iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll mmthsl mbThkThhpsAcupuncture
Acupuncture has been reported to balance the Th1/Th2 ratio and has
been found helpful in a variety of conditions, including pain, infertility,
endometriosis, and autoimmune conditions. Acupuncture is thought to
cause physical responses in nerve cells, promoting the release of cyto-
kines, which regulate the immune system. Recent studies have demon-
strated that acupuncture can help rebalance Th1 disorders by promoting
Th2 cytokines, and that it is helpful in type IV hypersensitivity reactions
like Hashimoto’s. For those who are skeptical and who cite the placebo
effect, it is worth noting that many of these studies were conducted on
animals such as dogs, rats, and guinea pigs in addition to humans.
My own TPO antibodies fell from the 2,000 range to the mid-300s af-
ter receiving acupuncture and taking associated immune-balancing herbs
prescribed by my acupuncturist. My antibodies remained low for over
a year but started creeping up when I moved to a different state and
stopped acupuncture treatments.
Cytokine Testing and Cytokine Ratios
Cytokine tests can be ordered to check which branch of the immune
system is overactive.
You may be able to measure the cytokines at baseline and follow up with re-
testing after an intervention is made. As a word of caution, cytokine labs are
considered “for research purposes only” and are not recognized as aiding or
curing any disease, so they are not usually covered by insurance companies.
Through a blood test, the various cytokines expressed by the Th1 and
Th2 branches are measured.
As an alternative, some practitioners recommend testing out one or more
of the substances associated with strengthening either the Th1 or Th2
arm. The theory is that if someone takes a Th1–strengthening substance
and feels better, this person likely has an overactive Th2 system, while
those who feel worse likely have an overactive Th1 system and vice versa.
Symptoms to watch for include heart palpitations, anxiety, trembling,
insomnia, irritability, and excessive sweating. These are signs of hyperthy-
roidism and occur when too much thyroid hormone is rapidly dumped
into circulation as a result of increasing thyroid destruction.
While some may be able to perceive their condition getting better or
worse after such a test, I feel many of us need an objective measure to