Expert Advice

Acella Pharmaceuticals, LLC, is partnering with Ericca Burke, a board-certified licensed acupuncturist, to bring greater awareness to the importance of thyroid care and education. This post was sponsored by Acella Pharmaceuticals and should not be construed as medical advice. Please talk to your doctor about your individual medical situation.

Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider before beginning any exercise, fitness, diet, or nutrition routine.

In this post we’ll explore various Chinese medicine modalities that may help patients with hypothyroidism. We’ll provide an overview of the following treatments:

• Acupuncture needles
• Electrical stimulation
• Acupressure
• Tuning forks
• Moxibustion
• Tui na
• Ear seeds

Acupuncture Needles

The practice of acupuncture involves a practitioner gently inserting

sterile, single-use thin needles into the skin. The needles stimulate points in the body where “qi,” or energy, gathers and help direct and balance energy flow. People are often surprised to learn that acupuncture needles are so thin that up to 40 acupuncture needles can fit inside one standard hypodermic needle. When treating a patient with hypothyroidism, the acupuncturist first determines the root cause of the hypothyroidism from a Chinese medicine perspective. The diagnosis guides the selection of points where acupuncture needles should be inserted to help restore energetic balance in the body.

Electrical Stimulation

Electrical stimulation, or “e-stim,” is also called electro-acupuncture. This modality uses a device that connects electrodes to acupuncture needles. The device sends an electrical current between acupuncture points which can be very tonifying. Electrical stimulation can be helpful in deficient conditions such as hypothyroidism. It is also commonly used with injuries to reduce inflammation and stimulate healing.

Acupressure

Acupressure is the application of gentle pressure to acupuncture points using the fingers. Points are massaged with a downward pressure in small circular motion for up to one minute at a time. This is a great option for people who are afraid of needles. It is a primary treatment option in telemedicine or when patients are not able to visit the office. Acupressure can also be done at home in between in-office acupuncture treatments.

Tuning Forks

Tuning forks can be used in a Chinese medicine treatment when they are activated and placed at acupuncture points to stimulate the points. The sound waves of the tuning forks travel deeply into the body along the energy channels. Tuning forks are an interesting option for children as well as people who are too sensitive for acupuncture needles. The vibration of the tuning forks connects with and supports the body’s natural frequencies to balance the body.

Moxibustion

Moxibustion refers to the process of burning “moxa” close to the skin. Moxa is a term used for the dried herb Artemesia vulgaris, or mugwort. The herb is typically pressed and wrapped into cylinders. The moxa roll is lit and blown until only a gentle smoke remains. Burning moxa close to the surface of the skin stimulates acupuncture points. Moxa is particularly helpful in deficient conditions such as hypothyroidism. It may be applied to areas such as the lower back or the insides of the ankles to help strengthen the body’s energy.

Tui Na

Tui na is a form of therapeutic massage that employs rhythmic compression techniques along the body’s energy channels to bring the flow of energy back into balance. Tui means to “push” and na means “grasp” in Chinese. Tui na helps harmonize the flow of qi (energy) and blood. Patients with hypothyroidism may receive tui na in areas such as the lower back and along the energy channels associated with the kidneys.

Ear Seeds

Ear seeds are small seeds that are held to acupuncture points on the ear with adhesive tape. The process of activating acupuncture points on the ear is called auriculotherapy. The external ear contains a microsystem of the human body, and a variety of points can be found on the ear to support the thyroid and help treat hypothyroidism. Ear seeds can be used as a standalone treatment, and they are also a great addition to an acupuncture treatment. Ear seeds may be worn up to five days at a time.

Additional modalities

Additional modalities used in Chinese medicine treatments include cupping and gua sha. Cupping is a form of deep-tissue massage where an oil is applied to the skin and cups are attached to the body by a vacuum seal that is created by heat or a pump. Gua sha is also a massage technique that is more of a stroking technique where the skin is press-stroked using a smooth-edged massage tool. The word “gua” in Chinese refers to the stroking or scraping motion and “sha” refers to the resulting redness. Both of these techniques are typically used to treat excess-type conditions. Since hypothyroidism is considered to be more of a deficient condition, cupping and gua sha would not typically be used to treat hypothyroidism.

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