Ancient Therapy Promotes Self-Healing, Cures Goiter Without Surgery

The thyroid gland is an essential endocrine organ responsible for metabolism. Western treatment for thyroid conditions such as goiter often includes surgical resection—a procedure to remove tissue, or part or all of an organ. Dr. Yuen Oi-lin, a registered traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner in Hong Kong, explained how TCM treatment of thyroid disease starts with regulating the immune system and enhancing the body’s self-healing capability—without surgery or relapse. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located at the base of the neck, below the Adam’s apple. Part of the endocrine system, the thyroid gland secretes hormones that control the metabolic processes of every organ in the body—including the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems, bones, skin, and ovaries, and can even affect one’s mood. “Hyperthyroidism” occurs when the thyroid gland is over-active and accelerates the body’s metabolism. Those with hyperthyroidism are prone to rapid heartbeat, irritability, light or missed menstrual cycles, anxiety, hair, and weight loss, and can lead to arrhythmia. “Hypothyroidism” occurs when the thyroid gland is under-active and is characterized by symptoms of fatigue, feeling cold, difficulty concentrating, dry skin and hair, heavy menstruation, joint and muscle pain, depression, and can cause slowing of the heart rate. Goiter is a relatively common condition wherein the thyroid gland becomes enlarged. According to data from Johns Hopkins Hospital, about five percent of Americans experience the condition. There are many causes of an enlarged thyroid, including an over- or under-active thyroid, the existence of nodules, or inflammation of the thyroid. An enlarged thyroid usually does not develop into cancer, but it may cause symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, coughing, and obstructed breathing. Diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases. (Shutterstock) TCM Regulates the Body to Make Tumors and Fluid Build-up Disappear For patients with simple (nontoxic) goiter, modern medicine usually recommends observation for a period without any treatment. If the enlargement is severe and affects breathing and swallowing, all or part of the thyroid gland should be removed by surgery. If it comes with either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, medicine is prescribed to regulate thyroid gland function. Yuen once treated a patient with a benign thyroid tumor. The patient was scheduled for surgery in a public hospital six months out. After two to three months of TCM treatment with acupuncture and Chinese medicine, her tumor shrank significantly. When she returned to her family doctor for a follow-up visit, the doctor said that her recovery was excellent—he encouraged her to continue with TCM treatment and canceled her surgery. Now several years later, her goiter symptoms show no sign of returning. Yuen also treated a 60-year-old female patient with hypothyroidism. She had been scheduled for surgery in a public hospital for two years later. Worried the long waiting time would make her condition worse, she planned to go to a private hospital for surgery as soon as possible. Her son, one of Yuen’s patients, encouraged her to try TCM treatment. After two to three courses of acupuncture and 20-30 treatments of moxibustion (a treatment that involves burning dried mugwort on particular points on the body), coupled with Chinese medicine and dietary treatment, an ultrasound found that the patient’s goiter condition was gone. Yuen explained that overactive or underactive thyroid and a weak immune system may cause fluid accumulation, and treatment should be carried out according to the patient’s constitution. The 60-year-old female patient’s physical problem was a qi deficiency, which means that the body’s energy is insufficient to excrete excess water. By using Chinese medicine and acupuncture to invigorate qi and the kidneys, and to remove water, treatment adjusts the energy in the body to a balanced state to resolve the disease. “The principle of acupuncture and moxibustion is to stimulate the acupoints to speed up metabolism, enhance the immune system, and allow the tumor or fluid in the thyroid to absorb itself,” Yuen said. She suggested that patients with goiter can seek TCM treatment before going under the scalpel and may, therefore, avoid it. She believes that if the enlarged thyroid gland is removed without healing the basic physical issues that cause its enlargement, the disease will persist. Study: TCM Treatment Effective in 90 Percent of Goiter Cases Clinical studies have also found that taking Chinese medicine can improve goiter. About 34 patients with multi-nodular diffuse goiter presented with qi stagnation after diagnosis by TCM—that is, the energy in their bodies was not running smoothly. After taking a decoction containing astragalus, and white peony for six months, 80 percent of the patients’ thyroid glands shrank, and 90 percent of the patients’ conditions improved.

Ancient Therapy Promotes Self-Healing, Cures Goiter Without Surgery

The thyroid gland is an essential endocrine organ responsible for metabolism. Western treatment for thyroid conditions such as goiter often includes surgical resection—a procedure to remove tissue, or part or all of an organ.

Dr. Yuen Oi-lin, a registered traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner in Hong Kong, explained how TCM treatment of thyroid disease starts with regulating the immune system and enhancing the body’s self-healing capability—without surgery or relapse.

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located at the base of the neck, below the Adam’s apple. Part of the endocrine system, the thyroid gland secretes hormones that control the metabolic processes of every organ in the body—including the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems, bones, skin, and ovaries, and can even affect one’s mood.

