Hyperthyroidism

Jia Kang Ling Pian
Ingredients: Long Gu (Dragon Bon), Mu Li (Oyster Shell), Kun Bu (Japanese Sea Tangle), Shan Yao (Dioscorea), Xia Ku Cao (Prunella), Gan Cao (Licorice)

Clinical Application:
The formula is mainly used to treat hyperthyroidism with hyperactivity of the liver-yang. Its indications are vexation, hyperhidrosis, restlessness, tendency towards anger, dysphoria with feverish sensation in the chest, palms and soles, dry throat and mouth, exophthalmus, weight loss, and rapid and taut pulse.

Yang, et al. used Jia Kang Ling Pian to treat 150 cases of hyperthyroidism with yin deficiency-induced yang hyperactivity. They achieved relatively good clinical and therapeutic results. Side-effects occurrence rate is significantly lower than that of tapazole.(4)

Liao, et al. used Jia Kang Ling to treat 60 cases of hyperthyroidism, achieving a total effective rate of 96.7%.(5) Liu, et al. used slightly-modified Jia Kang Ling formula to treat 41 cases of hyperthyroidism, and reported a total effective rate of 85.4%. Their formula consisted of Duan Long Gu, Duan Mu Li, Huai Shan Yao, Han Lian Cao, Xia Ku Cao, Zi Dan Shen.(6)

Qi Hai Xiao Ying Tang
Liu, et al. treated 52 cases of hyperthyroidism with a herbal formula called Qi Hai Xiao Ying Tang, and reported a short-term therapeutic rate of 76.9%. They believe that the formula can replenish qi, nourish yin, clear away heat, resolve phlegm, soften and resolve hard mass. Proven to be able to shrink the thyroid gland without surgical procedures in some patients, the formula is particularly suitable for patients whose conditions are complicated with serious diseases of the heart, liver, lung, and kidney as well as leukopenia.(7)

Chai Zhi Shi Shen Tang
Yu, et al. used Chai Zhi Shi Shen Tang to treat hyperthyroidism. The formula consisted of Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Zhi Zi (Gardenia), Xuan Shen (Scrophularia Root), Wu Mei (Mume), Nan Sha Shen (Adenophora Root), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Root), Shi Hu (Dendrobium Stem), Zhe Bei Mu (Fritillary Bulb), Xia Ku Cao (Prunella Spike) and Kun Bu (Japanese Sea Tangle). The base formula was modified to suit the patients' individual symptoms. One unit of treatment called for daily administration of one dose of the formula for two months. The results: out of a total of 30 cases treated, 15 cases were resolved, 8 cases significantly improved, 4 cases improved, and the remaining 3 cases showed no response; the total effective rate was 93.3%.(8)

Yi Guan Jian
Tan treated 30 cases of hyperthyroidism with a modification of the formula Yi Guan Jian, and reported that 20 cases recovered, 12 cases significantly improved, and 8 cases improved.(9)

Ling Xia Long Zhu Tang
Lu used Ling Xia Long Zhu Tang to treat hyperthyroidism. The formula consisted of Ling Yang Jiao (Antelope's Horn), Xia Ku Cao (Prunella Spike), Gou Teng (Hooked Uncaria), Zhen Shu Mu (Nacre), Duan Long Gu (Processed Dragon Bone), Duan Mu Li (Processed Oyster Shell), Xi Yang Shen (American Ginseng Root), Shan Yao(Dioscorea), Bie Jia (Tortoise Plastron), Han Liang Cao (Eclipta), Zhe Bei Mu (Fritillary Bulb), Dan Shen (Salvia), and Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root). A comparison group was set up and treated with Tapazole. The treatment unit was 3 months for both groups. The results: of the treatment group, 26 cases had their symptoms under control, 42 cases significantly improved, 18 cases improved, and 14 cases showed no response. Of the comparison group, the respective numbers were 12, 21, 42, and 25. The difference between the two groups was considered to be significant.(10)

