Ayurveda and Thyroid

According to Ayurveda the thyroid is located in the 6th tissue level or Majjadhatu. Majja is controlled by Kapha dosha.

According to Ayurveda the thyroid function is controlled by Pitta dosha. Pitta is responsible for all of the metabolic actions carried out by the thyroid gland.

From the treatment perspective we can surmise the following:
– the 6th dhatu is hard to treat with food and herbs as it is a "deep tissue" or existing at profound level of the body. Majjadhatu can be modified through herbs and food, but only when the metabolism of the previous 5 dhatus are functioning correctly. If the dhatu metabolism of the first five tissues is not functioning correctly then it is very hard for herbs or food to modify Majja.
– we should choose to treat either the structure (dhatu) or the function. This represents two different therapeutic approaches and two different dosha as per Structure or Function - Kapha or Pitta.
– Once this decision is made the therapist can then decide which dosha is CAUSING the imbalance in either the STRUCTURE or FUNCTION. This can be any of the three doshas. For example Vata can disrupt the dhatu and Kapha dosha by drying out Majja, constricting Majja or reducing the Majja tissue. Pitta can disrupt the dhatu by expanding it through heat, or reducing it through excess heat. Kapha can disrupt the dhatu by congesting it or blocking it through over development.
– The doshas can do the same thing concerning the function of the gland. This means that pitta dosha will become variable in function, or even stop functioning altogether. Any of the three doshas can cause disruption to the functioning of pitta dosha and thyroid action.
– the therapist needs to diagnosis the patient well enough to be able to decide if they should target either the Structure or Function. After they need to decide which dosha to treat as the CAUSE. In some cases both structure and function may be treated together.

Conclusions:
– Thyroid problems need to be treated as soon as possible
– the longer the pathology develops the harder it is to treat them
– the treatments are long in duration due to the depth of Majjadhatu
– the person needs to be treated to cure the problem - not only the symptoms
– the dhatu metabolism needs to be corrected through diet and lifestyle before trying to give herbal treatments
– in most cases diet and lifestyle alone will correct early manifestations of thyroid malfunctions
– Herbal treatments should target the dosha that is controlling either the STRUCTURE or THE FUNCTION, or in some advanced cases BOTH
– Herbal treatments should target the dosha that is CAUSING THE PROBLEM in either structure or function