Hi, I’m Dean — I offer acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and yoga therapy in Albany, North Shore Auckland. In this post, we’ll look at how acupuncture can support thyroid health, and why a whole-body approach is key.
To be clear — acupuncture alone usually isn’t enough to fully manage thyroid problems. It works best when combined with changes in diet, sleep, stress management, and lifestyle. In my clinic, I often support people with a mix of acupuncture, massage, herbs, gentle yoga and breathing practices to help their system rebalance.
Whether you’re dealing with hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto’s, or just feeling tired, foggy, anxious, or flat — the aim isn’t just to fix a gland. It’s to support your whole system to work better again.
Let’s break it down step by step.
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, just below the Adam’s apple. It might be small, but it plays a huge role in your health — especially when it comes to metabolism, energy levels, mood, temperature regulation, digestion, and hormones.
The thyroid produces hormones (mainly T3 and T4) that help control how fast or slow things happen in your body — from how quickly you burn calories to how sharp your brain feels. When it’s not functioning properly, you can feel tired, anxious, foggy, wired, or just not yourself.
In Chinese medicine, we don’t just look at the thyroid in isolation — we look at the whole body to find what’s out of balance and help bring it back into harmony.
Thyroid issues are incredibly common — especially in women — but often go undiagnosed for years. People might feel “off” without knowing why, and sometimes blood tests don’t pick up the problem until it’s more advanced.
Here are the most common thyroid conditions I see in clinic:
This is when the thyroid isn’t producing enough hormone. Everything in the body slows down.
Common symptoms include:
Fatigue and low energy
Feeling cold, especially in hands and feet
Brain fog or poor memory
Weight gain
Constipation
Dry skin and hair loss
Low mood or depression
Irregular or heavy periods
In this case, the thyroid is overproducing hormone. Everything speeds up.
Common symptoms include:
Anxiety, restlessness, or irritability
Insomnia or trouble winding down
Racing heart or palpitations
Heat intolerance or sweating
Weight loss without trying
Loose bowels
Lighter, irregular periods
An autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid over time, often leading to hypothyroidism. It’s common in people who also experience fatigue, inflammation, and digestive issues.
Another autoimmune thyroid condition, but this one causes hyperthyroidism. Symptoms include nervous system overactivity, bulging eyes (in some cases), and intense anxiety or heat symptoms.
Sometimes symptoms are present, but lab results look “normal.” These cases still benefit from treatment, especially when there’s clear disruption in digestion, energy, mood, or sleep.
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In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we don’t treat the thyroid as a single isolated gland. Instead, we look at how the whole system is functioning — digestion, energy, sleep, mood, hormones, circulation, and stress levels. We treat patterns of imbalance, not just the name of a disease.
For example, two people with hypothyroidism might have completely different patterns:
One might be cold, tired, and withdrawn with weak digestion — showing signs of Kidney Yang Deficiency
Another might feel bloated, foggy, and heavy — more of a Spleen Qi Deficiency with Damp
Someone with hyperthyroid-type symptoms — anxious, hot, restless — might have Heart Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat, or Liver Fire rising
Some of the most common TCM patterns I see with thyroid issues include:
Kidney Yang Deficiency – fatigue, cold limbs, low libido, sluggish metabolism
Heart and Kidney Disharmony – poor sleep, anxiety, palpitations, burnout
Liver Qi Stagnation – stress-related symptoms, PMS, mood swings, irritability
Spleen Qi Deficiency – bloating, foggy head, tiredness after meals
Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat – night sweats, dryness, irritability, insomnia
The key is to treat the root cause, not just the symptoms. That’s why Chinese medicine can be so effective for thyroid health — we personalise treatment based on what’s really going on underneath.
You can get acupuncture, take herbs, or follow a supplement plan — but if your digestion is off, your sleep is broken, and you’re constantly stressed, progress will be slow.
These are the core foundations of thyroid health. Without them, the body stays in survival mode. With them, real change happens.
In both Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, digestion is key. If you’re not digesting properly, your body can’t absorb the nutrients needed to support hormone production, immune function, and energy.
Signs of weak digestion include bloating, sluggishness after meals, brain fog, or erratic appetite. The fix usually isn’t a detox — it’s simple, regular meals, warm cooked food, and eating without distractions.
There’s no one thyroid diet. It depends on your digestion and your individual pattern. Some need warming, grounding meals. Others might benefit from lighter food.
What matters most:
Eat real, unprocessed food
Avoid raw, cold, heavy, or incompatible combinations
Don’t skip meals
Goitrogens (like raw kale, cauliflower, and excess soy or millet) may need to be limited in some thyroid cases
Deep sleep is when your body repairs, hormones balance, and energy rebuilds. If you’re staying up late or waking often, your thyroid and adrenal systems can’t recover.
Try this: aim to be in bed before 10pm. Use a simple evening wind-down — foot massage, dim lights, no screens, and a warm drink. Small shifts here make a big difference.
Long-term stress pushes your adrenals too hard, and that wears down thyroid function over time. Whether it’s emotional stress, overwork, or burnout — your body needs calm to heal.
This is where acupuncture, breathwork, meditation, and even just getting outdoors can help. The key is doing something daily that helps you switch off.
Without these basics in place, the thyroid never really gets a chance to recover. Put the foundation first — the rest will work better.
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Acupuncture helps bring the body back into balance. It’s not about treating the thyroid gland directly — it’s about supporting the whole system so it can function better on its own.
