Management of Hypothyroidism in Ayurveda by Dr. Lakshmi Prasuna. MD (Ayu)

Ayurveda
Management of Hypothyroidism in Ayurveda
by Dr. Lakshmi Prasuna, MD (Ayu)

Thyroid gland is one of the most important and sensitive endocrine gland. As it easily responds to stress and stimuli the global incidence of hypothyroidism is increasing day by day. The major function of thyroid gland is to control the rate of metabolism. The principle function of thyroxine is to act as a catalyst of the nature of a 'spark' for the maintenance of oxidative metabolism in most tissues. Cells in the body take their 'cue' from thyroxine. The amount of stimulation the cells receive from thyroxine will determine how 'quickly' they perform their functions¹. These functions similar with the description of Agni 'angati vyapnoti iti va agnihi' and 'agnyate mreeyate iti va agnihi.

Hypothyroidism results from inadequate production of thyroid hormone. Any structural or functional defects of thyroid gland that significantly impairs its output of hormones will lead to the hypo metabolic state of hypothyroidism².

The symptoms of hypothyroidism are notorious for their nonspecific nature and for the way in which they mimic many symptoms of other diseases. So it often remains undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Vertigo, weight gain, mood disturbances, easy fatigability, tiredness, lethargy, slowness of memory, intellect and thought, menstrual irregularities, cold intolerance, dry rough skin, thin brittle hair, hair fall, Muscle stiffness, aching, myalgias, cramps, weakness and fatigue, myxedema, constipation, hoarseness of voice, goiter etc.³

There is no direct mention of thyroid gland in ayurveda. But a disease by the name galaganda is mentioned in samhitas. The earliest description of neck swelling is found in atharva veda by the name apachi. Charaka first described about the disease under the 20 varieties of sleshma vikaras¹⁰. Susutha has described that out of seven layers of the skin, the sixth layer Rohini is galaganda rogadhistana (Su.Sa.4/4). In nidana sthana he described galaganda as two encapsulated small or big swellings in the anterior angle of the neck, which hang like scrotum¹¹ (Su.Ni.11), whereas charaka mentioned galaganda as solitary swelling (Ch.Ch.11).

The etiological factors in galaganda include climatic conditions, water supply, dietary conditions and other surroundings etc. Susrutha stated that rivers flowing towards east might give rise to the occurrence of galaganda¹¹. Bhela described that sleepda and galaganda are more common in prachya desa (eastern part) of the country¹², and the persons consuming predominantly fish are liable to develop galgaganda. Harita samhitakara described the role of dustambu and krimi dosha in the precipitation of Galaganda. Kashyapa samhitakara¹³added that any part of the country which is cold, damp, with densely grown long trees, water stagnation and heavy rains may be prone for the development of Galaganda.

From the above descriptions ons Galaganda can be correlated with goiter or some tumour pathology, where thyroid functions may or may not be affected. But hypothyroidism is not just a localized disease. It has many symptoms related to many systems of the body. So it is better not to restrict hypothyroidism with galaganda.

As mentioned by charaka¹⁰ "vikaranamakusalo" exact nomenclature is not necessary for all the diseases. It insists on diagnosis of constitutional status of the disease.

As per the nidana Hypothyroidism can be classified as 1.Primary (thyroid failure) 2. Secondary, (due to pituitary TSH deficit). And 3. Tertiary (due to hypothalamic deficiency of TRH), the later two are rare and may not be amicable to Ayurvedic treatments.

If hypothyroidism results due to Genetical and hereditary defects, these comes under adibala pravritta vyadhis and these are asadhya.

If hypothyroidism results due to Congenital defects like thyroid gland agenesis, dysgenesis, ectopic thyroid gland comes under Janmabala pravritta vyadhis. These are preventable if proper pathyapathya is followed during pregnancy.

The main cause of hypothyroidism is iodine deficiency, as per sarvadha sarva bahvanam-iodine containing drugs like shigru, jalakumbhi are advised here.

Another main cause autoimmune thyroid disease is characterized by gradual lymphatic infiltration and progressive destruction of the functional thyroid tissue. So it may be Yapya, means that the treatment should be continued Jeevanaparvantam with immuno modulatory drugs.

As the symptoms of hypothyroidsm are notorious, the symptomatic treatment is followed according to the suitability of the individual cases, i.e., sthoulya, sodha etc.

The recent research work done by Dr. Tripathi and others. Animal studies have revealed that guggul supports healthy thyroid function, mostly by increasing the conversion of less active Thyroxin (T4) to more active Triiodotyronine (T3) through increasing thyroid proteolytic activity and the uptake of iodine into thyroxin, and without increasing the production of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone.

