Ayurvedic Treatment For Rheumatoid Arthritis

WHAT IS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic progressive and inflammatory autoimmune disease. The immune system of the body which usually protects by identifying and destroying foreign substances in the body, such as bacteria and viruses but in Rheumatoid arthritis it mistakenly attacks the joints causing inflammation, swelling and pain in the joints, the tissue around the joints, and other organs in the human body.

The most commonly affected joints by Rheumatoid arthritis are joints of the hands, feet, wrists, elbows, knees and ankles. The joint effect is usually symmetrical which can distinguish RA from other forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis.

Ayurveda has described Rheumatoid arthritis by the name 'Amavata'

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?

Exact cause of Rheumatoid arthritis is not clear but it is found that the reason could be, that immune system attacks by sending antibodies mistakenly to the synovium - the lining of the membranes surrounding the joints, considering it to be a foreign agent which results in inflammation and thickening of the synovium, which can ultimately destroy the cartilage and bone within the join. Inflammation further causes damage to tendon, ligament.

It may be a combination of genes and environment.

RISK FACTORS

• Environmental exposures: Although not exactly understood, but some of the exposures as like asbestos or silica may raise the risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis. 
• Family history:  Risk of the disease may increase in case any member of your family has rheumatoid arthritis,
• Gender: Women are more prone to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men.
• Age:  Rheumatoid arthritis may happen at any age, but the commonest age is 40 and 60.
• Smoking.  Smoking of Cigarettes and tobacco intake may enhance the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, usually genetic predisposition for developing the disease. Smoking also appears to be associated with greater disease severity.
• Obesity. People who are overweight or obese appear to be at somewhat higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, especially in women diagnosed with the disease when they were 55 or younger.

HOW AYURVEDA EXPLAINS THE CAUSES OF RA?

Ayurveda perspective for causes of rheumatoid arthritis is little different. According to Ayurveda there occurs disturbance in Vata (air) dosha that causes impaired digestive fire, leading to the formation of ama (toxins). The reason behind this is sedentary lifestyle and improper and unhealthy food habits causing altered state of digestion and metabolism and if one gets indulged in Vata-aggravating diet and lifestyle, aggravated Vata causes the ama to circulate in the channels of the body and deposit it in the joints. Even doing exercise soon after oily food intake leads to formation of ama.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?

The Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can come and go, often develop gradually over quite a few weeks, but some cases can progress quickly over a number of days. They may vary from person to person.

Affected areas are hands, feet, wrists, elbows, knees and ankles.

There follows a symmetrical pattern in RA Symptoms where common one are:

• Pain in the joint is typically a throbbing and aching in nature and generally get worse in the mornings and after a period of inactivity.
• Stiffness is another symptoms like joint pain, is also often more severe in the morning or after a period of inactivity. Morning stiffness associated with other arthritic condition like osteoarthritis usually wears off within 30 minutes of getting up, but in rheumatoid arthritis morning stiffness often lasts longer than this.
• The lining of joints leads to Swelling, warmth and redness and joint becomes hot and tender to touch.
• In certain cases firm swellings called rheumatoid nodules can also develop under the skin around affected joints.

OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDES

• Fatigue
• Loss Of Energy
• Lack Of Appetite
• Low-Grade Fever
• Muscle And Joint Aches

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis according to Ayurveda

• Pain felt in body (angamarda)
• Aversion to food (aruchi)
• Thirst (trishna)
• Lethargy (aalasya)
• Fever (jwara)
• Indigestion (apaaka)
• Weakness (daurbalya)

WHAT CAN BE THE COMPLICATIONS?

• Increased risk of Anemia occurrence.
• Osteoporosis, some medications used for treating rheumatoid arthritis, can increase your risk of osteoporosis - a condition that weakens your bones and makes them more prone to fracture.
• Development of Rheumatoid nodules. These firm bumps of tissue most commonly form around pressure points, such as the elbows. However, these nodules can form anywhere in the body, including the lungs.
• Dryness of eyes and mouth in patients of rheumatoid arthritis and they are very likely to experience Sjogren's syndrome, a disorder that decreases the amount of moisture in your eyes and mouth.
• Susceptibility to infections is at higher risk to one suffering from RA and one gets easily infected, especially patient on immunosuppressant.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome that may develop in case inflammation occurring in your wrists, compress the nerve that supplies most of your hand and fingers.
• Heart problems may be caused due to increase in the risk of hardened and blocked arteries, as well as inflammation of the sac that encloses your heart.
• Patient with RA is at increased risk of inflammation and scarring of the lung tissues, which can lead to progressive shortness of breath.
• Increased risk of lymphoma in a person suffering from RA.

DIET AND LIFESTYLE TO FOLLOW IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

• Curd must be avoided in rheumatoid arthritis.
• Avoid the use of contrast food like intake of fish and milk together or milk and jaggery together.
• A green leafy vegetable called Indian spinach (Basella rubra) have to be avoided.
• Contaminated water, cold water, frozen food stuff – causes increase in Vata and Kapha leading to increase in pain and stiffness.
• As well Black gram should not be consumed.
• Do not try control the Natural urges which may lead to increase in Vata.
• Never Skip the night sleep that can cause state of Vata imbalance,
• Deep-fried stuff, junk foods, High fat meat, mutton etc. as well aerated drinks should be strictly avoided that are heavy to digest.
• Proper and Healthy diet lifestyle have to be followed.
• In Rheumatoid arthritis, oil massage is not advised, generally.

AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS BY PLANET AYURVEDA

1. Joint Aid Plus

Joint aid plus capsules are prepared from pure and standardized extracts of herbs.

Constituents:

• Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia)
• Nirgundi (Vitex negundo)
• Ginger(Zingiber officianale)
• Guggul (Commiphora mukul)
• Ashwagandha (Withania somniferum)
• Shallaki (Boswellia serrata).

These Ayurvedic herbs work all together synergistically to impart anti-inflammatory action in Rheumatoid arthritis patients.

2. Cap. Boswellia Curcumin

Boswellia curcumin formulaton is combination of two herbs.

• Shallaki (Boswellia serrata)
• Curcumin (active extracts of Turmeric)

These herbs prevent further relapses and degradation.

3. Ashwagandha Capsules

Ashwagandha Capsules contain standardized root extract of Withania somnifera herb.

It maintains the balance of the all the three doshas and is also a very effective immune – modulator. It helps to maintain the lubrication in the joints and has a protective effect over them.

4. Aamvatantaka Churna

Aamvatantaka Churna is a combination of herbs that makes it effective in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Ingredients:

• Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
• Fenugreek (Trigonella – foenum graecum)
• Suranjan (Colchicum luteum)
• Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia)
• Gorakhmundi (Sphaerathus indicus)
• Sonth (Zingiber officianale).

According to Ayurveda. It is a natural detoxifying agent in Amavata (Rheumatoid arthritis)

INFORMATION SOURCE:-

WWW.PLANETAYURVEDA.COM

AYURVEDIC TREATMENT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS