By Cathlene Evans
The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland that controls the body’s metabolism among other things. If one is hypothyroidic, that means the thyroid gland is slow in producing or not producing the hormones Thyroxine (T4) and Tri-iodothyronine (T3), which then causes the Pituitary Gland to increase the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone or Thyrotropin (TSH). As a result of this insufficient amount of T3 and T4 and overproduction of TSH, one will experience one or several symptoms, some of which are fatigue, cold intolerance, depression, constipation, dry skin and hair and dry and/or brittle nails as well as weight gain, decreased mental alertness, decreased memory, among others. A simple blood test is taken to diagnose this disorder or disease. After a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, hormone-replacement medication is often required to manage hormone levels, and this is usually necessary for life. However, in addition to medication or perhaps in lieu of medication, there are some alternative treatments that are known to have healing effects on the symptoms of hypothyroidism. For example, diet changes to strengthen intestinal health and digestion, yoga, reflexology, castor oil packs, herbs and supplements such as Vitamin A, Iodine, Zinc, Iron, Tyrosine, Gugulipid and Coleus forskohilii. Of these alternative treatments, I’d like to concentrate on the benefits of yoga.
When I was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism in approximately 1999, I was able to get the basic information from my physician, but he didn’t have any information on any alternatives, just simply to take Synthroid, a synthetic hormone-replacement drug, for the rest of my life. I even asked him directly if there was anything I could do — acupuncture, exercising, changing my diet, anything. He simply responded that I needed to be on medication. I’ll agree that medication has been necessary for me, but only because I didn’t and still don’t have an arsenal of information sufficient enough to take control of this disease. It is rather tricky. I would like to get to a point where I’m able to manage without medication, but I’m just not there yet. I have discovered, however, that yoga practice has helped me manage my symptoms and have more energy. For this reason, I would like to share the information I’ve found to be valuable for me in my personal experience.
In an article entitled, “Management of Hypothyroidism in Ayurveda” by Dr. Lakshmiprasuna, found on www.selfgrowth.com, “The Thyroid gland is one of the most important and sensitive endocrine glands. As it easily responds to stress and stimuli, the global incidence of hypothyroidism is increasing day by day.” In other words, stress levels may be causing hypothyroidism in some people. Then in an article entitled, “Thyroid Gland Explained,” found on www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au, it reads, “the endocrine system helps the body to cope with different events and stresses.” In other words, people, who are already stressed out to begin with and consequently develop a hypothyroidic condition, will now have even more difficulty managing stress after the onset of the condition. So it seems logical that stress management may help prevent this disease as well as serve as a beneficial addition to conventional treatment and management of the disease. And I have found this to be true in my own experience.
In my estimation, the popularity of yoga has been increasing over the past 10-15 years in the west, and I believe there are a few reasons: (1) yoga is providing westerners with exercises that anyone of any age and physical ability can perform, thus helping normalize body weight, (2) in yoga, there are breathing and meditation techniques that help us alleviate our stress by calming the body and mind, and (3) yoga improves energy levels. Yoga also helps improve resistence to disease, but I do not believe people are aware of that when they begin a yoga practice. For instance, when I began practicing yoga in the late 1990s, I was only aware that the Yogis seemed to have absolutely gorgeous figures, so I thought I’d give it a try. What I found was so much more than that. I began to appreciate the relaxation and meditation sequences of the practice; and I quickly noticed that, not only was my body changing, but my energy level and my level of contentment was improving. For the first time in my life, I was blissful. So I believe that, as more people practice, word is spreading about what wonderful benefits yoga has on our physical, spiritual and mental well-being.
“All techniques of yoga,” according to James Hewitt in The Complete Yoga Book, “aim to produce tranquility. Postures, breath controls, mind-stilling meditation, the bodily, mental, and spiritual purifications – all have a relaxing influence that is widely acknowledged as probably Yoga’s greatest advantage for Western man.” It’s common knowledge now, I think, that yoga incorporates relaxation as much as strengthening, toning and flexibility exercises as well balancing postures. But again, according to Hewitt, “all Yogic practice counters stress, recognized by doctors as one of the greatest threats to health and life faced by modern man.” Yoga is an extremely valuable tool to combat the effects of stress in our daily lives that may very well be causing hypothyroidism or any one of a number of other ailments.
