Arthritis And Ayurvedic Treatment

 

Today, people are facing problems from a number of health issues. One of the common of all the health problems is arthritis. Arthritis is a generic name given to different inflammatory diseases which include infective, degenerative and immunological disorders of connecting tissue system in the joints.

 

This joint disorder involves inflammation of one or more joints. Arthritis is a disorder which may occur in more than 100 different forms. Out of all these forms, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis and Gouty arthritis form the major chunk.

 

 

 

 

Symptoms of Arthritis

 

Some of the most common symptoms of arthritis may include

 

• Joint stiffness especially early in the morning or after long periods of inactivity. 
• Pain in the joints that usually follows stiffness. 
• Swelling of the joints mild to severe depending on the severity.
• The stiffness, swelling and pain in the joints often restricts the movements of the affected person.
• Occasionally, a person suffering from arthritis may suffer from a low grade fever in addition to the joint pain and swelling.
• Numbness and tingling sensation in the hands is common when the hand or feet joints are affected by arthritis.
• Some persons also experience a general sense of tiredness and fatigue with a feeling of being ill; this may also lead to a sense of depression.

 

Arthritis Natural Management By Ayurveda 

 

According to Ayurveda, excess of Ama (Toxins) and lack of appropariate amount of Agni (Digestive Fire) is the main cause of arthritis. Ama is a range of pre-digested and pre-metabolized products of the digestive system which exist in different forms such as Ama-Anna, Ama-Rasa and Ama-Dhatu.

 

According to ayurveda, Ama has heavy molecules which obstruct the micro-channels and membrane system. This makes ama act like a foreign body and this triggers auto-immune reactions in the body. The problem of arthritis varies depending on the ayurvedic body type of the people.

 

Natural Arthritis Treatment In Ayurvedic Medicine

 

Ayurveda talks of different forms of arthritis and every types of arthritis are treated differently with Ayurvedic natural medicine.

 

Vata Arthritis 

 

Vata arthritis is the most common of all forms of arthritis. This is found in cases when there is an excess of vata in the body, usually from the colon. In cases of this type, vata gets accumulated in the joints along with ama or toxins. The autoimmune system gets triggered off in vata arthritis and the joint surfaces are attacked. This further results in pain, dryness and stiffness in the joints.

 

Pitta Arthritis

 

In this form of arthritis, the patient suffers from heat, swelling or a burning sensation in the joints. All this starts with an excess Pitta or heat in the body. It also involves accumulation of acid by-products of metabolism overflow from the intestine. 

 

Kapha Arthritis

 

Kapha arthritis starts building up in stomach and gradually causes a slowing down of digestion and metabolism. This ultimately leads to spread of ama. Kapha arthritis symptoms are congestion and swelling of the joints.

 

Ayurvedic Herbs used Traditionally For Arthritis

 

 

Arthritis pain can be managed with Ayurvedic herbs. According to one's ayurvedic body type Pure Herbal Ayurved Clinic based in Melbourne, Australia provides unique veggie capsule of the ayurvedic herbs which can be very effective in arthritis. Below listed herbs are mentioned in ayurvedic texts and have been used by ayurvedic consultants all around the world for curing arthritis naturally:

 

Turmeric:

The rhizomes of Curcuma longa contain curcumin and curcuminoids that tend to relieve inflammation; this helps to reduce the pain of arthritis.

 

According to the findings of a study by Balasundaram Jayakar et al, turmeric contains curcumin and curcuminoids which is a first rate natural remedy for arthritis and it has an anti-inflammatory ingredient that can help alleviate pain. Turmeric exhibits very strong anti-inflammatory  and antioxidant  properties.

 

In a study of rheumatoid arthritis patients it was found that taking turmeric (curcumin 1,200 mg to be exact) every day significantly improved the swelling and stiffness of the joints and improved the ability to walk.

Licorice:

 

Obtained from the Glycyrrhiza glabra plant, Licorice acts to cut down on free radical production and also inhibits the action of enzymes that are involved in the inflammatory reaction.

 

In a study by K.Nishteswar et al the therapeutic value of glycyrrhizinic acid, and its aglycon (and some synthetic derivatives) total herb (root) powder or its extract was established. Glycyrrhizin and related compounds act synergistically with the endogenous hormones that has a bearing on their therapeutic action in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation and oedema.

 

Boswellia:

 

This is the frankincense tree and is said to have ingredients that block substances called leukotrienes that are involved in auto-immune disorders. This herb is therefore very effective in rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

 

Garlic:

 

The ingredients in garlic prevent the formation of cytokines – chemicals that are involved in inflammation reactions. Garlic remedies thus help with controlling arthritis.

 

Guggul:

 

An oily resinous substance obtained from the Commiphora mukul plant, guggul is increasingly being recognized for its potent anti-inflammatory actions in arthritis.

 

In another study by Shailesh Deshpande et al on the uses of guggulu in the treatment of arthritis it was found that it is the ayurvedic herbs of choice in amavata (RA) due to its capacity to improve digestive fire(agni), pacify vitiated vata and kapha especially in joints and improve strength of joints.

