IJFIRH - 2025, Volume - III, Issue - I [January - March 2025]

e-ISSN No- 3048-6270

Published by Homoeopathic Chronicles

HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH TO AUTO-IMMUNE DISORDER- A CASE REPORT ON HASHIMOTO’S THYROIDITIS

Margret Redson S R1, Veerabhadrappa.C2, Praveen Kumar P D3, Mahabub Ali Nadaf4

1MD Part 2 Scholar, Department of Practice of Medicine, Government Homoeopthic Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

2Professor and PG Guide, Department of Practice of Medicine, Government Homoeopthic Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

3HOD, PG Guide, Department of Practice of Medicine, Government Homoeopthic Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

4Assistant professor, PG Guide, Department of Practice of Medicine, Government Homoeopthic Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Article Received: 1 February 2025 - Accepted: 14 March 2025 - Article published online: 22 March 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59939/3048-6270.2025.v3.i1.6

ABSTRACT

In regions of the world with adequate iodine, it is the most frequent cause of goitrous hypothyroidism. Women are more likely to have it. Characterised by intrathyroidal lymphocytic infiltration with germinal center development, follicular damage or destruction and fibrosis. Thyroglobulin autoantibodies and anti-TPO antibodies support the diagnosis. It is important to determine whether the person and their first-degree relatives have a history of autoimmune endocrinopathies and other autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is known to be associated with immunogenetic predisposition, exposure to excess iodine, interferon therapy, and pregnancy or the postpartum period1.

Case summary:

A 44-year-old female presented with the complaint of weight gain and easy fatiguability since 8 years. Calcarea carbonicum was prescribed based on the constitutional totality and the patient was generally feeling better with blood report within normal limits.

KEYWORDS

Homoeopathy, Auto-immune disorder, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Calcarea carbonicum.

INTRODUCTION

Hashimoto thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease that destroys thyroid cells by cell and antibody-mediated immune processes. It is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in developed countries2. There is a compensatory phase during which an increase in TSH maintains normal thyroid hormone levels because the autoimmune disease gradually impairs thyroid function. This condition is known as subclinical hypothyroidism, even though some people may only have mild symptoms. Later, unbound T4 levels decrease and TSH levels increase even more; known as clinical hypothyroidism or overt hypothyroidism and it becomes more noticeable at this point (typically TSH >10 mIU/L)3.

Women are more commonly affected. According to estimates, the incidence is 3.5 per 1000 for women and 0.8 per 1000 for men annually. The majority of women receive their diagnoses between the ages of 30 and 50, despite some sources stating that they occur more frequently in the fifth decade of life.

It can also be associated with other auto-immune conditions like pernicious anemia, celiac disease, vitiligo, rheumatoid arthritis etc.

Levothyroxine at the recommended dosage of 1.6 to 1.8 mcg/kg/day is the mainstay of conventional treatmen. It converts T4 into T3 which is the active form of thyroid hormone. Excessive supplementation can lead to deleterious and morbid effects, such as arrhythmias (the most common being atrial fibrillation) and osteoporosis3.

By stimulating the body's innate healing mechanisms, homeopathy seeks to restore balance and harmony, supporting the immune system's function and reducing the frequency and intensity of autoimmune flare-ups. Additionally, homeopathy considers the emotional and mental aspects of the individual, recognizing the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit in health and healing. Homeopathy helps improve their quality of life by addressing symptoms and enhancing overall health and vitality4.

This article throws a light on the importance of prescribing a constitutional remedy in auto-immune diseases.

CASE REPORT

Presenting complaints

Weight gain and easy fatiguability since 2 months

Associated with drowsiness and hair fall

History of presenting complaints

Patient named Mrs. G, 44 years old, female, Hindu by religion, a house-wife came with the complaint of increasing weight and easy fatiguability for 2 months, visited GHMCH, Bengaluru OPD on 10th of February 2024. Weight gain was more significant, there was sudden weight gain of 6kgs within 2 months of duration (i.e., from 56kgs to 62kgs) associated with easy fatiguability and both mental and physical exertion fatigues her. And also presents with drowsiness, does not feel fresh even after 7-8 hours of sleep and hair fall which is more while brushing the hair and head bath. The presenting complaints raised the suspicion regarding the thyroid involvement. Thereby patient was sent for TSH. Patient reported to the OPD, the next week, with the reports, elevated TSH was observed. And in the month of March 2024, Anti-TPO was advised. And the values were found to be elevated. Hence the case was diagnosed to be Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Past history

No significant past medical and surgical history

Family history

Father- DM

Mother- Dyslipidemia and hypothyroidism

Siblings- younger sister- hypothyroidism, elder brother- Schizophrenia

Physical generals

Diet: Vegetarian

Appetite: good

Thirst: Thirsty, small quantity in frequent intervals

Craving and Aversion: Nil

Bowel habits: Once/day, hard stools, has to strain for 10-15 mins

Bladder habit: 5-6times/day, once/night

Sleep and dreams: Unrefreshing, 7-8hrs of sleep, dreams of daily activities

Perspiration: generalized, profuse, no stain, no offensiveness

Thermals: Chilly patient – prefers summer, cannot tolerated cold weather, bath: warm water, doesn't want fan, covers while sleeping

No Addictions

Menstrual history

Menarche: 14 years of age

Cycle: regular, 28-30 days cycle

Flow: moderate 3 pads /3/2/2/1

Duration :5 days

LMP: 23/2/23

Clots: present occ.

Colour: dark red

Associated complaints: nil

Obstetrical history

Primipara-G1P1A0L1D0

LCS: at the age of 28 years

Female

Birth weight: 2.6 kg

C-section – rigid cervical os

Life space investigation

Patient hails from low socio- economic family, mother-house maid and father -shop keeper. Has 2 siblings. Studied up to SSLC. Average at studies, not that good at grasping, had to study repeatedly which lead to inferiority complex.

Later discontinued studies due to financial difficulty. At the age of 20 years worked as a sales girl in textile industry. She developed inferiority complex as she was not able to talk in English and her co- workers were fluent in English, regretted for not studying well.

At the age of 22 years got married in a joint family. Maintained good relation with husband. Mother in law would taunt her. Husband did not take her side. This made her leave her husband’s home.

She denied to re-marry. She returned to her husband home. She has anxiety about future as husband is ill. She is anxious about trifle things like doing house hold things and managing shop. She is more anxious in the morning (as soon as she wakes up – thinking about work she gets anxious)

Patient as a person – likes to be with people but share her feelings only with family members. Rarely gets angry, shouts when angry.

DIAGNOSIS

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

ICD 11 code is 5A03.20

Diagnostic criteria: Thyroid profile and Anti-TPO levels.

Hanhemann’s classification of disease- True chronic disease of syphilitic origin.

TOTALITY OF SYMPTOMS

1.  Anxiety about trifles

2.  Dullness of mind

3.  Hard stools

4.  Unrefreshing sleep

5.  Thirst for small quantities very often

6.  Physically fat

7.  Fatiguability

8.  Hairfall

9.  Thyroid gland affections

REPORTORIAL TOTALITY

1.  Mind- anxiety trifles about

2.  Mind- dullness, sluggishness

3.  Stool- hard

4.  Sleep- unrefreshing

5.  Stomach- thirst, small quantity, for

6.  Generals- obesity

7.  Generals- weariness

8.  Generalities- Hypothyroidism