Treating Thyroid Conditions with Chinese Medicine 10 CEU/ PDA’s Options for Wellness, Inc. 7059 SW 53 Lane, Miami, FL 33155 305-665-0615 www.acupunctureceus.com email: [email protected] CEU PROVIDER Florida– BP 50-2489-1 NCCAOM ACHB-038 California CEP 722 The Thyroid Federation International estimates there are up to 300 million people worldwide suffering from thyroid dysfunction. Over half or 150 million people are presumed to be unaware of their condition. Most people don’t know what their thyroid does, or what the symptoms may be. Symptoms can be fatigue, cold intolerance, muscle weakness, and muscle cramps, constipation, weight gain, swelling, impaired memory and slower thinking, and depression. Symptoms can also include one’s capacity to exercise and their physical performance, and libido and fertility in both genders. Women are diagnosed with thyroid tumors twice as often as men. Women are eight times more likely to have hypothyroidism conditions and about four times more likely than men to have hyperthyroid conditions. Affecting women more and those over 50, people tend to dismiss their symptoms, and think it’s merely stress or aging process and there is nothing to be done. It looks like an even amount of the diagnosed cases of thyroid disease involve both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Western medicine sees the main cause is autoimmune disease or an abnormal immune response. Chinese medicine does not have a single explanation of autoimmune pathology, as a view of the “immune system” didn’t exist in ancient books. We can use pattern differentiation for autoimmune diseases and they can be treated successfully. Chinese medicine is constantly evolving, and using modern terms with acupuncture and herbs being used treating each patient individually according to pathology, aetiology, and patterns despite the fact that is an autoimmune disease. Giovanni Maciocia believes “Latent Heat is often at the root of autoimmune diseases and that immunizations have a lot to do with the development of Latent Heat.” Latent Heat is an ancient concept. It is used to describe the manifestation of pathogenic factors (internal or external) that does not create immediate symptoms, but rather remains latent in the body. Latent Heat conditions are also described as originating from pestilent factors. That could include epidemics, febrile diseases, virus, bacteria or fungus “invading” the body. The factor that is agreed upon is that Latent Heat occurs when the body fails to unblock or clear a pathogenic factor. Latent Heat also tends to injure Qi and/or Yin, thereby establishing a vicious cycle of heat and deficiency. It is also believed that emotional stress is a factor that may bring Latent Heat to the surface. The underlying reason for this is usually a Kidney deficiency. The original idea the Chinese had for Latent Heat applied the idea to ‘Cold’ which entered in the winter, then turned gradually into Heat and came out in the Spring. An explanation of “Wind” penetrating the Interior is that the pathogen / invasive force has penetrated to a level beyond the reach of the normal defensive forces. The patient did not develop exterior symptoms and the illness develops or “incubates” so to speak, turning into Heat and surfaces months or even years later. When immunization occurs, ideally the body should defends itself at the Wei Qi / Defensive Qi level. When and if that fails, the theory is that the vaccine toxin travels through the body unnoticed to the deepest Blood level, where it may turn to Heat or Damp-Heat in time. This may take years, when the causative factor has been forgotten. Latent heat can also cause psychological symptoms, such as anxiety, fears, and sudden outbursts of temper. As it can prevent proper circulation of blood through the heat’s drying effect, normal functions of organs will be impaired. The classic book “Nei Jing” states: “if there is damage by cold in the winter, there will be a warm pathogen disease in the spring”, and “if there is sufficient essence, there will be no warm disease in the spring.” Chinese medicine has a long history of using herbal formulas to clear heat and resolve toxins: ! 220 CE Shang Han Lun where Zhong Zhongjing described the six progressive stages of pathogenic factors moving into the body. ! 752 CE Wang Tao formulated Huang Lian Jie Du Wan to fight toxic infections associated with traumatic blood poisoning. ! 13th century Luo Tianyi formulated Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin to treat fever, sore throat and swollen lymph glands in an epidemic now suspected to be diphtheria. ! 1742 Wu Qian developed Wu Wei Xiao Du Wan for boils, carbuncles, and breast mastitis. ! 