Osteoarthritis Management With Ayurveda

Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative joint disease that millions of patients suffer across the world. Osteoarthritis joint pain affects nearly 20% of the population.  The condition affects your joints, especially in the knees, hands, and hips. In some cases, the shoulders are affected. The large weight-bearing joints face depleted cartilage and affect mobility. The condition is incurable; but Ayurveda can help manage the symptoms. Ayurvedic treatment for osteoarthritis includes Panchakarma therapy, Abhyanaga, dietary and routine correction and more. In this blog, let us learn more about managing osteoarthritis with Ayurveda.   Understanding Osteoarthritis   Osteoarthritis occurs due to wear and tear of joints resulting in cartilage deterioration. This is most often due to ageing. But obesity, heredity and joint trauma can also be the reasons.  The symptoms and their severity can differ for each individual. People often feel their joints being tender and painful. There is a limited range of motion thereby hampering free movement. The muscles surrounding the affected joint might be painful and might swell. The symptoms are usually prevelant in the morning on waking up. They tend to be more severe in winter or after strenuous physical activity. Patients suffering from osteoarthritis feel tenderness when any pressure is applied.  The ageing process reduces the cartilage and causes it to degenerate. Additional weight lays extra pressure on the joints, resulting in degeneration of the cartilage. Repetitive jobs and joint injuries are other possible causes for symptoms of osteoarthritis. Joint discomfort and cracking are the early symptoms of arthritis.  If left unattended, there is progressive destruction of the articular surface. In advanced stages, the patient has a deformity of the joint. Pain relief for severe osteoarthritis involves careful examination of the condition before prescribing a customised treatment.   Ayurveda and osteoarthritis   Osteoarthritis is called Sandhigata Vata in Ayurveda. According to Ayurveda, the reason for osteoarthritis is the rush of morbid Vata into the joints of the body, affecting their mobility and causing pain and inflammation.  Vata controls joint health and mobility. Any imbalance in Vata Dosha can result in reduced joint lubrication, inflammation and pain. Ayurveda can help in pain relief for osteoarthritis pain and improve lubrication and joint strengthening. The Vata levels can be reduced to improve mobility and reduce pain.  The unique perspective of Ayurveda is that it traces the disease to accumulated toxins and blocked channels of the body. Reactive arthritis and seronegative arthritis have a direct link to the gut.  Therefore, the treatment begins with expelling the toxins (Ama) from the gut. Dietary changes are suggested to treat the buildup of Ama and the lowering of the digestive fire (Agni).   Ayurvedic Treatment for Osteoarthritis   Sandhigata Vata is addressed in Ayurveda mainly with rejuvenating and detoxification therapies. The treatment also involves dietary and lifestyle changes and treatments to improve mobility and reduce pain.   External Treatments   Bahya Chikitsa or external treatment for osteoarthritis includes the following:   Abhyanga Abhyanga means oil massage. Ayurveda recommends including Abhyanga in your Dinacharya or daily routine. It is also a great remedy for osteoarthritis.   You can massage the joints using organic black sesame oil, Adirekha Ayurveda Pain Oil or any other medicated oils. In some cases, a combination of herbal oils and medicated ghee is used. Doing Abhyanga eases the morbid Vata in the joints and also provides relief from inflammation and pain.    Swedana or steam therapy This therapy involves inducing sweat through any of the different methods recommended in Ayurveda. One way to do it is steaming treatment (applying herbal steam on the whole body or affected joints). Another method is Pinda Sweda, where hot or boiled medications tied in cloth boluses brought down to tolerable heat are used to massage the joints until sweating happens. Swedana provides relief from stiffness by improving joint mobility. It also rejuvenates the joints and relieves pain.   Janu Basti Janu Basti – an Upakarma (subtype) of Panchakarma is also a great remedy for osteoarthritis.  For this therapy, a dough ring of black gram flour is placed on the affected joint. Medicated oil is poured and placed in the dough ring for nearly an hour. The gentle pressure provided by the warm oil boosts blood circulation to the affected joint. This goes a long way in improving joint mobility and reducing inflammation.    Internal Treatment   Internal treatment for Osteoarthritis involves some of the steps of Panchakarma. But the treatment methods recommended for a patient depend on factors, such as Prakriti, Dosha imbalances, health conditions and more.  Snehapana Snehapana involves the consumption of medicated oils or ghee by the patient in prescribed doses. This treatment helps pacify the vitiated Doshas.    Basti  Basti or medicated enema is best for vitiated Vata.  Medicated oils are used in the enema to balance the Doshas and provide nourishment.    Virechana  Virechana or therapeutic purgation helps restore Vata imbalance. The patient experiences well-being once the impurities are expelled and the Doshas are in balance.    Dietary changes for osteoarthritis   Your gut health is everything. The vitiated Vata Dosha that is the main reason for your osteoarthritis could be a result of poor Agni. Therefore, it is important to have foods that can help correct your Agni. You can consult an Ayurvedic doctor to help strategise a diet plan that aligns with your Prakriti, health conditions, Dosha imbalances and more.  Always opt for warm and freshly prepared foods. Have plenty of vegetables and fruits in your diet. Stay clear of oily food. Include ghee to benefit from its pain-relieving and lubricating properties. Foods that induce inflammation must be avoided.  Turmeric is rich in anti-inflammatory benefits and must be added while cooking. Ginger offers plenty of anti-inflammatory properties too. Excessive fasting can increase Vata in the body and is not suitable for those suffering from osteoarthritis.  Include black gram cereals, lentils, pulses and other wholesome foods. Do not eat dry and cold foods.    Lifestyle changes for osteoarthritis   Correcting your routine and lifestyle as recommended by Ayurveda is equally important to… Continue reading Osteoarthritis Management With Ayurveda

