Take Charge of Your Thyroid Disorder with Acupuncture Pressure Point #17: The Small Intestine
As a complete system of medicine, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine treats and supports not only pain, which is what brings most people in, but in fact anything health and medically related, including endocrine issues such hyper- and hypothyroid. The approach in diagnosis and treatment is much different than a western medical doctor, of course, but one that can be integrated into a healthcare plan to help encourage healing and even thriving.
Chinese medicine attributes many functional aspects to the organs that do not always correspond to how western medicine explains how they work. In Chinese medicine the organs create, regulate, and circulate Qi, blood, and body fluids as well as help to transform, move and excrete food, fluid and substances. The Spleen, for example, has almost nothing in common with the biomedical spleen, and is more closely related to the pancreas, although this organ is not mentioned in Chinese medical texts.
With any one disease, an acupuncturist will look for
underlying patterns of disharmony associated with the organs and treat accordingly with different acupuncture points, herbs, and nutritional advice. With hypothyroidism that has symptoms such as intolerance to cold, weight gain, fatigue, constipation, enlarged neck or goiter—one common pattern seen is Spleen Qi deficiency. The Spleen plays an important role in the creation of Qi and blood, if this is impaired one can feel tired, cold and weak. With hyperthyroidism that has symptoms such as goiter, tachycardia, warm/moist skin, tremors, palpitations, nervousness, increased activity and sweating, sensitivity to heat, increased appetite, weight loss, insomnia, increased frequency of stools and exophthalmos (bulging of the eyes)—a common pattern seen is Liver Qi stagnation with phlegm production. Among many other functions, the Liver is in charge of the free and smooth flow of Qi in the body, when this gets stuck, one can feel irritable, experience chest oppression, headaches, blurry or dry eyes. When the Qi is not flowing properly, fluids can congeal to form phlegm, which can manifest as a stuck feeling in the throat.
Acupuncture points along the Spleen and Liver channels can definitely be used to help balance thyroid issues as well as local points on the neck near the thyroid. The point Small Intestine 17, named Tian Rong or Heavenly Appearance, is located bilaterally on the neck between the front edge of the sternocleidomastoid (or SCM) muscle and the angle of the jaw. If you feel below your ear lobe, there is a depression in front of the ropey muscle on the neck just next to the corner of the mandible or lower jaw bone. This point benefits the neck and throat, disperses swelling and descends rebellious Qi with symptoms such as cough, obstruction of and pain in the throat, goiter (enlarged thyroid), clenched teeth, swelling of the cheek and more.
For any of your health concerns, consider including acupuncture as part of your journey to wellness.
Sources:
The Treatment of Modern Western Medical Diseases with Chinese Medicine by Bob Flaws & Philippe Sionneau
A Manual of Acupuncture by Peter Deadman
A Patient’s Guide to Acupuncture by Sarah Swanberg
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