Goiter

A disease of the thyroid gland, goiter is a condition which causes swelling at the back of the neck. The size of the swelling ranges from being very small to a visible one. It might turn out to be a very large one. The major causes of goiter are deficiency of iodine in the diet and physical and emotional disturbances. The most common symptom of goiter is the enlargement or swelling of the thyroid gland. Other symptoms include loss of concentration, mood swings, emotionally upset, irritation and even depression. The treatment of the goiter depends on the size and cause of the goiter swelling. Inflamed goiter is painful but if the enlargement is too large, it may also cause difficulty in breathing and swallowing. Goiter can be treated at home.

• A visible swelling at the base of your neck
• Emotional problems
• Loss of concentration
• Irritability
• Depression
• A tight feeling in throat
• Coughing
• Hoarseness
• Difficult swallowing
• Difficult breathing

• Iodine deficiency
• Graves' disease
• Hashimoto's disease
• Multinodular goiter
• Solitary thyroid nodules
• Thyroid cancer
• Pregnancy
• Inflammation of thyroid
• Certain foods - e.g. turnips
• Thyroid cyst

• A simple remedy to cure goiter would be to use dandelion leaves and ghee. Smear the leaves of dandelion with ghee. Warm it and bandageit over the affected area. Repeat this procedure for about two weeks.
• Ground the seeds of flax in water and heat it. Apply this on the swollen area. Then, bandage the leaves of the tree over it. it is a useful remedy for curing goiter.
• A simple way would be to do the neck stretches and exercises daily. These help stretch the muscles that are attached to the thyroid gland. Aerobics and jogging also help relieve a person suffering from goiter.
• Include barley water in the regular diet. Have it at least once every day to as it proves worthwhile in curing goiter.
• Take 1 tsp of the juice of the leaves of swamp cabbage with tea almonds. Consuming this combination once or twice a day is beneficial in treating goiter.
• A change in diet would be helpful in treating goiter. Include iron rich food in the diet such as guavas, strawberries, citrus fruits, egg yolk, sea food, whole rice, tomatoes, oats, onion, garlic, carrots and lettuce.
• Prepare a decoction of Kachnas (Bauhini variegate). Have 30 ml of decoction of bark two times a day regularly in an empty stomach.
• In case of an infant suffering from goiter, mother's milk is the best home remedy to treat goiter.
• Cool showers every morning and evening proves beneficial in curing the thyroid malfunction.
• Go for four to five smaller meals a day instead of having two to three large meals. This helps digest the food better.
• For people who cannot avoid rice form their diet, consume the old variety of rice instead of the new one.
• Watercress a very good source of iodine. Make a paste of it and apply on the affected area. This would help reduce the swelling. The other method would be to take 2 tablespoon of watercress juice diluted in water thrice for six weeks.
• Regularly intake of water nut (shingara) lotus reed, stem to the lotus tube of Plancuperous tuberosus and pineapple. This would help treat goiter.
• Take equal parts of sorrel leaves and olive oil and mash them. Spread this paste on the goiter. It would help relieve a person suffering from goiter.