TCM Intervention of Benign Thyroid Nodules
Many people find that nodules grow on the thyroid after yearly check-up. They will be very nervous and anxious and want to know why they get nodules and how to treat them.
In the view of TCM, what are the factors causing thyroid nodules?
A）Congenital factors – people with the following constitution are prone to nodules.
- Qi Stagnation Constitution:
Depression, tension, chest fullness, bloating, belching and sighing
- Qi deficiency constitution:
Tired easily, poor appetite, easy to catch a cold, feeble voice, like quiet
- Blood stasis Constitution:
Dark complexion or suggillation, dark lips, dark purple tongue, pain disorder
- Yang deficiency constitution:
Like warm and feel the cold, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dysmenorrhea, infertility, impotence
- Phlegm-dampness Constitution:
Heavy body, abdominal obesity, loose stools, puffy eyelids
B） Acquired factors:
1） Disorder of menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and lactation;
2） Like to eat spicy and stimulating food, excessive use of iodized salt;
3） Have mental stress, easy to sulk or get angry;
4） Stay up late;
5） Lack of exercise.
The holistic view of TCM holds that ” everything inside must form everything outside “. The above factors lead to the deficiency of healthy Qi, the dysfunction of the liver, spleen and other viscera, the stagnation of phlegm and Qi and blood stasis for a long time, the stagnation of meridians in front of the neck, and the formation of thyroid nodules. Figuratively speaking, the pathological products such as nodules, cysts and fibroids in the body are like malformed fruits growing on the poor-quality land.
Western medicine generally believes that nodules do not need surgery and can be rechecked regularly. However, patients with malignant nodules, regardless of size, benign nodules greater than 1 cm or cysts greater than 2-3 cm and obvious compression symptoms need surgery. Hypothyroidism requires lifelong medication.
As we know that thyroxine is an indispensable hormone in the human body. It participates in the metabolism of material and energy, promotes physical and intellectual development, and has a significant impact on the bone, nervous system and reproductive system.
Once the thyroxine-producing glands are destroyed or removed, oral hormone supplementation is required. In this way, lifelong drug users may face a thorny problem. If they take drugs for a long time or overdose, they may have side effects such as bleeding, rapid heartbeat, elevated blood pressure and blood sugar, osteoporosis and so on.
In order to avoid the development of the disease to the extent of requiring surgery or lifelong medication, it is recommended that patients with benign thyroid nodules try early intervention treatment of TCM.
The advantages of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture are,
1) Quickly reducing throat symptoms, such as pressure, obstruction, sore throat, dysphagia, dyspnea, etc;
2) Controlling or reducing or even eliminating nodules;
3) Maintaining the normal function of the remaining thyroid tissue;
4) Improving constitution, that is, improving the internal environment for the occurrence and development of thyroid nodules to prevent recurrence;
5) Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture have no toxic and side effects, but the course of treatment is quite long.
What can patients do by themselves?
1） Have a regular work and rest life and avoid staying up late
2） Keep in a good mood
3） Have close friends
4） When under great mental stress, you can turn to a psychologist if necessary
5） Strengthen exercise
6） The diet is nutritious and balanced. If one often eats seafood, non-iodized salt is suggested
7） Try to avoid spicy food, smoking and alcohol
Dr. Zheng Shu Hua offers TCM evaluation and treatments in the Downtown (Xintiandi) clinic. Click here to make an appointment with her.