1798 Wu Jutang recommended Yin Qiao Wan for common cold and flu, and pediatric fevers with rash now known as measles, chicken pox, and rubella. In more recent times, several popular patent medicines have been studied and gained recognition for their strong antiviral effect: GAN MAO LING CHUAN XIN LIAN ZHONG GAN LING According to western medicine, TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is the gold standard for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid dysfunction. This test alone does not give complete information. A patient’s medical history, symptoms, family history and thorough physical exam along with full thyroid blood panel is necessary. If TSH falls in the ‘normal’ range, the thyroid is declared normal, even when symptoms are present. Normal TSH range from 0.5 to 5.0 with variations depending on the laboratory. Commonly fatigue, weight gain, and depression are presented by the patient as symptoms and ignored by doctors. When the pituitary gland TSH, it stimulates the thyroid gland to produce the thyroid hormones T4 and T3. The majority of thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid are T4, however T3 is the most active form that can be used in the body’s cells. When only TSH or TSH with T4 are tested, the assumption is that the body is properly converting the T4 to T3. It's a complicated process and many people do not convert the hormones correctly. There is a also difference between Total T4 and Total T3 and Free T4 and Free T3. Thyroid hormones are fat soluble and need to be bound to protein that carry them through the blood vessels to cells all over the body. When they reach the cells, the protein needs to be shed as only the unbound “free” hormones can actually enter the cells. Free T3 is critically important and must be tested for to get a complete picture. It is important to ask questions about lifestyle because in times of extreme stress, whether emotional or extreme dieting, chronic illness, or a physical trauma like surgery, the body will convert a larger than normal amount of T4 into an inactive form of T3 known as Reverse T3, which can also be tested for. It is important to request a full thyroid panel for hypothyroidism which should at least include these 6 key thyroid lab tests: TSH Free T4 Free T3 Reverse T3 Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb) Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb) Graves disease is the most common autoimmmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism. It is often recognized by protruding eyes. Western medicine treats this by removing thyroid tissue through surgery or irradiation from an iodine isotope which destroys the tissue. Synthetic thyroid hormone replacement therapy is often necessary to supply the body with thyroid hormones afterwards. There are also thyroid-inhibiting drugs that are used in less severe cases of hyperthyroidism. So the treatment plan is remove it and give synthetic hormones or suppress the thyroid from producing hormones. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common autoimmune disorder that causes hypothyroidism. Hashimoto’s is a condition in which the body attacks its own thyroid gland. It is treated mainly by giving a synthetic thyroid hormone replacement therapy. It is estimated that 90% of people with hypothyroidism have the condition known as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. There are two thyroid antibodies to test for Hashimoto’s and are part of the full thyroid panel listed above: Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb). A different form of thyroid disease was the dominant one in earlier times: iodine-deficiency goiter. This disorder often produces a very large mass in the neck. It has become less common in the United States as a result of the practice of adding iodine to the national salt supply and by the recommendations to consume more seafood. It is also relatively easy to diagnose and treat. Many people continue to have symptoms, even when on synthetic hormone replacement. It’s not so easy to replace hormones as there is a delicate balance. Oftentimes, it can take months for an endocrinologist to figure out the correct dose and blood tests are necessary to measure these hormones, while trying to get it right. It is common to start on low doses and take tests every three to four weeks to try to get it more precise or even change to different thyroid hormones. Many things can affect this, like the time of day medication is taken, whether it was taken with food, and even foods and supplements can interfere with its absorption. Taking too much thyroid hormone can produce symptoms of hyperthyroidism. In traditional Chinese medicine, both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are considered to be a Yin/Yang imbalance. There are eight acupuncture channels which are directly or indirectly connected with the thyroid gland around the neck; Kidney, Liver, Gall Bladder, San Jiao, Urinary Bladder, Stomach, Spleen and Small Intestine channels. Recent research, by both Western and Chinese scientists, offers several exciting theories to reinforce ancient ideas about Yin and Yang balance in the body. Bioelectrons are charged particles that exist in living cells and move freely through the body.