What is Hashimotos Disease?
Are you a mother of children experiencing fatigue, weight gain and feeling more sensitivity to being cold? You are not alone! Many mothers feel this way and often put it down to the stress of looking after little ones, lack of sleep, not having time to eat nutritional meals and snacks or do any exercise. But, when was the last time you saw your GP and had your thyroid function checked?
Recently I read a facebook post from a woman with Hashimotos Disease. She was experiencing extreme coldness and was asking for suggestions on how other women with this disease deal with the coldness. Many of the people commenting said they didn’t know what Hashimotos was but gave suggestions based on their own experience of feeling cold. As a Shiatsu Therapist I sometimes forget that people don’t have the same level of knowledge as I do about health so was surprised by their comments. In the same week I had a client with this condition so thought it a good time to write a blog article about it.
The Thyroid Gland
Hashimotos occurs when the immune system attacks the thyroid gland. This is the butterfly shaped gland in the neck. The thyroid is a major endocrine gland that produces thryoid hormones that are essential for the promotion of growth and development, especially in children, and maintenance of the body’s homeostasis by regulation of energy production and heat generation.
Initially, inflammation causes the thyroid to leak resulting in an excess of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism). Overtime the inflammation of the thyroid prevents it from producing enough hormones (hypothyroidism). Symptoms can include fatigue, unexplained weight gain, dry or rough skin, hair loss or hair dryness, constipation, depression, enlarged thyroid, joint stiffness, muscle weakness, puffy eyes, sensitivity to cold, slow heart rate and swelling in the extremities.
The Chinese Medicine View of Hashimotos Disease
In traditional chinese medicine (TCM) Hashimotos is considered a chronic deficiency of one or more of the body’s vital substances - qi, blood, yang, yin and essence. It can often start with general qi deficiency and systematically, over a long period of time, affect all the other energetic organ systems. The spleen, kidney and heart are the primary organs to be affected.
Symptoms of Hashimotos or hypothyroidism emerge gradually. The metabolism slows as the body’s qi depletes and a situation of yang deficiency develops. The yang qi is responsible for warming the body, providing motivation and transformation.
The first symptom generally noticed is unexplained fatigue as the spleen qi of the digestive system begins to fail. It becomes unsupported by the body’s main source of fire, The Gate of Vitality or Ming Men, which results in the person beginning to feel a sensitivity to cold. At this stage the spleen and kidney yang have become deficient and symptoms worsen.
As the spleen qi is deficient overall qi and blood is inadequate which depletes the Essence. In years to come the body’s fire will fail to warm the heart. This could lead to cardiac dysfunction. It is extremely rare in developed countries like Australia for people with Hashimotos to advance to this stage. But, if symptoms are untreated a person may have 10 to 15 years before their basic body functions begin to fail.
The Causes of Hashimotos Disease
The causes of Hashimotos include diet, overexertion, emotional stress, trauma, chronic debilitating illness as well as the side effects of medial treatment. From a TCM diet perspective excessive consumption of raw and cold foods and fluids eg uncooked foods, icecream, iced drinks, affect the spleen’s yang qi. A diet lacking in or overloaded with iodine (found in dairy products, seafood, seaweed, eggs) or selinium (found in brazil nuts) can also contribute to hypothyroidism.
There can be a hereditary predisposition to low thyroid function. And, in women, pregnancy and multiple births deplete the body of blood and essence and drain the kidney’s, liver and spleen.
How Can Hashimotos be Treated?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for Hashimotos but it can be managed with medication prescribed by your GP. An acupuncturist can prescribe herbs to further support the body based on your individual diagnosis.
As a Shiatsu Therapist my first job is to determine where the deficiency is coming from and which organ systems have been affected. I do this by asking questions about energy levels, feelings of warmth/cold, bowel movements, urine output and if you’re a woman your experience with menstruation and fertility. During treatment I palpate the abdomen, known as The Hara in Shiatsu, to determine the balance of qi through the energy system. By looking, hearing and touching I find a pattern in the balance between the yin and yang and flow of qi in the body. The Shiatsu is then used to bring a better balance between yin and yang. This is accomplished by bringing more energy to the systems that are deficient. Moxa is often used to help supplement the yang.
The thyroid is one of the most important glands that helps to regulate the whole body including: brain, respiration, cardiovascular and nervous system functions, body temperature, muscle strength, skin dryness, menstrual cycles, weight, energy and water metabolism.
Combining a western and eastern approach can greatly benefit anyone with this condition. As well as ensuring good nutrition and regular exercise, lifestyle factors that contribute to the depletion of qi should also be addressed. This way a person with Hashimotos can live a life of vitality.