Thyroid Treatment: What Should I Do?

Hello, I am Choi Yeon-seung, the chief director of Baengnokdam Korean Medicine Clinic.

Today, I would like to explore thyroid disease, one of the common endocrine disorders among modern people, and propose treatment directions from a Korean medicine perspective. I hope this time serves to deliver hope for a healthy life to those whose daily balance has been disrupted by thyroid dysfunction.

Table of Contents

1. Thyroid Disease: Disrupting the Balance of Body and Mind
2. A Korean Medicine Perspective on Thyroid Disease
3. Customized Herbal Medicine for Functional Recovery
4. Promoting Qi and Blood Circulation with Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapy
5. Emphasizing the Importance of Lifestyle Management
6. Regaining a Healthy Life Balance with Natural Healing Power

1. Thyroid Disease: Disrupting the Balance of Body and Mind

"Lately, I've been suffering from fatigue and a gloomy mood. My whole body feels swollen, and my weight keeps increasing, which is a concern. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at the hospital, and the thought of having to take medication for life feels overwhelming."

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located in the front of the neck, playing a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions such as metabolism, growth, and body temperature. When the balance of hormones secreted by the thyroid is disrupted, problems arise in maintaining the body's homeostasis. Thyroid diseases are largely divided into hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism, where thyroid hormones are excessively secreted, manifests symptoms such as palpitations, heat intolerance, and weight loss. Conversely, hypothyroidism, characterized by decreased hormone secretion, leads to complaints of fatigue, edema, constipation, and depression.

2. A Korean Medicine Perspective on Thyroid Disease

In the case of hyperthyroidism, it is differentiated as a heat pattern, primarily caused by an excessive flourishing of Liver Fire (肝火, ganhwa) or Stomach Heat (胃熱, wiyeol). The Liver is responsible for the function of 'soseol' (疏泄, smooth flow/dispersion of Qi); when Liver Fire becomes excessive, heat accumulates internally, leading to hyperthyroidism. If Stomach Heat gathers, the Upper Jiao (上焦, sangcho) becomes filled with heat, stimulating the thyroid. Conversely, hypothyroidism belongs to a deficiency pattern, with Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency (脾腎陽虛, bisinyangheo) often being the main etiology.

3. Customized Herbal Medicine for Functional Recovery

In herbal medicine treatment for thyroid diseases, the focus should be on regulating the secretion of thyroid hormones. For this, in hyperthyroidism, treatment methods such as Clearing Heat and Draining Fire (清熱瀉火, cheongyeolsahwa) and Calming Liver Yang and Extinguishing Wind (潛陽熄風, jamnyangsikpung) are employed. For hypothyroidism, methods like Warming and Tonifying Spleen and Kidney (溫補脾腎, onbobisin) and Benefiting Qi and Nourishing Blood (益氣養血, ikgiyanghyeol) are utilized. In cases of hyperthyroidism, managing Liver Fire or Stomach Heat is key.

4. Promoting Qi and Blood Circulation with Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapy

Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy is as effective as herbal medicine in treating thyroid diseases. Its notable actions include facilitating circulation in the cervical and nuchal muscle meridians and resolving Qi stagnation (氣鬱, giul).

5. Emphasizing the Importance of Lifestyle Management

For the improvement of thyroid disease symptoms, Korean medicine treatment must be accompanied by lifestyle habit improvements. Above all, stress management is crucial.

6. Regaining a Healthy Life Balance with Natural Healing Power

Korean medicine treatment aims to promote the restoration of homeostasis by regulating thyroid hormone secretion. However, more fundamentally, its goal is to correct the harmony of Qi, Blood, Yin, and Yang and strengthen the functions of the Zang-fu organs to boost the body's natural healing power.