Want to Control Your Thyroid? Here’s How Ayurveda Can Help

Here’s how you can fight thyroid with Ayurvedic remedies.

(Photo: iStockphoto)

A thyroid diagnosis is the sign of a sedentary lifestyle. Yes, thyroid is not a disease but a lifestyle disorder. This disorder has two types.

Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland’s hormone production slows down. As a result, the metabolism of the body also slows down. A person who has hypothyroidism tends to gain weight.

On the other hand, hyperthyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland makes too much of the thyroid hormones. If a person has hyperthyroidism it means the person will lose weight.

Ayurveda and Thyroid

Ayurveda believes that thyroid is caused due to the imbalance of vata and kapha in the body.(Photo:iStockphoto)

In a conversation with Fit, Dr Mukesh Sharma said that according to Ayurveda, thyroid is linked most with the increase of vata and kapha dosha in the body. Doshas are biological energies that govern the physical and mental processes in the human body.

The vata dosha possesses qualities of air. The kapha dosha possesses the qualities of earth and water. The imbalance of these doshas in the body leads to thyroid.

He added that Ayurveda believes in controlling thyroid by balancing the energies of the body and correcting the circulation of thyroxin hormone in the body. It provides some easy remedies for thyroid patients that they can practice at home to control thyroid.

Here are some super easy tips that Ayurveda provides for improving the circulation of thyroxin hormone in the body. Read on!

Consume a Vata Pacifying Diet

Avoid eating packaged foods like potato chips if you have thyroid.(Photo: iStockphoto)

According to Ayurveda, thyroid imbalance can be a result of increase of the vata dosha in the body. If you are a thyroid patient, you should not take a diet that can increase it in your body.

Make sure you are consuming foods that are rich in fiber like bananas, spinach, beans and legumes. You should not skip lunch or dinner and should divide what you eat in a day into three-four meals.

Avoid eating packaged foods, dried or fried foods and foods made of <i>besan</i> (gram flour) and <i>maida</i> (all purpose flour). They can increase the <i>vata</i> in your body and can create an imbalance of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).

Dr Mukesh Sharma, Jiva Ayurveda

Avoid Foods That Increase Kapha

Milk and milk products can increase kapha in the human body.(Photo: iStockphoto)

One of the most common symptoms of thyroid is weight gain. To control this weight gain and thyroid, it is recommended that one should take a kapha pacifying diet. Always consume fresh vegetables and fruits. Eat wholesome foods like grains, beans and nuts. Try eating at least one fruit a day.

In Ayurvedic terms, one should not take <i>kapha vardhak aahaar vihaar</i>. This means that you should avoid the diet and lifestyle that can increase the <i>kapha</i> in your body.

Dr Mukesh Sharma

Avoid the intake of milk and milk products in excess.

Practice Pranayama

Pranayama can help regulate functions of the thyroid gland.(Photo: iStockphoto)

Pranayama is a Yoga practice to control your breathing. Thyroid patients are advised to practice Pranayama as it can balance the vata in the body and thus help control the problem of thyroid.

Pranayama can definitely help thyroid patients. It can regulate the functions of the thyroid gland as well as the brain.

Dr Mukesh Sharma

Practice Pranyama techniques like kapaal bharti and anulom-vilom.

Go For a Morning Walk

Leading a sedentary lifestyle can also create imbalance of the thyroid stimulating hormone.(Photo: iStockphoto)

Leading a sedentary lifestyle can also create imbalance of the thyroid stimulating hormone. So, an Ayurvedic remedy to control thyroid is to go for morning walks regularly.

Walking in the morning can increase the circulation of oxygenated blood in your body which is good for controlling the thyroid.

Dr Mukesh Sharma

Go for a brisk walk in the morning daily.

Go For a Massage

Getting a massage can pacify the vata in the body.(Photo: iStockphoto)

This is the easiest technique to fight thyroid, as you have to do nothing, but relax. Not only can this pacify the vata, it can also help in reducing the extra fat from the body that you tend to gain due to thyroid.

Ayurveda says that Abhyanga or lubricating your body with oil can be a very good remedy to control the problem of thyroid.

Abhyanga will help you a lot. It increases blood circulation, nourishes muscles and nerves. It is good for thyroid patients.

Dr Mukesh Sharma

Try Some Kitchen Remedies

Consuming aloe vera helps to pacify vata and kapha in the body.(Photo: iStockphoto)

Ayurvedic practices usually involve treatment using natural remedies. These natural remedies are usually available in your kitchen. If you are trying to control your thyroid levels, just grab some triphala, methi, ginger or aloe vera. Little do people know that these ingredients can really help thyroid patients.

Try consuming fresh aloe vera or aloe vera juice. It really helps in pacifying and balancing both vata and kapha in the body.

Dr Mukesh Sharma

It is good to replace addictive things like tea and coffee with some herbal tea if you are a thyroid patient.

Soak some dhaniya (coriander) and jeera (cumin) in water and leave it overnight. Strain the water and drink it in the morning on an empty stomach.