Jia Kang Jian
Tang used Jia Kang Jian to treat hyperthyroidism. The base formula consisted of Shi Gao (Gypsum), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Root), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome), Xia Ku Cao (Prunella Spike), Shi Hu (Dendrobium Stem), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia Root), Chuan Xiong (Chuanxiong Rhizome), Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthes Root), Dang Gui (Dang Gui), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), San Leng (Burreed Tuber), Huang Yao Zi (Airpotato Yam), E Zhu (Zedoary), Huang Lian (Coptis Root), and Huang Bo (Phellodendron Bark). The formula was modified to suit the patients' individual symptoms. The results: 4 cases recovered, 30 cases improved, and 6 cases with no response; the total effective rate was 68%.(11)

Wang, et al. used a combination of Chinese and Western medicine to treat 389 hyperthyroidism patients, and reported a total effective rate of 93.57%: 299 cases recovered, and 65 cases improved. They believe that combining Chinese and Western medicine can enhance a treatment's therapeutic effect, reduce the toxic side effects of Western drugs, and strengthen immune function of the human body.(13)

In yet another study of combining Chinese and Western medicine to treat hyperthyroidism, Chen treated the patients with Tian Shen amino acid capsules, tapazole, propanolol, and thyroid for 4 weeks. To measure the effects of the treatment, a hyperthyroidism index was constructed, and measurements were taken of the levels of thyroid hormone and triiodothyronine. The results: after 2, 3, and 4 weeks of treatment, the hyperthyroidism index of the treatment group was lower than that of the comparison group (P<0.01); FT3 virtually returned to normal after 2 and 3 weeks of treatment, and FT4 returned to normal in 32 cases.(14)

He compared the effect of treating hyperthyroidism exclusively with acupuncture and with a combination of acupuncture and tapazole. The acupuncture treatment called for puncturing Shuitu (41), Neiguan (P 6), Jianshi (P 5), Zusanli (S 36), Sanyinjiao (Sp 6), and other points once every other day, and tapazole was administered 10mg daily. The results: the acupuncture-only treatment had an effective rate of 75%, while the combination treatment had an effective rate of 97%.(16)

Duan treated 25 cases of hyperthyroidism by needling the center of the swollen thyroid gland plus some condition-specific acupoints. For patients with exophthalmus, Sizhukong (SJ23), Chengqi (S1), and Fengchi (G20) were added for treatment; for patients with a rapid heartbeat, Neiguan (P 6) and Shenmen (H 7) were also treated; and for patients with a tendency to feel hungry and sweat profusely, Sanyinjiao (Sp 6) and Zusanli (S 36) were added. The results: 12 cases had their clinical symptoms under control, 6 cases improved, and 7 cases with no response.(17)

Treatment Combining Acupuncture and Medication
Fu, et al. combined medication and acupuncture to treat 38 hyperthyroidism patients. A comparative analysis was conducted to assess the therapeutic effect and serological change the treatment had induced. The results: the treatment achieved a total effective rate of 71.22%; serum T3 and T4 significantly declined, while TSH significantly increased (P<0.001), and a significant negative relation was observed between TSH and T3 and T4.(18)

Zhang, et al. also used a combination of acupuncture and medication to treat hyperthyroidism. Qiying (roughly Shuitu (41)), Neiguan (P 6), Jianshi (P 5), Zusanli (S 36), and Sanyinjiao (Sp 6) were needled (on both sides) by the twirling, reinforcing-reducing method. In addition, the patients were treated with tapazol. The results: 32 patients had their clinical symptoms under control, 13 patients improved, and 2 patients with no response; the total effective rate was 95.74%. Patients were treated with clinical control in 32 cases. 13 cases showed some effect. 2 cases showed no effect. The total effective rate was 95.74%. Before the treatment, both T3 and T4 were significantly higher than those of the comparison group (healthy people) (P<0.001). After the treatment, no significant difference was observed between the two groups (P>0.05).(19)

In yet another study, acupuncture was used in combination with a small dosage of tapazol to treat hyperthyroidism. The patients were divided into three subgroups, and they received acupuncture treatment once, twice, and three times a week, respectively. It was found that the treatment effect did not differ significantly between the two groups that received treatment twice and three times a week (P>0.05). Further analysis established that for patients prone to relapses, twice a week was the necessary amount of treatment, while for incipient patients, once a week is adequate to bring the condition under control.(20)

Treatment with Acupoint Catgut Implantation
Liao, et al. treated hyperthyroidism with acupoi