Over or Under Active Thyroid

The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, just in front of the windpipe (trachea).  One of its main functions is to produce hormones that help regulate the body's metabolism (the process that turns food into energy). 

Common signs of an underactive thyroid are tiredness, weight gain and feeling depressed, being sensitive to the cold, muscle aches and dry hair and skin.  An over active thyroid can result in nervousness and irritability, mood swings, insomnia, tiredness and weakness, sensitivity to heat, heart palpitations, twitching or trembling and weight loss.  An overactive thyroid can affect anyone, but it's about 10 times more common in women than men and it typically starts between 20 and 40 years of age.

In the original treatise describing Five Elements Acupuncture it is called a system of internal medicine.  So many of the thyroid symptoms we manifest today are a function of the internal systems of the body malfunctioning, perhaps as a result of physical, mental or emotional stress, or environmental factors like pollution in the atmosphere and in our food. 

The Acupuncturist seeks to prevent the symptoms arising in the first place by identifying the underlying cause of an imbalance and to restore harmony in the patient at the level of mind, body and spirit before a crucial system fails and so.