The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland that secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream. The gland is found in the front and lower portion of the neck and has two lobes, the right and left. The thyroid gland makes two main hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Both play significant roles throughout the entire body in the function of our hearts, digestive systems, brains, muscles, and more. T4 is the primary hormone produced, and it is then converted into T3, which is the hormone with the most functional role in the body.
How Does the Thyroid Gland Work?
The thyroid gland, like most endocrine glands, does not entirely regulate itself. In fact, it is controlled by the brain via the pituitary gland, another two-lobed gland that sits in the brain and is known as the master endocrine gland in healthcare. But it does not do all the regulation by itself either. That job falls to the hypothalamus, which is attached to the top of the pituitary in the brain, where it receives input from the body via the spinal column.
When a signal is received by the hypothalamus, which you can think of as central management for the entire body’s endocrine system, it sends signals to the pituitary using a hormone called thyroid-releasing hormone (TRH). Once the pituitary, the middle management, gets the message that more thyroid hormones need to be made, it releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The TSH is detected in the bloodstream by the thyroid gland, which starts making T4 and, ultimately, T3 in response. For this reason, TSH has an inverse relationship with the levels of T4 and T3 in most people. When thyroid hormones are low, the brain tells the gland to make more, and so TSH is high. The opposite is also true: high thyroid hormones lead to low TSH in response.
There is one exception to how thyroid hormones are made, and that is calcitonin. Calcitonin is released directly by the thyroid gland when it senses that blood calcium levels are too high. Calcitonin then lays that excess calcium back into our bones or increases excretion of it through our kidneys. This can increase the risk of kidney stones, and low calcitonin can quickly contribute to fragile bones. On top of the thyroid gland are four small parathyroid glands, which make parathyroid hormones, and these regulate calcium in the opposite manner by releasing calcium from stores when levels are too low.
What Role Does the Thyroid Play in My Body?
Thyroid hormones are vital to the entire body’s ability to function, but these are the basics:
- Regulates the rate, rhythm, and force of the heartbeat (leading to high or low heart rate, high or low blood pressure, etc.)
- Regulates the rate of digestion
- Regulates metabolic rates (which can mean serious weight gain or loss)
- Affects the reproductive system (low function can often lead to infertility issues)
- Affects the normal function of the nervous system (low function can often lead to neuropathic pain, numbness, and tingling)
How Can Chiropractic Care Help?
Chiropractic care can help reduce problems with the thyroid gland because of its proximity to the gland itself along the cervical spine, and because the hypothalamus is dependent on normal transduction of signaling from the spinal cord to respond appropriately. Misalignments in the spine, called subluxations, can put pressure on the gland in the narrow space of the cervical spine. A skilled and knowledgeable chiropractor can mitigate the affect with gentle and holistic care. Studies have shown significant improvement in thyroid problems with expert chiropractic care, such as that provided by Dr. Thomas Keogh at Bare Chiropractic in Billings, MT.
Reach out to us at Bare Chiropractic today to schedule your evaluation and get back on the road to wellness.
Sources
Campbell, A. M. & Delander, K. (2017). Resolution of hypothyroidism & irritable bowel syndrome in a
34-year-old female following chiropractic care to reduce vertebral subluxation: A case study & review of the literature. Chiropractic Research. http://www.torquerelease.com.au/AVSR-Campbell-Delander.pdf
Pirahanchi, Y., Tariq, M. A., Jialal, I. (2022). Physiology, Thyroid. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519566/
