About 42 million people in India are struggling with thyroid disorders. Overall, 10.95% of people in India have hypothyroidism.

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland that secretes hormones essential for regulating metabolic functions. Thus, altered levels of thyroid hormones can affect your body’s metabolism. This changed metabolism causes several changes, including weight, mood, irregular menstruation, breathing, heart rate, cold or heat intolerance, etc.

Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid state where the thyroid gland fails to produce sufficient quantities of T3 and T4 (thyroid hormones). When thyroid hormones are not produced in the required amount, the body’s functions tend to get slow.

Role of homeopathic medicine in hypothyroidism

If you want to treat your hypothyroidism with pills that are safe, gentle, and don’t have any side effects, then homeopathy should be your choice. Homeopathic remedies are effective in mild to moderate cases of hypothyroidism.

A constitutional homeopathic medicine always works best in hypothyroidism. It is selected from several indicated homeopathic medicines. Homeopathy is best because it treats the underlying cause, corrects thyroid gland functions, and relieves hypothyroidism symptoms.

Top five homeopathic medicines for hypothyroidism

Natrium muriaticum (Nat-m.)

Common name: Chloride of sodium

Nat. mur. is indicated for hypothyroidism triggered after a stressful and disappointing life event. Nat. mur. helps in hypothyroidism with symptoms of depression with marked sadness and weeping tendency.

This is an excellent medicine for hypothyroidism with hair thinning and hair fall. Hypothyroidism with symptoms like exhaustion,  tiredness, and excess sleep indicates Nat. mur.

Weakness in the morning while in bed is the keynote symptom of this remedy. Other indications of this medicine include skin dryness, numbness, tingling in fingers, and cold sensation in hands and feet.

Sepia officinalis (Sep.)

Common name: Inky juice of cuttlefish

Sepia is one of the excellent homeopathic remedies for hypothyroidism with slow digestion, weight gain, and a pale yellow face. Sepia in hypothyroidism is also recommended in treating constipation with very hard and difficult stool passed as small balls. These people experience excessive pain that continues longer, even after passing stool. This remedy improves digestion to relieve the gastric symptoms associated with hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism makes these people extremely sensitive to cold and feel very weak. Their sensitivity to cold is so extreme that they feel cold even in a warm room.

Hypothyroidism with menstrual complaints like too early and heavy menses responds well to Sepia. Women with low libido and prolapse of pelvic organs in hypothyroidism are characteristic symptoms of Sepia.

Calcarea carbonica ostrearum (calc.)

Common name: Carbonate of lime

Calcarea carb. is indicated in people who gain excess weight due to hypothyroidism. Its use is highly recommended in hypothyroidism patients who feel weak and anxious about silly matters. Often, weakness worsens while walking or climbing stairs. Calc. carb acts by regulating calcium levels that affect thyroid function and cause hypothyroidism.

Calc. carb. is used in hypothyroidism when there is increased cold sensitivity. It also works well in constipation due to hypothyroidism. These people often pass hard stool followed by soft stool. Calc. carb. improves metabolism and relieves constipation in those struggling with hypothyroidism.

Thyroidinum (Thyr.)

Common name: Dried thyroid gland of the sheep

Thyroidinum is known to stimulate the functioning of the thyroid gland in hypothyroidism. It is often used in people with hypothyroidism who have a puffy face and complain of weight gain. These people lack energy, so they get tired quickly and always want to lie down.

Thyroidinum works well in skin symptoms like dry skin arising from hypothyroidism. These people often complain of over-sensitivity to cold and feel their hands and feet remain cold. Other indications of Thyroidinum include irritability, weak memory, and tingling sensation.

Graphites naturalis (Graph.)

Common name: Black lead

A good homeopathic medicine for managing hypothyroidism in obese people who are over-sensitive to colds. This remedy helps treat persistent constipation due to an hypothyroidism where the stool is hard and must be passed in lumps with great difficulty.

Due to slow metabolism, these people feel gastric fullness in the abdomen. Graphites are indicated in hypothyroidism-induced depression with sadness and weeping tendency. Graphites wonderfully treats skin complaints of dry and rough skin.