Selenium is required for a number of enzymes known as selenoproteins. The chemical reaction, which converts thyroid hormone T4 into T3, is catalyzed by specific selenoproteins. Selenium deficiency can impair thyroid function. The drug pippali increases the absroption of selinium andthis may be cause for the effectiveness of vardhamana pipppli in hypothyroid conditions.

The patient who has complications like heart diseases like bradycardia and cardiomagaly, myxedema coma, are Pratyakhyeya indicates Achikitsavastha of Vyadhi.

The present trial drug kanchanara guggulu (Sa. Sam), is found in usage for many years for Gandhamala, Apache, Arbuda, Grandhi, Kushta, etc, has been selected to evaluate the efficacy of this drug in hypothyroidism. Its main ingredients kanchanara, varuna, triphala, trikatu, trijataka may also useful in hypothyroidism.

Shigru is a well-known plant in India. It is rich in iodine, which is an essential component of thyroid hormones, T3 and T4. It has deepana, pacahna, kapha vata hara properties. It is recommended in galaganda, kandu, sotha, apachi, vrana, medoroga, vidradhi, gulma etc.is selected as anupana along with KNG. It appears to provide it with the nutrition and substitutes the Iodine, thyroid gland require. Hence the drug is selected for the study.

For fresh cases the trial drug started immediately after the diagnosis confirmed.

For the patients who are already using thyronorm/ eltroxin they were advised to withdraw the 25 mcg of the drug before starting the trail drug. The patients were observed carefully for 1 month, if they are comfortable with the drug and dosage and TSH levels are maintained well they are advised to withdraw another 25mcg. This way the drug will be totally replaced with the trail drug.

The trail was conducted on 32 patients from the Govt Ayurvedic Hospital, Erragadda; the progress of the patient is observed and recorded. Analysis was made to assess the results in relation to various factors. 32 patients were included and examined thoroughly examined and the Diagnosis of hypothyroidism is based on a person's medical history, a physical examination, and blood tests. Of the blood tests for hypothyroidism, the TSH is the most sensitive test¹⁴.

As Hypothyroidism doesn't have any characteristic symptoms, the following most common symptoms were carefully screened¹⁵.

Inclusion Criteria

Weight gain/unable to loss weight                             Vertigo
Easy fatigability                                                       Lethargy
Cold intolerance                                                      Hair loss
Slowness of memory, intellect and thought               Anorexia
Constipation                                                           Gaseous distention
Hoarseness/slowness of voice                                 Menstrual irregularities
Oligomenorrhoea /Amenorrhea                                Parasthesias
Muscle cramps and weakness                                  Muscle stiffness and aching
Dry skin                                                                  Coarse, brittle, dull hair
Puffiness of the face, hands, feet, slow reflexes         Goiter

The drug Kanchanara guggulu a compound Ayurvedic preparation consists of Guggulu, Kanchanara, Varuna, Triphala, Trikatu and Trijataka (preparation of the drug mentioned in drug aspect). It is one of the safest and the very useful drug in ayurveda, is found in usage for many years for gandhamala, apachi, Arbuda, Granthi, Vrana, Gulma, Kusta, Bhagandara etc. In the present study KNG is evaluated for thyroid stimulating activity.

Shigru is a well-known plant in India. It has deepana, pachana, kapha vata hara properties. It is recommended in galaganda, kandu, sotha, apachi, vrana, medoroga, vidradhi, gulma etc. As it is rich in iodine, which is the main cause for hypothyroidism, is selected as anupana along with KNG.

Shigru leaves are dried and the powder was given to the patients and advised them to make decoction.

Kwatha preparation: To the coarse powder of one part of drug, add 8 parts of water, boil and reduce them to 1/4^th and filter it.

Type of trial: Open trail
Mode of administration: Oral
Method of administration:

Dose of the drug: i) Kanchanara guggulu 250mg b.d.
ii) Shigru patra kwatha 250ml b.d

Period of study: 3 months

Patients were advised not to take Kapha and Medo vardhaka Ahara and Vihara's like diwaswapna, madhura guru dravya sevana etc.

Clinical Assessment

The progress of the patient is observed and recorded after every 15 days. This procedure is followed for duration of 90 days. After the completion of the duration the results are assessed basing on observations. The results are assessed in terms of complete relief, marked, moderate and mild relief and no relief.

32 patients were recruited in the study and the assessment was done for every 15days.Of the 32 patients 16 patients were fresh cases and 16 patients are already using the modern medicine eltroxin. The results of the patients who completed the treatment of 90days were analyzed.

In the 16 fresh cases the TSH levels came to normal range after the completion of the treatment. The 16 who are already using allopathic medicine were gradually replaced with the trial drug and the TSH levels were in normal range as summarized in table 5.11 and 5.12.

