Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is one of the most common thyroid diseases I treat.
I regularly come across it in my clinical practice at Sustain Health. In this article, we will consider two important causes in treating the Thyroid:
- emotional damage
- over-ambitious tendencies
It’s no secret, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can be a complex and chronic lifelong autoimmune disease… as well as one of the more frequently seen forms of hypothyroidism.
Fortunately, Chinese herbs and acupuncture can help in the management of this condition.
Once strength and vitality start to improve, a patient may go into remission… and reduce the dependence on Thyroxine.
In the modern digital age, due to our lifestyle and stress, the incidence of this disease is increasing … … at an alarming rate!
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is one of the most common thyroid diseases I treat. I regularly come across it in my clinical practice at Sustain Health. -Dr Scott Ling
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?
The symptoms of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are those of hypothyroidism and are often subtle. The signs and symptoms are:
- fatigue
- excessive sleepiness
- feeling cold
- constipation
- increased cholesterol levels
- weight gain
- dry skin
- dry coarse hair
- depression
- vague aches and pains
Let’s get back to the two biggest factors that lead to this disease.
Chinese medicine considers that emotional damage and over-ambitious tendencies are to blame.
By the way, these factors, like a lack of rest, and too much drive, are always related and difficult to separate.
But, what do I mean by emotional damage?
The domino effect of emotional damage!
To understand this we must look at how emotions can impair the function of our liver Qi flow. These emotions include:
- anger
- excessive anxiety
- fear
- excessive thoughts
- depression
Here’s the kicker! These emotions have a domino effect on the body… inhibiting the proper flow of our liver Qi and resulting in Qi stagnation.
But wait, there’s more… Qi stagnation causes an accumulation of body fluids manifesting as phlegm… this in turn, affects our thyroid gland in the front of our neck.
Over-Ambitious tendencies: deficiency and depletion
Needless to say, this is one of the most common phenomena in modern society… a breeding ground for imbalances and disorders.
With this in mind, what is the most common cause of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in Chinese Medicine?
In my clinical experience, I would have to say kidney and spleen depletion… Yang deficiency in most cases.
In modern terms, this can be interpreted as adrenal exhaustion and malfunction of gut health… especially spleen and small intestine strength.
Will I be able to stop taking Thyroxine?
In short, YES!
In western medicine, Thyroxine is prescribed for hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Thyroxine, a thyroid hormone replacement therapy, needs to be taken for life…
The trouble is stopping the medication can result in a recurrence of the symptoms.
So… how can Chinese medicine help! The use of Chinese herbs and acupuncture help to:
- harmonise
- nourish
- strengthen and boost the body
They help the body’s system to repair and recharge when depleted and exhausted.
And that’s not all…
We recommend appropriate lifestyle and diet changes… the treatment can be even more effective and work faster with this approach.
What to Expect with a Disease That Has ‘No Cure’?
In general, it will take weekly treatments over three months to reduce the symptoms.
This time will allow us to build the foundation and strengthen the body… at this point you will start to see improved thyroid hormone readings.
For patients with long-standing conditions, who are on Thyroxine, more treatments are required.
It may take weekly treatments from 6-12 months to reduce the dependence of medication… and improve the strength for recovery.
There is no “cure” for this disease! However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel… Needless to say, at Sustain Health our practitioners aim for:
- successful remission
- and optimal quality of life
Bottom line, this is more than achievable with Chinese medicine and acupuncture. I trust that this article can provide some useful information.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine successfully treat the symptoms of many allergy & autoimmune conditions.
