Goiter Treatment | Enlarged Thyroid Treatment

A goiter is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a small gland inside the neck and just below Adam's apple. The thyroid gland produces hormones which control the body's metabolism. The presence of an enlarged goiter indicates that the thyroid gland is not functioning normally. The main cause of goiter includes an imbalance in the thyroid gland. Over production of hormones by the thyroid gland is referred to as 'hyperthyroidism' and less production is the 'hypothyroidism'. The enlarged thyroid gland due to goiter puts pressure on other parts of the neck such as the trachea and esophagus. It may make an individual difficult to breathe and swallow. Goiter is more commonly reported in women and the elder people.

The main symptom of goiter includes a swelling, ranging in size from a small nodule to a massive lump in the front of the neck. There is a feeling of tightness in the throat area. Other symptoms may include difficulty in breathing, coughing, wheezing, difficulty in swallowing, hoarseness, neck vein distention, an increased resting pulse rate, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sweating and agitation.

Iodine is essential for the production of thyroid hormone. It is found in fish products, drinking water and table salt. Lack of iodine makes an individual suffer from hypothyroidism. In an effort to produce more thyroid hormone, the thyroid gland is over stimulated and enlarges to form goiter. Deficiency of iodine is very common in most under-developed countries.

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder which causes the thyroid gland to be overactive. The antibodies produced by the immune system stimulate the thyroid gland. It enlarges and results in an enlarged goiter and produces excess thyroid hormone. In multinodular goiter, many nodules develop inside the thyroid which causes an enlarged thyroid. In some cases, thyroid cancer may be detected as a lump or nodule in the thyroid gland.

Goiter may not need treatment if it is small and not growing. But in severe cases, it may need treatment as a result of its size which may inhibit function of parts of the neck. It has been observed that enlarged thyroid gland is enough to press on the swallowing tube, breathing tube and nerve to the voice box. The best treatment for a goiter is a subtotal thyroidectomy. In this type of surgery, most of the thyroid gland is removed. Medication involving even a mild overdose of thyroid hormone and regularly taken for many years, can result in osteoporosis and may put older people at risk for abnormal heart problems.

Vitamin A is necessary for iodine and enough to cure goiter. Vitamin B complexes nourish the thyroid gland and also help to utilize the iodine. Doctors recommend intake of enough Vitamin B complex to prevent thyroid malfunctioning. For a child, mother's milk is the best natural remedy for preventing the thyroid malfunction. Daily intake of oats and bananas also helps to stimulate thyroid gland.

Ayurvedic treatment especially 'Panchakarma' is also useful treating the thyroid problem and goiter. Some ayurvedic physicians believe that goiter can be treated with special massage techniques. Specific some herbs and their oils can be massaged on the affected area with extreme precaution.

Some of the natural herbs like 'Kanchanar' have been used in Ayurvedic since years to treat thyroid related problems. It is used as a natural cure for goiter.

Kachnaar Guggul

Kachnaar is a beautiful tree growing in plains of India. The bark of this tree has been found to be useful in blockages in lymphatic channels, inflammation of lymph nodes. It has been found to be very effective in tumors of all kinds, especially Hodgkin's lymphoma type condtions.Infact there is an excellent role of Kachanaar Gugugl in Hodgkin's lymphoma and other types of benign as well as malignant cancers.

It is also useful in uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts and goiter. It is also recommended in chronic gangrene, fistula in anus. It gives excellent results in adenoids and tonsillitis in children.

The ingredients of Kachnaar Guggul are:

The main ingredient of Kachnaar Guggul is Guggul and Kachnaar. Other herbs like Triphala are detoxifying for the whole system, Trikatu (& other spices) is a combination of hot herbs, useful for generation heat and improving the penetration of the medicine into the cells and the system. Varun is another detox herb, which works as a urinary and system alkalizer. It detoxifies through the kidneys.

(Processed in Juice obtained from fresh leaves of Neem (Azadirachta indica)).

Each Tablet is 500 mg

Main Ingredients:-

Ref. Ayurvedic Text – Sharangdhar Samhita (M.Kh.A-7) Chapter of Nodular Swellings & Cancers (Gandmala Chikitsa)

Dosage

2-5 Tablets twice daily, after meals, with plain water.

Indications

Hodgkin's lymphoma, Sarcoidosis, Metastatic tumors, Malignant cancers, Uterine fibroids, Ovarian cysts, Goiter. Kanchanar guggul is Ayurvedic Formula medicine for kapha disorder in the tissues. It helps break down deep deeted kapha. The thyroid and lymphatic enlargement like lymph edema condition. Kanchanar has specific action in growths, cyst and all types' inflammation, so kanchanar guggul is useful for chronic tumors, abnormal tumors, GI system, and mass protrusion, and skin disorder, unnatural growth like goiter, cervical adenitis, lymphoma, and warts. It checks out growth and promotes ulcer healing.

Kanchanar guggul is widely used in following conditions