|
Ayurvedic
Treatment For Following Diseases
Ayurveda
for Thyroid Disease
Metabolism:
is a series of complex processes by which the human body converts
food, water, and oxygen into tissue, energy, and waste products.
It is a continuous process and goes on in every cell of the
body. It comprises the breaking down of substances into simpler
parts, and their shuffling and recombination into countless
new substances that compose the body. For example, the carbohydrates
are broken down by enzymes and acids and converted into pure
sugar or glucose.
The constructive chemical and physical process by which food
materials are adapted for the use of the body is known as
anabolism; and the destructive process by which energy is
produced with the breaking down of tissues into waste products
is called catabolism. The two processes together are called
metabolism.
Basal
Metabolic Rate: is the rate at which energy is consumed when
a person is at complete rest. When a person is placed in a
state of complete rest, the metabolic rate can be measured
by measuring the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide exchanged
during breathing under certain standard conditions. The BMR
(Basal Metabolic Rate) is an index of a person's health.
Endocrine
glands : Metabolism is controlled by the endocrine glands--a
term applied to certain organs whose function is to secrete
into the blood or lymph, a substance which plays an important
role in relation to general chemical changes or to the activities
of the other organs at a distance. The chief endocrine glands
are the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, pituitary body, parathyroid
glands, pancreas, ovaries, and the testes.
The
thyroid gland is situated in the front of the neck and produces
a hormone thyroxine which plays a very important role in regulating
the general metabolism of the body. When it is defective,
the conditions known as myxoedema (in adults) and cretinism
(in children) result. An excess of its secretion is associated
with a condition known as exophthalmic goitre or thyrotoxicosis
or Grave's disease.
Disorders
of the Thyroid Gland
1.
Hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis: in which the gland secretes
excess of hormones. This condition is more common in women
than in men whose age ranges from 30 to 50 years. Thyrotoxit
individuals become tremulous, irritable, anxious and even
hysterical. Because the metabolism is raised, they experience
rapid heart rate and palpitation, rapid shallow respiration.
Frequent bowel motions and diarrhoea, Flushing, heat intolerance,
sweating, menstrual disturbance and sometimes bulging of the
eyes. Such people suffer the paradoxical situation in which
they feel fatigue and lack of energy and yet are compelled
to move about, talk and do things. They are constantly fidgeting
and the slightest remark may set off an inappropriately angry
response.
2.
Hypothyroidism : here the thyroid is underactive, producing
too little thyroid hormone. This condition is far more common
than hyperthyrodism and can be caused by iodine deficiency
or thyroid failure brought on by pituitary dysfunction, inflammation,
and scarring. By far the majority of cases are mild or borderline,
unrecognized by the medical establishment. Yet these mild
cases can be the cause of vague, but persistent, disorders
such as fatigue, depression, loss of vitality, and overall
hormonal imbalance. More severe problems from hypothyroid
are the result of failure to develop properly, such as cretinism
and juvenile myxodema. Long term hypothyroidism, such as adult
myxodema, which is characterized by swelling of skin and subcutaneous
tissues; dry, cold and slightly yellow skin, puffy face, loss
of eyebrows, anginal pain, bradycardia, anorexia, constipation,
and anemia.
Treatment
Diet
and Other Routine:
According to Charaka, goitre does not strike those who take
milk in adequate quantities. In addition, old rice, barley,
moong dal, Bengal gram, cucumber, sugar juice, and milk products
are recommended for a goitre patient. Sour and heavy substances
are contraindicated.
Herbs:
kanchanara - Bauhinia veriegata (purple mountain ebony) is
specific for proper functioning of thyroid. Among the other
herbs jatamansi and Brahmi guggulu and shilajita are also
useful. gokshura, punarnava are useful herbs
Home
Remedies:
A fine paste made of the vegetable jalakumbhi applied over
the affected part helps in reducing the swelling. The juice
obtained from the jalakumbhi should be given in doses of II
to 22 gm a day. It increases the amount of iodine, the lack
of which, according to Allopathy, is one of the factors responsible
for the disease.
Coconut oil offers much promise today to sufferers of hypothyroidism
and slow metabolism. It is a known fact that the fatty acid
chains in coconut oil, known as medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs)
or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), offer wonderful health
benefits and are no where found more abundantly in nature
outside coconut oil. For the hypothyroid sufferer the MCTs
rev up the body's sluggish metabolism
Prepared
Medicines:
Kanchanar Guggulu, Mahayogaraj guggulu with ashwgandharishta
. Amritadhaya Taila
Yoga
:
Long before medical science ever knew about the existence
of thyroid glands, yogis had devised practices, which not
only maintained healthy glands and metabolism, but also were
part of a system of enlightenment.
Sarvangasna (shoulder stand) is the most suitable and effective
asana for the thyroid gland. An enormous pressure is placed
on the gland by this powerful posture. As the thyroid has
one of the largest blood supplies of any body organ, this
pressure has dramatic effects on its function, improving circulation
and squeezing out stagnant secretions. After sarvangasana,
we should perform matsyasana, and from sarvangasana we can
practice halasana. All these practices positively result in
better health of the thyroid gland. At the same time, all
these practices should be avoided in severe thyroitoxicosis,
physical debility or a goitre that is enlarged very much,
where medical therapy is obviously the first line of treatment
to be given. However, adding iodine once again to the diet
is the first obvious step.
Other
effective asanas include Surya Namskara, Pavamuktasana with
emphasis on the head and neck exercises, yoga mudra, Suptavajrasana
and all backward bending asanas.
Pranayama
:
The most effective Pranayama for thyroid problems is Ujjayi.
It acts on the throat area and its relaxing and stimulating
effects are most probably due to stimulation of ancient reflex
pathways within the throat area, which are controlled by the
brainstem and hypothalamus. This practice also gives us direct
access into the pranic and psychic net work, the substructure
of metabolic activity. Nadi shodhana pranayama is useful in
re-balancing metabolism.
|