Take Homeopathy Treatment for Your Health Conditions

Causes of hypothyroidism

Several factors are responsible for hypothyroidism. Some common factors causing hypothyroidism include:

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

This is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system begins to destroy your healthy thyroid cells and tissues. These immune cells destroy thyroid gland cells and affect their functioning. The exact cause of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is still under research.

Thyroiditis

This is an inflammatory condition of the thyroid gland that can cause hypothyroidism. The cause for thyroiditis can be an autoimmune response, viral or bacterial infection, or an after-effect of childbirth.

Hyper-response to hyperthyroidism treatment

Hypothyroidism can develop after thyroid treatment that includes the following forms of therapy.

All these destroy the thyroid cells, causing hypothyroidism.

Iodine deficiency

Iodine is a vital mineral required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. If your diet is deficient in iodine, it can lead to hypothyroidism.

Use of certain medications

Medications like lithium, interferon alpha, and interleukin can impact thyroid hormone production, causing hypothyroidism.

Pituitary disorder

The pituitary gland produces TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) to stimulate the thyroid gland. In conditions like pituitary surgery or pituitary tumors, the pituitary gland fails to produce TSH, leading to hypothyroidism.

Congenital hypothyroidism

This is a birth disorder where the thyroid gland has not functioned properly since a child’s birth. It impacts the mental and physical growth of the child.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism symptoms have a gradual onset. Thus, symptoms appear slowly over time, sometimes even years. The common symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

  • Fatigue or feeling tired with the slightest work.
  • Numbness and tingling sensation in hands.
  • Feeling constipated due to slow metabolism.
  • Gradual but stubborn weight gain due to excess fat deposition.
  • Muscle weakness that is felt like soreness throughout the body.
  • Elevated blood cholesterol levels due to weak fat metabolism.
  • Cold sensitivity due to less energy available to regulate body temperature. Thus, the person often can’t tolerate cold temperatures.
  • Decreased eccrine gland secretion makes skin dry and coarse.
  • Experiencing a decreased sexual interest, decreased genital lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction.
  • Irregular, heavy, and frequent menstrual periods in women due to altered levels of sex hormones.
  • Depression, sadness, and low mood due to low thyroid hormones.
  • Physical signs include drooping eyelids, puffiness in the eyes and face.
  • Hoarseness of voice.

Treatment for hypothyroidism

Most cases of hypothyroidism are treated by replacing the amount of thyroid hormones required for your body’s functioning.

Hypothyroidism medications help your body carry out all metabolic activities. However, you need to take these hypothyroidism medications continuously to normalize the number of thyroid hormones in your body for a lifetime.

Your medication dosage may change over time. You should get medicine adjusted at different times in your life to manage your hypothyroidism symptoms. Things like weight increase or reduction may be to blame for this. You must check your thyroid levels frequently to ensure your hypothyroidism medication works properly.

Diet and lifestyle modifications for hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism can be challenging to manage. However, it’s possible to live a healthy life with the proper diet and lifestyle changes.

Eating healthy

A healthy, balanced diet can help you maintain your optimum weight if you have hypothyroidism. A handful of almonds every day can help in preventing weight gain. Minerals and vitamins like vitamin E, magnesium, riboflavin, zinc, and others are found in almonds.

Regular exercise

Regular exercise helps increase your energy levels and metabolism, which can help manage hypothyroidism. Moderate intensity exercise like brisk walking and weight training, helps to maintain muscle mass, which boosts metabolism.

Get good sleep

Getting good sleep is essential for your general health and well-being. If you have hypothyroidism, getting enough sleep can help reduce tiredness. Follow a regular sleep routine and get sleep of at least 7-8 hours each night.

Control your stress

Stress management techniques can be helpful to those with hypothyroidism. Destination techniques like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing lower stress levels and make you feel relaxed.

Conclusion

Hypothyroidism, although asymptomatic initially, can trouble you in several ways. From weight gain, hair fall, temperature sensitivity to irregular periods, and loss of libido, life can be challenging.

Homeopathy is a holistic science and does not make you habitual to medications. Allow homeopathic medicines to offer long-term relief and manage hypothyroidism without side effects.

References