Ayurvedic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis (known as Amavata in Ayurveda) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflamm  ation of the joints. Unlike the wear-and-tear damage of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Causative Factors :

1. Incompatible food and habits.
2. Poor digesting capacity
3. Lack of physical activities
4. No exercise
5. Diet including fats in excess.
6. Contaminated water

Early rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect your smaller joints first — particularly the joints that attach your fingers to your hands and your toes to your feet.

As the disease progresses, symptoms often spread to the wrists, knees, ankles, elbows, hips and shoulders. In most cases, symptoms occur in the same joints on both sides of your body.

Rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms may vary in severity and may even come and go. Periods of increased disease activity, called flares, alternate with periods of relative remission — when the swelling and pain fade or disappear. Over time, rheumatoid arthritis can cause joints to deform and shift out of place.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Signs and Symptoms :

Rheumatoid Arthritis signs :

If you have 4 or more of these, then a case of Rheumatoid Arthritis is confirmed

• Morning Stiffness around joints for more than 1 hour.
• Swelling or Stiffness around three or more joints at the same time.
• At least one area, around the hand, wrist or finger is swollen
• Symmetric Arthritis – That is, same part affected by Arthritis on both sides of the body
• Rheumatoid factor — Positive.
• Erythrocytic sedimentation rate (ESR) is on the higher side in acute cases.
• Total leukocyte count (TLC) and differential leukocyte count (DLC) are also high.
• X-Rays of Hands and Wrists show Signs of Damage.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms :

• Occurrence of unbearable pain with stiffness due to inflammation in joints.
• Joint pains remain moderate during the daytime and increase sharply at night once again.
• The patient often feels heaviness, lethargy, mild fever and fatigue without effort.

Ayurvedic aspect for Rheumatoid Arthritis (Aamvata) :

According to Ayurveda–In general people with Vata prakriti are more prone to develop joint diseases with severe pain

Mandagni (Sluggish metabolism or weak digestion) process is the chief cause in the causation of Amavata. As described above, the initial pathological changes take place at the level of gut, i.e. in the stomach or upper part of digestive apparatus.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis (Aamvata):

In Ayurveda following are the lines of treatment in Aamvata(Rheumatoid arthritis):

1. Langhan(Fasting)
2. Sodhan chikitsa(Purification of the body)
3. Shaman chikitsa (Treatment for subsiding the symptoms)

Langhana (fasting)–

1. Swedan (Fomentation)
2. Katu-tikta-deepan-bitter medicines for promoting digestive power
3. Virechan (Purgatives)
4. Snehpana(Ingestion of uncoutous substances)
5. Basti (Enema).
6. Dry fomentation (using sands)
7. Upanaha(Loal application of unctuous substances)

Shodhana Chikitsa–

1. Mild purgatives, which digest ama also such as eranda saneha,drugs like gandharva haritki can be given.
2. Basti or enema –kshar basti

Shaman Chikitsa–

1. Langhanum(Fasting)
2. Swedanum(Fomentation)-local hot fomentation using sand etc

Kwath(Decoction)

1. Decoctrion of rasna,guduchi,erandamula,devdaru, nagar known as rasnapanchak kwatha.
2. Decoction of panchkol
3. Dashmool kwatha with eranda taila.
4. Panchkool churna with luke warm water.
5. Shunthi choorna with kanji as anupama.

Commonly used drugs

Churna(Mixture of grinded herbs)

1. Vaishvanar churna
2. Alambhusha churna
3. Ajamodadi churna
4. Hingwadi churna
5. Shatapushpadya churna

Vati(Tablets)

1. Aganitundi vati
2. Aamvatari vati
3. Chitrakadi vati
4. Rason vati

Guggulu

1. Sihnaad guggulu
2. Yograj guggulu
3. Vatari guggulu
4. Trayodasahang guggulu

Ghrita

1. Shunthi ghrita

Taila(Oils)

1.Saindhavadya taila

2. Vijay bhairav taila
3. Brihat saindhavadya taila
4. Prasarani taila

Lepa

1. Shatapushpadi lepa
2. Ahimstradi lepa

Rasaushadhi

1. Amavatari rasa
2. Amavatari vatika
3. Amavatadi vajra rasa
4. Mallasindhur

Lauha

1. Trifaladi lauha
2. Panchanan rasa lauha

Panchakarma Chikitsa or Detoxification Procedures:

This is a purification procedure. By taking this Therapy Toxins are eliminated from the body. The course is as follows:

1. Snehana:

Internal and external oleation to the body / affected parts is given as a preliminary process.

