Comparative Effectiveness of kanchnar guggulu and yoga Practice in the Management of Subclinical Hypothyroidism. Study Protocol for A Randomized Open Labelled Comparative Clinical

Abstract

The common cause of hypothyroidism is the inability of thyroid gland to produce a sufficient amount of thyroid hormones. India has a high prevalence of hypothyroidism which is about 10%. In subclinical hypothyroidism, no treatment is advised. The aim of this study to evaluate the effectiveness of Yogapractice incomparison with kanchnarguggulu in the management of subclinical hypothyroidism. Methods And Design: This study will be a prospective, single-centered, a randomized open labelled comparative clinical trial. A total of 60 patients of age between 19 and 60 years, diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism, will be randomized into two groups. In group A, patients will be given kanchnarguggulu and in group B patients will be guidedYoga practice. Both groups will receive treatment for 60 days. Outcomes will be evaluated on the 30th days and 60th days. The primary outcome will be evaluated on the basis of improvement in the serum TSH level in significant range. Secondary outcomes will be evaluated on the basis of improvement in the lab values of Serum Cholesterol, Serum Triglyceride and Serum Creatinine & quality of life of patient will be improved. Conclusion:This trial is the first to compare the effectiveness ofkanchnarguggulu and Yoga practice in the management of subclinical hypothyroidism. Yoga practice is expected to improve the symptoms of subclinical hypothyroidism, thus proving to be effective in the management of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Trial Registration: CTRI/2025/02/080040

Introduction

The thyroid gland, located in the front of the neck, produces hormones T3 and T4, essential for development and metabolic balance. Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined by elevated TSH with normal T4 levels, often asymptomatic or with mild symptoms like puffiness, cold intolerance, fatigue, and weight gain. It is prevalent worldwide, especially in India, and more common in females.

Ayurveda does not directly describe this condition but associates its symptoms with imbalances in kapha dosha, rasdhatu, and vata dosha, linking the disease to metabolic dysfunction and kapha dominance.

This study aims to compare the effects of yoga practice versus the Ayurvedic medicine Kanchnarguggulu in managing subclinical hypothyroidism. Patients aged 19–60 with TSH between 5.5 and 10 will be randomly assigned to either yoga practice or Kanchnarguggulu treatment for 60 days. Outcomes include changes in TSH, T3, T4, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, and quality of life.

Yoga interventions include specific poses and pranayama believed to stimulate the thyroid and improve energy flow. Kanchnarguggulu, a herbal formulation, is traditionally used for kapha disorders and enhancing metabolic function.

Conclusion

This is the first trial comparing these two interventions. The study follows ethical guidelines, is currently recruiting, and aims to establish the practical benefits of Ayurveda and yoga in managing subclinical hypothyroidism.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. Jogender, Dr. Mohit Sharma, Dr. Seema Rani. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.