REVISITING HYPOTHYROIDISM THROUGH THE LENS OF AYURVEDA: A CRITICAL REVIEW

The thyroid gland is a very important Endocrine Gland in our body, after the pituitary gland. The thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormone, which regulates the basic metabolic rate in our body. Now, in this century, hypothyroidism poses a major challenge both in developing and developed countries. In modern science, there is no permanent solution for hypothyroidism and had many adverse effects.So there is an urgent need for safe and effective Ayurvedic management, which need proper understanding of the pathogenesis of hypothyroidism as per the principles of Ayurveda.This review is made with an effort to understand the disease in Ayurvedic perspective. Ayurveda, with its holistic framework, interprets hypothyroidism through the lensof Agnimandya(impaired metabolic fire),Kapha vriddhi (excess Kapha), and Vata Kapha imbalance,correlating with conditions such as Galaganda and Kaphaja Nanatmaja Vyadhi.