Hypothyroidism, also called underactive thyroid, is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce sufficient thyroid hormone. This hormone deficiency can negatively affect the body, body systems, and metabolism. This condition is typically treated with levothyroxine, or synthetic thyroid hormone, to restore normal hormone levels. In addition to medical intervention, we can use acupuncture for hypothyroidism to help treat the condition.
Hypothyroidism is a pathological condition characterized by a deficiency of thyroid hormone. In health, this thyroid hormone is essential for regulating growth and development, regulating metabolic function, as well as maintaining internal homeostasis. Hypothyroidism is graded on a scale ranging from 1 to 3. In mild grade-1 cases, patients may barely notice signs and symptoms of this deficiency; severe grade-3 patients may experience myxedema coma or death due to the incredibly severe hormone deficiency. In Western medicine, hypothyroidism can be caused by chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s disease), which manifests as a higher-than-normal concentration of anti-thyroid antibodies. Iodine deficiency can also result in hypothyroidism; this deficiency may also manifest following hemithyroidectomy, neck radiation, or surgery for cancer management.
In Chinese medicine, Kim notes that Spleen yang deficiency is the cause of hypothyroidism. SP yang can become deficient from a variety of lifestyle and energetic factors. These factors include irregular or overeating, excessive consumption of cold and/or raw foods, mental strain, overexertion, and exposure to dampness and cold. Understanding these principles will help to begin to design our treatment of acupuncture for hypothyroidism.
In Western Medicine, thyroid function is controlled by various mechanisms. The primary control mechanism is the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis: the pituitary gland synthesizes and releases thyroid-stimulating hormone after being stimulated by the release of thyrotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus. TSH thus stimulates growth and hormone secretion in the thyroid gland. The thyroid can then up-regulate or down-regulate T3 and T4 hormones to normally maintain thyroid gland autoregulation. In contrast, hypothyroidism will occur when there is insufficient tissue stimulation by the thyroid hormone; this hormone deficiency can either be caused by inadequate thyroid hormone production or by a reduction in tissue sensitivity to thyroid hormone stimulation. Decreased hormone production can stem from a malfunction in the thyroid gland itself (primary hypothyroidism), as well as complications in the pituitary gland relating to TSH secretion (secondary hypothyroidism).
In order to use acupuncture for hypothyroidism, we must understand the mechanism for the condition from a Chinese medicine perspective. In Chinese medicine, the SP, when in health, controls the transformation and transportation of food and nutrients to produce qi. It also governs the transformation and movement of fluids to the proper locations in the body. In health, SP yin and yang are in balance to allow for proper movement transformation and transportation of qi and fluids. In the case of hypothyroidism, SP qi is already deficient, and if left untreated it can turn into SP yang deficiency; this yang deficiency may result in weakened wei qi. Weak wei qi can leave the person susceptible to succumb to an invasion of external cold. This invasion may further impact the healthy flow of qi, and the cold may begin to further deplete SP yang. As a result, the SP is no longer able to aid in its function of transformation and transportation of qi and fluids in the body, including thyroid hormone. As previously discussed, irregular or overeating, excessive consumption of cold and/or raw foods, mental strain, overexertion, and exposure to dampness and cold can all lead to SP yang deficiency and an inability of the SP to properly raise and move qi and fluids.
Hypothyroidism can present with symptoms of an aversion to cold, cold limbs, poor appetite, fatigue, sallow complexion, abdominal distension after eating, weakness of the limbs, loose stools, edema, and chilliness. The abdominal distension may be relieved by heat and pressure. Additional symptoms may include constipation, edema, and dry skin. The tongue may appear pale, swollen, and wet, and will have a thin white coat. A Chinese medical practitioner would expect to feel a slow, deep pulse in the right middle position. In severe cases of thyroid deficiency, the pulse may be faint.
In addition to gathering symptom information, a western practitioner would use a blood test in order to diagnose hypothyroidism. This blood test would be used to examine TSH levels in the blood and to check thyroid function; if TSH levels are abnormally high, hypothyroidism can likely be diagnosed. A western practitioner may also check T4 levels in the blood.
