Rhematoid
Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (known as Rakthavata) is a chronic, inflammatory
and degenerative disease in which the joints become swollen and
painful starting from minor joints and developes to all joints.
Morning stiffness, immobility and inactivity are some of the signs
of this disease. If it is not treated properly, deformity may
develop. The muscles, ligaments, synovial membrane and the cartilages
become inflamed, making movement of the joints extremely painful.
Amavata
in Ayurveda is another stage of Rakthavata and is described as
an acute disease in which toxins affect certain sites of the body
like the joints and the heart.
Symtoms
: Pain, inflammation, fever, thirst, heaviness of the
body are the main symptoms.
Weak
digestion is one of the main causes of this disease, allowing
the build up of toxins in the body. A wrong diet and lifestyle
and lack of physical exercise are also factors. Ayurvedic therapies
are very effective for this disease.
The
main treatment is to eliminate toxins. Detoxifying and reducing
therapies are employed. Joint pain is addressed and mobility is
restored with the use of internal and external treatments.
Ankylosing
Spondylitis( Kadigraham)
This
is a chronic inflammatory arthritis that commonly affects the
sacroiliac joints in youngsters. The onset is usually rapid with
recurring episodes of low back pain, inflammation and stiffness,
which radiates sometimes to low back or thighs lower limbs. Characteristically,
the symptoms are worse in the early morning stiffness and following
inactivity. Ayurvedic treatment involves detoxification and elimination
of toxins and the prescription of the right diet, lifestyle and
herbal preparations.
Cervical
Spondylosis
This is a type of arthritis affecting the cervical and the intervertebral
discs of the spines, producing pain in the neck region. It is
termed as cervical spondylosis. The main causative factor is the
aging of bones and joints. Degeneration of the bones and vertebrae
develops pain and inflammation and this stage is termed as Cervical
Spondylitis. Trauma, incorrect posture of body, prolonged typing
or writing with flexion of neck aggravates the symptoms. When
this disease becomes chronic in nature, giddiness numbness of
hands and even paraplegia can occur.
Gout
( Koshtuka Shirsham)
Gout
is a painful metabolic disease resulting in inflammation and the
deposition of uric acid in the cartilages of the joints. The big
toe is the site of the first attack of acute gouty arthritis in
70 percent of patients, causing it to swell and become very painful.
The ankles, the knee, the wrist and elbow follow in decreasing
order of frequency.
According
to Ayurveda, excessive intake of spicy, rich food, meat and alcohol
are causative factors as are junk food, white flour and sugar
products. Ayurvedic treatments emphasize herbal preparations,
diet and routines that help to cleanse the blood.
Osteoarthritis
( Asthigatha & Sandhigatha vatham)
Osteoarthritis
is a inflammatory, degenerative joint disease accompanied by both
degeneration of articular cartilage and simultaneous proliferation
of new bone, cartilage and connective tissue. The joints most
frequently involved are those of the spine, hips and knees. In
the majority of patients the disease is confined to one, or only
a few joints. Pain is at first intermittent and aching. It is
provoked by use of the joint and relieved by rest. As the disease
progresses, movement in the affected joint becomes increasingly
limited, initially as result of pain and muscular spasm, but later
because of capsular fibrosis, osteophyte formation and remodeling
of the bone.
Ayurvedic
Treatment involves harmonizing the vitiated body energies as well
as balancing and restoring the correct functioning of bone tissues.
Systemic
Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic
Lupus Erythematosus or SLE is a chronic rheumatic disease that
affects joints, muscles and many other parts of the body. It is
an autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks normal
tissues causing chronic inflammation.
In
Ayurveda this is considered a chronic disease that affects the
joints and muscles and reduces body immunity, causing degeneration
of the tissues. When body tissues deteriorate and body immunity
and strength reduces below a certain point—the body cannot
fight the disease and an autoimmune disorder can occur, which
can then spread to different systems in the body.
The
primary aim of Ayurveda, when treating this kind of disorder is
to restore body immunity so that the body can fight the disease
itself. Ayurvedic treatment focuses on the person not the pathogen—restoring
strength and vitality to the immune system and the body before
attacking the disease causing factors.
