Thyroid Ayurvedic Treatment

Normalizing Thyroid Functions is Possible with Ayurvedic Treatments

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland that sits low on the front of the neck. Your thyroid lies below your Adam’s apple, along the front of the windpipe. Anatomically, thyroid has two side lobes, connected by a bridge (isthmus) in the middle. When the thyroid is its normal size, you can’t feel it. Histologically, it has two types of cells; Follicular cells secretes thyroid hormones and Parafollicular cells secretes a hormone called calcitonin. Brownish-red in color, the thyroid is rich with blood vessels. Nerves important for voice quality also pass through the thyroid.

The thyroid predominantly secretes T4 i.e. thyroxine hormones, and in small amounts T3 hormone. T3 and T4 are collectively called thyroid hormones. Main function of the thyroid gland is to maintain basal metabolic rate. All Thyroid hormones act throughout the body, influencing metabolism, growth and development, and body temperature. During infancy and childhood, adequate thyroid hormone is crucial for brain development.

The thyroid glands are part of the endocrine system and diseases of these glands are most commonly attributed to reduced or excessive intake of iodine and tyrosine. Tumours of thyroid glands, excess stress, reduced or excessive intake of side effects of medicines, and toxicity of the goitre are some common reasons of thyroid disorders.

As per ayurveda thyroid problems may be caused by Pitta imbalance. Hence, patients may experience a variety of differing symptoms such as sensitivity to cold, dryness of the skin, Constipation, Anorexia, Angina pain, Anemia and disordered menstrual function due to the underlying thyroid imbalance.

Ayurvedic treatment provides natural remedy for Thyroid problems with customized herbal medicines, detoxification of the body through panchakarma, diet and lifestyle advice which addresses the root-cause of the problem.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is the condition resulting from the effect of excessive amounts of thyroid hormones on body tissues.

• Thyrotoxicosis is defined as a state of thyroid hormone excess.
• Hyperthyroidism is defined as a state of excess thyroid gland function

Common causes of Hyperthyroidism (account for 95% of cases)

• Graves’ disease (autoimmune) 75%
• Multi-nodular goiter 15%
• Solitary thyroid nodule 10%

Rare causes of Hyperthyroidism (account for 5% of cases)

• Thyroiditis (viral, autoimmune, post radiation)
• Thyrotoxicosis factitia (surreptitious T4 consumption, especially by female health workers)
• Exogenous iodine consumption
• Drugs (amiodarone)
• TSH secreting tumours (pituitary tumours)
• HCG producing tumours
• Struma ovarii (ovarian teratoma).

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism 

• The skin is warm, moist (due to vasodilatation); 
• The palms are warm, moist and hyperaemic (palmar erythema); 
• Plummer’s nails (retraction of nail from its bed) are seen.
• Dermopathy in the form of peau d’ orange (pretibial myxedema) and growth of coarse hair may be seen.
• Alopecia and vitiligo may be seen (vitiligo may be a marker for autoimmune aetiology for hyperthyroidism)
• The eyes show retracted upper eyelid and wide palpebral fissures. In severe cases, proptosis may be seen.
• Cardiovascular symptoms are palpitations. CCF may be precipitated in long-standing cases. Sleeping pulse rate is greater than 90 per minute. Isolated systolic hypertension can occur.
• Metabolic symptoms are weight loss despite the increased appetite and intolerance to heat (due to increased BMR).
• GIT symptoms may be in the form of hyper-defecation.
• It may exacerbate bronchial asthma.
• CNS symptoms are nervousness and irritability (very common symptoms). 
• There is fine tremor of outstretched hands, insomnia, inability to relax and proximal muscle weakness. 
• Acute psychosis may occur in about one third of patients with hyperthyroidism.
• Women may have amenorrhoea or oligomenorrhea and men may have impotence and loss of libido.
• On examination, the thyroid gland may be diffusely enlarged and bruit may be heard over the gland due to increased blood flow.

Investigations

• Serum free T3 and T4 levels are elevated
• Serum TSH level is not detectable
• Thyroid uptake of radioiodine (131I) is increased
• Test for presence of antibodies
• Thyroid scan with radioactive iodine is useful in patients with nodular goitre and hyperthyroidism

Management Options for Hyperthyroidism 

• Antithyroid drugs 
• Subtotal thyroidectomy 
• Radioiodine 

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is the condition resulting from insufficient synthesis of thyroid hormones.

• Hypothyroidism dating from birth is termed cretinism. The term myxoedema indicates severe hypothyroidism in which there is accumulation of hydrophilic mucopolysaccharides in the skin and other tissues.
• In children, the earlier the age of onset of hypothyroidism, the greater the chance of brain damage especially before 3 years. Thyroxine is essential for growth and development of the CNS during the first 3 years. After 3 years, most of the effects of hypothyroidism are reversible.

Common causes of Hypothyroidism (account for 95% of cases)

Primary thyroid diseases 

• Thyroprivic

• Congenital developmental defects
• Primary idiopathic
• Post-ablative (radioiodine or surgery)
• Post-radiation (e.g. lymphoma)

• Goitrous

• Heritable biosynthetic defects maternal
• transmission
• Iodine deficiency
• Drug induced (PAS, iodide, phenylbutazone, lithium and amiodarone)
• Chronic thyroiditis—(Hashimoto’s disease)

• Recurrent hypothyroidism

Rare causes of Hypothyroidism (account for 5% of cases)

Suprathyroidal 

• Pituitary—postpartum pituitary necrosis (Sheehan’s syndrome)
• Hypothalamic.

Drugs that cause hypothyroidism:

• Iodine containing drugs
• Lithium
• Interferon-α
• Interleukin-2
• Thalidomide.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

General 

• Tiredness, lethargy, somnolence, weight gain, poor appetite, cold intolerance

Skin 

• Cool, coarse, dry and flaky

Colour 

• Pallor/yellowish due to carotenaemia

Hair 

• Sparse, brittle, loss of eyebrows

Nails 

• Brittle

Skeletal 

• Short stature

Muscular 

• Pain, stiffness, cramps, muscle weakness, hypotonia, delayed relaxation phase of deep tendon reflexes (pseudomyotonic reflex)

Neurological 

• Higher functions show memory impairment and mental slowing and depression
• 8th N deafness
• Carpal tunnel syndrome 
• Sensory ataxia 
• Cerebellar ataxia 
• Acute encephalopathy

Cardiovascular 

• Bradycardia
• System Diastolic hypertension (increased peripheral vascular resistance)
• Cardiomegaly with pericardial effusion

Gastrointestinal

• System Macroglossia
• GIT hypomotility
• Ascites 
• Achlorhydria

Reproductive System Female 

• Menorrhagia, amenorrhoea, infertility and abortion

Reproductive System Male 

• Impotence, scrotal effusion

Metabolic 

• Hypothermia, hypercholesterolaemia, decreased insulin requirement

Eye 

• Yellow sclera

Respiratory 

• Vocal cord oedema leads to low system pitched and hoarse voice 
• pleural effusion
• respiratory muscle weakness

Haematology 

• Normocytic normochromic anaemia,
• Iron deficiency anaemia (menorrhagia),
• Megaloblastic anaemia (associated with pernicious anaemia)

Difference between Primary and Secondary Hypothyroidism

Subclinical Hypothyroidism

• Increased TSH but T4 and T3 remains normal.
• Seen in 10% of those > 55 years
• Common after partial thyroidectomy or I131 therapy
• Risk of progression to frank hypothyroidism -2% and this risk doubles if thyroid autoantibodies are present.

Investigations

• Serum thyroxine (T4) concentration
• Free T4 index
• Serum TSH concentration