The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of your neck. It produces hormones that control body metabolism and affect many other functions, such as growth and development. If the gland doesn't work properly, you may experience symptoms like weight gain, fatigue, muscle weakness or hair loss. 

The thyroid gland has two significant functions: 

1. -It helps regulate metabolism by controlling how much energy our bodies use (or burn) daily.

1. -It regulates our mood and emotions. 

Thyroid problems can be caused by multiple factors, including stress, inflammation and even diet. Ayurvedic practices like yoga, meditation, and herb-based fluids help relieve stress, which is often a factor in thyroid issues. The thyroid gland produces the hormones that control metabolism. If the gland doesn't work properly, you may experience symptoms like weight gain, fatigue, muscle weakness or hair loss. 

What is Hypo and Hyperthyroid? 

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body produces too little thyroid hormone. This condition causes symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, dry skin and hair, constipation or diarrhoea, and muscle weakness. Hypothyroidism can be caused by an autoimmune disease (such as Hashimoto's disease) or when the thyroid gland is removed during a surgical procedure. 

On the other hand, hyperthyroidism occurs when the pituitary gland produces too much thyroid hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce too much thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism causes symptoms like high blood pressure, heart palpitations, rapid heartbeat, nervousness and an increased appetite. Graves Disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid gland. 

How do Ayurvedic practices help ease Thyroid health? 

Thyroid issues are not only common, but they are also tough to treat. They are caused by many factors like stress, trauma, poor diet, etc. Ayurveda has been practised for thousands of years and is one of the oldest branches of medicine. It focuses on treating a problem's root cause rather than the symptoms. If we focus on the root problem, there is less chance of any recurrence or occurrence of the same problem again in future. The main aim of Ayurvedic treatment is to balance your body's natural systems while undergoing treatment. Below are some ways two major ayurvedic practices help to ease thyroid health: 

Nutrition:  

Doing Ayurvedic diets will help you achieve good digestive health and improve your metabolism, which helps in reducing weight gain and maintaining an average weight. In addition, the right amount of food at the right time will help your body produce more energy to perform better throughout the day. You can try having herbal teas and even try to reduce meat consumption. A plant-based diet with nutritious fruits and veggies is the key to healthy living.  

Lifestyle changes: 

Lifestyle changes like stress management, exercise and sleep can significantly impact your thyroid function. In addition, it helps ensure your thyroid gland works on time or less during this phase. Include yoga and meditation before and after sleep. And speaking of sleeping, ensure that you have a healthy sleep cycle of at least 6-8 hours.  

Herbs to ease thyroid symptoms: 

Regarding thyroid health, Ayurveda offers several natural remedies to help ease hypo and hyperthyroidism symptoms. Ayurvedic practices are known for their holistic approach to health, focusing on maintaining balance in the body's systems. This includes the endocrine system, which regulates hormones, including thyroid hormones. 

Ashwagandha 

This herb comes from India and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Ashwagandha is an excellent herb for supporting simple and complicated thyroid problems. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for years because it reduces stress and symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). The herb is also known for its ability to reduce anxiety and depression, which are often associated with hypothyroidism. In addition, Ashwagandha has been shown to improve the immune system, so it's also suitable for people who suffer from autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto's or Graves' disease. This magic herb can help reduce symptoms such as fatigue and stress. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce inflammation in the body, which may be related to thyroid issues. You can mix Ashwagandha powder with regular black or switch to complete herbal tea like andMe's Thyrodiet Tea. This herbal tea helps reduce thyroid symptoms in females by regulating T3 and T4 levels. This tea is 100% vegan and contains no harmful preservatives. 

Kachnar 

Kachnar is another Ayurvedic herb that has been traditionally used to treat hypothyroidism. It works similarly to ashwagandha by reducing stress and anxiety and improving the immune system. Kachnar also helps increase energy levels, which helps prevent fatigue due to an underactive thyroid gland. Kachnar is also known as Indian barberry or Indian gooseberry. It grows wild in India but can also be purchased at most health food stores. Kachnar has antibacterial properties that may be helpful for people with autoimmune diseases or conditions that cause chronic inflammation in the body, like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or lupus (SLE). It may also help relieve dry skin due to low oil production. 

Guggul: 

This herb is consistently applauded for its excellent anti-inflammatory property. Along with treating thyroid problems, Guggul also aids in weight loss, helps treat skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, and manages cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Guggul provides 23.73% relief in Triiodothyronine (T3), 26.72% relief in Thyroxin (T4), and 45.86% relief in Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). That is why experts say that frequent consumption of Guggul can show significant results in Thyroid treatment.