Even if we are unable to agree that stress is causing hypothyroidism — as it is believed by some that iodine deficiency may be a cause of the disease and still others believe that poor nutrition may be at fault — there are yogic postures that affect the thyroid gland physiologically; most notably, Fish Pose (Matsyasana) and Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana). In an article entitled, “Yoga for Thyroid,” found on www.yogawiz.com, “by stimulating the function of the thyroid, pituitary, pineal and adrenal glands, Yoga normalizes them. It limbers and stretches the neck, as well as strengthens and tones the nervous system.” “Yoga stimulates the thyroid gland to work at its peak efficiency.” In this same article, it lists the asanas for thyroid as Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand) and Matsyasana (Fish Pose), which stimulate the thyroid, as well as Naukasana (Boat Pose) and Uttanpadasana (Raised Leg Pose), which are more useful to help with the symptom of constipation rather than the thyroid directly. It’s easy to see that a daily or even weekly yoga practice will help a thyroid condition and also help to alleviate some of the symptoms as well.
There is a third yogic benefit to the thyroid, and that is pranayma (breathing). In an article, “Thyroid Health and Yoga,” found on www.fitnhealth.info, it reads, “you may also use the sound of Om. The vibrations’ healing effects will benefit your thyroid.” “You may also try other pranayamas (breathing) like the anuloma-viloma, kapalabhatti, and ujjayi.” Anuloma-Viloma is also known as Alternate Nostril Breathing. In an article entitled, “Breathing Exercise (Pranayama) – Alternate Nostril (Anuloma Viloma),” found on www.abc-of-yoga.com, but, according to the article, provided by www.holistic-online.com and www.cyberastro.com, the benefits of Alternate Nostril Breathing are that it “produces optimum function to both sides of the brain: that is optimum creativity and optimum logical verbal activity.” “The Yogis consider this to be the best technique to calm the mind and the Nervous System.” Kapalabhatti is also known as Skull-Shining Breath and is most commonly recommended for allergies. Ujjayi is a diaphragmatic breathing technique. And according to www.en.wikipedia.org, it “first fills the lower belly (activating the first and second chakras), rises to the lower rib cage (the third and fourth chakras), and finally moves into the upper chest and throat.” And the claimed benefits “is a balancing and calming breath which increases oxygenation and builds internal body heat.”
In summary, a daily yoga practice will have tremendous benefits for people suffering from a hypothyroidic condition in that, one, yoga incorporates breathing and relaxation techniques that are effective in stress reduction, stress being one possible cause of this disease; two, pranayama (breathing) with the sound and vibration of Om is known to benefit the thyroid; and three, there are several yoga postures known to benefit the thyroid gland directly as well (Sarvangasana and Matsyasana). Of course, as with any other disease, disorder or ailment, one should always check with his or her physician before beginning any alternative treatment or exercise program. If one is already on a replacement hormone pharmaceutical and desires not to be, one should consider working together as a team with an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner (for advice and counsel on these alternatives) along with the physician (who is prescribing the medication) to manage the hypothyroidism and its symptoms and perhaps put an end to taking prescriptions. I’m certain one will find that yoga will be an important part of a protocol.
WORKS CITED
Prasuna, Lakshmi Dr. “Management of Hypothyroidism In Ayurveda.” www.selfgrowth.com. Web. 9 March 2010.
“Thyroid Gland Explained.” www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au. Web. 10 March 2010.
Hewitt, James. The Complete Yoga Book . New York: Schocken Books Inc. 1977. Print.
“Yoga For Thyroid.” www.yogawiz.com. Web. 10 March 2010.
“Thyroid Health and Yoga.” www.fitnhealth.info. Web. 10 March 2010.
“Breathing Exericse (Pranayama) – Alternate Nostril (Anuloma Viloma).” www.abc-of-yoga.com. Web. 12 March 2010.
“Hypothyroidism.” www.en.wikipedia.org. Web. 10 March 2010.
Tags: benefits of yoga, popularity of yoga, techniques of yoga, THE BENEFITS OF YOGA, YOGA FOR HYPOTHYROIDISM, Yoga for Thyroid, Yoga normalizes, Yoga stimulates
Thanks, Catherine! Very good and informative article!
Thank you so much, I am studying yoga therapy and have friends with hypothyroidism and wanted a few more opinions on what helps. I wonder what your views are on the mental/spiritual CAUSE of hypothyroidism. I know it is to do with the throat chakra, so an issue of not communicating properly/enough. I wonder though, as I did a chakra analysis for one of the people with hypoT, and they had an overactive vishuddhi. Is this normal, or more seen in hyperthyroidism?
I would greatly appreciate any insights.
Namaste