Goiter refers to abnormal enlargement of thyroid gland. The thyroid gland produces two major hormones, T3 and T4. These hormones control the metabolism process in the body. In goiter, the thyroid hormones may remain normal or they may increase or decrease. The main cause of goiter is iodine deficiency. Other causes are thyroiditis, grave’s disease, hashimotos’s disease, nodules in goiter (solitary nodule, multinodular goiter). Homeopathic medicines for goiter help boost the self-healing mechanism of the body to bring about natural recovery.
Symptoms of Goiter
Goiter may present itself merely as swelling in the neck. But, due to pressure from the enlarged gland, the person may have difficulty swallowing, experience hoarseness of voice and a constricted feeling in the throat. Other symptoms are related to hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. With hyperthyroidism, the major symptoms would be intolerance to heat, palpitations, anxiety, tremors, weight loss, exophthalmos, tachycardia and scanty menses. While with hypothyroidism, the symptoms are intolerance to cold, heavy menses, constipation, fatigue and weight gain.
Homeopathic Medicines for Goiter
Homeopathy offers very safe and effective treatment for goiter without the need for surgical intervention. There are a large number of medicines for treating goiter, but no one treats for all types. The most appropriate medicine is selected after a detailed study and analysis of individual symptoms. Natural medicines for goiter help reduce swelling of the thyroid gland and symptomatically manage the condition. In cases where the auto-immune origin of the disease is found, natural medicines help by optimizing the immune system and making it strong enough to tackle the disease.
1. Iodum – For Hyperactive Thyroid and Accelerated Metabolic Functions
Iodum is one of the top listed medicines for goiter. It is used when the thyroid gland is enlarged, hyperactive and the metabolic functions of the body are accelerated. The thyroid gland may also be indurated and hard along with its enlargement. Due to the increased metabolic rate, the person in need of Iodum for goiter goes on losing weight even after eating a lot. The appetite is increased, but the person does not gain weight. Another symptom to look out for prescription of Iodum as one of the best medicines for goiter is that the person feels very hot and constantly in need of cool air. Mentally, such persons are nervous, restless, hurried and impulsive, with extreme mental excitement. Iodum is also considered the most effective among medicines for goiter where tachycardia is present with a rapid, accelerated pulse rate. Palpitations may arise from the least exertion. Iodum also helps treat women with goiter where chronic amenorrhoea is present. Another set of symptoms for prescribing Iodum in goiter includes chronic diarrhea with weakness, bulging/protruding eyes, deep and hoarse voice.
2. Calcarea Carb – For Enlarged Thyroid and Slow Metabolic Functions
Calcarea Carb is helpful in cases of goiter where the thyroid gland is enlarged but underactive, with a slowed down metabolism. For using Calcarea Carb in goiter, the hallmark symptom is sluggishness of all body functions. Tiredness, slowness on the mental and physical plane are marked. There are other varying symptoms that guide use of Calcarea Carb as one of the top medicines for goiter. The first among these is obesity. A person who needs prescribing Calcarea Carb is fat, obese and goes on gaining weight even with a normal appetite. The second important symptom is chilliness with marked intolerance to cold. Another major symptom pertains to goiter in women: women suffering from goiter having profuse and prolonged menstrual cycles are ideal candidates for using Calcarea Carb. Persons who need Calcarea Carb usually suffer chronic constipation as well. The constitutional symptoms that are important to look out for include profuse sweating over the scalp, craving for eggs and indigestible things such as chalk, lime and pencils, and aversion to fatty food.
4. Spongia – For Goiter with Swollen, Enlarged Thyroid Gland
Spongia is highly recommended among medicines for goiter where the thyroid gland is much swollen and enlarged. The chin, too, swells along with the thyroid gland. Applying pressure on the thyroid gland causes pain in such cases. Spongia is also one of the most helpful medicines for goiter with suffocative episodes appearing from time to time. Dry, tickling cough in goiter patients can also be managed well with medicine Spongia.
5. Natrum Mur – Constitutional Remedy for Goiter
Natrum Mur is rated among the most effective constitutional medicines for goiter. If selected as per unique constitutional symptoms, Natrum Mur holds great promise of recovery for goiter patients. Natrum Mur works best in reserved, introvert personalities that are prone to depression, weeping spells and feelings of loneliness. Irritability, restlessness and nervousness are high among such subjects. Physically, they appear emaciated, with the neck showing maximum thinning. Excessive exhaustion and weakness accompanies the condition. The eyes also show protrusion. Natrum Mur is quite successful in dealing with tachycardia and palpitations due to goiter as well. Palpitations are violent, shaking the whole body and they get worse with emotions or exertion. In women with goiter, Natrum Mur works as one of the most reliable medicines for goiter and can help regulate irregular periods. It must be noted, however, that most people prescribed Natrum Mur show marked intolerance to heat and have trouble tolerating the sun. Extra craving for salt may also be felt by persons who need Natrum Mur for goiter treatment.
6. Fucus Vesiculosus and Lycopus
Fucus Vesiculosus is a highly effective remedy for goiter. It yields excellent results in obese persons suffering from enlarged thyroid gland (goiter). Fucus Vesiculosus is also one of the most effective medicines for goiter of non-toxic nature. Lycopus is recommended for toxic goiter. Lycopus can be used in goiter patients who show protruding eyeballs with heart involvement. Breathlessness and inability to exert in any kind of work also hint at Lycopus as the most effective medicines for goiter with these symptoms.
Other Remedies
1. For Simple Goiter
Simple goiter refers to enlarged thyroid gland without any increase or decrease in thyroid hormone levels and metabolic functions remaining normal. The term simple goiter includes diffuse, nodular and colloid goiter. The best medicines for simple goiter include Fucus Vesiculosus, Calcarea Iodata and Bromium. Fucus Vesiculosus is indicated for goiter in obese persons. Calcarea Iodata works best for thyroid enlargement at the time of puberty while Bromium is the best among medicines for goiter where the thyroid gland is enlarged and it shows stony hardness.
2. For Toxic Goiter
Toxic goiter refers to enlarged thyroid gland that shows symptoms of hyperthyroidism/thyrotoxicosis with increased metabolism in the body. Toxic goiter includes diffuse toxic goiter (Grave’s disease) and toxic nodular goiter. Prominent hyperthyroidism symptoms include weight loss, tremors of hand, heat, restlessness, irritable mood, tiredness, palpitations, shortness of breath, diarrhea and light periods in women. Protruding eyeballs are also present in grave’s disease. Highly efficient medicines for goiter of this type (toxic goiter) include Iodum, Lycopus, Natrum Mur, Phosphorus and Spongia. All of these medicines possess great ability to aid recovery from toxic goiter when selected as per individual symptom presentation. There is no one medicine for all kinds of toxic goiter. Symptoms vary and the medicine is selected based on detailed talks with the patient about his/her condition.
3. For Thyroiditis
In case of thyroiditis, the thyroid gland is enlarged, inflamed and the metabolic functions are disturbed. Thyroiditis includes Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, De Quervain’s thyroiditis and silent thyroiditis. The prescription depends upon the symptoms that present themselves. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis mainly presents a picture of hypothyroidism. In hypothyroidism, the main symptoms are weight gain, sensation of cold, constipation, slowness, tiredness and heavy menstrual flow in women. In De Quervain’s thyroiditis and Silent thyroiditis, the symptom picture swings between hyperthyroid phase and hyperthyroid phase, with one of these being prominent at a given time. To deal with the hypothyroid phase, the prominent medicines include Calcarea Carb, Graphites, Alumina, Sepia and Lycopodium. These medicines are natural and safe. The medicine selection is based on individual case presentation.