S.no	O.P.NO.	Before treatment	After treatment
S.no	O.P.NO.	TSH (mU/L)	TSH (mU/L)
1	16884	9.66	3.93
2	22490	>100	3.29
3	5869	99.21	0.32
4	7289	11.13	0.01
5	11960	25.99	6.67
6	12460	116.6	1.09
7	6430	6.68	2.08
8	5892	10.73	3.56
9	6478	12.97	3.22
10	12926	22.38	0.90
11	11872	10.38	0.04
12	13482	48.72	1.47
13	5340	10.67	1.21
14	1792	11.32	3.54
15	8762	10.12	2.29
16	7280	100	5.89

For the patients who are already using thyronorm advised withdraw the 25 mcg of the drug before starting the trail drug. The patients were observed carefully for I month, if they are comfortable with the drug and dosage and TSH levels are maintained well they are advised to withdraw another 25mcg and the drug was totally replaced with Trial drug.

Table 5.12 showing the levels of TSH before and after the treatment in chronic cases.

Many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism are non-specific. The most common symptoms observed in the 32 selected patients, before and after treatment were summarized as shown in below table.

The most commonly seen symptoms are weight gain or unable to loss weight, menstrual irregularities, vague body pains, constipation, puffiness of the face, hands and feet. The rare symptoms are recurrent attacks of infections, respiratory symptoms etc.

The TSH levels became normal in the fresh 16 cases, showed a p value of 0.0174, statistically significant. In 2 patients after withdrawl of the drug no recurrence is noted even after 6months. In the chronic cases that are already using the allopathic drug Thyronorm, the drug was gradually replaced with the trail drug. The TSH levels were maintained during the replacement time.

Out of the 32 recruited cases 6 cases shown marked relief. These 6 cases were fresh cases. Moderate relief was observed in chronic cases and in those thyronorm withdrawal cases. 4 cases with long duration showed mild relief. Complete relief and no relief were not observed in the present study.

Hypothyroidism doesn't have any characteristic symptoms. There are no symptoms that people with hypothyroidism always have and many symptoms of hypothyroidism can occur in people with other diseases. Hypothyroidism is sometimes referred to as a "silent" disease because early symptoms may be so mild that no one realizes anything is wrong.

Kanchanara Guggulu⁶ (Sa. Sam), a well-known Ayurvedic drug is selected for this trail to evaluate its efficacy on hypothyroidism. The trail was conducted on 32 patients from the Govt Ayurvedic Hosp, Erragadda; Analysis was made to assess the results in relation to various factors.

It is a well-known fact that the disease Hypothyroidism is more common in women than men, probably because hormonal imbalance acts as a trigger for thyroid problems. Women's bodies have a delicate balance of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, which can be upset when the body is under stress and not receiving enough support. And also estrogens increases the concentration of TBG and of total T₃ and T₄ levels. In the present clinical study also out of 32 patients 30 were female and 2 of them were male.

Hypothyroidism can develop at any point in the life span. It is more common in adults. In this clinical trail age incidence is high in the 2^nd and 3^rd decades, 80% of the cases were found in this age group. It may be because the medical Practitioners and the patients are now more aware of this disease than in the last few decades.

Actually the women, especially those older than 50, are more likely to have hypothyroidism. But the symptoms of hypothyroidism are often subtle, or people believe their symptoms are due to stress, depression, or "getting older," or may frequently mistake for other conditions; it is not unusual for someone with hypothyroidism to go undiagnosed, sometimes for many years. And also because the symptoms of hypothyroidism and menopause are so similar, hypothyroidism may easily be missed.

In the recent years peculiar changes in the cultural and social areas forcing the human beings to arenas of tremendous stress. It is becoming more prevalent in the modern society and upper socio economic classes. As thyroid gland is one of the sensitive glands in the body it stimulates to stress easily the incidence is high in this group. Whereas iodine deficiency hypothyroidism is associated with lower/poor socio economic classes due to poor nutrition.

The disease is seen more in 1. Kapha prakriti predominants, 2.Mamsa, Medo sara predominants, 3. predominantly Non- vegetarians; 4. Those who consume more saturated fatty diet, 5. Whose BMI is above 20.

These all come under one umbrella "the sedentary life style".

Heredity plays a role in both under active and overactive thyroid; Recent studies show that 20% of the diabetic daughters area at the risk of developing thyroid disorders. In the present trail 50% of the patients had a family history of autoimmune disorders like DM, hypothyroidism, psoriasis etc.

People with many autoimmune diseases have a higher risk for hypothyroidism. One patient suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis and Diabetes Mellitus. Another patient was ASMA +ve (Anti Smooth Muscle Antibodies) with chronic autoimmune hepatitis and Hasimoto's Thyroiditis and Vitiligo. Another was a case associated with Hyper Parathyroidism and Osteoporosis, Ca supplement was added along with the trail drug.

