on an incomplete approach to all body systems involved in thyroid function. Due to these limitations of basic Western treatments for thyroid disorders, it is recommended that patients investigate the use of natural treatments including acupuncture, herbal medicine and functional thyroid supplements to augment or replace Western treatments.
The World Health Organization (WHO) lists over forty diseases that acupuncture can treat effectively. Thyroid dysfunction is one of the conditions on the WHO list.
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