AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

In Ayurveda Rheumatoid arthritis has been described as Amavata.

INTRODUCTION

In which ever organ Amavata is present in the body severe pain occurs in that
Organ.It mainly causes pain in small as well as big bones of the body.

CAUSATIVE FACTORS:

1. Incompatible food and habits.

2. Poor digesting capacity

3. Lack of physical activities

4. No exercise

5. Diet including fats in excess.

6. Contaminated water

CLASSIFICATION OF AMAVATA (Rheumatoid arthritis)

1. Vataj
2. Pittanubandi

3. kaphanubandi

VATAJ AMAVATA:
In this condition vata is predominant and pain is severe.

PITTANUBANDI:
In this condition pitta is predominant and buring sensation in effected joints and
redness occurs.

KAPHANBANDI:
In this condition kapha is predominant and loss of movement of joints and itching
is present.

SIGN & SYMPTOMS OF AMAVATA (RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS)

1. Pain all over the body

2. Loss of taste

3. Thirst

4. Lack of enthusiasm

5. Heaviness

6. Fever

7. Indigestion

8. Swelling of body parts.

TREATMENT
In Ayurveda following are the lines of treatment in Amavata(Rheumatoid arthritis):

1. Langhan(Fasting)

2. Sodhan chikitsa(Purification of the body)

3. Shaman chikitsa (Treatment for subsiding the symptoms)

Langhana (fasting)

1. Swedan (Fomentation)

2. Katu-tikta-deepan-bitter medicines for promoting digestive power

3. Virechan (Purgatives)

4. Snehpana(Ingestion of uncoutous substances)

5. Basti (Enema).

6. Dry fomentation using sands like dry substances

7. Upanaha(Loal application of unctuous substances)

Shodhana Chikitsa

1. Mild purgatives, which digest ama also such as eranda saneha,drugs like
gandharva haritki can be given.

2. Basti or enema shoulb be given kshar basti such as vaitarna basti.

Shaman Chikitsa

1. Langhanum(Fasting)

2. Swedanum(Fomentation)-local hot fomentation using sand etc

Kwath(Decoction)
1. Decoctrion of rasna,guduchi,erandamula,devdaru, nagar known as rasnapanchak
kwatha.

2. Decoction of panchkol

3. Dashmool kwatha with eranda taila.

4. Panchkool churna with luke warm water.

5. Shunthi choorna with kanji as anupama.

Commonly used drugs

Choorna(Mixture of grinded herbs)

1. Vaishvanar choorna

2. Alambhusha churna

3. Ajamodadi choorna

4. Hingwadi choorna

5. Shatapushpadya choorna

Vati(Tablets)

1. Aganitundi vati

2. Aamvatari vati

3. Chitrakadi vati
4. Rason vati

Guggulu

1. Sihnaad guggulu

2. Yograj guggulu

3. Vatari guggulu

4. Trayodasahang guggulu

Ghrita

1. Shunthi ghrita

Taila(Oils)

1.Saindhavadya taila

2. Vijay bhairav taila

3. Brihat saindhavadya taila

4. Prasarani taila

Lepa

1. Shatapushpadi lepa

2. Ahimstradi lepa

Rasaushadhi

1. Amavatari rasa

2. Amavatari vatika

3. Amavatadi vajra rasa

4. Mallasindhur

Lauha

1. Trifaladi lauha

2. Panchanan rasa lauha

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a Joint Disorder, which affects Multiple Joints at various

sites. It is described as Amavata in Ayurveda. The word Ama means Toxic
material generated as a un wholesome product in the body due to weakening of
digestive fire. This Ama is then carried by Vayu and travels throughout the body
and accumulates in the joints, which is the seat of Kapha. As this process
continuous, all the Joints are gradually affected, which results in Severe Pain and
Swelling in the Joints. When Pitta also gets aggravated, it causes Burning
Sensation around the Joints.

General Clinical Features:

Angamardaaruchistrushna alasyam gouravam jwara!

Apaka sunyatanganam amavathasya lakshnam!!

