Ayurvedic treatment for Hashimoto's Disease

Hashimoto’s is one of the most common autoimmune diseases in the world today. It is a thyroid disorder and an autoimmune disease. The autoimmune part of the equation makes virtually everything a challenge and this is particularly true when it comes to trying to figure out what to eat.

Are you tired all the time? Have you been gaining weight and you're not sure why? Do you have difficulty concentrating? Many conditions cause tiredness, sluggishness, weight gain and difficulty concentrating. But there is one immune disorder that you may not have considered that may explain

what's going on. All these symptoms could be caused by ‘Hashimoto’s disease’, a disorder of the thyroid.

One of the absolute truths about Hashimoto’s is that no 2 people have the same version of the disease. There are too many variables, people are at different stages of progression, and they have other autoimmune, endocrine, digestive or systemic problems. You probably won’t realize you have Hashimoto’s disease or hypothyroidism at first. Initial symptoms are mild and last a long time. They include fatigue, weight gain and difficulty concentrating. But over time symptoms can grow to be

severe and affect all the organs in your body.

What are the causes of Hashimoto’s disease?

Experts don’t know why the immune systems attacks the thyroid like it does – could it be a virus or bacterium, or a genetic flaw? Some people are more at risk of Hashimoto’s disease than others, according to experts, which is due to their genes. Hashimoto’s disease tends to cluster in families.

Is Hashimoto’s disease fatal?

If you don’t treat hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto’s disease, you could be storing up problems for later life. Untreated Hashimoto’s disease can increase your risk of heart disease, leave you at higher risk of having a baby born with birth defects, and make you depressed. Your enlarged thyroid may make it more difficult to speak or swallow. The condition may be difficult to spot but you benefit if you catch Hashimoto’s disease early. According to a 2011 study, even if your levels of thyroid hormone are still normal, Hashimoto’s disease can decrease your quality of life. The study from the Medical University of Vienna, Austria found women with Hashimoto’s disease had symptoms like fatigue, irritability and weight gain even when their thyroid function was normal.

How Ayurveda can help you?

Ayurveda focuses on balancing all the systems of the body for optimal hormonal functioning. It is particularly useful for diseases that are brought about by stress, and causes weight gain, constipation, increase in cholesterol etc.

Ayurvedic treatment for thyroid disorders focuses on providing symptomatic relief and restoring the balance and harmony of the body. Depending on the symptoms, medicines are prescribed to regulate the kapha, vata, and pitta doshas. Ushakadi drugs and Guggulu are commonly used to stimulate glandular functions and metabolism, thereby alleviating symptoms.

Different Ayurvedic remedies are used by practitioners to treat obesity, high cholesterol and inflammation of the body. Guggulu is considered to be particularly beneficial for preventing or restarting sluggish metabolism, and Ayurvedic practitioners routinely prescribe it.