When the thyroid gland is healthy, it produces hormones that regulate metabolism (the hormones convert food into energy). Graves’ disease is a common thyroid problem and is the number one cause of hyperthyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid produces too much hormones causing a lot of adverse symptoms. In Graves’s disease, however, this excess hormone production that causes trembling, weight loss, sweating, heart palpitations, and more can’t be controlled by the thyroid hormone TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone – thyroxine). Graves’ disease creates abnormal antibodies that mimic the function of TSH causing the thyroid to overwork and keep on overproducing hormones.
An autoimmune condition, Graves’ disease is thought to be caused by both environmental (such as stress) and genetic factors. Two to three percent of Americans (around 10 million) suffer from this disease with smokers, and women (especially pregnant women) the most likely to be affected. Standard Western medicine has no real solution to this condition. Its way of controlling this disease is through iodine (radioactive) therapies, prescription drugs (anti-thyroid medications and beta blockers) and in some cases, surgery to take out the diseased thyroid.
Other symptoms of Grave’s include:
Intolerance to heat
Exophthalmos (enlarged eyeballs)
Excessive sweating
Muscle weakness
Insomnia
Frequent bowel movements
Double vision
Shortness of breath
Increased appetite
Anxiety
Acupuncture
In Chinese medicine, Graves’ disease is called gu yan ning jing, which means “dove-like fixed eye”. For centuries, practitioners use Chinese herbs and acupuncture to treat this disease, which is deemed to be the result of stagnant chi (chi: life energy) complicated by build-up of phlegm and liver and heart yin deficiency with weak fire. Basically, the cooling ability of the body is malfunctioning and weak.
Western medicine has integrated acupuncture into its treatment for Graves’ disease. As acupuncture has been found to regulate hormone and neuropeptide release as well as the autonomic nervous system, it can be used as a standalone treatment for Graves’s or as an adjunct to other conventional treatments. A Chinese clinical study done in 1988 and published and reviewed by Subhuti Dharmananda, PhD showed that, “…Acupuncture treatment was successful in treating benign thyroid nodules (cystic goiter, nodular goiter, thyroid adenoma, but not thyroiditis or thyroid carcinoma). The treatment led to a longstanding efficacy rate of 90% in treating the nodules. Almost 50 percent of the test subjects were cured (measured by ultrasonography and palpation of the neck), and a great majority of the remaining subjects experience significant improvement.”
The following is a list of how Chinese medicine categorizes the different reasons and outcomes of Graves’ disease.
Stagnation of Liver Qi Stagnation
This pattern of disharmony causes the build-up of fluids that transforms into Phlegm that then blocks chi flow in the neck gradually causing goiter. Liver Qi that has stagnated converts into fire that can be seen in symptoms such as irritability and fidgeting. If the body fluids are consumed by stomach Yin and fire, the ensuing Yin Deficiency creates heat. Stagnation of Liver Qi can be expressed in the body as irritability, PMS, painful menses, irregular menses, unhappiness, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, changes in mental state, depression, moodiness, and melancholy.
Liver Fire Flaring Up
Symptoms include nose bleeds, coughing and/or vomiting of blood, constipation with dry stools, sleep disrupted by dreams, bitter taste, thirst, red eyes and face, dizziness, temporal headache, deafness, high-pitched tinnitus, irritability, and frequent outbursts of anger.
Kidney Fluid and Qi Deficiency
This leads to water inadequacy, which causes surplus heat that in turn, damages the life energy. Surplus heat also injures the Yin and also usually affects the Stomach, Liver, and Heart.
Heart Yin Deficiency
Symptoms include excessive sweating, insomnia, forgetfulness, fidgeting, and fear with palpitations or severe palpitations.
Qi Disturbed by Anger and Sorrow
This is caused by a weakening of the Spleen and Stomach Qi (possibly due to diet and emotions) that creates Moist and Turbid substances that travel to the thyroid area by excess Liver Qi stimulation. This pattern leads to protrusion of the eyes and neck swelling.
Damp Phlegm
Symptoms include joint problems, lumps and swelling, a feeling of stuffiness in the epigastrium and chest, no thirst or appetite, and coughing of abundant phlegm that is sticky and white.
Spleen Yang Deficiency
This leads to loose stools, indigestion and production of Phlegm goes to the eyes and cause exophthalmos or travels up to the neck and causes enlarged nodules or thyroid.
Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency
Manifests as female infertility, delayed menses, amenorrhea or scanty menses, difficult dry stools, heat sensation in the soles and palms, night sweats, tinnitus, dry throat, soreness of the low back, easy outbursts of anger, blurred vision, dry eyes, dizziness, flushed cheeks, numbness in the limbs, dream-disturbed sleep, sallow complexion, insomnia, and vertical or dull occipital headache.
Chinese Herbs
If done under the guidance of a qualified practitioner, Chinese herbs for use in treating Graves’ disease can be a great way to treat the condition. Some Chinese herbs however, are banned in the U.S. forcing some of the Graves’ disease sufferers to go overseas for treatment. Based on the patient’s history and symptoms, a few Chinese herbs that may be prescribed include:
Scrophularia and raw rehmannia: To purge fire and nourish Yin
Wang Chi (Root of Astragali Membranacei): To tonify qi and increase Yang
Licorice, lyceum fruit, moutan, peony, salvia, citrus, bupleurum, scrophularia, ophiopogon,and codonopsis: All dispel heat and alleviate various symptoms related to Graves’ disease
Oyster shell and fritillaria: Resolve phlegm, and treats swelling and thyroid nodules
Treating Graves’ disease with Chinese herbs and acupuncture can be an ideal plan of treatment. Seek proper advice and guidance when considering alternative approaches for this disease and closely monitor any contraindications.
Ni Nan Gilbert is a licensed acupuncturist in Bellmore, NY with certification in Chinese Herbology and over 16 years experience in traditional Chinese medicine.