Thyroid diseases are common worldwide. In India too, there is a significant burden of thyroid diseases. According to a projection from various studies on thyroid disease, it has been estimated that about 42 million people in India suffer from thyroid diseases, affecting one in ten adults. A condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones to meet the needs of the body. This condition is twice as prevalent in women as in men and is common among women of child-bearing age & up to 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition.. This review will focus on the epidemiology of five common thyroid diseases in India: (1) hypothyroidism, (2) hyperthyroidism, (3) goiter and iodine deficiency disorders, (4) Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and (5) thyroid cancer.
In Ayurveda, hormones and metabolism fall under the domain of pitta dosha. The thyroid’s function of metabolism is synonymous with the Ayurvedic concept of Agni or digestive fire. From the Ayurvedic perspective, an underactive thyroid is a kapha condition. Slow metabolism or manda agni is common amongst kapha individuals and those with a kapha imbalance. A major cause of thyroid conditions is stress. From the Ayurvedic perspective, stress contributes to an imbalance of vata dosha which is involved in all disease processes. When stress stems from high tejas or overwork, it burns ojas or immunity and vitality, causing auto-immune conditions to manifest.So from the Ayurvedic perspective, all three doshas are involved
Even though thyroid conditions are becoming more common, Ayurveda offers solutions beyond taking synthetic thyroid medication. The holistic approach will address the root cause of disease by adding agni deepan chikitsa, Immunomodulation therapy like Rasayan & panchakarma etcetera ayurvedic treatment modalities