Thyroid Dysfunction
It’s all about the balance
The Thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of our throat and is part of the endocrine system. Just about every organ in the body is affected if the thyroid is not functioning optimally. For a tiny little gland, it can have a huge impact. Heart and digestive function, metabolic rate, muscle control, brain development, and bone maintenance are all impacted by your thyroid.
Thyroid dysfunction occurs more often in women than men and is more common in people who suffer from other autoimmune diseases, such as Coeliacs. It generally happens during the 40s. Since the thyroid requires a good supply of Iodine to function, those with low-iodine diets are also at risk.
So, if you are having trouble with your thyroid – what can you do?
Firstly, the thyroid can malfunction in two main ways – overactive, or Hyperthyroidism; and underactive, Hypothyroidism.
If your thyroid is overactive you are likely to suffer from
- rapid and irregular heartbeat
- palpitations
- increased appetite
- tiredness
- irritability
If your thyroid is underactive it is likely you will have a
- reduced appetite, but suffer weight gain
- develop an intolerance of the cold
- have a low heart rate
- poor memory
- stiff muscles
- a chance to suffer infertility.
Either way, your thyroid needs to be kept in balance to ensure health and well-being.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is all about maintaining the balance of yin and yang in the body, so it makes sense that this type of treatment can help with thyroid dysfunction, which is essentially an imbalance of hormones. Interestingly, thyroid imbalances were noted in Chinese texts around 300BC.
Generally, a practitioner will establish which organs of the body have been most affected by the thyroid dysfunction, in order to determine the correct course of treatment. This is likely to include a combination of Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and dietary changes, which will be used to restore the Yin/Yang balance. There are eight acupuncture channels connected to the thyroid gland, and these can be used to determine which aspect of the body is most affected by thyroid dysfunction, and address the symptoms. Moxibustion and cupping may also be used in treatment depending on the specific diagnosis.
At Precision Health Spine & Sports Clinic our highly regarded Traditional Chinese Medicine specialist is available Monday, Tuesday, and Friday 2 pm till 7 pm. Book an appointment online now, or call our clinic.
If you have any form of thyroid dysfunction and would like to seek advice or treatment, call our Baulkham Hills Clinic on (02) 9639 7337.