Another case a 25 yr female c/o unable to attain menarche with hypothyroidism diagnosed as turners syndrome with streak ovaries, she was counseled properly as turners syndrome is highly impossible to treat and was given treatment for hypothyroidism only.

Numerous medications can affect the thyroid. Some drugs given for non-thyroid conditions have the side effect of inhibiting production of thyroid hormone within the thyroid gland. If these drugs are taken in large dosages or for a long time, hypothyroidism may result. Nitroprusside, lithium, or iodides in the form of cough syrups, steroid and beta-blocker proponolol etc, and can induce hypothyroidism.

Among the 32 patients 2 patients had a history of using steroids and 3 patients had a history of using medications for depression and insomnia, 2 patients had a history of using immuno-suppressants. 6 patients had a history of hysterectomy. It may be because hypothyroidism, in the early stages presents with Menorrhagia, which may be easily misdiagnosed.

Another was a case of Juvenile Hypothyroidism, a 13 yr old boy with a BMI of more than 38 (wt 78kilos) with typical dull expressionless face, myxedamatous, thick, rough, cold doughy skin, hypercholestremia and delayed DTR's, deep slow voice and other symptoms. Unfortunately the case was a drop out.

The TSH levels became normal in the fresh 16 cases, in 2 patients after with drawl of the drug no recurrence is noted even after 6months. In the chronic cases that are already using the allopathic drug Thyronorm the drug was gradually replaced with the trail drug. The TSH levels were maintained during the replacement time. 4 patients were advised to continue the medication along with the allopathic drug, as they are at the perimenopausal stages, and the chronicity of the disease is high.

Coming to the results, 33% of relief was observed in those who complained of weight gain or unable to loss weight. Good results were observed in the fresh cases and who exercised regularly. But in the chronic cases that were habituated to sedentary life style no significant results were observed. In the patients who got relief there was 4/5 kilo of weight loss was observed in the three months duration. Exercise is especially important for weight loss among hypothyroidism sufferers.

Menstrual irregularities are the main symptom in hypothyroid patients, which brings them to the hospital. In among the 32 patients 50% of the patients complained of menstrual irregularities, most of them also complained of oligomenorrhoea. 87.5% relief was observed in these cases. In 2 patients who complained of infertility one had altered FSH levels and Anovulatory cycles, another patient complained of repeated abortions. In both of these patients infertility was not relieved in 3 months durations of the course.

Another main symptom constipation, poor appetite, gaseous distention was 95% relieved after the treatment, as the all the ingredients in the trail drug acts as Deepana and Pachana.

Vertigo, mood disturbances, easy fatigability, tiredness, lethargy, slowness of memory, intellect and thought were the early symptoms and marked relief was observed in these symptoms.

Parasthesia's, muscle cramps, weakness, muscles stiffness and aching were the main complaints of the chronic cases. 50-60% of relief was observed in these cases, as Guggulu acts as anti-inflammatory and analgesic.

15 patients complained of occasional voice changes like hoarseness; slowness of voice etc. 66% relief was noted. Hair loss was seen in 18 patients and 60% of relief was observed in these cases. Dry, rough skin is seen in 70% cases and half of the patients got relief. 35% of cases showed dry, brittle, lusterless hair. Brittle nails, recurrent attacks of infections were observed in many patients. 85% of the cases showed significant improvement in puffiness of the face, feet and palms.

One patient's only complaint was chronic rhinitis.

Cardiac and respiratory symptoms are rarely observed in 32 patients. One patient, aged 65yrs with Bradycardia, Cardiomegaly was seen. But it was under exclusion criteria.

Goiter was seen in 11 cases, the trail drug showed effective in acute and grade I Goiter. No significant results were observed in chronic cases. In one case of euthyroid and MNG (multi nodular goiter) since 6yrs, the recent nodule noted 3months back was reduced and other nodules become soft in consistency in the duration of 3 months.

Thinning of the lateral thirds of the eyebrows (Queen Anne's sign) was noticed in one patient.

Complications

During the replacement of the allopathic drug, puffiness of the face, mood disturbances, feeling of heaviness, muscle cramps were noted in 4 patients. But it was adjusted by increasing the dosage of the trial drug.

Gastritis was another complaint seen in 2 patients, but it was negligible and was controlled after minimizing the dosage of Kanchanara Guggulu.

Disclaimer:
Information provided in this article is for the sole purpose of imparting education on Ayurveda and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult your physician.

S.no

The most common symptoms observed in 32 pt's

BT

AT

Relief %