ARTHRITIS
ARTHRITIS: arthritis is inflammation of the joints.it occurs in various forms,the most frequent is being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis is a well-known disorder in the science of Ayurveda and is generally termed as Sandhi Vata. By this title alone we can see that Vata is typically the main dosha involved in arthritic conditions; however, Ama (toxins) and Agni (digestive fire) also plain a strong role. In general, an Ayurvedic treatment protocol with typically involve detoxifying the system, increasing the digestive fire, reducing inflammation and pacifying any imbalanced dosha that is related to the arthritis.
Common Causes of Arthritis :
- Poor dietary habits
- Improper food combinations
- Taking in iced beverages and cold food
- Over-activity (i.e. excessive exercising, jogging, jumping…)
- Excessive weight bearing (obesity, overweight)
- “Kavaigunya” or weakened space in the joints; due to genetics, past injury or trauma, improper ergonomics , long-term jobs that have put stress on the joints, etc
- Repressed emotions
- Chronic Vata derangement in the colon
- Chronic toxins in the colon.
Types of Arthritis: Although the ancient Ayurvedic texts do mention a few different classifications for Arthritis, mainly Sandhi Vata (generalarthritis), Ama Vata (rheumatoid arthritis) and Vata Rakta (gout); the best way to really classify this disorder is to break it down to the qualities of Vata, Pitta or Kapha dosha.
OSTEOARTHRITIS (OA)SANDHI VATA: is a chronic condition of the joints in which the cartilage cushioning the ends of the bones gradually loses its elasticity and wears away. Without the protective cartilage, the bones begin to rub against each other, causing stiffness, inflammation, and loss of movement. It can occur in any of the body’s joints but most often develops in the hands and weight-bearing joints, including the knees, hips, and spine (usually in the neck or lower back).
CAUSES of OA: in Ayurveda According to Ayurvedic principles, several factors contribute to the development of OA: Imbalance of Vata Dosha due to age: As one age, the natural wear and tear on joints contribute to Vata imbalance. Poor Digestion: Impaired digestion leads to the accumulation of toxins (ama) that affect joint health.
SYMPTOMS:
Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
Pain. Affected joints might hurt during or after movement.
Stiffness. Joint stiffness might be most noticeable upon awakening or after being inactive.
Tenderness. Your joint might feel tender when you apply light pressure to or near it.
Loss of flexibility. You might not be able to move your joint through its full range of motion.
Grating sensation. You might feel a grating sensation when you use the joint, and you might hear popping or crackling.
RISK FACTORS:
Factors that can increase your risk of osteoarthritis include:
Older age. The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age.
Sex. Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, though it isn’t clear why.
Obesity. Carrying extra body weight contributes to osteoarthritis in several ways, and the more you weigh, the greater your risk. Increased weight adds stress to weight-bearing joints, such as your hips and knees. Also, fat tissue produces proteins that can cause harmful inflammation in and around your joints.
Joint injuries. Injuries, such as those that occur when playing sports or from an accident, can increase the risk of osteoarthritis. Even injuries that occurred many years ago and seemingly healed can increase your risk of osteoarthritis.
Repeated stress on the joint. If your job or a sport you play places repetitive stress on a joint, that joint might eventually develop osteoarthritis.
Genetics. Some people inherit a tendency to develop osteoarthritis.
Bone deformities. Some people are born with malformed joints or defective cartilage.
Certain metabolic diseases. These include diabetes and a condition in which your body has too much iron (hemochromatosis).
Bone spurs. These extra bits of bone, which feel like hard lumps, can form around the affected joint.
Swelling. This might be caused by soft tissue inflammation around the joint.
COMPLICATIONS: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that worsens over time, often resulting in chronic pain. Joint pain and stiffness can become severe enough to make daily tasks difficult.
Depression and sleep disturbances can result from the pain and disability of osteoarthritis.
The approach of Ayurveda Treatment for OA:
1.To stop the further degeneration of the joints and bones
2.Regrowing of the bone marrow
3.Balancing the fatty part of the bones
4.Repairing the damage to the joints.
AYURVEDIC LINE OF TREATMENT FOR OA:
When the condition of the patient is severe, the patient might need to admit in the IPD for extensive panchakarma therapies.
- Virechana
- Niruha Basti
- Anuvasana Basti
- Lepam and
- Raktamokshana.