Diseases of the Joints
Diseases like arthritis have been known to exist since times immemorial. Charaka Samhita, the Ayurvedic treatise on medicine, deals more effectively with the reason, symptoms, clinical-diagnosis and the possible treatment of arthritis. Prognosis of arthritis, as described by the Ayurvedic physicians, remains unaltered largely. According to Ayurveda, in order to treat various types of arthritis, we need to need to stimulate agni and suppress the ama. Ayurveda distinguishes three categories of arthritis (depending upon the predominance of the biological humour), vataja, paittaka and kaphaja.
Diseases of the joints are better known as rheumatic diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gouty-arthritis are common varieties of arthritis encountered in clinical practice. Rheumatism is widely used for inflammation or injury to the soft tissues. Cervical- spondylosis, lumbar-spondylosis, and sciatica are other significant diseases included in this segment.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder in which rheumatoid factor is found to be positive. Gout is characterised by high levels of uric acid in the serum…hyperuricemia. Psoriasis, a skin disorder, is associated with arthritis (psoriatic arthritis).
Pain, inflammation-swelling, fever, morning stiffness and loss of function, are major clinical features of arthritis. Depending on the involvement of the joint, character of the pain and laboratory investigations, the final diagnosis is done. Some form of arthritis like rheumatic-arthritis, involves other organs,including heart and muscles.
Ayurvedic Management of Rheumatic Diseases
Inflammatory diseases, including arthritis and rheumatism are a major group of prevalent diseases.Most of the available pain-killers drugs are effective in inflammatory conditions of the joints, but have a major side-effect of gastric irritation and even, ulceration. Active-principles having potent anti-inflammatory effect has been isolated from medicinal plants used in Ayurvedic system of medicine.
The management of a joint disease requires a rational approach. In patients suffering from obesity, weight management has great impact. Ayurvedic system of medicine considers malfunctioning of the digestive system responsible for diseases like arthritis and rheumatism. Effective herbs are available for treating arthritis but at the same time side effects caused by the synthetic drugs are alarming.
Amavata (Rheumatoid Arthritis)
Causes
Ama (substance produced by malfunctioning of the digestive system) is considered to be the root cause of Amavata (rheumatoid arthritis) in Ayurveda. Ama circulates in the blood and finally accumulates within the joint cavity, resulting in pain and loss of function. Rheumatoid arthritis accounts for fifteen% of the total rheumatic disorders. The incidence is more common in women as compared to men. Further, rheumatoid arthritis is more prevalent in damp and cold conditions.
Signs and Symptoms
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic form of arthritis characterized by pain and inflammation of many joints. Rheumatoid arthritis commonly affects the small joints of the hands. Rheumatoid arthritis has symmetrical pattern which is not found in osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis affects finger joints adversely. Z-shaped deformity of the thumb and deviation of the hand are features characteristic to rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid factor is found to be positive in 80 per cent of the patients. Erythrocytic sedimentation rate is on the higher side in acute cases. Total leukocyte count and differential leukocyte count are also high. In rare cases,anaemia is found. The effect of rheumatoid arthritis is not only confined to joints, but it has extra-articular effects also (as it attacks heart, muscle and eye).
Herbal Remedies
Planet Ayurveda provides a solution to this chronic pain and inflammatory condition. The RA Care Pack is a combination of various herbal supplements. These formulations work together to alleviate inflammation and get relief from the painful situation. The major constituent herbal remedies of this care pack are the following.
- Ashwagandha Capsules – 2 capsule twice daily with warm water, after meals.
- Boswellia Curcumin – 2 capsules twice daily with warm water, after meals.
- Aamvatantak Churna – 1 teaspoonful twice daily with warm water, before meals.
- RumoGin 5 Capsules – 1 capsule twice daily with warm water, after meals.
- Joint Aid Plus – 2 capsules twice daily with warm water, after meals.
- Yograj Guggul – 2 tablets twice daily with warm water, after meals.
Regular use for advised time of period is highly recommended for better control.
Diet and Lifestyle
- The patient should ensure consumption of fresh vegetables, garlic and black pepper.
- Exposure to cold and damp conditions should be avoided.
- Use of the curd should be avoided at night.
- Soybean, potato, white grams, pea, potato, and bathing with cold water should be avoided.
- Wheat, ginger, ghee, garlic, punarnava, mango, grape, pomegranate, are beneficial in rheumatoid arthritis.
