Goitre

Goitre is an enlargement of the thyroid gland due to a lower production of thyroid hormone It is not cancer. Women are more prone to this disease than men.

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Symptoms of Goitre

Emotional upsets

Initial goitre symptom may be emotional upsets which gradually increase in duration.
Loss of concentration, irritability

Other goitre symptoms which appear subsequently are loss of power of concentration, irritability, and depression. The thyroid gland may swell but this has no relation to the severity of the ailment.

Causes of Goitre

Goitre Disease due to Iodine Deficiency

Goitre disease is caused commonly due to deficiency of iodine in the diet. The thyroid gland makes use of organic iodine in its secretion and a diet deficient in organic iodine is a predisposing factor towards the appearance of this disease, especially under physical and emotional disturbances. Goitre disease gradually affects those who habitually live on denatured foods and nut those who eat much of their food in a raw or uncooked state.

Treatment Of Goitre

Goitre treatment using Iodine

Iodine is, undoubtedly, most helpful in many cases, but it should be given in its organic form. All foods containing iodine should be taken liberally. These are lettuce, turnips, carrots, garlic, onions, oats, pineapples, whole rice, tomatoes, watercress, strawberries, guavas, citrus fruits, egg yolks, and sea foods.
Goitre treatment using Watercress

Goitre can be treated with Watercress which is one of the best sources of the element iodine. It is valuable in correcting the functioning of the thyroid gland. Its regular use, therefore, is highly beneficial in the prevention and treatment of goitre. A paste made of this vegetable can also be applied beneficially over the affected parts. It helps to reduce swelling.
Goitre treatment using Swamp Cabbage

Expothalmic goitre can be treated using the leaves of swamp cabbage. A teaspoon of the juice with tea almonds should be given once or twice daily as a medicine. The leaves are also useful in myxodema, a condition that result\'s from lack of thyroid hormones

Goitre treatment using Kachnar

Kachnar, botanically known as Bauhinia variegata, has been used as a folk medicine for treatment of goitre in India. About 30 ml of the decoction of the bark should be given twice a day in the morning on an empty stomach.

Goitre treatment using Dandelion

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

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. The leaves of the tree should then be bandaged over them.

Diet for Goitre

As a result of this ailment, all the natural body processes may be hastened with a consequent need for more nutrients in the diet. It follows that all the foods should be as fresh as possible to maximise the vitamin and mineral content. Organically grown foods are considered best because of the non-exposure to harmful chemical sprays.
All foods that are rich in vitamins B should be included in the diet. They include almonds, sardines, liver, sprouts and green vegetables as well as wholemeal and wholegrain bread and cereal foods and brewer's yeast. If weight loss has been serious, extra protein can be added in the form of legumes (beans, peas, lentils etc), fortified milk (add 2-3 tablespoons skim milk powder to each glass of milk) and supplements such as Sustagen or Ensure. Coffee and tea, which contain caffeine, should be avoided as this can increase the metabolic rate.

Other effective Remedies for Goitre

Rest and bowel cleansing with lukewarm water

For the first five days of the treatment the bowels should be cleansed daily with lukewarm water. The patient should take plenty of rest and spend a day in bed every week for the first two months of the treatment. More and more physical exercise should be taken after the symptoms subside.

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