www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD8xuWU36eM

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the laryngeal prominence of the throat.  The thyroid gland is a key factor in your energy, mood, and metabolism.  In other words, a well-functioning thyroid is [...]]]> Yoga For Your Thyroid ~ by Santa Rosa Acupuncturist Dr. Gigi Shames (Georjana Shames), LAc NHD, and yoga instructor/creative director Mesha Kussman

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD8xuWU36eM

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the laryngeal prominence of the throat.  The thyroid gland is a key factor in your energy, mood, and metabolism.  In other words, a well-functioning thyroid is crucial to what we all consider part of “having a good day.”

You probably hear people say all the time, “Have a good day!”  But what does this or “Be well” or “Take care” truly mean in practical terms?  Generally it is not the events we experience on a daily basis, but how we perceive them, that determine our level of contentment.  Our overall health and emotional state greatly influence our personal perception of the world, and if your hormones are out of balance, so too will be your perception and reactions.

If you are experiencing tiredness, depression, cold hands and feet, hair loss, digestive disturbances, infertility, and weight gain, you might have a low thyroid condition.  If you are experiencing mania, jittery sensations, hot and sweaty extremities, anxiety, excessive menstrual bleeding, and rapid weight loss, you might have a high thyroid condition.  It is important to get your thyroid tested once per year, but unfortunately standard thyroid blood tests may not detect borderline thyroid conditions, so clinical symptoms must also be taken into account.

Fortunately, there are many natural methods of improving thyroid function.  Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are excellent for regulating the thyroid, particularly if you see a hormone-balancing specialist who deeply understands the intricacies of these complex endocrine concerns.

Cultivating a relaxing lifestyle is also quite important, in light of the fact that high stress exacerbates glandular imbalances.  How can we create a calm, peaceful lifestyle in today’s fast-paced world?

The ancient practices of yoga include gentle stretches for repose and muscular strength, combined with meditative breathing techniques.  Yoga was designed to ease mental and physical stress, and today it provides a wide spectrum of emotional and hormonal benefits to the millions of individuals who practice it worldwide.  In this post we will discuss and include photographs of yoga for the thyroid, as choreographed by myself and Los Angeles-based yoga instructor/creative director Mesha Kussman.  Remember, seek your health care practitioner’s advice before beginning any new exercise program, and one of the cardinal rules of yoga is to only do what is comfortable for you.

Begin by taking a few deep breaths.  Allow your lungs to fill completely, then exhale fully.

Cultivate the intention to nourish your thyroid.  Our goal is to relax muscle tension throughout the body and increase circulation to the throat.

Tilt the head gently from side to side.  To intensify the stretch and extension of the neck, you may raise the arm.  Continue breathing deeply.

Sit up on your knees on a soft surface, and slowly lean back to relax the throat.  Gently tightening your core muscles (the abdominals and lumbar muscles) will help you relax the upper body.  Hands can rest on the low back for extra support.  Breathe deeply.  Allow the tendons of the neck to loosen.  Notice the increased blood circulation to the neck.

Extend one leg behind you for stability, continue to tighten core muscles as you raise arms and exhale.  After a few breaths, reverse legs for bilateral balance.

Sit and cross one leg over the other and gently twist the torso.  Turn head to the side, breathe deeply.  Again, focus your breath and intention on the thyroid gland as you relax deeper into the pose.

Finally, stand with hands at your sides, then slowly extend both arms behind you and completely relax the throat.  If you live near an ocean or bay, you may have observed seabirds dry their wings just like this, opening to the sunshine and the breeze.

Thank you for your time and attention to your thyroid care, and remember you can learn more about hormone balancing at www.ThyroidAcupuncture.com

For your in-office or telephone appointment with Dr. Gigi call Preventive Medical Center (415) 388-0456.  Right now you will receive $45 off your initial treatment by mentioning this post.

Serving Santa Rosa, San Rafael, Cotati, and many other areas of Marin/Sonoma County.

[Also, you can enjoy the newest from LA-based creative director Mesha Kussman at www.Aqualillies.com ]

While growing up in Marin in a [...]]]> Are you a resident of San Rafael, CA, and interested in hearing some tips on living well from San Rafael Acupuncturist Georjana Shames (Dr. Gigi)?  Would you like an Acupuncturist’s perspective on the best places in San Rafael to eat, shop, walk, hike, swim, do yoga, and so on?

