A clinical study to evaluate the role of Triphaladya Guggulu along with Punarnavadi Kashaya in the management of hypothyroidism

CONTEXT: Hypothyroidism is one of the most common thyroid disorders in India, affecting one in ten adults. Although the diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism are often considered simple, there are large number of people with this condition who are suboptimally treated. Due to wide spectrum of the disease and high prevalence in the society, the current issue was opted for study and its management by means of Ayurvedic principles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen eligible hypothyroid patients with serum thyroid-stimulating hormone >4.5 μIU/ml and serum T(3) and T(4) lower than their respective normal range were selected and treated with Triphladya Guggulu pills and Punarnavadi Kashayam (decoction) for 45 days. Patients were advised to discontinue any medicine they might be taking for the management of hypothyroidism to assess the unbiased effect of therapies. RESULTS: Significant improvement was observed on subjective parameters, but the results on objective parameters were statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). Of the 15 enrolled patients, excellent improvement was observed in 33.33% of the patients, while marked improvement was reported by 53.33% of the patients, moderate improvement was found in 6.66% of the patients and same number of patients, that is, 6.66% showed mild improvement. Moreover, few interesting observations were noted 4 months after completion of the trial. Out of 15 patients registered, 86.66% had positive drug history for levothyroxine. After clinical trial, 6.66% of the patients continued their previous dosage of levothyroxine, while 80% of the patients had withdrawn their hormone replacement therapy. CONCLUSION: Triphladya Guggulu and Punarnavadi decoction are effective in the management of hypothyroidism.