Thyroid gland massage is something that has gained momentum and attention lately. And when I talk about thyroid gland massage I am not talking about massage therapy for your thyroid gland. I’m talking about actual massage of the thyroid gland itself.
Why are some people considering thyroid gland massage as a treatment for hypothyroidism? Well, the reason is as follows:
Because the thyroid gland is almost a spongy-like material and because it has some storage capacity of thyroid hormone, massaging the thyroid gland may release thyroid hormone and alleviate or improve low thyroid symptoms.
It sounds good in theory but there are several reasons why I do not recommend that you massage your thyroid gland.
Here are the biggest reasons:
#1. You may cause inflammation and make matters much worse.
The number 1 cause of hypothyroidism in the US is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The hallmark of Hashimoto’s is inflammation and immune cell infiltration of the thyroid gland. Do you know what happens when you physically touch or palpate inflamed tissue? It gets worse! Massaging a gland with Hashimoto’s may make your condition worse and should be avoided.
#2. There’s no way to know how much thyroid hormone you are releasing when you massage the thyroid gland.
Even if it was a good idea to massage your gland to release thyroid hormone, there’s no way to know how much hormone you are releasing. In other words, you are just as likely to make yourself hyperthyroid as you are to feel yourself feel better.
Having said all of that, there are still things that you CAN do instead of thyroid gland massage that can be helpful:
#1. Massage therapy of the body and especially the head and neck.
#2. Neck exercises to balance musculature in the neck area.
#3. Chiropractic work or osteopathic therapy.
#4. Lymphatic work.
#5. Trigger point injection therapy.
These options can all be used in place of thyroid gland massage and can help improve thyroid function by improving the muscles and tissues that surround the thyroid gland.
Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Recommended thyroid supplements to enhance thyroid function:
- Supplements that everyone with hypothyroidism needs: https://bit.ly/3tekPej
- Supplement bundle to help reverse Hashimoto’s: https://bit.ly/3gSY9eJ
- Supplements for those without a thyroid and for those after RAI: https://bit.ly/3tb36nZ
- Supplements for active hyperthyroidism: https://bit.ly/3t70yHo
See ALL of my specialized supplements including protein powders, thyroid supplements, and weight loss products here:
https://www.restartmed.com/shop/
Want more from my blog? I have more than 400+ well-researched blog posts on thyroid management, hormone balancing, weight loss, and more. See all blog posts here:
https://www.restartmed.com/blog/
Prefer to listen via podcast? Download all of my podcast episodes here: https://apple.co/3kNYTCS
Disclaimer:
Dr. Westin Childs received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic medicine in 2013. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Childs is no longer practicing medicine and does not hold an active medical license so he can focus on helping people through videos, blog posts, research, and supplement formulation. To read more about why he is no longer licensed please see this page: https://www.restartmed.com/what-happened-to-my-medical-license/
This video is for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Childs and you. You should not make any changes to y
Why are some people considering thyroid gland massage as a treatment for hypothyroidism? Well, the reason is as follows:
Because the thyroid gland is almost a spongy-like material and because it has some storage capacity of thyroid hormone, massaging the thyroid gland may release thyroid hormone and alleviate or improve low thyroid symptoms.
It sounds good in theory but there are several reasons why I do not recommend that you massage your thyroid gland.
Here are the biggest reasons:
#1. You may cause inflammation and make matters much worse.
The number 1 cause of hypothyroidism in the US is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The hallmark of Hashimoto’s is inflammation and immune cell infiltration of the thyroid gland. Do you know what happens when you physically touch or palpate inflamed tissue? It gets worse! Massaging a gland with Hashimoto’s may make your condition worse and should be avoided.
#2. There’s no way to know how much thyroid hormone you are releasing when you massage the thyroid gland.
Even if it was a good idea to massage your gland to release thyroid hormone, there’s no way to know how much hormone you are releasing. In other words, you are just as likely to make yourself hyperthyroid as you are to feel yourself feel better.
Having said all of that, there are still things that you CAN do instead of thyroid gland massage that can be helpful:
#1. Massage therapy of the body and especially the head and neck.
#2. Neck exercises to balance musculature in the neck area.
#3. Chiropractic work or osteopathic therapy.
#4. Lymphatic work.
#5. Trigger point injection therapy.
These options can all be used in place of thyroid gland massage and can help improve thyroid function by improving the muscles and tissues that surround the thyroid gland.
Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Recommended thyroid supplements to enhance thyroid function:
- Supplements that everyone with hypothyroidism needs: https://bit.ly/3tekPej
- Supplement bundle to help reverse Hashimoto’s: https://bit.ly/3gSY9eJ
- Supplements for those without a thyroid and for those after RAI: https://bit.ly/3tb36nZ
- Supplements for active hyperthyroidism: https://bit.ly/3t70yHo
See ALL of my specialized supplements including protein powders, thyroid supplements, and weight loss products here:
https://www.restartmed.com/shop/
Want more from my blog? I have more than 400+ well-researched blog posts on thyroid management, hormone balancing, weight loss, and more. See all blog posts here:
https://www.restartmed.com/blog/
Prefer to listen via podcast? Download all of my podcast episodes here: https://apple.co/3kNYTCS
Disclaimer:
Dr. Westin Childs received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic medicine in 2013. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Childs is no longer practicing medicine and does not hold an active medical license so he can focus on helping people through videos, blog posts, research, and supplement formulation. To read more about why he is no longer licensed please see this page: https://www.restartmed.com/what-happened-to-my-medical-license/
This video is for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Childs and you. You should not make any changes to y
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