International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Nair PMK. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Mar;5(3):916-918

www.ijrcog.org pISSN 2320-1770 | eISSN 2320-1789

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20160612
Case Report

Naturopathy and yoga in ameliorating multiple hormonal imbalance:

a single case report
Pradeep M. K. Nair*

National Institute of Naturopathy, Department of Intramural Research, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India,
Pune, Maharashtra, India

Received: 05 January 2016

Accepted: 06 February 2016

*Correspondence:
Dr. Pradeep M. K. Nair,
E-mail: drpradeep18bnys@gmail.com

Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT

Hormonal imbalances are common among the women who are in the halfway of their reproductive age. There are lot
of factors like stress, diet, lifestyle etc. which contributes to this hormonal dysfunctions. However these factors are
merely addressed by the existing management strategies. A 37 year old female presented with hypothyroidism and
associated hyperprolactinemia had undergone Naturopathy and yoga interventions for a period of 18 months. Her
baseline TSH and prolactin levels were 9.2 U/ml and 34 ng/ml respectively. Her anti-mullerian hormone (AMH)
levels also fell down to 0.3 ng/ml. Naturopathy and yoga based lifestyle interventions including hydrotherapy, mud
therapy, yoga therapy and acupuncture were given for different durations has streamlined the hormone levels to
normal range (TSH-4.6 U/ml, prolactin- 19.6 ng/ml, AMH-2.6 ng/ml). The results indicate that naturopathy and yoga
has a positive role in reinstating the hormonal homeostasis. However large scale studies are warranted to bestow
better care.

Keywords: Hormonal Imbalance, Naturopathy, Yoga, Hypothyroidism, Hyperprolactinemia

INTRODUCTION pre diagnosed with hypothyroidism (TSH level >9.0

U/mL) and elevated Prolactin levels (34 ng/ml). She has
Hypothyroidism is common among the women in been diagnosed with hypothyroidism since 22 years and
reproductive age. Thyroid dysfunction can affect fertility presented with swelling pain and tingling sensation all
in various ways resulting in anovulatory cycles, luteal over the body. She also complained of hot flashes in the
phase defect, high prolactin (PRL) levels, and sex body with irregular menstrual cycles, bloated abdomen
hormone imbalances.1 Hormonal imbalances even affect with gas and constipation since 22 years. The patient
the mood and day to day activities of the female. There complained about dryness in her vagina during
are many contributing factors such as diet, stress, intercourse and also had a history of two miscarriages.
improper lifestyle etc for these hormonal imbalances She was under Thyronorm (levothyroxine sodium) 125
which are scarcely addressed by the current management mcg when she visited our clinic. She narrated that every
strategies. This is a single case report of a patient with time she takes some drugs she will develop some trouble
multiple hormonal imbalances who underwent like improper libido, hair fall, mood swings etc. At the
naturopathy and yoga treatments. later stage she was also diagnosed with a lowered level of
anti-mullerian hormone-AMH (0.3 ng/ml).
CASE PRESENTATION
Our patient was initially given a counseling session to
A 37 year old female visited our Out-patient department make her understand the naturopathy and yogic approach
of National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune on May 2014, towards hormonal imbalance. She was then provided with

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 Nair PMK. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Mar;5(3):916-918

naturopathy and yoga based life style modification case. Cold water immersion baths (55-65 0F) will help in
program (NYLMP) in which she was asked to cut down reducing excess stress in the body. Shevchuk NA 2007
leafy vegetables from her diet. 50-60% portion of her diet has shown that cold exposure has shown to temporarily
was converted as raw fruits initially and later supervised increase the plasma level of beta endorphin3 which may
therapeutic fasting on tender coconut water was aid in relieving stress. Other hydrotherapy modalities like
introduced for 2 days in a week regularly. Besides these hip bath, local packs not only induce circulatory changes
dietary changes she underwent Naturopathy treatments but also dissipate algogenic chemicals and influences the
like full immersion bath, mud bath, cold hip bath, neutral sympathetic activity in the body.4-6 The efficay of yoga in
water throat pack and cold abdominal pack. These asserting hormonal homeostatsis is well known. Mud
treatments were provided on the basis of naturopathic therapy has shown to improve the membrane potential
principles which supports the healing forces with in the and activates the hormones7 which may aid in regulating
body.2 Additionally she underwent yoga interventions impaired hormone levels. Yogic techniques like
like Anulom vilom for (Alternate Nostril breathing), Pranayama, Asanas and meditation practices are being
Kapalapathi (Fast abdominal breathing) and Surya used extensively for a wide range of endocrine
namaskaras (Sun salutations) for one hour every day. She dysfunctions.8 Empirical evidences suggests that
developed a drop in her AMH during the course of acupuncture can enhance women’s reproductive
treatment, she was then intervened with acupuncture for functioning and mitigative fertility issues.9 Naturopathy is
21 days in which Du (Du-20), Ren (Ren-2, Ren-3, Ren-5, a wholesome approach intended to heal the underlying
Ren-6, Ren-9, Ren-12), gall bladder (GB 24, GB-25), cause by averting the root cause of the disease. It also
spleen (Sp-6), stomach (St-36) and kidney (K-3) provides a healthy internal environment to the body to
meridians were punctured. accelerate its healing mechanisms. Future medical
approach towards hormonal imbalances should be in such
DISCUSSION a way that the person has to be considered as a whole
entity than merely treating the symptoms. However large
The patient responded well to the NYLMP. Her baseline scale studies are needed to justify better results.
data and post intervention data were tabulated in Table 1.
She gradually bettered from her symptoms. She CONCLUSIONS
underwent naturopathy and yoga interventions for 18
months in which her weight reduced to 51 kg from 63 kg. Naturopathy and yoga, a non-pharmacological approach
She expressed that she is feeling lighter and fresh than as demonstrated in this case has shown better prognosis
before. She reduced the dosage of her thyronorm from in balancing the altered hormonal mechanisms. As per
125 mcg to nil. the knowledge of the author this is the first study
explaining the efficacy of naturopathy and yoga in
Table 1: Changes in the hormones before and after ameliorating hormonal imbalance. This inference is based
the Interventions. on a single case study; larger randomized control trials
are warranted to endorse the results further.
Baseline Post intervention
Parameters
data data ACKNOWLEDEGEMENTS
Height 157 cms 157 cms
The author would like to thank Ministry of AYUSH and
Weight 63 Kg 51 Kg the participant of this study for their support.
Thyroid stimulating
9.2 U/ml 4.6 U/ml
hormone Funding: No funding sources
Prolactin 34 ng/ml 19.6 ng/ml. Conflict of interest: None declared
Anti-mullerian Ethical approval: Not required
0.3 ng/ml 2.6 ng/ml
hormone
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