Herls for Potential Adjunct Treatment ofTHYROID DISEASE

摘要

Diseases of the thyroid are varied and can take many forms, which may or may not produce clinical symptoms that alert patients to their existence. The most common thyroid disorders are the under- or over-functioning of the gland—hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, respectively. Both of these most often result from autoimmune disorders. Physical irregularities, often termed nodules, occurring on the thyroid are a distinct condition of the gland and may arise simultaneously with these diseases, or emerge idiopathically with no symptoms. An important minority of thyroid nodules are malignant. Botanical medicines to treat thyroid disease are limited and have not been widely studied in humans. Traditional Western herbal medicine lacks a body of herbs earmarked for thyroid health, but modern research on a few of these herbs reveals potential clinical applications toward hyperthyroidism in humans.