Grave's Disease

[Guest guest]

I have a new patient coming in next week with Grave's disease. She has had

acupuncture in the past and is currently switching offices in order to begin

herbal therapy as well. Her doctors are suggesting that she have surgery which

she would like to avoid. I was just curious if anyone had a hands on experience

with Grave's disease and what you found effective.

Thank you

Sarah Barlotta

 

 

[Guest guest]

She's right to want to avoid surgery or radiation therapy if possible,

because it often leads to more problems. However, Grave's can be life

threatening (thyroid storm) which is why MDs like these approaches.

Simplistically, he body is attacking itself and the thyroid is often not the

only target. Taking out the thyroid sometimes exacerbates other problems.

The disease occasionally goes into remission, so if someone has one of these

procedures this outcome is excluded.

 

Boilerplate differential diagnoses fall into the categories of: accumulation

of phlegm due to stagnation of qi, hyperactivity liver qi or fire, and heart

yin deficiency etc. I can't say what formulas should be used because Grave's

people don't fall nicely into these categories, and symptoms change over

time - so what's new. I have added the herb huang yao zi at times in the

past, but it's hard to isolate how much effect this one herb had on the

overall treatment. It can only be found as a bulk herb, not a concentrated

powder, and is toxic, requiring monitoring with lab tests. I would not

recommend it. In the end, depending on how hyper the individual is, they

may ultimately have to rely on drugs like tapazole, which act directly on

the thyroid. I have found the use of Chinese herbs in conjunction with

these drugs (also toxic to the liver) allows a lower dose, and in the long

run produces a better outcome, because we can continue to treat the root.

 

 

 

 

Michael O'Brien [mobrien]

Thursday, August 12, 2004 8:03 AM

 

Grave's Disease

 

 

I have a new patient coming in next week with Grave's disease. She has

had acupuncture in the past and is currently switching offices in order to

begin herbal therapy as well. Her doctors are suggesting that she have

surgery which she would like to avoid. I was just curious if anyone had a

hands on experience with Grave's disease and what you found effective.

Thank you

Sarah Barlotta