While growing up in Marin in a medical family, I always appreciated the abundance of healthy food and great activities that are available in our wonderful and various cities; and San Rafael where I now have an Acupuncture practice, is an excellent example.  San Rafael has so many options for wellness, and this is by no means a definitive list!  These are possibilities I have encountered from my observations as a San Rafael Acupuncturist, and from stories my patients tell me, and I hope you enjoy checking them out.

Of course, right off the bat we can say that receiving once-or-twice-per-month Acupuncture is the perfect way to balance your body, mind, and spirit, and especially your hormones! I would be happy to see you for Acupuncture at my clinic at 25 Mitchell Blvd Suite 8, San Rafael CA 94903.  In fact, you can print this card for $45 off your first Acupuncture treatment:

Actually, thyroid conditions run in my family, and for that reason, so does treating thyroid conditions. Now, the thyroid is complex and not always well understood, so let’s start at the [...]]]> Hello there. This is Licensed Acupuncturist Georjana Shames, working alongside my physician father Dr. Richard Shames, and today I’d love to talk thyroid with you.

Actually, thyroid conditions run in my family, and for that reason, so does treating thyroid conditions. Now, the thyroid is complex and not always well understood, so let’s start at the beginning. What is the thyroid gland and why is it so important to our daily health? The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits at the laryngeal prominence of the neck and secretes thyroid hormone which is essential to our daily energy level, the rate of our metabolism, even whether we generally feel happy or depressed.

A person with low thyroid hormone can feel extremely tired, depressed, gaining weight easily, chilly all the time. Conversely, a person with high thyroid hormone can feel manic, anxious, overheated, unable to sleep. Or you could have some of each of those symptoms, in the sense that the thyroid is attempting to compensate and rapidly vacillates back and forth between high and low. (This is what Oprah was experiencing, and it is extremely uncomfortable and even dangerous over time.)

Unfortunately, a borderline low thyroid condition often will not show up on conventional blood tests, which is why it’s very important to take the whole clinical picture into account. If any of your relatives have had a thyroid condition you are much more likely to develop on yourself.

But I’m here to tell you there are effective natural ways of regaining your energy and stamina, start sleeping well again and get your metabolism back on track.

Just a few years ago, Acupuncture and Chinese herbs helped me recover from thyroid depletion and adrenal fatigues so severe, I felt like I was about 200 years old.

The way thyroid problems are generally treated with Acupuncture is specific points and herbs are selected that will balance the internal meridians, what we call the pathways of energy that crisscross your body the same way a system of rivers crisscrosses a landscape. With thyroid deficiency, it’s as if one of these rivers had run dry. The points and herbs we use to strengthen that meridian; for example the Kidney Meridian, restores nourishment to your endocrine glands.

One point we often use for thyroid you can press on yourself. Locate the medial malleolus, that bone on the inner ankle. Then locate the Achilles tendon that runs down the back of the ankle. Directly between them, you’ll find the tender area when you press. That is Kidney 3, the source point of the Kidney meridian. The Kidney meridian is the root of the body’s energy in Chinese medicine. So this is an excellent point to massage on yourself whenever you’re feeling fatigued.

In Chinese dietetics, foods that support your thyroid include lamb, beef, ginger, carrot, sweet potato and cinnamon. And remember that in Western medicine, certain foods can depress thyroid function like soy or uncooked cauliflower, broccoli, or cabbage.

Many Chinese herbs treat thyroid concerns like ginseng, astragalus, and rehmannia. Also available to you, perhaps in combination with the Chinese herbs, are supplements like L-Tyrosine, B-Vitamin complexes or animal glandulars. But these are only to be taken upon the advice of your trusted health care practitioner. Some items can actually be harmful to your particular endocrine system. For this reason, it is important to always get individual guidance from a thyroid specialist.

I know from personal as well as clinical experience how much Acupuncture, herbs and holistic Western medicine can benefit your thyroid. And even if you’ve never been formally diagnosed with a thyroid condition, your energy, your stamina, sleep and digestion can all improve by supporting your hormone health in this way.

I hope we get to continue this conversation further in my practice. I look forward to it. Remember, you can recover from a thyroid condition. You can restore your strength and balance. And you don’t have to do it alone. I’m here to help you.

