QA Applications Thyroid Dysfunction Revisited

By Robert M. Cohl, DC

Chiropractors treat a variety of neuromuscular problems on a daily basis. Neck and back pain are always driven by neurological dysfunction. Numbness and tingling down the arm or the leg is a great example, as well as a burning sensation traveling down an extremity. These clinical presentations always demonstrate a component of inflamed nerve involvement.

Many patients also have abnormal systemic endocrine factors (thyroid and adrenal disorders) that cause a poor response to manual therapy. A patient who has a hypothyroid disorder responds very slowly to physical medicine intervention. At the office they often say things like “I feel worse after a treatment.” They always complain of having cold extremities throughout the year. The incidence of thyroid diagnosed disorders in the U.S. (including hypo- and hyperthyroidism, goiter, autoimmune, cancer, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis) represents 7-8% of the population.

The most common signs and symptoms affect the skin, hair and nails dry itching skin, dry brittle hair, poor fat metabolism (weight gain and can't lose weight with exercise and/or dieting), musculoskeletal, carpel tunnel syndrome, joint stiffness, muscle cramps, metabolic (low energy, morning headaches, digestive complaints, catches colds easily), mental and emotional issues (memory loss, depression, ringing in the ears, confusion).

A full thyroid blood panel, not just TSH and Total T4, needs to be performed. A complete thyroid panel can include up to 12 tests, including TPO Ab and TGB Ab. These two very important tests determine if the thyroid is under attack by the immune system. Gluten proteins from wheat, barley, spelt and rye grains can demonstrate no symptoms in the gastrointestinal tract, but the gluten/glidian antibodies can attack the thyroid gland.

Once the laboratory findings are evaluated and no serious pathologies are found, then the thyroid disorder can be treated with biochemical (nutritional) applications. There are two main nutrients, for example, that help keep the thyroid gland working properly L-tyrosine and iodine. We also treat the problem through functional neurology with clinical applications taught through Applied Kinesiology (AK) and the Quintessential Applications (QA) programs.

The benefits of treatment by a health professional trained in Applied Kinesiology (AK) and (QA) are exceptional. AK and QA are established post-graduate programs open to physicians who diagnose and treat patients, available throughout healthcare system since 1976 and 2007 respectively.

The QA process of diagnosis and treatment addresses