Structural Anomalies in the Body Arising from Thyroid Gland Dysfunction: An Ayurvedic Prospect

The thyroid gland, regarded as a small butterfly-shaped organ at the base of the neck, controls the metabolic activities of the organism. It is centrally involved in the secretion of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The dysfunction can be attributed to structural and functional variations. These two are commonly termed hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. The following discussion deals with these changes, as well as with the Ayurvedic approach to managing thyroid dysfunction.