Why is the thyroid so important?

I take Gaia's Thyroid Support everyday and it has helped so much!  I take 2 in the morning before breakfast and 1 between lunch and dinner. 

The thyroid is your major hormone powerhouse.  Your endocrine system, which includes the pituitary gland, thyroid and parathyroid glands, and adrenal glands, releases hormones that influence the functioning of the organs and aids in digestion of food.  If you have the following symptoms the place to target may be the endocrine system:

• Rapid weight loss or gain
• Increased or decreased metabolism, including heart rate, blood pressure, nervous sensitivity, perspiration, sensitivity to temperature and pressure
• Muscle weakness
• Tingling, numbness, or tremors
• Rapid grown or cessation of growth 
• Tenderness in the gland of the neck
• Bulging eyes
• Thickened skin
• Abnormal blood pressure
• Fluctuations in blood sugar levels
• Abnormal sexual characteristics including hair quality, muscle development, sking texture and thickness, and voice quality

Interesting enough the endocrine glands are yang in form (small, dense, and compact) but attract extreme yin by metabolic energy.  In terms of the hormones released, yang hormones are tied to the functioning of the sympathetic nerves and ying to the parasympathetic nerves.  Therefore the production of hormones can be seen in two ways depending on your symptoms above:

• HYPOSECERTION (not enough) of yin hormones-->yang condition (sluggish, slow moving)
• HYPERSECRETION (too much) of yin hormones-->yin condition (hyper, anxious)

*Click on chart to see full image

So as you can see, the thyroid plays a huge health role so it's important to check into it once in a while.  The following is a macrobiotic remedy for thyroid conditions.  Follow the recommended ratio depending on how much you make:

Thyroid Drink

1. Finely chop up carrots (2 parts), lotus root (2 parts), kombu (1 part) and daikon greens or other hard leafy greens (4 parts) and add to pot.
2. Add 4 times as much water, boil, and simmer for about 15-20 mins.
3. Add pinch of sea salt at end of cooking or 3-4 drops of shoyu.
4. Drink and eat the residue every day, 1 cup, for 10-14 days.  Then every other day for an equal period.