A Clinical Case Study of Hyperthyroidism and Its Ayurvedic Management

Hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis is a disorder of the thyroid gland resulting in hypersecretion of thyroid hormones, namely T3 and T4, that, in turn, result in the diminished secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone. All these events lead to hyperactivation of metabolism and sympathetic nervous system, resulting in symptoms of increased body secretions, diarrhoea, palpitation, raised blood pressure, fatigue and intolerance to heat. Also, there are symptoms of increased appetite and weight loss and menstrual and erectile dysfunction. In Ayurveda, there is no concept of hormones. On an Ayurveda basis, body and disease are dosa, dhatu and mala, so after reviewing Ayurveda text, Hyperthyroidism seems to be aggravated Pitta-Vata disorder leading to teekshana agni (increased digestive fire) and ati- mala pravritti (frequent stools), ati sweda (excessive sweating), vishrata (smell of raw meat), alpa sukra (oligospermia), alpa putra (less progeny) etc. A 25-year-old female, already diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism, came to OPD of Kayachikitsa CBPACS. On evaluation, it seems that the patient has symptoms of aggregated Pitta Vata; with Ayurvedic medicine, the patient is completely cured and values of TSH raised from 0.030 µIU/ml to TSH- 4.01 µIU/ml within normal limits.