Great news! Acupuncture can help you ease into the menopause and reduce many of the uncomfortable symptoms woman often experience around the ages of 45-55. If you would like to avoid hormone replacement therapy or if you are already on hormone [...]]]> Hello, this is Licensed Acupuncturist Georjana Shames and today I’d love talk menopause with you.

Great news! Acupuncture can help you ease into the menopause and reduce many of the uncomfortable symptoms woman often experience around the ages of 45-55. If you would like to avoid hormone replacement therapy or if you are already on hormone replacement therapy but still experiencing symptoms, the gentle 5,000 year-old techniques of Acupuncture can really help.

Acupuncture can reduce or eliminate hot flashes and night sweats, and also bring better sleep, more intimate moisture and pleasure, and improved overall mood. In other words, you do not have to suffer through menopause!

I’ve seen it happen time and time again in my practice: a woman who had been suffering with severe symptoms for years had near-complete relief after just a few sessions.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical tradition using needles as thin as a strand of human hair and placing them just below the skin to stimulate pressure points. We have holistic approaches and often recommend herbs, exercises, and meditation as well. In Acupuncture therapy the endocrine or hormonal system is closely tied to the internal balance of the Yin energy and the Yang energy. You can image that the Yang is like gasoline that fuels a car and the Yin is the coolant for the car’s engine. Without the coolant the engine overheats and begins to burn out. The same is true if there is a sharp decrease of Yin energy in menopause. Lack of cooling Yin causes hot flashes, night sweats and irritability.

What we do as Acupuncturists is nourish the cooling, moistening Yin energy with specific points and herbs, thus making sure the Yin and Yang are more equal within the body. This will restore your essential internal balance.
The fantastic news is, without all the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause you’ll be free to enjoy a phase of life marked by extreme creativity and inspiration, passion and professional accomplishment. You can have a much easier time. I’m confident I can help you, naturally.

Of course, the very best first step is to make an appointment with him or [...]]]> If you heard my father Dr. Richard Shames on KGO’s morning show with fitness expert Joanie Greggains today (December 4, 2010), you probably noticed him mention an ever growing list we created for over-the-counter resources for thyroid assistance.  Here it is!

Of course, the very best first step is to make an appointment with him or myself for education on thyroid care, either for on the phone or in person at our California offices.  I utilize the educational guidance from Traditional Chinese Medicine while he focuses on holistic Western options.  Our office number to set your appointment is (415) 388-0456, and more information can be found by clicking the Phone Coaching tab at the top of this page.

While every individual’s thyroid care is a unique situation requiring specific education and guidance, there are some items many people find helpful.

In addition to Acupuncture and Western treatments, many people get benefit from dietary items and over-the-counter supplements.

Chinese Medicine dietary recommendations for low thyroid often include lamb, beef, ginger, cinnamon, onion, sweet potato, yam, carrot, parsnip, and other warming, strengthening foods.  Conversely, helpful items for high thyroid may include cucumber, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, green juices, black beans, black sesame seeds, tahini, goji berry juice, kale, and other cooling, moistening foods.

Many people in my father’s practice receive great benefit from items such as Thyrosol (by Metagenics) and MedCaps T3 (by Zymogen) both which can be found by visiting the Feeling FFF site at http://www.feelingfff.com/prod_products.html

I myself, as an Acupuncturist, have been extremely impressed by my own personal benefits from taking a whole foods supplement called JuicePlus+ which has boosted my energy immensely in the past few months. (I prefer the chewable gummies over the capsules, and if you dislike taking pills you will probably feel the same).  It’s a fantastic way for me to get the phytonutrients and antioxidants I otherwise would have to spend$1700 a month on juicing fresh vegetables and fruits (and who has the money or time for that?).  Nurse Practitioner Judy Lane introduced me to this product, and you can view information and order JuicePlus+ by clicking https://www.juiceplus.com/nsa/content/Home.soa?site=jl46284

Many people have described the benefit they received from a product I personally take as well, which is called Thyro-Max Support (by Country Life).  I enjoy the sustained energy I receive from the B-vitamins, iodine, and amino acids such as L-tyrosine. Information on this product can be found by visiting The Vitamin Shoppe at http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=CF-1026

Thanks so much & check back later for more information as our resources list grows!

For individual educational coaching and assistance, make your appointment for Acupuncture, holistic Western medicine, or phone coaching by calling (415) 388-0456.  See the Phone Coaching tab at the top of this page for a full description including pricing.