Expert Advice

Acella Pharmaceuticals 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.

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. Acella Pharmaceuticals, LLC does not endorse, promote or sponsor any products or brands mentioned in this article. The views expressed here are those of the author.

An Ancient Medicine

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine have been practiced for thousands of years in Asian countries. Records of ancient Chinese acupuncture dated more than 3,000 years ago have been found on bone etchings in China. Otzi, the 5,000-year-old mummified man discovered in Central Europe in 1991, was found to have tattoos at acupuncture point locations.

While the term Chinese medicine covers a variety of modalities, acupuncture is perhaps the most well-known form of Chinese medicine practiced in the United States. Many practitioners refer to their work as acupuncture and Chinese medicine to indicate that while their focus is on acupuncture, the foundation is rooted in Chinese medicine in terms of their training and approach. This term also suggests that they employ additional Chinese medicine practices such as cupping or moxibustion.

Focus on Wellness

What often draws people to Chinese medicine is its focus on the overall wellness of the individual rather than fighting a disease or painful condition. When energy in the body becomes disrupted, the disharmony creates pain or illness. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help restore the optimal flow of energy so the body can heal itself.

Energetic Pathways

According to Chinese medicine, energy, or qi, flows through channels, also referred to as meridians, throughout the body. This energetic system can be thought of as a network of interconnected rivers or highways, much like the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems in the body. Each of the major organs is associated with a channel, and the channels are connected to muscles, bones and joints as well as organs. There are 12 primary channels: lung, large intestine, stomach, spleen, heart, small intestine, bladder, kidney, Xin Bao (pericardium), San Jiao (triple warmer), gall bladder and liver. There are also six extraordinary (curious) vessels.

Acupuncture points occur along the channels at specific points where the qi is concentrated and accessible. There are more than 365 acupuncture points and a multitude of extraordinary points throughout the body.

Connection to the Thyroid

Just as each person is unique, a Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment is tailored to the individual. Hypothyroidism can result from a number of different kinds of disruptions to the body’s energetic pathways and energy flow. For example, there may not be enough energy present in the kidneys’ or spleen’s energetic pathway, or even in the body’s qi or energy system overall. This lack of energy or movement relates to the body’s lower performing thyroid. Another possibility is what is referred to as a blood deficiency, which can occur after a woman gives birth. This reduced amount of blood and energy can contribute to a sluggish thyroid. A Chinese medicine practitioner will make a detailed assessment of the patient’s health history and presentation to determine exactly where the energy needs to be harmonized.

Complementary to Western Medicine

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are complementary to Western medicine and are increasingly being used in integrative medicine centers and hospitals worldwide. Doctors seeking a holistic solution for their patients will often refer their patients to an acupuncturist to restore balance to the body’s energetic systems and help the patient’s body heal.