Guasha is a commonly used physical therapy method in traditional Chinese medicine, which has a good regulating effect on many diseases. Can Guasha be used for hyperthyroidism?
Can Guasha be used for hyperthyroidism?
Guasha can be used for hyperthyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism is an endocrine disorder caused by excessive secretion of thyroid hormones due to various causes. There are many types of hyperthyroidism, and diffuse goiter and nodular goiter are common in clinical practice. It is characterized by mild to moderate diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland in the anterior neck, accompanied by symptoms such as irritability, dry throat, palpitations, insomnia, red face, heat intolerance, excessive sweating, increased appetite, and weight loss. Some patients may also experience hand tremors and protruding eyes.
Guasha therapy is based on the theory of dermatology in traditional Chinese medicine. It uses tools such as buffalo horn and jade to scrape the corresponding parts of the skin to achieve the purpose of dredging meridians and promoting blood circulation, and can also regulate the meridian energy, relieve fatigue, and increase immune function. It has a positive effect on alleviating symptoms of hyperthyroidism and can be used as an adjuvant therapy for hyperthyroidism.
Note:
Guasha treatment should be avoided when symptoms of hyperthyroidism occur, such as tachycardia, palpitations, red face, hand tremors, protruding eyes, nausea, vomiting, and high fever. It is necessary to seek medical treatment promptly and adopt combined Chinese and Western medicine treatment.
Where to perform Guasha for hyperthyroidism (with pictures)
1. Guasha sites
1. Select Fengchi acupoint of the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian to guide qi and open collaterals;
2. Select Tiantu acupoint of the Conception Vessel to directly act on the thyroid gland and reduce metabolism;
3. Select Fengmen and Shenshu acupoints of the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian to supplement earth and solidify absorption;
4. Select Renying acupoint of the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian to invigorate the spleen and reinforce qi;
5. Select Hegu acupoint of the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian to clear the intestines and promote bowel movement.
2. Guasha methods
1. Scrapping the head
Scrape along the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian from top to bottom, with a focus on Fengchi acupoint.
2. Scrapping the waist and back
Scrape along the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian from top to bottom, with a focus on Fengmen and Shenshu acupoints.
3. Scrapping the front of the neck
Scrape along the middle line of the front of the neck from top to bottom, with a focus on Renying and Tiantu acupoints.
4. Scrapping the back of the forearm
Scrape along the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian from top to bottom, with a focus on Hegu acupoint.
Can Guasha be performed on the swollen neck caused by hyperthyroidism?
Swollen neck caused by hyperthyroidism, also known as diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland, is a common symptom of hyperthyroidism. Guasha can be performed, but it is important to note that direct scraping on the enlarged thyroid gland and thyroid nodules should be avoided to prevent adverse consequences.
Can Guasha be performed on the neck for hyperthyroidism?
1. If hyperthyroidism patients do not have diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland or nodular goiter, Guasha can be performed on the neck. However, when scraping the front of the neck, the pressure should be light because the fat layer on the front of the neck is thin and the skin is fragile, which can easily cause injury if not handled properly.
2. If hyperthyroidism patients have thyroid enlargement and thyroid nodules, direct scraping on the enlarged and nodular areas should be avoided to prevent ulceration, infection, spread, and malignant transformation.
Precautions for Guasha therapy
1. Precautions before Guasha
1. Guasha therapy requires exposed skin, and the sweat pores of the skin are open during Guasha. If exposed to cold wind, pathogenic cold may directly enter the body through the open pores, affecting the effectiveness of Guasha therapy and possibly causing new diseases. Therefore, choose a good treatment location with fresh and well-ventilated air, and pay attention to keeping warm and avoiding drafts. Expose as little skin as possible.
2. Choose a comfortable position for Guasha to facilitate scraping and prevent dizziness from scraping.
3. The scraping tools should be strictly disinfected to prevent cross-infection. Before scraping, carefully check the scraping tools to avoid scraping the skin.
4. The hands of the practitioner should also be disinfected.
5. Before scraping, explain the general knowledge of Guasha to the patient to eliminate their fear and gain their cooperation to prevent dizziness from scraping.
6. Avoid Guasha treatment when the patient is extremely hungry, full, or under excessive tension, as it may aggravate the condition.
2. Precautions during Guasha
1. The scraping technique should be evenly and forcefully applied, within the patient's tolerance, until petechiae appear.
2. Infants, young children, and the elderly should use a lighter scraping technique.
3. Do not blindly pursue petechiae and use excessive force or prolong scraping time. The amount of petechiae is influenced by various factors. Generally, blood stasis syndrome produces more petechiae; excess syndrome and heat syndrome produce more petechiae; deficiency syndrome and cold syndrome produce less petechiae; taking too many drugs, especially glucocorticoids, makes it difficult to produce petechiae; obese individuals or those with well-developed muscles are less likely to produce petechiae; yin meridians produce fewer petechiae than yang meridians; it is difficult to produce petechiae when the room temperature is low.