In addition to gathering symptom information, a CM practitioner would feel the patient’s pulses and look at the patient’s tongue. The practitioner may also perform a physical examination, in which they may palpate the body to find points of pain, tenderness, or other diagnostic abnormalities. Upon data assessment, the CM practitioner would diagnose this person with the pattern of Spleen yang deficiency. With this diagnosis, we can begin to choose points and build an acupuncture for hypothyroidism treatment.
Western medicine would treat hypothyroidism with levothyroxine therapy, typically administered orally in order to correct and supplement thyroid hormone deficiency. To use acupuncture for hypothyroidism, an acupuncture practitioner would address the pattern of SP yang deficiency by tonifying and warming SP yang. A practitioner could use the points GV4, CV4, CV6, CV9, BL17, BL 23, ST36, ST 28, PC6, SP6, SP9, and LI4. These points would be tonified and moxa is applicable.
Researchers Iacobone, Citton, Zanella, Scarpa, Pagura, Tropea, Galligioni, Ceccherelli, Feltracco, Viel, and Nitti created a study to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture for postoperative pain management following thyroid surgery. 121 patients were involved in this study and were split into either a control or acupuncture group. 62 patients in the control group received standard drug-induced postoperative analgesic treatment. The 59 patients in the acupuncture group were randomized to either electro-acupuncture or non-electro acupuncture in addition to standard postoperative analgesic treatment.
Both acupuncture groups received bilateral needling of LI4 and PC6 once a day; with the first needling session being 30 minutes prior to surgery. Sessions lasted for 30 minutes. In the non-electro-acupuncture group, de qi was obtained, and needles were manually stimulated every 10 minutes; electro-acupuncture patients received needle stimulation with a 6-8-volt intensity and a frequency of 25Hz. Both groups had access to acetaminophen as a postoperative pain killer. Postoperative pain was measured via the McGill Pain Questionnaire and the Numeric Rating Scale. Upon analysis of the data, Iacobone et al. found that patients in the acupuncture group had lower NRS scores on post-op day one compared to the control group and used less acetaminophen on post-op days two and three compared to the control group.
To prevent hypothyroidism, WM and CM practitioners may encourage consuming more iodine-enriched foods, as iodine is vital for thyroid hormone secretion. Both would recommend exercise and proper nutrition as another support. A CM practitioner, in addition to using acupuncture for hypothyroidism, would also encourage the patient to eat warm/warming foods to tonify their yang, as well as stay bundled up to avoid further exterior invasions. An acupuncturist could also give the patient a moxa stick and instruct them how to properly, and safely, warm their yang at home.
The thyroid gland is very important for normal and healthy bodily and metabolic function. By using acupuncture for hypothyroidism, we are able to support the body and the gland’s return to proper and sufficient function, as well as manage the other symptoms that manifest along with the condition. Contact me to learn more about acupuncture, what it can do for you, and what it can do for your symptoms.
References
Chaker, L., Bianco, A. C., Jonklaas, J., & Peeters, R. P. (2017). Hypothyroidism. Lancet, 390(10101), 1550-1562. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30703-1
Iacobone, M., Citton, M., Zanella, S., Scarpa, M., Pagura, G., Tropea, S., … Nitti, D. (2014). The effects of acupuncture after thyroid surgery: A randomized, controlled trial. Surgery, 156(6), 1605-1613. doi:10.1016/j.surg.2014.08.062
Kim, H. B. (2015). Minibook of oriental medicine (3rd ed.). Acupuncture Media.
Malikov, D. M. (2017). Traditional Chinese medicine approach to hypothyroidism. International Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 5(1), 1-7. doi:10.15406/ijcam.2017.05.00142
DISCLAIMER: this blog post is intended for informational purposes only. Do not perform any treatments included in the post yourself. This includes, but is not limited to, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Chinese nutritional therapy. They should only be performed by educated and licensed acupuncture practitioners.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective treatment alone or in combination with conventional therapies to treat the following:
Nausea caused by surgical anesthesia and cancer chemotherapy
Dental pain after surgery
Addiction
Headaches
Menstrual cramps
Tennis elbow
Fibromyalgia
Myofascial pain
Osteoarthritis
Low back pain
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Asthma
It may also help with stroke rehabilitation.
If you are curious about the benefits of acupuncture, scheudule an appointment for a personal consultation, and evaluation.
