Thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped endocrine gland present in the anterior part of neck. The hormone secreted by this gland helps to maintain the growth and metabolism. But the alteration in the hormone cause hypothyroidism and hyper thyroidism. The causes, clinical features, investigations and Ayurvedic line of treatment of hypothyroidism is discussed here. Causes are dictary – iodine deficiency, goitrogens, enzyme deficiency, physiological changes, spasmodic changes etc. Clinical features include weight gain, cold intolerance, palpitation, hair loss, emotional disturbance, constipation and menstrual irregularities in females. Clinical investigations shows a raised level of TSH, a decreased level of T3 and T4 with antibody test for TPO which may be usually raised in Hashimotos thyroiditis and De – Quervains thyroiditis. Examination is done to rule out the neck swelling. During examination, the neck swelling may be either diffused or isolated or nodular associated with dysphagia, stridor or dyspnoea and hoarseness of voice, due to the pressure effect of swelling. Treatment of hypothyroidism is kaphamedohara or sthoulyahara chikitsa. For this an external treatment of udwartana and rukshaswedana is done. But in various clinical trials Varanadi kashayam with Kancanara guggulu showed best result to bring the level of TSH under control. Other medicines like Chiruvilwadi kashayam, Guggulutiktakam kashayam, Asanadi kashayam, Aragwadhadi kashayam, Punarnavadi guggulu are also good for managing Hypothyroidism.
