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Polar opposites in autoimmune diseases of the thyroid

By: Matthias Girke
Original Title: Die Polarität in den autoimmunen Schilddrüsenerkrankungen. Der Merkurstab 2004; 57/7: 350-65.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-18541-DE
English by A. R. Meuss, FCIL, MTA.
This translation is published with the kind permission of the journal Der Merkurstab.

Abstract

Graves' disease and the atrophic form of Hashimoto's thyroiditis are in several respects polar opposites.Thus the pathological process may lead to increased blood supply in conjunction with the inflammation in Graves' disease, and sclerosis with autoimmune atrophic thyroiditis.The clinical syndrome with developing hyperthyroidism on one hand and hypothyroidism on the other also points to the polarity. Behind this is the characteristic function of the different human bodies, which leads to therapeutic approaches in anthroposophical medicine aiming to broaden the approach using suppression or substitution of the organ's function. Eurythmy therapy is an important element next to medical treatment. These thyroid conditions also present an inner challenge which patients may take up.