Lesson 7: Alternative Medicine and Lifestyle Influences
Stress Reduction and Miscellaneous Therapies
Stress Reduction
The American Society of Clinical Pathologists reports that stress is the most common trigger for Graves’ disease. Stress is also known to worsen symptoms of hyperthyroidism in most other hyperthyroid disorders. The immune system influences the health of the endocrine and nervous systems. And stress is particularly detrimental to immune system cells. The physician Norman Cousins treated his own autoimmune rheumatic disorder through biofeedback and humor, both of which can be used as stress reduction techniques.
Stress reduction techniques include a variety of methods that provide patients a satisfying escape from stress. Techniques include biofeedback, meditation, focused exercise disciplines such as yoga and tai chi, prayer therapy, aromatherapy, humor and music therapy. The immune system also responds favorably to laughter, praise and pleasurable activities. The immune system is stressed and harmed by recreational drugs, excess alcohol, strenuous exercise, saturated fats and sugar.
Energy Healing
Energy healing involves a number of disciplines used to heal energy blockages within the body. Acupuncture, acupressure and moxibustion are all effective techniques for relieving blockages along the meridians that direct the body’s flow of energy. According to these traditions, diseases develop when the flow of the body’s vital energy or chi is disrupted.
Acupuncture points or acupoints are found at places where the meridians emerge to the body’s surface. Acupoints correspond to specific organs and blockages along specific meridians correspond to specific diseases. Acupuncture, acupressure and moxibustion restore energy balance by manipulating acupoints. In acupuncture needles are used, in acupressure firm pressure is used and in moxibustion acupuncture is complemented by heat.
A number of alternative healing protocols, particularly herbal medicine and homeopathy, incorporate energy healing into their total plan for treating hyperthyroidism. Experts advise using only practitioners of energy medicine who have trained at accredited schools. Used incorrectly these techniques can cause serious injuries.
Chakras
According to this ancient medical tradition, the body has eight distinct centers in which energy is grounded. These centers, which are known as chakras, govern and influence specific organ systems. The thyroid gland is primarily under the influence of the third chakra, which governs the throat, and partially by the sixth chakra, which governs the solar plexus. The throat chakra allows for a proper flow of communication, including creativity and writing. When someone is not allowed to speak his or her views freely, the throat chakra becomes blocked. When someone feels powerless the solar plexus chakra is blocked. Patients with hyperthyroidism often are in powerless situations in which they must hold back their feelings.
The immune system is governed by the fourth chakra, which governs the thymus. In this chakra compassion and peace prevail. When compassion and peace are disturbed, the fourth chakra is blocked and autoimmune diseases develop.
Neural Therapy
Neural therapy, which is also known as craniosacral therapy, is used to free blockages of energy that occur along the spinal column. Disruption to the spine’s energy can occur as a result of trauma, particularly vehicular accidents and circumstances related to birth.
For the past decade, neural therapy has been incorporated into various healing protocols used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism.