“Hyperthyroidism” occurs when the thyroid gland is over-active and accelerates the body’s metabolism. Those with hyperthyroidism are prone to rapid heartbeat, irritability, light or missed menstrual cycles, anxiety, hair, and weight loss, and can lead to arrhythmia.

“Hypothyroidism” occurs when the thyroid gland is under-active and is characterized by symptoms of fatigue, feeling cold, difficulty concentrating, dry skin and hair, heavy menstruation, joint and muscle pain, depression, and can cause slowing of the heart rate.

Goiter is a relatively common condition wherein the thyroid gland becomes enlarged. According to data from Johns Hopkins Hospital, about five percent of Americans experience the condition. There are many causes of an enlarged thyroid, including an over- or under-active thyroid, the existence of nodules, or inflammation of the thyroid. An enlarged thyroid usually does not develop into cancer, but it may cause symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, coughing, and obstructed breathing.

Epoch Times Photo
Diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases. (Shutterstock)

TCM Regulates the Body to Make Tumors and Fluid Build-up Disappear

For patients with simple (nontoxic) goiter, modern medicine usually recommends observation for a period without any treatment. If the enlargement is severe and affects breathing and swallowing, all or part of the thyroid gland should be removed by surgery. If it comes with either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, medicine is prescribed to regulate thyroid gland function.

Yuen once treated a patient with a benign thyroid tumor. The patient was scheduled for surgery in a public hospital six months out. After two to three months of TCM treatment with acupuncture and Chinese medicine, her tumor shrank significantly. When she returned to her family doctor for a follow-up visit, the doctor said that her recovery was excellent—he encouraged her to continue with TCM treatment and canceled her surgery. Now several years later, her goiter symptoms show no sign of returning.

Yuen also treated a 60-year-old female patient with hypothyroidism. She had been scheduled for surgery in a public hospital for two years later. Worried the long waiting time would make her condition worse, she planned to go to a private hospital for surgery as soon as possible. Her son, one of Yuen’s patients, encouraged her to try TCM treatment. After two to three courses of acupuncture and 20-30 treatments of moxibustion (a treatment that involves burning dried mugwort on particular points on the body), coupled with Chinese medicine and dietary treatment, an ultrasound found that the patient’s goiter condition was gone.

Yuen explained that overactive or underactive thyroid and a weak immune system may cause fluid accumulation, and treatment should be carried out according to the patient’s constitution. The 60-year-old female patient’s physical problem was a qi deficiency, which means that the body’s energy is insufficient to excrete excess water. By using Chinese medicine and acupuncture to invigorate qi and the kidneys, and to remove water, treatment adjusts the energy in the body to a balanced state to resolve the disease.

“The principle of acupuncture and moxibustion is to stimulate the acupoints to speed up metabolism, enhance the immune system, and allow the tumor or fluid in the thyroid to absorb itself,” Yuen said.

She suggested that patients with goiter can seek TCM treatment before going under the scalpel and may, therefore, avoid it. She believes that if the enlarged thyroid gland is removed without healing the basic physical issues that cause its enlargement, the disease will persist.

Study: TCM Treatment Effective in 90 Percent of Goiter Cases

Clinical studies have also found that taking Chinese medicine can improve goiter. About 34 patients with multi-nodular diffuse goiter presented with qi stagnation after diagnosis by TCM—that is, the energy in their bodies was not running smoothly. After taking a decoction containing astragalus, and white peony for six months, 80 percent of the patients’ thyroid glands shrank, and 90 percent of the patients’ conditions improved.

In addition to simple goiter, a study by Hong Kong Baptist University also found that nearly 90 percent of patients improved after receiving Chinese medicine treatment for hyperthyroidism, and 13 percent fully recovered.

Tips for Daily Diet and Self-Massage Therapy

In addition to medicine and acupuncture, a patient’s daily diet and lifestyle habits are also particularly important. Yuen pointed out that patients with hyperthyroidism should avoid overeating iodine-rich foods such as seaweed, fish and shellfish, eggs, beef liver, etc., during treatment.

As patients with hyperthyroidism are prone to potassium deficiency they need to eat potassium-rich foods such as peaches, bananas, winter squash, beans, etc. Fried foods, coffee, strong tea, hot peppers, etc., should be avoided as these foods will further increase the metabolism.

Yuen suggested that patients practice soothing exercises, such as leisure walking or Tai Chi, to promote energy balance in the body.

She also recommends a self-health care method known in TCM as the “knock the gallbladder meridian.” The “biliary meridian” is the energy channel of the gallbladder and runs along the midline of the outer thighs on both sides to the front dorsum of the lateral malleolus. Frequently “knocking” or beating the fists along the gallbladder meridian can prevent disease, regulate metabolism, and relieve emotions.

Epoch Times Photo
(The Epoch Times)