Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder, commonly affects joints in the hands, wrists, and knees, causing pain, stiffness & swelling. In Ayurveda it is called as Amavata. Amavata has been described in Ayurveda since the seventh century.
What is Amavata ?
Aama means undigested food material. Vata is a one of the dosha in the body.
Rheumatoid Arthritis can be successfully treated with Ayurveda and Panchakarma treatments.
Common Symptoms:
- Severe pain in small or large joints
- Stiffness in the joints
- Inflammation of the joints
- Fever, indigestion, loss of appetite, Laziness
- After pain and swelling in one joint, the same happens in other joints
- Over time, pain and swelling develops in all the joints in the body.
- According to Ayurveda- the pain is increasing especially in cloudy season; in the morning and at night
Causes of Amavata according to Ayurveda: Intake of Vata Dosha increasing Diet-like cold water, cold food, incompatible diet- like anything mixed with milk, Irregular time for taking food, intake of food without hunger, exercising after taking oily food and not sleeping on time, etc.According to allopathy, this is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune means, immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake.
How Rheumatoid Arthritis is developing?
If anyone not following the rules about diet and behaviour, leads to reduced digestion capacity (In ayurveda it is called as reduced Agni), therefore, the diet is not properly digested and this undigested food is called as a Ama(Toxin)-which is a disease causing factor According to Ayurveda.Ama combines with vitiated Vata and accumulates in the joints and causing pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. Complications • Joint stiffness, lameness,• Anemia (anemia)•sometimes heart disease
Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Blood tests – These include tests such as RA factor, Anti CCP, etc. If the above tests are negative and then symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis are present in the patients, then it should be considered as Rheumatoid Arthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment: In Ayurveda, there are effective treatments available for RA.
Treatment start with fasting
Fasting:According to Ayurveda RA starts from the stomach or duet to reduced digestion capacity of reduced Agni, so fasting is required to increase digestive power or Agni. Fasting improves the appetite and digests Ama. There are two types of Fasting- 1. Complete fasting 2. Partial fasting
1. If the patient’s strength is good and he is able to tolerate complete fasting, then he is given hot water and appetite enhancing medicines.
2. If the patient’s strength is low, he is given a light diet. Like Mung dal and rice.Fasting should be given for 3 to 5 days or till patient will get good hunger.
Snehana: oral intake of medicinal ghee or massage with medicinal oils. In RA/ Amavata, both of these are avoided until the Ama is digested, massaging with the oil will increase the pain and swelling. After digestion of Ama there will no problem with oil massage.
Swedana:It is hot fomentation. In case of RA, hot & dry type of fomentation is indicated. Poultice made up of hot sand used for this. Also, medicated steam given by pipes of is called as Nadisweda can be given. Sweating reduces joint pain, stiffness and swelling.
- Common Digestive Drugs: pungent and bitter medicines are given for digestion. It increases appetite, reduces pain and swelling. For example Guduchi’s, Trikatu(Black Pepper (Marich) – Piper Nigrum, Long Pepper (PIPPALI) – Piper Longum. Dried Ginger (Sunthi) – Zingiber Officinale.
Hingwasthak Powder, Vishwasanar powder, Agnitundi tablet etc.
Virechan: it is induced medicated purgation. It removes toxins &waste material from the body & reduces the pain and swelling of the joints
Basti: is medicated enema of medicinal oil. Basti causes pacification off Vata & help to cure Rheumatoid Arthritis
Poultice: After the digestion of the Ama, the poultice of the castor leaf is applied on the joints. This especially reduces the pain.
Ayurvedic Medicines:Along with Panchakarma therapy, Ayurvedic medicines have to be taken orally. Like Singhaanad Guggu, Yogaraj Guggul, dry ginger decoction, fresh Amla & Aloe vera juice & turmeric etc. All the above medicines should be taken only with the advice of a Ayurveda doctor.The important part that comes after this is diet restriction.
Diet: I will tell you in next video, till you can follow vata balancing diet, which is light to digest, follow proper lifestyle according to Ayurveda. What type of diet should be avoided, for this, you can follow the link given in the description
Exercise Do yoga and exercise for at least half an hour dailyIf there is consistency in dietary practice, yoga and exercise after the end of medicine and Panchakarma, the risk of relapse is less likely to occur.
Importantly, during my twenty-year career, I have successfully cured a number of Rheumatoid Patients. Final message Rheumatoid arthritis – Can be successfully cured with Ayurveda and Panchakarma treatments.