Goitre Home Remedies - Get Rid of Goitre

'Goitre' is a disease characterised by swelling of thyroid gland in the neck due to iodine deficiency. Women are more prone to this disease than men. Goitre can occur as a normal feature of puberty and pregnancy and is not caused by disease. Sometimes only a small part enlarges and this is then called a thyroid nodule (lump). Occasionally a number of these nodules develop. Nontoxic goitre" (associated with normal or low thyroid levels) refers to all other types (such as that caused by lithium or certain other autoimmune diseases). Sometimes, however, more thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or less thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) is produced, thereby causing the symptoms associated with these disorders. The thyroid gland makes thyroid hormones - called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These are carried round the body in the bloodstream. Thyroxine and T3 help to keep the body's functions (the metabolism) working at the correct pace. If a person's diet is low in iodine, the pituitary keeps sending chemical messages to the thyroid, but in vain. The thyroid gland enlarges as it attempts to comply with the pituitary's demands. Apart from iodine deficiency, other causes of goitre involve conditions of the thyroid - such as nodules, cancer, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

Goitre is an enlargement of the thyroid gland , which is situated across the front of the neck just below the Adam's apple (larynx) A goitre can mean that all the thyroid gland is swollen or enlarged, or one or more swellings or lumps develop in part or parts of the thyroid. A "diffuse goitre" is a goitre that has spread through all of the thyroid (and is contrasted with a "simple goitre", "single thyroid nodule" and "multinodular goitre"). It comprises two lobes that lie on either side of the windpipe and are joined in front by an isthmus. A goitre can cause pressure on the gullet (difficulty in swallowing) and on the windpipe (difficulty in breathing). Very rarely it affects the voice, causing hoarseness. When it produces these symptoms, the thyroid swelling is sometimes larger and lower in the neck, compressing the gullet and windpipe between the spine and the breastbone. It is then called a retrosternal goitre. Alternatively, some or all of the thyroid's hormone-producing cells can be destroyed with radioactive iodine treatment. Hypothyroidism is treated by lifelong hormone replacement therapy. Benign thyroid nodules are shrunk with medications, destroyed with radioactive iodine treatment or surgically removed, depending on the type. Cancer of the thyroid is treated by surgical removal of the gland, followed by radioactive iodine treatment .

Herbal Medicines and Natural Home Remedies for Goitre

Iodine is the most helpful in many cases but it should be given in its organic form. All food containing iodine such as lettuce, turnips. carrots. garlic, onions, oats. pineapples, whole rice, tomatoes, strawberries. guavas and sea foods should be taken liberally.

Watercress is one of the beet sources of the element iodine. Its regular use is highly beneficial in the prevention and treatment of goitre. A paste made of this vegetable can also be applied over the affected parts. It helps to reduce swelling.

Swamp Cabbage-A teaspoon of the juice with tea almonds should be given once or twice daily as a medicine.

About 30 ml of the decoction of the bark of kachnar should be given twice a day in the morning on an empty stomach.

Dandelion has been found valuable in goitre. The leaves of this salad vegetable should be smeared with ghee, wanned and bandaged over the swollen parts for about two weeks. Any discomfort will be relieved by this remedy.

The seeds of flex are also useful in reducing swellings in goitre. The seeds should be ground in water, heated and applied over the affected parts.

Certain foods and fluids are extremely injurious for goitre patients such as white flour products, white sugar, flesh foods, fried or greasy foods, condiments, tea, coffee and alcohol.

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