4. During scraping, frequently ask the patient about their feelings. If dizziness from scraping occurs, such as fatigue, dizziness, pale face, nausea, cold sweat, palpitations, cold limbs, or decreased blood pressure and confusion, immediately stop scraping. Comfort the patient and avoid tension, help them lie down, keep them warm, and give them warm water or sugar water. If there is no relief, lightly press the angles of the scraping tool on the water channel acupoint to avoid edema after pressing. Use the purging scraping method on Baihui and Yongquan acupoints. After the patient's condition improves, continue scraping Neiguan acupoint and Zusanli acupoint.
3. Precautions after Guasha
1. Guasha treatment opens the sweat pores of the skin and expels pathogenic factors. It also consumes some of the body's fluids. After Guasha treatment, drink a cup of warm water and rest for a while.
2. After Guasha treatment, to prevent pathogenic cold invasion, the skin pores need to close and return to their original state before bathing, which usually takes about 3 hours.
3. For some patients with complicated and critical conditions, in addition to Guasha treatment, other therapies should be combined, such as drug treatment, to avoid delaying the condition.
What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
1. Increased metabolism and excessive sympathetic nervous system activity
Patients often experience increased appetite, easy hunger, weight loss, weakness, heat intolerance, excessive sweating, and moist skin. They may also have fever, diarrhea, irritability, hyperactivity, insomnia, increased heart rate, and in severe cases, arrhythmia, cardiac enlargement, and even heart failure.
2. Varying degrees of diffuse and symmetrical enlargement of the thyroid gland
The degree of thyroid gland enlargement does not necessarily parallel the severity of the disease. Due to dilation of blood vessels and increased blood flow in the gland, murmurs can be heard on the enlarged thyroid gland, or palpable tremors similar to panting in cats can be felt.
3. Eye changes
Due to excessive sympathetic nervous system stimulation, patients may have widened eye fissures, retracted eyelids, reduced blinking, and appear in a staring or startled expression. Severe eye involvement can cause optic disc and/or retinal edema, hemorrhage, visual impairment, and even blindness.
What should not be done with hyperthyroidism?
1. Avoid intense exercise
When the condition of hyperthyroidism is not well controlled, the body's tissue metabolism is often in a negative balance, with catabolism often exceeding anabolism. At this time, vigorous physical activity should be avoided. For those engaged in heavy physical labor, the intensity can be appropriately reduced. Students can be exempted from physical education classes or not participate in intense sports activities. Athletes can temporarily refrain from participating in competitive sports.
2. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol
Hyperthyroidism patients often have changes in their eyes, such as protruding eyes. Many medical literature clearly indicates that smoking can have adverse effects on hyperthyroid eye disease and can worsen eye protrusion.
During hyperthyroidism, the body has excessive thyroid hormones, which can affect the function of various systems in the body and produce a series of hyperactive and excited clinical manifestations. Since cigarettes and alcohol can have obvious excitatory and stimulating effects on the body's many systems, after smoking or drinking alcohol, patients may experience increased heart rate, aggravated hand tremors, and other symptoms, making the original mild symptoms of hyperthyroidism more pronounced.
3. Avoid triggers
Hyperthyroidism has many types, among which Graves' disease is most common and its occurrence is related to factors such as genetics and autoimmunity. Whether symptoms of hyperthyroidism occur also depends on some triggering factors. Avoiding these environmental factors may prevent the occurrence of hyperthyroidism symptoms, delay the onset of symptoms, or alleviate the symptoms.
Common triggering factors include: ① Infection, such as cold, tonsillitis, etc. ② Mental stimulation, such as anxiety, mental tension, etc. ③ Excessive fatigue, such as overwork, strenuous activities, etc. ④ Pregnancy. Early pregnancy may trigger or worsen hyperthyroidism. ⑤ Trauma, such as car accidents, injuries, etc. ⑥ Excessive iodine intake, such as consuming large amounts of seaweed and other seafood. ⑦ Certain drugs, such as amiodarone.
4. Do not stop medication without authorization
Follow the doctor's instructions, take medication on time and in the prescribed dosage, and do not stop or change the dosage of the medication without authorization. If dose reduction or dose increase and other medications are needed, the doctor's consent should be obtained to prevent unexpected situations.
5. Avoid negative emotions and accumulation
Mental stimulation is a common trigger for the onset of the disease, often aggravated by anxiety, emotional instability, and mental tension.
Therefore, hyperthyroidism patients should pay attention to regulating their emotions, cultivating their temperament, avoid anger, rest their minds, frequently listen to pleasant music, develop habits of planting flowers, raising fish, and birds, etc., to cultivate their mood and spirit, and eliminate mental symptoms gradually. Family members and colleagues should provide sympathy, comfort, understanding, and care, and avoid direct conflicts.
6. Avoid excessive fatigue
Maintain regular daily routines, have sufficient rest and sleep time, avoid strenuous exercise and any activity that can cause tension and excitement, and avoid sun exposure. During the onset of the disease, appropriate bed rest is necessary. The rest environment should be quiet and the air should be well-ventilated. If the disease is mild, mild activities can be performed while avoiding excessive physical exertion.
After the condition stabilizes, participate in beneficial activities and work to adjust the enjoyment of life, but avoid excessive fatigue and long-term sick leave.
