CLINICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL OUTCOMES OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT IN HYPOTHYROIDISM: A CASE SERIES

Abstract

Background: Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder associated with diverse clinical manifestations and requires sustained clinical and biochemical monitoring. Ayurveda provides an individualised approach based on clinical presentation and Ayurvedic assessment. This case series describes clinical and biochemical observations during individualised Ayurvedic management in patients with hypothyroidism. Case Presentation: Four patients with documented hypothyroidism, comprising three females and one male aged 24-45 years, were managed with individualised Ayurvedic interventions. The duration of hypothyroidism ranged from approximately 1 to 12 years. Presenting features included weakness, lethargy, dry skin, constipation, joint pain and swelling, hair loss, weight gain and stress-related complaints. Baseline serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels ranged from 8.92 to 33.97 µIU/mL. The patients received individualised Ayurvedic formulations with treatment modifications according to clinical response and dietary and lifestyle advice where documented. In Case IV, levothyroxine was continued concomitantly, with its dose subsequently reduced during follow-up. Results: Serum TSH decreased from baseline in all four cases during the documented treatment and follow-up period. The mean serum TSH decreased from 16.63 ± 11.66 µIU/mL at baseline to 3.47 ± 1.18 µIU/mL at the final documented follow-up, representing a mean absolute reduction of 13.16 ± 11.29 µIU/mL and a mean percentage reduction of 74.47 ± 13.12%. Improvements in selected clinical features, including fatigue, lethargy, joint symptoms, dry skin, constipation and hair-related complaints, were also documented. No treatment-related adverse events were reported in the available records. Conclusion: This case series describes changes in clinical features and serum TSH following individualised Ayurvedic management in four patients with hypothyroidism. The observations provide clinical documentation that may support further systematic investigation, while the small sample size, heterogeneous interventions and follow up duration limit causal interpretation.