Successful intervention with Chinese herbal medicine for hyperthyroidism: Two case reports and a literature review

Abstract

BackgroundHyperthyroidism, the excessive production of thyroid hormones, is most commonly attributed to autoimmune dysfunction such as Graves’ disease. Western medical treatment of hyperthyroidism includes antithyroid medications, radioiodine, and thyroidectomy, all of which are associated with side effects. We describe the successful treatment of two patients with Graves’ disease who used Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) with or without Western medicine. Case presentationBoth cases (a 50-year-old female [case 1] and a 56-year-old male [case 2]) received the Chinese herbal formula Jia Wei Xiao Yao San (JWXYS) as well as Prunella vulgaris, Fritillaria thunbergii, and Crassostrea gigas. Elevated thyroid hormone levels were restored to normal after 10 months of treatment in case 1 and 8 months in case 2. Neither patient experienced any complications or side effects during CHM treatment. Notably, symptoms and thyroid hormone levels have remained well controlled in both patients over 1 year of follow-up until the time of this report. To explore the possible mechanisms involved in CHM treatment of hyperthyroidism, we searched biomedical literature databases and reviewed the literature up to June 2020. ConclusionsAs for the hyperthyroidism almost was controlled by Western medicine instead of CHM, we report that JWXYS as well as Prunella vulgaris, Fritillaria thunbergii, and Crassostrea gigas was a safe and effective formula and we propose that CHM may be considered as either a first choice or combination therapy to control hyperthyroidism.