Ankylosing Spondylitis – The Ayurvedic Perspective

Recently, someone approached me asking about Ayurvedic treatment for Ankylosing Spondylitis. This led me to realize that I haven’t discussed this health condition before. So, here’s some information about it!        What  is  Ankylosing  Spondylitis?       Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory condition – a rare form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine and large joints. It belongs to a group of conditions known as spondylarthritis that usually starts at the lower aback and eventually spreads up to the neck and other damaged joints.     Although AS  is less common than other forms of arthritis, it still affects a significant number of people worldwide. Studies show that approximately 0.1% to 0.5% of the global population suffers from the condition.     Amavata is the word associated with rheumatoid arthritis in Ayurveda. However, the word also refers to other painful conditions as well and that includes Ankylosing Spondylitis. Ayurveda categorizes Ankylosing Spondylitis based on the body part it affects: Prishtagata (back), Katigata (lumbo-sacral), or Grivagata (pelvis or neck – cervical region) Amavata.     The Symptoms   Ankylosing Spondylitis often begins with inflammation in the joints where your spine connects to your pelvis, called the sacroiliac joints. This can make your lower back and hips feel painful and stiff.  As it progresses, Ankylosing Spondylitis can affect other areas where your tendons and ligaments attach to bones. In some cases, it may even cause your vertebrae – the bones in your spine, to fuse together. In extreme situations, the condition may also result in your spine becoming hunched.  Other signs of Ankylosing Spondylitis you might experience include:    Neck feeling sore or stiff  Pain in your shoulders  Feeling pain and stiffness around your ribcage  Pain in your hips or thighs  Feeling pain in your feet, heels, or hands  Pain that is worse in the morning or after sitting for a long time  Noticing your spine becoming rigid and curving forward  Feeling tired  Swelling in your joints  Ankylosing Spondylitis is frequently observed in males in their teenage and 20s, although it can affect individuals of any age. Women typically experience milder symptoms that often go unnoticed.  Everyone’s experience with Ankylosing Spondylitis is different. Your symptoms might change faster or slower than someone else’s, and they might not be exactly the same. It is common for your symptoms to come and go, with times when they get worse followed by times when they improve.    Ankylosing Spondylitis as per Ayurveda   According to Ayurveda, Ankylosing Spondylitis happens when Ama (toxins) accumulate in the body due to the imbalance of the three Doshas – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Ama, carried by the air element called Vayu, settles in places where the Kapha Dosha is prominent, mostly in the joints. It further moves to the body’s circulation channels and becomes the root cause of diseases. The aggravated Ama and Vata jointly enter the pelvic region (sacro-iliac and lumbo-sacral areas) causing stiffness and what is known as Amavata.    The Treatment   Modern medicine does not offer a permanent cure for Ankylosing Spondylitis. However, the symptoms can be suppressed using medications, physical therapy and even surgery.    According to Ayurveda, Amavata is the most difficult to treat (Sa Kashta Sarva Roganam), especially when the condition is in its progressive state. However, it can be completely healed through lifestyle modifications and dietary changes, external and internal treatments and herbal medicines in the beginning stages.    The treatment for Amavata involves practices like Langhana, Swedana (sudation) and Abhyanga that help alleviate pain and swelling by providing warmth, which helps reduce inflammation and stiffness in muscles. There are also Panchakarma therapies like Virechana (purgation) and Vasti (enema) that help manage Ankylosing Spondylitis by rejuvenating and eliminating toxins from the body.      Regular exercise and adequate sleep are equally important to help you heal. Dietary changes include avoiding inflammatory and trigger foods and having foods that suit you. Also, herbal medicines are administered based on your Prakriti (body type), health conditions and Doshas.     Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory condition that can significantly impact the quality of life of those affected. Ayurvedic treatment for Ankylosing Spondylitis targets the root cause and imbalances, focusing on lifestyle modifications, dietary changes, herbal medicines, and Panchakarma therapy. As with any medical condition, it is essential to consult with a qualified Ayurvedic doctor to ensure safety and efficacy.        If you are struggling with any health issues, you can book a consultation with us or give us a message via WhatsApp at +91 79074 89839.  We have the Best Ayurvedic Doctors in Trivandrum who is always glad to helps you . If you have any queries, contact us.   You can also visit.