What is Goiter?

A goiter is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland and can occur for
a number of different reasons. A healthy thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland
inside the neck, just below your Adam’s apple. The thyroid gland produces
hormones which control the body’s metabolism and regulate the rate at
which the body carries out its functions.

The presence of an enlarged goiter usually means that the thyroid gland is
not functioning normally. Causes of a goiter include an imbalance in the
thyroid gland, and goiter symptoms generally occur in a gland that is overactive,
producing too many hormones (hyperthyroidism), or that is underactive,
producing too little hormones (hypothyroidism).

Goiter puts pressure on other parts of the neck such as the trachea and esophagus -
making it difficult to breathe and swallow. Often, goiters are also removed for
cosmetic reasons. They are more common in women and the elderly.

Diagnosing Goiter

The presence of an enlarged goiter indicates that there is a problem with the
thyroid gland, even if the patient does not have any clinical signs of abnormal
thyroid functioning.

Tests to Diagnose Goiter

● Hormone Test - Blood tests measuring all the various thyroid hormones
will able to determine how your thyroid is functioning. If your thyroid is
overactive, the level of thyroid hormone in the blood will be high and the
level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) will be low. If your thyroid is
underactive the level of thyroid hormone will be low while the level of TSH
will be high.

● Antibody Test - A blood test may confirm the presence of auto-immune
antibodies, such as in Graves’ Disease, that are causing the goiter to develop.

● Ultrasonography – An ultrasound scan is an imaging test will be able to
reveal the size of the thyroid gland and the presence of any nodules.

● Thyroid Scan – This scan will help evaluate the structure and function of
the thyroid and involves the administration of radioactive substances.

Symptoms of Goiter

Symptoms and signs of goiter may include:

● Swelling or disfigurement of the neck
● A feeling of tightness in your throat
● Coughing
● Difficulty breathing
● Difficulty swallowing
● Symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism

What are the Causes of Goiter?

There are various different causes of a goiter:

● Iodine Deficiency – Iodine found in fish products, drinking water, and
table salt is essential for the production of thyroid hormones. If there is a
lack of it, an individual will suffer from hypothyroidism. In an effort to
produce more thyroid hormones, the thyroid gland is over-stimulated and
enlarges to form an endemic goiter. An iodine deficiency is very common in
underdeveloped countries.

● Graves’ Disease – This is an autoimmune disorder which causes the
thyroid gland to be overactive (hyperthyroidism). In Graves’ disease,
antibodies produced by the immune system stimulate the thyroid gland
which then enlarges, resulting in an enlarged goiter, and produces excess
thyroid hormone.

● Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis - Hashimoto’s disease is also an autoimmune
disorder. The immune system destroys the thyroid gland, which results in
less thyroid hormones being produced. The pituitary gland then
stimulates the thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormones,
causing it to enlarge, and a goiter can then develop.

● Solitary Thyroid Nodules - A single nodule develops inside the thyroid,
which causes an enlarged thyroid.

● Multinodular Goiter - In this disorder, many nodules develop inside the
thyroid, which causes an enlarged thyroid. These nodules are usually not
harmful.

● Thyroid Cancer – The cancer may be detected as a lump or nodule in the
thyroid gland and may result in goiter formation.

● Inflammation - Inflammation of the thyroid is also referred to as
thyroiditis, and it is usually associated with hypothyroidism (underactive
thyroid). There are many causes of thyroiditis that can result in an
enlarged thyroid or goiter. Some common symptoms of thyroiditis include
mild fever and neck pain that worsens with swallowing.

● Pregnancy – During the first trimester of pregnancy, a hormone called
human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) can result in an enlarged thyroid
gland. The thyroid gland mistakenly registers HCG for TSH (the thyroidstimulating
hormone produced by the pituitary gland) and enlarges in response to it.

Help for Goiter

Treatment for goiter depends on a number of factors, such as the size of the
enlargement, symptoms, and the underlying cause. Once these are determined, a
plan for treatment can begin.

A conventional goiter remedy often involves observation. Another commonly
used goiter remedy is prescription medication. Radioactive iodine treatment and
surgery are usually used as a last resort. There are also natural and alternative
treatment options that can be considered as a goiter remedy.

Whereas conventional medicine today focuses primarily on treating the symptoms
at hand, natural medicine encompasses a variety of factors and focuses on
maintaining good health, naturally!

People are becoming increasingly more aware of natural and alternative treatment
options. Natural medicine uses a holistic view that includes physical,
mental and emotional well-being. The holistic approach would also try to
resolve the underlying causes of a goiter as well as improve overall systemic
health.

Goiter symptoms can be alleviated naturally using various therapies, such as
homeopathy, massage and acupuncture.

Herbs Used to Treat Goiter

A combination of herbal and homeopathic ingredients such as bugleweed (Lycopus
virginica), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), horsetail (Equisetum arvense) and
oatstraw (Avena sativa) can help to stabilize the overactive thyroid, and
support thyroid function.

This option should be discussed with your doctor, homeopath, or naturopath who
will be able to recommend an effective treatment plan.

In the case of underactive thyroid, useful herbs include Fucus vesiculosis and
Coleus forskohlii.

Tips for Coping with Goiter

Here are some useful tips that you can use to help maintain thyroid health and
relieve goiter symptoms:

● Eat a diet high in protein to replace muscle tissue that is lost from an
overactive thyroid.
● Eat a low-fat diet if you are overweight.
● Drink bottled water. Fluoride and a product known as perchlorate are
substances in tap water that may trigger or worsen the risk of thyroid
problems.
● Good dietary sources of iodine are seaweed, salt water fish and shellfish.
These foods are recommended for people with underactive thyroids.
In general, iodine is well tolerated by the body. Although some sources will
caution against high doses, there are many populations in the world which
consume large amounts of iodine daily without any ill effects.
● Excessive soy isoflavones may trigger or worsen hypothyroidism, goiter
or nodules.
● Avoid feeding babies soy-based formulas – there is evidence that this can
contribute to later risk of thyroid disease.
● Try to give up smoking, as it damages the thyroid.
● Try to reduce your stress. Using mind-body techniques can help to prevent
thyroid disease.

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