Dr Partap Chauhan

Director, JIVA Ayurveda

Arthritis, known as Amavata in ayurveda, is a chronic condition that causes loss of mobility and enduring pain in joints, with swelling of the synovial joints. Ama is a kind of toxin that is generated when the body is not able to digest food properly. This toxin is then carried throughout the body by vata (air) and gets deposited at various places, primarily joints — the seat of kapha (water). Gradually, as the vata gets aggravated, all the joints get affected, resulting in severe pain and swelling. When pitta (fire) increases in the body, it causes a burning sensation around the joints. In essence, any or all three doshas can be the cause of arthritis.

CAUSES

Arthritis is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system attacks healthy joint tissues and causes inflammation and damage. Heredity is believed to play a part, although other genetic factors also affect the propensity to suffer from the disease. The primary causes are:

• Indulgence in incompatible foods and habits
• Eating meals at improper times, resulting in poor digestion that creates undigested toxins or ama
• Vitiation of vata due to consumption of dry, cold or stale food
• Excessive intake of milk and milk products, especially yoghurt
• Irregular sleeping habits
• Suppression of natural urges
• Exposure to severe cold and dry weather
• Psychological factors such as stress and depression
• Local degeneration of the cartilages due to ageing, excessive strain on the joint, or any kind of injury to the joint

TREATMENT

Even though the symptoms of amavata are comparable with those of Rheumatoid arthritis, the ayurvedic line of treatment is slightly different from what is followed by allopathy. The objective is to treat the root causative factor as well as symptoms. Since stress is also a contributing factor for the disease, rest — both emotional and physical — is considered an essential method of treatment.

Panchakarma

Panchakarma, a specialised line of ayurvedic treatment, is one of the most effective means for treating chronic pains. Panchakarma is a combination of various mind and body healing therapies that enhance the potency of medicines and stabilise the body, bringing you closer to a cure. It aims at cleansing the toxins from your body and clearing the blockage in channels, so as to ensure proper movement of vata.

Benefits of Panchakarma

• Eliminates toxins from body
• Gives relief from body aches
• Strengthens immune system
• Restores constitutional balance, improving health and wellness
• Reverses the negative effects of stress on body and mind
• Enhances strength, vitality and mental clarity

RECOMMENDED TREATMENT

• Baluka svedana (body massage with pouches of sand)
• Vasti (medicated enema)
• Potli Svedena (fomentation with herbs)
• Abhyanga (full body massage with herbal oils)
• Pizhichil (rich oil massage)

HOME REMEDIES

• Mix powdered long pepper, black pepper and dried ginger root in equal quantities. Have 1 tsp of the powder in lukewarm water twice a day.
• Dry fomentation using sand is helpful in reducing pain and swelling. Take a cloth, fill it with hot sand and make a bundle of it. Place the bundle on aching joints.
• Swallow two peeled garlic buds in the morning with water.
• Control your diet
• It is beneficial to include barley flour, horse gram, split green gram, cereals, vegetables like squash, bitter gourd and pumpkin in your diet.

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