Are you tired all of the time? Do you have trouble concentrating? Are you cold and achy? Are you finding that you do not enjoy the things that used to make you happy? Have you been gaining weight even though you eat right and exercise daily?
If this is you it is important to know that you are not alone. Many people have symptoms of hypothyroidism with blood tests that do not reveal anything out of the ordinary. One of the reasons why it is so hard to diagnose a thyroid condition is because it is only a small part of a complex and intricate matrix called the endocrine system. The endocrine system consists of 8 main glands and secondary sex glands.
The hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenals, thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, pineal, thymus, ovaries in women, testes in men, and the placenta in pregnant women are all apart of the endocrine matrix. The endocrine system is responsible for regulating hormones. If there is a shift in balance in any part of the endocrine system, then all of the endocrine structures will be affected. The key is targeting where the glitch in the system lies.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, symptoms of a thyroid imbalance are indications of an imbalance of yin & yang in the body. Yin qualities are darker, heavy, night, moon, feminine, inactive, slow, moist, cold, and receptive. Yang qualities are lighter, warmer, daytime, masculine, fast, active, and dry. What makes the Chinese Medical system work so well is that it’s the entire person that is being treated, not just the disease.
A weekly acupuncture treatment plus herbal remedies can help balance hormones and alleviate stress. Dietary modifications, and engaging in stress relieving activities such as yoga, meditation, or exercise have already been proven to be beneficial.
Simple dietary habits that could improve the thyroid’s function include increasing your intake of selenium, including foods that contain iodine like fish and sea veggies, eating foods like meat and fish that contain the amino acid l-tyrosine, restricting raw cruciferous vegetable intake, taking a good multivitamin that includes A, C, D, E, Zinc, and the B vitamins, and of course eating plenty of fiber rich fruits, veggies, and whole unprocessed grains.
Common endocrine disorder symptoms treated with acupuncture and herbs include:
| chronic fatigue | diabetes | hypoglycemia | thyroid disease |
| insomnia | depression | anxiety | headaches |
| PMS | dry skin | food allergies | food cravings |
| weight gain | chronic pain | allergies | alcohol intolerance |
| hair loss | indigestion | weakness | sensitivity to cold/head |
| poor memory | frustation | osteoporosis | difficulty concentrating |
| diarrhea | constipation | IBS | lightheadedness |
| palpitations | dizziness | low blood pressure | high blood pressure |