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Common Diseases > Arthritis - an Ayurvedic Perspective
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Amavat Chikitsa (Treatment of Arthritis)
By Dr. Satish Kulkarni
Joint pain is a very
common complaint in the modern world.
Almost every other person complains
of joint pain and the only cause of
this common miserable ailment which
modern science has named arthritis,
is faulty life style. The chief
complaint in arthritis is pain in the
joints which occurs due to
inflammation of the joints, which
again is due to wear and tear changes
occurring in the joints. These
changes can occur due to degeneration
because of aging, trauma to bones and
joints, seasonal ups and downs,
overexertion, overstraining,
monotonous work for a long period, mithya
ahara (faulty food) and mithya
vihara ( a tendency to avoid
exercise.) This disease is common
among old people, housewives,
players, alcoholics and obese people.
According to ayurved,
arthritis is also related to agnimandya
(low body fire) and poor
digestion resulting from that. This
further causes accumulation of the ama
(toxins) in and around the joints.
Important ayurvedic herbs
used in the treatment of amavat
are guggul (commiphora mukul),
eranda (castor), haridra (turmeric),
and nirgundi (vitex negundo.) Guggul
is a commonly used medicine which
helps in relieving pain,
strengthening joints and
reestablishing flexibility. The
analgesic properties of guggul
are very popular and are one of the
important subjects of modern
research. Yogaraj guggul,
mahayogaraj guggul, triphala guggul
(all of which have guggul as
the chief ingredient) are a few
formulae available for treating
different types of amavat and
are used according to the prakruti
(body constitution) of the
patient, the type of amavat he
is suffering from and the current
season. Ashwagandha (withania
somnifera) is used as nourishment for
patients in whom degenerative changes
are seen. This is a general line of
treatment and is modified according
to the personal requirements of the
patient.
Treatment for amavat
also includes shodhan. Shodhan
is a ber way of treating the
diseased body, especially the
aggrieved doshas (basic body
elements) and dathus (body
tissues.) Shodhan is used here
to wash out the inflammation in the dosha-dhatu-mala
and to establish a state of health
again. Shodhan is done with
the help of virechan (bowel
cleaning with the help of mild or
b herbal laxatives.) The patient
is advised to avoid damp, heavy, ama
prone foods and irregular eating
habits.
Medicated oils are used
for external application. These help
in loosening stiff joints, clearing
accumulated ama (toxins),
nourishing weak dhatu
(musculoskeletal joint girdles) and
thus in relieving pain. Special
medicated sesame oils provide
excellent relief in chronic
conditions. Mahanarayan oil
(in which shatavari (asparagus
racemosus) is the chief ingredient)
helps in improving flexibility,
relieving stiffness and bringing
solace to the patient’s agony.
It is good for the muscular part of
the joint and is also good
nourishment for the joint itself. Narayan
oil (in which ashwagandha
is the chief ingredient) helps in
providing relief from pain. It
improves circulation in the affected
part and helps in adjusting to
arthritic changes occurring due to
aging. Chandan bala lakshadi oil
(in which sandalwood is the chief
ingredient) is a very good cooling
agent and is useful in pitta (one
of the basic body constituents)
dominated amavat. Applying
oils externally and taking oils (like
castor oil) internally provides snehan
(lubrication) to the affected part
and this is usually followed up with swedan
(heat therapy.) Dry or wet
fomentation is given to the whole
body or to the affected part only.
Steam bath or sauna bath helps in
increasing the body temperature thus
providing relief from pain. Swedan
can be performed with hot water only
or with herbal decoction as well. Nirgundi
is the herb of choice used for this
type of decoction.
Bowels are kept clean by
using simple remedies like triphala
churna or gandharva haritaki
(mild ayurvedic laxative
powders.) In general, avoiding or
draining ama accumulation in
joints and in the body parts in
vicinity of these joints, avoiding
stiffness of joints by doing general
joint conditioning exercises, taking
seasonal precautions and undergoing
timely treatment, is the ayurvedic
strategy that is adopted in a
condition like amavat.
Sucessful treatments
Include massage, dietary supplements, herbs,
minerals,
vitamins.
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