Ayurvedic Treatment for Thyroid

Thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped gland located in the front of the neck. It produces hormones T3, T4, TSH that helps regulate various metabolic processes throughout the body. Thyroid disorders include many thyroid conditions likeHypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Goitre, Nodules and even Cancer. Today we are going to discuss about Hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidismis the most common thyroid disorder affecting 6 – 10 % of women. We can say it is gender biased as Men are affected less frequently. It occurs when thyroid gland is not able to produce sufficient amount of thyroid hormone. Hypothyroidism may be primary or secondary. Primary hypothyroidism implies problem with the thyroid gland like Hashimoto’s disease effecting hormone secretion and secondary hypothyroidism results from problems with the pituitary gland. Its symptoms range from dry skin, puffy face, weakness, fatigue, constipation to fluid retention, muscle and joint aches, depression and excessive menstrual bleeding in women. It may also affect fertility in women and make it hard to conceive.

Allopathic treatment involves medication (synthetic thyroid hormone) to replace the missing thyroid hormone for lifetime. But can we actually call it a treatment? Is the effected organ being treated? Is thyroid gland able to produce sufficient amount of thyroid hormone again? No. Then why we call it a treatment.  It doesn’t correct the functioning of thyroid gland or improve the production of thyroid hormone which establishes the fact -“It is not a complete treatment.”

Ayurvedic Interpretation and Management of Thyroid

As we have already seen, Allopathy has no complete treatment for Hypothyroidism. It won’t be wrong if one wants to look out for alternative treatment for thyroid as it provides hope to treat this disease from roots.People say Ayurveda is all about herbs. To be precise, Herbs are just a small part of Ayurvedic treatment. Ayurvedic treatment for thyroid goes far beyond this. Ayurveda is of the opinion that to treat any disease we should work on the complete daily schedule of the patient to correct the lifestylewhich is the main culprit. Ayurvedic treatment for thyroid involves food, herbs, lifestyle, yoga, pranayama and meditation which not only promote physical but psychological health too.

Ayurveda uses completely different approach as it not just focuses on the diseased organ but the body as a whole. According to Ayurveda, the thyroid is located in the 6th tissue level or Majjadhatu which is controlled by Kaphadosha. The thyroid function is controlled by Pitta Dosha which is responsible for all the metabolic actionscarried out by the thyroid gland. ‘Agni’ – the sacred fire- is an important concept in Ayurveda. It is the key to all the physiological and psychological processes in the body. Stress is another major factorleading to thyroid issues. Ayurvedic treatment for thyroid works to balance all these doshas and ‘Agni’ element.

Herbs like Kanchanar, Punarnava, Guggul, Ashwagandha, Pippali etc. prove very beneficial in the thyroid treatment. Yogaasanas involving Inverted pose including Sarvangasana, Halasana, Dhanurasana, Bhujangasana and Pranayamaaccompany the Ayurvedic Treatment for Thyroid as it stimulates and normalizes the functioning of the thyroid, pituitary, pineal and adrenal glands.

Waking up at ‘Brahma muhurat’(2 hours before sunrise) has its own importance. According to research our thyroid hormone secretion is optimum at around 6 am. In our daily life we wake up a bit late which makes hormonal flow sluggish. ‘Early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise’ a early and easy saying which we will keep our body fit.  Early morning wake up refreshes your mind, gives you inner peace and sanctity and helps you connect with your inner world. Your physical activity should begin when internal bodily function has started to maintain the equilibrium.

Just to summarize Ayurvedic Treatment for Thyroid is about your mental status, diet, physical exercise, lifestyle and ofcourse, Ayurvedic medicine all components working together to achieve your goal.

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