Rheumatoid Arthritis

Bhagwati Ayurveda & Panchkarma Research Centre/Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

It includes Rheumatoid arthritis, Fleeting Arthritis and multiple joint pains of the body. These are generally auto-immune disease caused due to degeneration of the joints resulted because of strains and injuries caused by repetitive motion, sports, over exertion and falls or faulty dietary and lifestyle habits.

Various inflammatory process take place in the multiple joints of the body resulting in severe stiffness and pain in the whole body or the parts affected. Ayurveda medicines with active involvement of Panchakarma Procedures are extremely beneficial in such degenerative disorders of auto-immune origin. The therapies enhance the mobility of the joints, improves the strenght in the joints hence improving the Quality of life of the patients.

Causes

The causes of this disease have eluded modern science and the disease is not attributable to any one particular cause. However, it is generally accepted that the disease arises due to the malfunctioning of the body’s immune system. The immune system gives us the strength to resist diseases. It creates antibodies against any foreign body that enters our system. In the case of Rheumatoid Arthritis, the body’s immune system starts creating antibodies even without the presence of any foreign bodies. As the number of antibodies increases, they start attacking the healthy cells in the human body. It is like a country’s army bombarding its own civilian settlements. Thus, Rheumatoid Arthritis is categorized as an “Auto Immune Disease’.

According to the Ayurvedic system of medicine, this ailment stems from the formation of endotoxins called “Aam’. “Aam’ is basically undigested and unassimilated food in our body. “Aam’ is formed due to the malfunctioning of the digestive system. “Aam’ is primarily formed due to the intake of incompatible foods. A classic example of incompatible foods (i.e. foods opposite in nature) would be eating tomato ketchup with milk or radish with milk etc. “Aam’ also results from leading an unhealthy lifestyle that promotes constipation. Ingestion of stale food, defrosting and reheating eatables, exercising soon after a meal, mental tension and stress – all these factors affect our digestive system adversely and promote the formation of “aam’. “Aam’ is a viscous and dense fluid that looks like mucus in the stool. “Aam’ often gets deposited around joints and causes intense pain and hence Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is against this “aam’ that our immune system creates antibodies.

Treatment

  • The best Ayurvedic medicine for rheumatoid arthritis is castor oil. It has been seen that taking 10-15ml of castor oil with warm water or milk at night before going to bed produces extremely good results.
  • Taking 2g of Ajmodadi Churan, or Vaishvanar Churan or Vishvadi Churan or Agnimuckh Churan or Hakam Churan with warm water after meals has also been found very beneficial.
  • Take 250mg Aamvaatari Ras or Hinguleshwar Ras or Amarsundri Vati with warm water three times a day.
  • Take three teaspoonful of Amritarisht or Mustakarisht with equal quantity of water after meals.
  • In the morning, take 125mg of Ras Sindoor with one teaspoon of honey and half teaspoon of Almond oil and 2ml of Aardrak Swaras. The use of Amir Ras or Chandroday Bhllatak is also beneficial.
  • Take 3 g Rason Pind (Garlic) with warm water or 4 tablets of Chitrakadi Vati or 25ml of Ashvagandharisht in 25ml of water after meals.
  • At night, take 3 g of Giloya Churan and 1g of Saunth Churan with warm water or take 5-10 g of Majun Suranja with warm milk.

It has been seen that the use of 1g of Yograj Guggul or Sihmnaad Guggal or Rasnadi Guggal with Rasnasaptak Qwath for two months gives very good results in “aamvaat’ or rheumatoid arthritis.

Decoctions made out of Bhllatak, Nirgundi, Giloy, Guggul, Garlic, Shunthi, Raasna, Prasarni, Castor, sweet Suranja, Kuchla and Sallaki in different proportions are beneficial in this disease.

Oil massage is strictly prohibited in this ailment. However, after the “aam’ has been completely eradicated from the body in order to curb the presence of “vaat’,saindhvaadi tail or Kottamchukadi Tail or vishgarbh tail or Prasarni Tail are often used for massage.

Get in Touch with Experts

    Some home remedies

    The raw potato juice therapy is considered one of the most successful biological treatments for rheumatic and arthritic conditions. It has been used in folk medicine for centuries. The traditional method of preparing potato juice is to cut a medium¬sized potato into thin slices, without peeling the skin, and place the slices overnight in a large glass filled with cold water. The water should be drunk in the morning on an empty stomach. Fresh juice can also be extracted from potatoes. A medium-sized potato should be diluted with a cup of water and drunk first thing in the morning.

    A teaspoon of black sesame seeds, soaked in a quarter cup of water and kept overnight, has been found to be effective in preventing frequent joint pains. The water in which the seeds are soaked should also be taken along with the seeds first thing in the morning.

    Drinking water kept overnight in a copper container accumulates traces of copper, which is said to strengthen the muscular system. A copper ring or bracelet is worn for the same reason.

    Some Useful Measures

    The body should be kept warm at all times. Joints should not be bandaged tightly as this limits movement and interferes with the free circulation of blood. There should be plenty of indirect ventilation in the bedroom. Rest is advised when there is acute inflammation in the joints.Sea bathing has been found valuable in arthritis. The natural iodine in sea water is said to relieve arthritis pain. As is well known, iodine regulates the acid-alkaline balance in the blood and tissues, helps to repair and regenerate worn out tissues and nourishes the skeletal structure. It enters into the thyroid gland’s secretion. The hormone uses the iodine to cleanse the internal toxins.

    If sea bathing is not possible, the patient should relax for thirty minutes every night in a tub of warm water, in which a cup of common salt has been mixed. The minerals in the salt, especially iodine, will be absorbed through the pores of the skin. This will help correct an internal imbalance.

    Prevention

    Eat light, warming and easily digestible food prepared from wheat or bajra. Increase the use of Methi, ginger, black pepper, turmeric, Heeng and garlic in the food.

    Heavy, oily, constipating and cooling food items should not be taken in this condition. Avoid the use of jaggery, curd, rice, udad dal, ladyfingers (or okra), arabee etc.