Introduction
Goiter is a disease of the thyroid gland. A common symptom of goiter is enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is controlled by pituitary gland which is located in the brain.
The thyroid gland can’t manufacture its hormones without sufficient iodine. If a person’s diet is low in iodine, the pituitary gland keeps sending chemical messages to thyroid gland but it is of no help. The thyroid gland enlarges as it attempts to comply with the demands of the pituitary gland.
The most prominent symptom is the swelling in the neck. The size of goiter swellings can range from very small to largely noticeable to very large. Most goiters are painless. However an inflamed thyroid can be painful. If goiter is enlarged and presses the trachea (windpipe) then it may cause difficulties with breathing or swallowing.
The following are some other symptoms seen in people having goiter:-
(i) The person gets emotionally upset
(ii) The person faces loss of concentration
(iii) The person becomes irritable and may have mood swings
(iv) Depression may occur
Treatment always depends on the size and cause of the goiter swelling and whether it is causing other symptoms. Goiter caused by iodine deficiency can be helped with the introduction of iodine rich food into the diet, such as seafood and iodized salt. In cases of hyperthyroidism, it is managed by the use of drugs.
Home Remedies for Goiter
- Goiter is directly caused due to the deficiency of iodine. Hence food rich in iodine should be taken freely. Examples of iodine-rich foods are fruits like pineapple, guavas, strawberries, citrus fruits, also other food stuffs like egg yolk, sea food, whole rice, tomatoes, oats, onion, garlic, carrots, lettuce and watercress.
- Exophthalmic goiter can be treated using leaves of swamp cabbage. A teaspoonful of this juice must be routinely taken with tea. This should be supplemented with almonds taken once or twice on a daily basis. This is one of the useful home remedies for goiter.
- Kachnas (Bauhini variegate) is used as medicine for treatment in India. 30 ml of decoction of bark is taken twice a day on an empty stomach.
- The leaves of dandelion are smeared with ghee. These are then warmed and bandaged on the swollen region. The procedure must be repeated till two weeks. It relieves the pain if any, and also looks after any other kind of discomfort.
- The seed of flax are also very useful. They are grounded in water, heated and applied over affected parts. Leaves of the trees should then be bandaged over the swollen area. This is one of the best home remedies for goiter.
- For the first few days of treatment, the bowels should be cleansed daily with lukewarm water. The patient should be given complete bed rest. Physical work should be avoidedand can be done after the symptoms reduce.
- One should do neck stretches and exercise daily to help stretch the muscles attached to the thyroid gland. A person must partake moderate aerobic or should walk or jog for at least 30 minutes a in a day. Along with this a regular diet including iodine content should be taken.
- Cucumber is a rich source of diet for goiter affected people. It should be included in the daily diet in the form of salads.
- Instead of new rice, the old variety of rice should be used once a day in food if the person cannot cut down the intake of rice.
- Another good home remedy for goiter is watercress which is one of the best sources of iodine. Its daily use reduces or even prevents and treats goiter. A paste made of this can be applied in the goiter region which helps to reduce swelling.
- Barley water is also an effective remedy a person should include barley water in the diet once at least.
- In some cases, radioactive iodine is used to treat an overactive thyroid gland. The radioactive iodine is taken orally and reaches your thyroid gland through your bloodstream, destroying thyroid cells. The treatment results in diminished size of the goiter but eventually may also cause an under active thyroid gland.
- Goiter affected victims must have a regular intake of water nut (shingara) lotus reed, stem to the lotus tube of Plancuperous tuberosus and pineapple. Also the sufferer must follow the general principles of nature cure and stick to a natural diet. This is one of the important home remedies for goiter.
- When the goiter first makes its appearance, the patient should take juices of fruits such as oranges, apples, pineapples, and grapes every two or three hours for five days. This will nip the problem in the bud. After the juice fast, the patient may spend the next three days on fruits and milk, taking three meals a day of juicy fruits with a glass of milk.
Avoiding Goiter
Goiter is not an unavoidable disease. With the right approach, the possibility of goiter can be totally nullified. The following are some ways to keep goiter at bay:-
(i) One should avoid beverages like coffee, alcoholic drinks and soda. Also food with excess salt and sugar should be avoided.
(ii) Caffeinated substances aggravate a viral infection in throat. They must be avoided
(iii) If a person is suffering from goiter then they should take care of the kind of food they eats and also of the timings as of when they eat.
(iv) Instead of two or three larger meals in a day, it is ideal to take four or five smaller meals in a day. This will help the body digest the food thoroughly. The body then will be able to absorb all necessary nutrients. This should aid in curing goiter.
(v) Also foodstuffs like white flour products, flesh foods, fried or greasy foods, preserves, condiments all this should be avoided.
(vi) Sour and heavy foods are contraindicated hence their intake should be reduced. However such foodstuffs should not be in regular diet. If they are taken on occasions, then they are alright.
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