Rheumatoid Arthritis - Ayurveda Treatment

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Ayurveda Treatment

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto immune disease which affects the joints mostly, and other organs like the lungs, heart, skin, brain etc rarely. The body comprises of an immune system which acts as a defensive mechanism for the body protecting it from harmful agents and organisms. Problem arises when this system fails to identify the body's own tissues and starts attacking it. This gives rise to an auto immune disorder. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the joints and the synovial membrane lining the joints and gives rise to inflammation, reddness, swelling, pain, deformities and restriction of movements. In severe forms, this may even affect the organs and their protective layer giving rise to similar kind of reactions in those tissues. For eg, auto immune response may be stimulated on the outer layer of the heart causing a condition called pericarditis. When rheumatoid arthritis affects the blood vessels, it causes hardening of the walls causing a condition called vasculitis. Hence early detection and treatment is important to prevent any such complication.

The actual cause of this condition is still unknown. It usually affects the big joints of the body. Wrist, knee and hip joints are frequently affected. It occurs mostly in the middle age ranging between 20-50 years. Younger the age at which the disease occurs, more severe it is. Women are more susceptible to the disease than men. It occurs in episodes. There are times when the person is affected for days, months or even years and then becomes free from the symptoms for a duration of time, which can again be few days, months or even years.

Symptoms:

• Swelling, tenderness and inflammation of joints.
• Fatigue
• Systemic symptoms like fever, headache.
• Pain in the affected joint.
• Gradual lose of movement in the affected joint.
• Joint deformity
• Pain in the chest while drawing breath (when lungs are affected)
• Visual disturbances, with burning, itching and watering of eyes.
• Hard mass or nodules under the skin
• Altered sensation on the skin.

Management in Modern medicine:

Non-pharmacological treatment includes physical therapy, occupational therapy and nutritional therapy but do not stop progression of joint destruction. Analgesia (painkillers) and anti-inflammatory drugs, including steroids, are used to suppress the symptoms, while disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are required to inhibit or halt the underlying immune process and prevent long-term damage. In recent times, the newer group of biologics has increased treatment options. But every treatment indicated has a series of side effects ranging from simple  stomach disturbances to increased incidence of infections and even lymphomas.

Rheumatoid Arthritis In Ayurveda:

This is one of the disease where Ayurveda can give wonderful results unlike modern medicine. The deep understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease gives Ayurveda its edge over modern medicine. Apart form the Tridoshas (the 3 bioregulating principles, namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha), considering the body in its totality and the concept of Agni (the digestive fire) are some of the important features of Ayurveda and especially in case of this disease, one cannot neglect the importance of these concepts.

In this condition, the Agni or the digestive fire is hampered which in turn gives rise to Aama (undigested toxins). Due to improper diet or activities Vata gets aggravated, mixes with Aama and transports it to the joints or parts of the body where Aama gets accumulated and causes the disease. So the main line of treatment is increasing the Agni, eliminating the undigested toxins from the body and pacification of Vata. With this proper line of treatment, the disease can be effectively managed.

Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapies is important for detoxification of the body. Once the body is cleared of its toxins it can effectively accept the internal medicines which are given for increasing the digestive fire and pacification of Vata. The internal medicine can further be supplemented with treatments like dry fomentation(Valuka sweda) , Sankara sweda etc.

DIET AND LIFESTYLE:

This is a disease which is caused mainly due to improper eating habits like over eating, eating before the food of previous meal is digested, eating very heavy and oily foods and some activites like sedantary lifestyle, day sleep etc. Hence a small modification in diet and lifestyle can keep the body free of this disease.

• Take light and easily digestible food.
• Avoid over eating and one should eat only after the previous meal has got completely digested.
• Avoid curd and other sour items.
• Avoid day sleep and sedentary lifestyle.
• Exercise the joints regularly but one should not overdo it
• Eating fresh green leafy vegetables and fruits especially citrus fruits helps in combating the inflammatory reactions.
• Avoiding excess weight gain helps the joints to a great extent.
• One should avoid exposure to cold.