When the nervous system is stuck in stress mode, digestion slows down, sleep is disrupted, hormones become unbalanced, and you stop feeling like yourself. Acupuncture helps shift the body into a calmer, more regulated state where healing and hormone regulation can happen naturally.
Here’s how it supports thyroid health:
Balances energy (Qi) – so the system isn’t running too hot, cold, fast, or slow
Strengthens digestion – helps reduce bloating, supports metabolism, and improves absorption
Improves sleep – by calming the mind and relaxing the nervous system
Regulates hormones – by improving communication between the brain, thyroid, adrenals, and ovaries
Reduces stress – essential for thyroid function, especially in cases linked to burnout or emotional trauma
Every treatment is tailored. I select points based on your symptoms, your pattern, and how your body is presenting on that day. Over time, the goal is to help your body self-regulate and restore its natural rhythm.
Acupuncture is powerful, but it works best when it’s part of a bigger plan. In my clinic, I often combine it with a few other therapies to support thyroid health more effectively. These can make a huge difference — especially for digestion, energy, emotional balance, and long-term healing.
Herbs can help regulate the thyroid, calm the nervous system, improve digestion, and support hormonal balance. But it’s not one-size-fits-all — what works for someone else may not suit your pattern or digestion.
In Chinese medicine, formulas are prescribed based on your TCM diagnosis (like Kidney Yang Deficiency or Liver Qi Stagnation). In Ayurvedic-style support, we might use gentle tonics, digestive herbs, or rasayana (rejuvenating) formulas depending on your constitution and gut type.
This is a gentle heat therapy using mugwort. It’s especially helpful for people with fatigue, coldness, and low thyroid function. I often use it on the lower belly or back to warm the kidneys, support digestion, and boost energy. It’s relaxing, deeply nourishing, and great in cooler months.
Simple breathwork calms the nervous system, reduces anxiety, and helps bring the body out of stress mode — which is essential for hormone regulation.
Gentle practices like alternate nostril breathing, 4-7-8 breathing, or slowing the exhale can be done daily. Just 5–10 minutes can make a noticeable difference over time.
You don’t need intense workouts — in fact, too much can make thyroid symptoms worse. Gentle yoga, walking, tai chi, or qigong help keep circulation moving, support digestion, and calm the mind.
Focus on calming, grounding practices — not overstimulation.
Thyroid issues often come alongside emotional exhaustion, past trauma, or a constant feeling of being “on edge.” Feeling safe and supported — in your body, your environment, and your relationships — is one of the most important parts of recovery.
Sometimes the most healing thing is to slow down, create space, and reconnect with what really matters to you.
Massage can be a powerful way to support thyroid health by calming the nervous system, improving circulation, and easing tension held in the body. I offer a range of styles depending on your needs:
Craniosacral (Biodynamic) – deeply calming, supports nervous system regulation and hormone balance
Chinese Tuina Massage – works on meridians and acupoints to improve energy flow, digestion, and circulation
Therapeutic Massage – targets muscle tension, promotes relaxation, and supports your overall treatment plan
Massage is often an overlooked part of thyroid care, but when used alongside acupuncture and lifestyle changes, it can create real momentum in the healing process.
This is a common question — and the honest answer is: it depends.
Thyroid conditions are complex. Some cases, especially in the early stages, respond really well to holistic treatment. Others, like autoimmune thyroid disease or post-surgical cases, may not be fully reversible — but symptoms can still improve, and medication needs can sometimes be reduced.
Here’s what I’ve seen in practice:
Many people feel better within a few weeks of starting treatment — more energy, better sleep, better digestion, calmer mood
TSH levels can shift over time, especially with diet and lifestyle changes alongside treatment
Autoimmune thyroid conditions (like Hashimoto’s or Graves’) can stabilize, but they require long-term care and commitment
Some people still need medication, but feel more balanced and resilient when using acupuncture, herbs, and lifestyle support
What matters most is not just chasing lab numbers — it’s about improving how you feel and function in daily life.
Thyroid health is not just about a gland — it’s about your whole system. If you improve digestion, sleep, stress, and hormonal balance, your body has a much better chance of finding its rhythm again.
If you’re dealing with thyroid issues — whether diagnosed or just feeling “off” — you don’t have to keep pushing through or guessing your way forward. There are real, natural ways to support your system and start feeling better.
Acupuncture, herbs, and simple lifestyle shifts can make a big difference. But it’s not about quick fixes or one-size-fits-all solutions. It’s about working with your body, not against it — calming the nervous system, improving digestion and sleep, and creating the conditions for balance to return.
If you’re in the Albany, North Shore Auckland area and want to explore acupuncture and holistic support for your thyroid, feel free to get in touch or book a session. I’m always happy to chat and see if it’s the right fit for you.
Dean, holding a Bachelor of Health Science, is registered in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Tuina Massage with the Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand. With over 20 years of experience in yoga, he has earned a 1200-hour diploma in yoga and is a certified instructor of Yantra Yoga and the Tibetan Yoga of Movement.
Committed to natural health and healing, Dean takes a holistic approach in his practice, incorporating a wide range of therapeutic methods. His offerings include acupuncture, massage, dietary advice, myofascial release, herbal medicine, moxibustion, cupping, qigong, yoga, and meditation. He practices from his clinic in Auckland, New Zealand, dedicated to providing comprehensive care tailored to the individual needs of his clients
