Your tiny but mighty thyroid….

For being such a small gland in the body, the thyroid is critical to good health. The name comes from the Greek word for shield. It has a butterfly shape and is located below the larynx/Adam’s apple and in front of the windpipe and is part of the endocrine system. There are nerves passing through the thyroid that are connected to the voice, and thyroid issues can cause vocal changes as well. 

One of the primary functions of the thyroid is to regulate the metabolism. We usually think of metabolism in terms of how we digest our food and this is part of what the thyroid does. It also controls the metabolism of the muscles and heart. It regulates brain development and bone maintenance. It does this through the production of TSH, T3 and T4.  

The two most common conditions associated with a thyroid that is not functioning correctly are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.  

Typical symptoms for hyperthyroidism are  

• weight loss 

• fast heart rate 

• high irritability/nervousness 

• muscle weakness and tremors 

• infrequent menstrual periods 

• sleep problems 

• eye irritations 

• heat sensitivity 

 Symptoms for hypothyroidism are 

• weight gain 

• slower heart rate 

• fatigue 

• more frequent and stronger menstrual periods 

• forgetfulness 

• dry skin and hair 

• hoarse voice 

• intolerance to cold 

 Women are 5 to 8 times more likely than men to have a thyroid disease. And over 200 million people world-wide have some type of thyroid disease. Hashimoto’s Disease is an autoimmune disease that can cause hypothyroidism while Grave’s Disease leads to hyperthyroidism.  

When using reflexology to support the thyroid the goal is to balance both hyper and hypo conditions to help the thyroid regulate itself into a state of equilibrium.  

 Schedule yourself an appointment today!