Lecture: Hashiology 101

Main takeaways discussed

1. Quick review of…

   • …thyroid 101

   • …what is Hashimoto’s

   • …who is affected by Hashimoto’s

2. Discuss associated bloodwork through the lens of Chinese medicine

3. Treatment room ideas for treating Hashi’s

4. 8 ways to keep your patients on the Healing Hashi Bandwagon

In March of 2021 I gave a lecture at Pacific College of Health and Science for colleagues, students, and faculty in which I discussed how Chinese medicine can be an incredible modality for Hashimoto’s. Acupuncture is only one branch of Chinese medicine and we have so much more to offer than just needles. That includes additional hands on modalities, diet shifts, how we read bloodwork, and how we connect the physical to the metaphysical.

Since 2009, I’ve treated thousands of Hashi’s patients. Though this lecture is directed at professionals and students, anyone who’s looking for Hashi healing ideas will discover new ways to keep moving forward.

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Gua Sha for Thyroid Health

A couple years ago, a student of mine approached me with a study they found in a Korean journal. The researchers had identified a number of women who had tested positive for Hashimoto’s with high blood serum levels of TPO Antibodies - one of the positive markers of Hashi’s.

The researchers then had the subjects Gua Sha the back of their necks for a month or so as part of their daily routine and then retested their antibodies. Voila! Almost 100% of the test subjects showed a decrease in antibodies!

I was extremely suspect of the study. From a Chinese medicine stand point, the logic was solid. Gua Sha can move lymph, break adhesions, and increase circulation. My suspicion was aroused by (a) the fact it affected almost 100% of the test subjects, and (b) they were working the back of the neck rather than the front. However, I can riddle out working the back of the neck because in acupuncture we often use the back to treat the front, and the researchers may have felt it was safer. But almost all test subjects?!? Red flag.

So I gave it a go myself. The next time I tested by own TPO antibodies, I immediately started doing Gua Sha on my neck as part of my bedtime routine. I wasn’t particular about back or front, but rather made a daily commitment to it. This is where I had to open my mouth to insert my foot with a side of broiled crow.

The following bloodwork test showed that my antibodies dropped by more than half.

So of course I started having patients do the same thing. And….(drum roll please)….almost 90% of my patients started saw their antibodies drop. It’s incredibly important to note that there are different types of Hashi’s (more to come in a later post), so it didn't work for everyone.

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A post shared by Phoebe Lapine | Feed Me Phoebe (@phoebelapine)

However, it worked for the majority of my patients that started doing it. And it’s something I recommend universally to anyone with Hashi’s. I have yet to meet a patient with Hashimoto’s that DOESN’T have chronic neck and / or trapezius pain - it’s almost a universal. My hypothesis is that it has to do with the soft tissue in and surrounding the thyroid that’s collateral damage to the antibody attack - especially when Thyroid Perioxidase (TPO) antibodies are involved.

I’ve included a quick “how-to” video I did with Phoebe Lapine following the interview we did together for her Podcast and posted on instagram.

And as a side note; I’m willing to give a free virtual consult to the first person who’s able to track down the original Korean study. I’ve searched high and low. It’s critical to always back up your woo-woo, and I would be forever grateful if we were able to pull it back out to shine some light on it!

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While the video below is not thyroid specific, it’s an excellent primer on how to Gua Sha your neck by the Brooklyn Studio Lanshin.

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Feed Me Phoebe Podcast

For professional and legal reasons, I don’t openly talk about my patients. But they are my moon, my sun, my stars, my best teachers, and the reason I get up in the morning. They are in most inspiring people I know.

As someone who has stayed below the radar for years, most people find me through word of mouth. However, many people have also found me through Phoebe Lapine.

I have had the incredible blessing and good fortune to watch Phoebe’s evolution over the years. She’s been a patient who has taken on the challenge of her own health and written about it extensively. She’s authored the books The Wellness Project and SIBO Made Simple. Phoebe is a prolific blogger and shares her adventures in health through social media - the good, the bad, the terrifying, and everything in between. She is humble and fearless with much to offer the world.

As part of her adventures in SIBO, she took on the challenge of finding as many professionals in the field as she good and interviewed them for her podcast. I was incredibly privileged to be brought onto episode 21 - and we had an absolute blast!

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A quick taste of what was covered:

• How Chinese Medicine teaches us to live in harmony with nature and what this means in our modern world

• What changes our bodies have undergone between 2019 BC and 2019 today

• Why gua sha and manual work is so essential for thyroid therapy – all you need is a ceramic soup spoon!

• The best diet for Hashimoto’s and why keto + a low carb approach isn’t the best fit

• SIBO, parasites, and opportunistic viruses – the category they all fit into and how to treat them

• When to use herbs and when to use acupuncture to treat a gut issue

• How to detox properly according to Chinese Medicine and what the seasons mean for our diet

• And so much more…