Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment has become increasingly popular for treating thyroid issues affecting as many as 5% of the general population, with at least 5% undiagnosed. Patients with thyroid disorder tend to experience immune system attacks that easily lead to either Hyperthyroidism or Hypothyroidism inflammation if untreated, and dire consequences such as infertility, cardiovascular disease, and both neurological and musculoskeletal symptoms may also follow. Fortunately, research has found that TCM treatment, like Chinese acupuncture has an efficacy rate of 88.7% for improving thyroid symptoms and enhancing the quality of patients’ life.
Types of thyroid disorders
Thyroid, the butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck, is responsible for your metabolism, energy level, hormone regulation, body weight, and blood calcium levels. Essentially, a person’s thyroid is meant to produce T4 and T3 hormones for controlling the body’s metabolism and send signals to cells to release enough energy for regulating the body’s temperature and heart rate.
However, when the thyroid is struck by problems such as iodine imbalances, it can impact your entire body to cause conditions like Hyperthyroidism or Hypothyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism happens when your body doesn’t create and release enough thyroid hormone into your bloodstream. A person with this condition can experience a slowdown in metabolism. Naturally, the drop in metabolic rate produces negative symptoms like lethargy, depression, numbness in the hands and weight increase. Females may also encounter heavy menstrual periods. Although Hypothyroidism can affect anyone regardless of age and gender, it is more commonly found amongst women over 60 years old and after menopause.
Gradually, such conditions can trigger a series of uncomfortable symptoms, such as weight loss due to accelerated metabolism, increased blood pressure, heart palpitations, diarrhoea. In some cases, patients may even develop an enlargement in the neck.
Some of the primary causes of Hypothyroidism are linked to iodine deficiency which imbalances the hormones, Thyroiditis and treatments like radiation and surgery for Hyperthyroidism. It is also found that some patients develop Hypothyroidism as a hereditary condition that is passed down through their family line.
Seeking treatments from a TCM doctor in Singapore can be especially effective for patients with Hyperthyroidism induced by Graves’ disease. Studies has shown that regular TCM treatment not only reduces symptoms but also brings the thyroid function level to a normal range.
How Chinese acupuncture helps with thyroid issues
Chinese acupuncture is a common TCM treatment in Singapore that is used to treat thyroid problems. Chinese acupuncture involves inserting tiny needles into the skin at specific blocked meridian points to stimulate sensory nerves and muscles to improve energy flow so that connected organs will receive the nourishment they require to stay healthy.
Research by the British Acupuncture Council has found that acupuncture can improve thyroid problems in the following ways:
- Improving or balancing thyroid hormone levels in patients with Hypothyroidism
- Decreasing patient’s sensitivity to pain and stress while improving relaxation by acting on specific areas of the brain
- Decreasing patient’s chances of inflammation by improving the release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors
- Improving the release of the chemical adenosine to help reduce patient’s sensitivity to pain
- Enhancing patient’s blood circulation in small blood vessels to improve muscle stiffness and joint mobility
Primarily, Chinese acupuncture works well in strengthening a patient’s immunity to fight against thyroid diseases and reduce the chance of recurrence. If patients can complement TCM treatments with a healthy diet, regular exercise and enjoy a less stressful lifestyle, the process of recovery will be more effective.For more information about TCM treatments for thyroid problems, contact Sin Kang TCM for an appointment. Sin Kang TCM Clinic is a trusted healthcare provider with over 20 years of experience.
