What is Hypo and Hyper thyroidism?
- Thyroid hormone tells all of the cells in your body how busy they should be. Too much thyroid hormone (hypERthyroidism), and your body goes into overdrive;
- not enough thyroid hormone (hypOthyroidism), and your body slows down. The most common causes of hypothyroidism worldwide are dietary—protein malnutrition and iodine deficiency.
Ayurveda believes that thyroid problems are caused by an imbalance of the body’s doshas. Doshas are biological energies that govern the physical and mental processes in the human body. There are three doshas: vata, kapha, and Pitta.
Vata dosha is made up of air and ether elements. It is responsible for movement and communication in the body. Kapha dosha is made up of water and earth elements. It is responsible for structure and lubrication in the body. Pitta dosha is made up of fire and water elements. It is responsible for metabolism and digestion in the body.
The vata and kapha doshas govern the physical and mental processes in the human body, respectively. Imbalances in these doshas can lead to thyroid issues.
There are some easy remedies that Ayurveda provides for thyroid patients that they can practice at home to control thyroid. Here are a few super tips for improving circulation of thyroxin hormone in the body:
- Consume a Vata Pacifying Diet: Avoid eating packaged foods like potato chips if you have thyroid. Instead, focus on consuming foods that are rich in fiber like bananas, spinach, beans and legumes.
- Make sure you are consuming adequate amounts of water each day and avoid skipping meals.
- Engage in regular physical activity to improve circulation throughout your body.
Avoid eating packaged foods, dried or fried foods and foods gram flour and all purpose flour. They can increase the vata in your body and can create an imbalance of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). These foods must be avoided in order to prevent recurrence of hypothyroidism symptoms. Avoiding them will also prevent aggravating the already aggravated thyroid glands. Here is a list of foods to be avoided or eat less:
- Pine Nuts, PeaNuts, Spinach, Cabbage, Kale, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas, Strawberries, Turnip
- Ashwagandha has been used for centuries in alternative medicine. Preliminary research shows that it may improve thyroid levels in those with hypothyroidism. However, it may worsen the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Therefore, you should consult your healthcare provider before taking ashwagandha for a thyroid condition
- Kanchanar guggulu is an amazing ayurvedic formulation that helps in maintaining the secretion of thyroid hormones. It also regulates the functioning of the thyroid gland and improves the conditions. In addition, it enhances the glandular functioning to reduce the swelling caused due to goitre.
- Samshamani Vati (Giloya vati): It is commonly recommended for hypothyroidism.
- Fucus vesiculosus, alternatively known as Bladderwrack, is the herb most commonly associated with the treatment of hypothyroid. This is a kelp and seaweed product that is often used in hypothyroidism due to the high iodine content.