 

 

Ayurveda Natural Medicine For Arthritis

 

Below is the list of common ayurveda medicine mentioned in ayurvedic texts, which is used globally by most of the ayurvedic doctors to treat arthritis.

 

• Dasamoolahareethaki Lehyam 
• Aswagandhadi lehyam
• Thriphaladi choornam
• Mahamasha thailam 
• Kottamachukkadi thailam
• Dhanwantharam Thailam
• Rasnadi choornam
• Yogaraja Gugulu vatika
• Kaisora gulgulu vatika
• Chandraprabha vatika 
• Punarnavadi Kashayam tablets
• Sahacharadi Thailam
• Pinda thailam 
• Naravana Thailam 
• Murivenna Oil
• Karpooradi thailam
• Gulguluthiktakam Kashayam 
• Guluchadi kashayam 
• Dasamoola kashayam
• Dhanwantharam 101 capsules
• Bala Thailam
• Aswagandharishtam
• Dasamoolarishtam

 

 

 

Natural Arthritis Pain Relief With Ayurveda 

 

Panchakarma Detox may be considered beneficial to cleanse the body from excess ama and help with Arthritis pain. 

 

This detox therapy should be performed under supervision of a qualified ayurvedic practitioner and never be experimented without supervision.

 

Some of natural therapies that help to deal with arthritis pain, inflamation etc are as follows.

 

Vamana:

This is therapeutic emesis or induced vomiting to get rid of the waste products and mucous in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Can be beneficial for kapha arthritis.

 

Abhyanga  Ayurvedic Massage:

A form of full body massage with an oil that has medicinal properties, it is a form of ayurveda therapy helps to reduce the Vata element and also helps to mobilise the toxins from tissues to get excreted from the body

 

 

 

 

 

Basti:

 

This involves the use of a medicated enema that helps to clean ama/toxins from the colon and the body channels and allow appropriate circulation of air within the body.

 

 

Patra Pinda swedan or Potli:

 

This consists of using a poultice bag made from traditional medicinal herbs that are considered to have painkiller action. When the poultice is applied to the affected joints, it provides some relief from the pain and also helps to stablise and balance the Vata accumulated there.

 

 

Natural Arthritis Treatment 

 

As ama and vata are the major causes of this disorder, Ayurveda focuses on improving the digestion of ama and reducing the vata to treat arthritis naturally. It is important to improve the digestion in order to ensure that no ama is produced. Listed below are some ayurvedic remedies for arthritis:

 

 

 

1.Fasting is important for digesting the ama. The fasting can either be partial or complete according to the ayurvedic body type of the individual.

 

2.Two teaspoons of lemon juice mixed in 250 ml. of warm water and a tea spoon of honey works generally helps to keep the ama moving through excretaory system. This should be taken twice a day, morning and evening.

 

3. Ayurvedic body massage with sesame or mustard oil helps in reducing the vata which in turn can help reduce the joint pain. The joints which are affected by this pain are massaged for a longer time.

 

4. Light exercises such as yoga and walking can be very useful.

 

 

 

Yoga for Arthritis

 

Yoga provides a gentle form of exercise that helps to maintain mobility of the joints. The most important poses to be used in arthritis include Tadasana (Mountain pose), Virabhadrasana II (Warrior pose II) and Dandasana (Staff pose).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pure Herbal Ayurved Clinic offers a host of services and facilities which are aimed at balancing the energies, rejuvenating mind and body and cleansing and detoxifying the body. Following a holistic approach, the clinic provides with Ayurvedic Body Treatments, Massage Therapy, Ayurveda Herbal Remedies. The clinic also offers a wide range of Herbal Products including Herbal Supplements, Spices, Tea, Oils and many more. 

 

 

 

 

If you wish to enquire more information on Arthritis or Joint Disorders Ayurvedic Natural Treatment in Melbourne, you may contact us at Pure Herbal Ayurved Clinic.

 

 

 

 

 

References

1. Balasundaram Jayakar, Debjit Bhowmik, K P Sampath Kumar, Margret Chandira, ‘Turmeric- A Herbal and Traditional Medicine’, ‘Research Gate’, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268268687_Turmeric_A_Herbal_and_Traditional_Medicine

2. K.Nishteswar, Hemang Narendra Joshi, Anil Kumar D, ‘Review of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Yastimadhu)- A Broad Spectrum Herbal Drug’, ‘Reasearch Gate’, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232768925_REVIEW_OF_GLYCYRRHIZA_GLABRA_YASTIMADHU_-A_BROAD_SPECTRUM_HERBAL_DRUG

3. Shailesh Deshpande, Vaishali Deshpande, Shraddha S Potdar, ‘Effect of Panchakarma and Ayurvedic Treatment in postpartum rheumatoid arthritis(amavata)- A Case Study’, Research Gate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314980480_Effect_of_panchakarma_and_Ayurvedic_treatment_in_postpartum_rheumatoid_arthritis_amavata_A_case_study