Thyroid nodule treated by herbal food composite formulation: a case report

Thyroid nodules are a prevalent endocrine disorder with a global prevalence estimated to range from 5% to 67%. Conventional treatments, including surveillance, levothyroxine suppression therapy, and surgical resection, are often limited by side effects, invasiveness, and variable efficacy. To date, documented instances of spontaneous regression are exceedingly rare. In this case report, we present a 48-year-old Chinese Asian woman with bilateral thyroid nodules who experienced significant nodule regression after a 3.5-month intervention with herbal food composite formulation. The formula, comprising Aronia melanocarpa, Daucus carota, Apium graveolens, Citrus paradisi , and Litchi chinensis , was consumed as juice every other day post-lunch. The patient's ultrasound examination showed multiple mixed echogenic nodules in both thyroid lobes, with the largest nodule measuring 20.7 × 10.4 mm. After treatment, the nodules significantly decreased in size, and a lymph node in the left neck disappeared. This case raises the possibility that the herbal food composite formulation may have potential value to be explored as an auxiliary therapy for thyroid nodules, warranting further investigation in larger patient populations.