Thyroid


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Peer Reviewed Journals:

Thyroid dysfunction and its somatic reflections: a preliminary report.   Wiliamson ME
J Am Osteopath Assoc 1973 (Mar); 72 (7): 731-737

  • The hypothesis that thyroid dysfunction can be detected by palpation of a lesion at the second cervical vertebra (C2) on the left was tested in 100 selected subjects. Patients were studied by palpation of all cervical vertebrae, scanning, laboratory tests, including uptake, and clinical evaluation. Of 38 patient with no palpable cervical lesion, 25 (66 percent) had normal thyroid function whereas 13 (34 percent) had either thyrotoxicosis, nodular goiter, autonomous nodules, or hypothyroidism.



  • The remaining 62 patients had palpable cervical lesions, 39 on the left C2 area of whom 88 percent had thyroid dysfunction. Seven (11 percent) of the 62 patients with cervical lesions with euthyroid (normal thyroid function). Further investigation of the concept of the somatic reflection of dysfunction of internal organs is warranted.


Basal metabolic temperature vs. laboratory assessment in "posttraumatic hypothyroidism".   Sehnert KW, Croft AC.
J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1996 (Jan); 19 (1): 6-12.

  • Measurement of BMT seems to be a sensitive screening test, in combination with laboratory analysis, for the hypothyroidism seen after whiplash trauma. Whiplash seems to result in a form of hypothyroidism suggesting direct injury to central tissues.


Incidence of spinal palpatory findings: A review   Beal MC.
J Am Osteopath Assoc 1989 (Aug); 89 (8): 1027-1035

  • Epidemiologic studies of the incidence of somatic dysfunction in a normal or asymptomatic population are needed to evaluate somatic dysfunction as an etiologic factor or as a reflection of disease. Nine studies of the incidence of spinal palpatory findings are reviewed to see if there are commonalities in the patterns of somatic dysfunction, and whether insights into the nature of spinal dysfunction can be gained by an overview of these studies.



Case Studies:

Case #4 Newborn with atlas subluxation/absent rooting reflex.   Esch, S.   ACA J of Chiropractic December 1988.

  • A two day old newborn female showing lethargy and a yellowish skin color present since birth and an inability to nurse; the baby seemed unable to "latch on." A medical doctor said the baby was probably hypothyroid and should be hospitalized. The atlas was adjusted for a left lateral listing. Immediately thereafter, the baby exhibited a strong bilateral rooting reflex. The baby began to nurse right away. The jaundice quickly cleared. The mother continued to nurse her child for two years.


Hyperthyroid Condition (Grave's Disease): A case review.   Firczak, SW. Today's Chiropractic   (citation unavailable date approx. 1989).

  • This is the case of a 20-year-old female who had been diagnosed as suffering from hyperthyroidism. Symptoms included nervous irritation, tachycardia, hives, occasional eyelid and upper lip edema and frontal headaches. She had been under medical treatment for six years, which included prophylthiouracil. She had stopped medication and the symptoms worsened. Chiropractic examination revealed nerve irritation at C1, C3, T6, T7, T11 and L5. Restricted movement was found at C2. Adjustments were usually to C2 using the Gonstead cervical chair and the Gonstead technique. L5 was occasionally adjusted. After 4 months of chiropractic care the patients T4 blood levels were within normal range and symptoms completely disappeared.