Body Pains
Lack of Taste
Thirst
General Weakness
Feeling of Heaviness
Fever
Morning stiffness of the Joints
Pain and swelling in the affected parts
Shifting of pain in Joints
Constipation
Indigestion

Ayurvedic Management of Amavata:

a. Ahara Chikitsa or Dietary regimen:
One should take Old Rice, Butter Milk, Wet Ginger, Garlic, Wheat, Bitter gourd
and Horse Gram in his diet. Avoid consumption of Dairy products, Sweets, Oily
foods, Chinese Food, Junk and Fast Foods, Salty and Sour Foods, Jaggery, Black
Gram, Fish, Cold Drinks and Ice Creams.

b. Vihara Chikitsa or Life Style Modifications:

One should avoid Cold Breeze and Excessive Wind. Bathing with cold water
should be strictly avoided. Warm water bath is recommended. It is also advisable to
take a gentle walk after consumption of food. Also it is good to avoid water intake
immediately after consuming food.

c. Aushadha Chikitsa or Drug Therapy:

Guggulu is the most effective drug in treating Amavata. Also herbal
preparations of Ashwagandha, Haritaki, Rasna, Sunthi, Pippai and Trivrut are
helpful in Amavata. Administration of caster oil is also very effective in this
disease. The mentioned drugs should be taken only after consulting a Qualified
Ayurvedic Physician.

d. Panchakarma Chikitsa or Detoxification Procedures:

This is a purification procedure. By taking this Therapy Toxins are eliminated from
the body. The course is as follows:

1. Snehana:
Internal and external oleation to the body / affected parts is given as a preliminary
process.

2. Swedana:
This is done by application of steam on the affected parts. It helps in reducing
inflammatory conditions in the body. Especially in Amavata fomentation with
sand bag is recommended. Sankara Sweda is also very helpful. In chronic cases
Shali shasthika pinda sweda is recommended.

3. Virechana Karma:
It is a type of Purgation which is induced by oral intake or herbal compound
preparations. By the process of Virechana, the Ama is eliminated from the body.
Also the bowel is cleansed, which results in proper absorption and assimilation of
the medicinal preparations properly.
4. Vasthi karma:
This is done by administration of herbal enema. It is helpful in chronic cases.
Kashaya Vasthi, Anuvasana Vasthi and Matra Vasthi etc are planned according to
the Patients requirement and necessity.
Ayurvedic Treatment for Amavata lasts for 14 to 28 days depending upon the
severity of the disease, patients Constitution (Prakruthi). We at THE KERALA
AYURVEDIC CARE, Speciality Panchakarma Centre, 3-6-101/1, St no: 19,
Basheerbagh, Hyderabad-29 have Treated Thousands of Patients with 99% results.
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field of Ayurveda, Dr. Kranthi Vardhan, the Chief Physician & the Managing
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Care of Joints in Amavata

1. Physical activities causing pain in the joints should be avoided.

2. Staying in one position for too long should be avoided.
3. Good posture of the Joints should be maintained.
4. One should sleep on a firm mattress or bed.
5. Weight should be controlled as excess of weight adds stress to the joints.
6. Exercise is very important to keep the joints in working condition.

Preventive aspects:

It is always better to take Preventive Measures before a disease affects us. In order
to prevent Amavata care should be taken to avoid Sedentary Habits. Also one
should perform Daily Exercises or Yoga. One should also avoid Heavy, Viscous
and Incompatible foods. Instead one should take High-fibre and Low Fat Diet.
Care should also be taken to keep our Digestive Fire intact, as the case of all
diseases is the weakening of digestive fire.

Suggested diet and life style to treat Rheumatoid arthritis are :

Do mild weight bearing exercises regularly as they improve bone density. When
certain yogasanas are done with rythming breathing techniques they increase the
tissue building and improves the strengthening and stretching of the muscles
around the points. Not to climb stairs or bend or squat. Walking a little distance
may help. Biking, swimming or aerobic dances helps to improve the bone
condition. Avoid alcohols, cigarettes, carbonated beverages. Take food that is rich
in calcium like cheese, orange juice, leafy vegetables. Cereals etc. Drink milk
regularly as it has vitamin D content in it. Take a lot of vitamin K rich foods such
as lettuce, spinach, Brussels sprouts etc., Take care to consume only freshly cooked
warm food and take hot soups of lentils, pulses and meat with ginger, black pepper
and long pepper powdered sprinkled to it.. It is essential to include a moderate
amount of ghee and oil in diet as it lubricates the joints. Avoid taking food that are
sour, spicy, deed fried, oily, pungent, acid, dark poultry, refined sugar, femented
food and also lessen the intake of salts. Also follow some basic rules of not eating
wrong combination of foods, eat only up to your limit, Strictly follow the timings
of your eating and do not eat in between the meals.

A modified diet and good lifestyle along with ayurvedic medicines and
panchkarma will yield a great result in treating Rheumatoid arthritis.

OTHER AYURVEDIC MEDICINES

1AMAVATHARI KASHAYAM
2SHADHARANAM CHOORNAM
3KOOTTAMCHUKKATI CHOORNAM
4RASNASAPTHAKAM KASHAYAM
5YOGARAJAGUGGULU
6AMAVATHARI RASAM
7KAISSORA GUGGULU
8DASAMOOLAHAREETAKE LEHYAM