Hypothyroidism

You Gui Wan
Ingredients Shu Di Huang (cooked Rehmannia), Fu Zi (Aconite), Rou Gui (Cinnaon Bark), Shan Yao (Dioscorea), Tu Si Zi (Cuscuta), Lu Jiao Jiao (Cervi Cornu), Gou Qi Zi (Lycium Fruit), Du Zhong (Eucommia), Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus), Dang Gui (Dang Gui)

Clinical Application:
A modification of Shen Qi Wan was used to treat 20 cases of hypothyroidism. The modified formula consisted of Shu Di Huang (cooked Rehmannia), Shan Yao (Dioscorea), Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus), Ze Xie (Alisma), Fu Ling (Hoelen), Mu Dan Pi (Moutan), Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark), Fu Zi (Aconite), Che Qian Zi (Placenta), and Mu Tong (Akebia). The results: 12 cases significantly improved, 7 cases improved, and the remaining 1 case did not respond to the treatment, with a total effective rate of 95%.(2)

Shen Qi Fu Gui Tang
Shen Qi Fu Gui Tang was used to treat 38 cases of hypothyroidism. The formula consisted of Huang Qi (Astragalus Root), Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Rong Gui (Cinnamon Bark) powder, Fu Zi (Aconite), Shu Di Huang (cooked Rehmannia), and Zhi Gan Cao (processed Licorice). Modifications of the formula were made to better suit individual patients' conditions. One dose of the formula was administered twice a day, and one course of treatment lasted a month. While under treatment with this formula, no Western medication was taken. The results: after two courses of treatment, the patients' symptom index (the normal value is under 5) fell from 24.8 ± 5.2 to 5.0 ± 3.1 (P<0.001).(3)

Shen Qi Wan
A modification of Shen Qi Wan was used to treat 20 cases of hypothyroidism. The modified formula consisted of Shu Di Huang (cooked Rehmannia), Shan Yao (Dioscorea), Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus), Ze Xie (Alisma), Fu Ling (Hoelen), Mu Dan Pi (Moutan), Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark), Fu Zi (Aconite), Che Qian Zi (Plantain), and Mu Tong (Akebia). The results: 12 cases significantly improved, 7 cases improved, and 1 case did not respond to the treatment, with a total effective rate of 95%.(4)

Dang Shen, Fu Ling, Xian Mao, Yin Yang Huo, Ba Ji Tian, Chuan Shan Jia, Chuang Xiong, Huang Qi, Sheng Di Huang, and Shu Di Huang
One study treated 49 cases of adult hypothyroidism by strengthening yang, invigorating qi, and activating the blood with a formula consisting of the following herbs: Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Fu Ling (Hoelen), Xian Mao (Curculigo), Yin Yang Huo (Epimedium), Ba Ji Tian (Morinda), Chuan Shan Jia (processed Anteater Scales), Chuang Xiong (Cnidium), Huang Qi (processed Astragalus Root), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia Root), and Shu Di Huang (cooked Rehmannia). One dose of the formula was administered twice a day (in the morning and in the evening). A control group of 50 cases was treated with thyroxin tablets (15-30mg taken daily in the morning). One course of treatment lasted a month for both groups. The results: of the treatment, 38 cases recovered, 6 cases significantly improved, 3 cases improved, and 2 cases did not respond to the treatment, with a total effective rate of 96%; of the control group, the corresponding numbers were: 30, 16, 4, 0, and 100%.(5)

Ren Shen, Fu Zi, Gui Zhi, Huang Qi, and Gan Cao
Another study treated 36 cases of hypothyroidism with a formula consisting the following qi-invigorating and yang-warming herbs: Ren Shen (Ginseng), Fu Zi (cooked Aconite), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Huang Qi (Astragalus root), and Gan Cao (Licorice). Modifications were made as follows: for patients with edema or hedropericardium, Fu Ling (Hoelen) and Bai Zhu (Shite Atractylodes) were added to the formula; for patients with amenia, Yi Mu Cao (Leonurus) and Dan Shen (Salvia) were added; for patients with oliochronemia, Dang Gui (Dang Gui) was added. One dose of the formula was administered daily, and four weeks constituted one course of treatment. The results: 21 cases recovered, 5 cases improved, and 2 cases did not respond to the treatment, with a total effective rate of 94.44%.(6)

Er Cao Ren Shen Tang
Er Cao Ren Shen Tang (which contains Gan Cao (Licorice), Ren Shen (Ginseng), and Jin Qian Cao (Glechoma)) was used to treat 55 cases of hypothyroidism. The results: 38 cases significantly improved, 15 cases improved, and 2 cases did not respond to the treatment, with a total effective rate of 96.4%.(4)

Acupuncture was used to treat 14 cases of hypothyroidism in patients recovering from serious brain injuries. Scalp acupuncture was applied at both the front slant (from Qian Ting (Du 21) to Xuan Li (GB 6)) and the rear slant of the temple (from Bai Hui (Du 20) to Qu Bin (GB 7)) on the side where intracranial hemorrhage occurred. For postoperation patients, acupuncture was applied at both the front and rear slants of the temple (from Qian Ting (Du 21) to Bai Hui (Du 20) and from Feng Fu (Du 16) to Ya Man (Du 15)) on the unoperated side. The needles were retained for an hour after insertion. In addition, body acupuncture was applied on Jian Yu (LI 15), Qu Chi (LI 11), Nei Guan (P 6) and He Gu (LI 4) in the upper limbs, and on Huan Tiao (GB 30), Zu San Li (St 36), Cheng Shan (UB 57) and San Yin Jiao (Sp 6) in the lower limbs. The uniform reinforcing-reducing method was in maneuvering the needles, and the needles were retained for 30 minutes. One course of treatment consisted of 15 sessions. The results: the thyroid function improved in all patients; in particular, T4, FT 4 (P<0.01), and rT3 (P<0.05) all significantly improved, so much so they were not significantly different from those of healthy people (P<0.05).(8)

Moxibustion treatment
Herb power-mediated moxibustion was used to treat 7 cases of hypothyroidism. Warming and kidney yang-reinforcing herbs were ground into fine powder and applied on Shen Shu (B23), Pi Shu (B20), and Ming Men (Du 4) as moxibustion medium. Three to five moxas were applied per acupoint in each session. Three sessions were conducted each week, and one course of treatment lasted four months. The results: 3 cases had the condition under control, 2 cases improved, and the remaining 2 cases did not respond to the treatment.(9)