CLINICAL STUDY OF HYPOTHYROIDISM AND ITS MANAGEMENT BY A SINGLE UNANI DRUG

Sheikh Zahoor Ahmad*, Arsheed Iqbal, Haider Ali Quraishi, Naquib-ul Islam and Shamim Ahmad Rather

ABSTRACT

Background: Hypothyroidism in the simplest terms can be defined as deficient production of thyroid hormones. Primary hypothyroidism indicates decreased secretion of thyroid hormone by factors affecting the thyroid gland itself. A decrease in serum concentrations of thyroid hormone causes an increased secretion of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), thus resulting in elevated serum TSH concentration.[1-4] Estimates of incidence of hypothyroidism vary depending on the population studied.[5,6] In the United states,0.3% population have overt hypothyroidism and 4.3% have subclinical or mild hypothyroidism.[7] The incidence of hypothyroidism is higher among women, in the elderly, and in some ethnic and racial groups.[8,9] The incidence of Hypothyroidism in India have a female to male ratio of 6:1. The prevalence of hypothyroidism in India is 11%, compared with only 2% in the UK and 4·6% in the USA. Even though hormone replacement therapy with thyroxine has been proven effective in its management, but owing to adverse effects like myocardial infarction, adrenocortical insufficiency, congestive heart failure etc is a challenge to its long term use. So safe and effective Unani herbal drugs need to be researched for its management. In this context, a hypothesis was drawn that su'- mizaj barid /su'- mizaj balghami (impaired cold temperament/impaired phelgematic temperament) may be interpreted with the clinical features of hypothyroidism using modern scientific parameters. The principal of treatment of any disease in Unani medicine is based on ilaj bi'l zid (antogonistic therapy )…so Hypothyroidism (Qillat-i- ifrazi darqia) being a su'- mizaj barid (impaired cold temperament) disease will be treated with harr yabis (hot dry) drugs.[10-18] Hence, a single Unani drug, muqil (Commiphora mukul) was selected which is hot & dry in temperament and has shown positive thyroid activity in experimental studies to correct the su'- mizaj barid (impaired cold temperament) in the body and to correct hypothyroid state.[19-22]

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