Fact Check: Can hand exercise cure thyroid?

An Instagram reel claims that hand exercise cures thyroid. The claim is FALSE.

Claim

In an Instagram reel, it is claimed that hand exercise cures thyroid. The reel by samskaras_yoga is titled, "CURE YOUR THYROID NATURALLY!" and captioned as, " Stimulate your thyroid gland and balance your hormones with this simple 2-minute hand exercise! Just use both hands and follow the steps shown in the reel. No equipment. No pills. Just your breath and fingertips. Do it daily for 2 minutes and feel the difference! Your healing is in your hands — literally."

The claim can be accessed here

Fact Check

The claim is FALSE. There is no scientific evidence or medical consensus to back the claim that hand exercise can cure thyroid.

What are Thyroid Disorders?

Thyroid disorders are conditions that affect the function of the thyroid gland—a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of the neck. This gland produces hormones that regulate metabolism, energy levels, heart rate, and body temperature. Two common types of thyroid disorders are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, which involve underactivity and overactivity of the thyroid gland, respectively.

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones, resulting in a slower metabolism. This can lead to a range of symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, dry skin, constipation, depression, and a slowed heart rate. Common causes include autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, surgical removal of the thyroid, or damage from radiation therapy. Because thyroid hormones are essential for many bodily functions, untreated hypothyroidism can have serious health consequences. Early diagnosis and treatment with synthetic thyroid hormone are vital for restoring balance.

Hyperthyroidism, on the other hand, is a condition where the thyroid gland becomes overactive and produces excessive amounts of thyroid hormones. This accelerates the body's metabolic rate, leading to symptoms such as excessive sweating, rapid or irregular heartbeat, hand tremors, anxiety, weight loss despite increased appetite, frequent bowel movements, and sleep disturbances. Women may also experience changes in menstrual patterns. In autoimmune cases like Graves’ disease, patients may develop eye symptoms such as bulging or pain. Hyperthyroidism may develop gradually or suddenly, and treatment options include medication, radioactive iodine therapy, or surgery depending on the cause and severity.

In both disorders, medical evaluation and timely management are crucial to avoid complications and maintain overall health but it is important to note that these disorders cannot be cured.

Can hand exercise cure thyroid?

The claim that hand exercises can cure thyroid is FALSE. There is no scientific evidence or medical consensus supporting the idea that simple hand movements or finger exercises can treat or reverse thyroid disorders. Additionally, the post promoting this claim fails to specify the type of thyroid condition—hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism—making the claim even more misleading.

Regular physical activity plays a beneficial role in the management of thyroid disorders, contributing to balanced hormone levels and overall thyroid health. A recent study published in BMC Public Health underscores the important role of physical activity in supporting thyroid health among adults. It highlights that higher levels of daily physical activity are significantly associated with improved thyroid function, including healthier thyroid hormone levels and a reduced incidence of thyroid disorders

However, some studies have reported no significant impact of exercise on thyroid function. According to Iratxe Duñabeitia et. al., while physical activity does not directly alter thyroid hormone levels, it may still offer secondary benefits for overall physical and mental well-being.

Hence, the claim is FALSE.

Speaking to the Health Dialogues Fact Check Team, Dr Akhil Krishna, Consultant, Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes, KIMSHEALTH Trivandrum said, "The shown hand technique, which includes deep breathing and massaging the base of the thumb, is basically a way to relax and do acupressure or reflexology. It might help someone feel less stressed and more relaxed for a brief time, which might help with stress symptoms. Stress reduction and mindful breathing techniques can help anyone, even those with thyroid problems, feel better by easing symptoms like worry, tiredness, or neck muscle tightness and improving their quality of life. In that sense, doing this 2-minute workout every day could be a calming ritual or a good habit for taking care of yourself that helps your health in general. There isn't any concrete clinical evidence to back up the reel's claim that the exercise can "stimulate the thyroid gland." There is no peer-reviewed study that shows that pressing on your hand makes your thyroid make more hormones or fixes an imbalance.

Reflexology and acupressure can help with symptoms, but they have not been shown to cure or treat thyroid diseases. Yoga and breathwork may also assist regulate thyroid function, but only a little bit, and only if you make adjustments to your whole lifestyle. Even researchers in that field say that further studies are needed and that you shouldn't stop taking your prescription.

Doctors believe that medical help is needed when the objective regulation of thyroid hormones is out of whack. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy is needed to get TSH and T4 levels to the right levels in people with hypothyroidism. To treat hyperthyroidism, hormone synthesis must be lowered. The hand exercise and other supportive activities may help you deal with your symptoms or feel better, but they don't affect hormone levels or fix the thyroid gland on their own. Experts in endocrinology and clinical data do not agree that a 2-minute daily routine can help with a thyroid issue.

In conclusion, the Instagram hand exercise can be thought of as a light self-massage and relaxation technique that may help with stress reduction or give you a sense of well-being, both of which are good for managing any chronic illness. But there isn't any solid scientific proof that it "balances hormones" or fixes thyroid problems. You should be very skeptical of these kinds of promises. You should employ acupressure and breathwork along with, not instead of, the right medical care. One assessment says that "reflexology may not be a scientifically proven medical treatment for disease," but it could make life better."

Dr. Chitra S - HOD & Consultant - Department of Endocrinology, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital further added, "The most common cause of thyroid disorders is autoimmunity. Autoimmunity is a condition where the immune system mistakenly recognizes your own organs, like the thyroid gland, as foreign and creates antibodies against them, making it difficult for the organ to function. These autoimmune conditions are more common in women.

When the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, the production of thyroid hormone (T4) goes down, causing the regulatory molecule TSH to go high. This condition is hypothyroidism.

The standard treatment for hypothyroidism is levothyroxine (LT4). This is not a drug but is the exact hormone T4 that is produced by the thyroid gland. Taking the required amount of LT4 helps bring your TSH down into the normal range and keeps it there. It is important to note that if you stop taking levothyroxine, the TSH goes up again.

Generally, autoimmune thyroid conditions can be controlled and treated, and you can live well with them, but they cannot be cured in most situations.

There is a variant called subclinical hypothyroidism where TSH levels are borderline elevated, usually between 5 and 10. In some situations, particularly when associated with obesity, stress, inadequate sleep, or consuming processed foods (referred to as obesity-related hypothyroidism), this mild TSH elevation can sometimes be normalized with regularization of lifestyle.

Finally, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that acupressure or acupuncture on certain aspects of the hand or fingers can normalize thyroid function, especially in autoimmune thyroid illnesses. Also, any treatment aimed at significantly reducing general immune system strength might not be appropriate for conditions where the immune system is already misdirected."

Health Dialogues Final Take

The claim that hand exercises can cure thyroid disorders is false. It ignores the biological complexity of thyroid diseases and lacks any credible scientific or clinical support. Moreover, by not distinguishing between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, such posts spread harmful misinformation.

Hence, the claim is FALSE.