2. Swedana:

This is done by application of steam on the affected parts. It helps in reducing inflammatory conditions in the body. Especially in ‘Amavata’ fomentation with sand bag is recommended.

3. Virechana Karma:

It is a type of Purgation which is induced by oral intake or herbal compound preparations. By the process of Virechana, the ‘Ama’ is eliminated from the body. Also, the bowel is cleansed, which results in proper absorption and assimilation of the medicinal preparations properly.

4. Vasthi karma:

This is done by administration of herbal enema. It is helpful in chronic cases.

Lepa: A type of therapy wherein paste of drug is applied to the affected part. Drug enters through Romakupa and further gets absorbed through channels leading to desired effects.

Abhyanga (Oil massage): Abhyanga can increase the fresh oxygenated blood supply to the muscles and organs, and aid the drainage of venous blood, promoting the removal of waste products from the body.

Parisheka: Pouring of warm drava (liquid) over the body from a specific height for a specific time. It has Vatahara action and relieves tiredness and confers stability of tissues.

Upnaha: Upnaha is the application of warm paste of roots of Vata mitigating drugs macerated with a sour liquid and added with more salts and fats, made unctuous and tied on the affected part.

Rasayana: Pippalivardhamana Rasayana: They start with 3 gm increase till 18 gm with QS cow milk and Chyavanaprasha: 5-15 gm with hot water/ milk in morning for 1-3 months.

Common herbs used in RA in medicines and purification procedures

Erand (Castor oil): Eranda taila has Vata-kapha-shamaka property which is more specifically required in the disease RA. Along with this it is also have Ushna Virya and Ama Pachana properties. Ricine present in the Eranda Taila on action of lipase enzyme gets hydrolyzed to Recionelic acid which is responsible for purgation.

Shunthi (Ginger)

Guggulu (Commiphora wightii )

Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia )

Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra )

Milk

Shallaki (Boswellia serrata )

Pippali (Piper longum )

Basti like vaitarana, kshar basti is more effective in this condition.

Diet and Lifestyle changes For Rheumatoid Arthritis :

What To Eat in RA?

Increase intake of barley flour, horse gram (a type of bean), split green gram, honey, celery seeds, cumin seeds, dried ginger root powder, garlic, bitter gourd and castor oil.

Yava – barley

Kulattha – horse gram

Shyamaka – Setaria italic

Kodrava – Paspalum scrobiculatum

Rakta shali – Red rice

Shigru – drumstick

Punarnava – Boerhavia diffusa

Karavellakam – bitter gourd

Patola – pointed gourd

Ardraka – ginger

Taptaneeram – hot water

Takra samskrutam Lashunam – garlic processed in buttermilk

Jangala mamsa – meat of animals living in desert and dry lands

Water processed with Panchakola churna

What To Avoid in RA?

Avoid eating fish and milk together or milk and jaggery together.

Avoid incompatible, heavy, and oily foods Dadhi – curds

Matsya – fish

Guda – jaggery

Dugdha – milk

Masha pishti – flour of black gram

Dushta neeram – contaminated water

Purva vatam – wind blowing from east

Viruddha bhojana – mutually incompatible foods

Asatmya bhojana – foods that doesn’t suit us

Vegavarodham – forcibly controlling the natural body urges or reflexes

Jagaran – habit of awakening throughout the night

Guru ahara – foods heavy to digest

Abhishyandi ahara – foods which cause blockage in cells and channels of the body

Home Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis (Aamvata):

• Castor oil.  10-15ml of castor oil with warm water or milk at night before going to bed
• Take 3 g Rason Pind (Garlic) with warm water after meals.
• At night, take 3 g of Giloya Churan and 1g of Saunth Churan with warm water .
• Oil massage after the “aam’ has been completely eradicated from the body.
• Go for absolute fasting or rely on a liquid or semi-solid diet for an entire day, depending on your strength.

Yogasana for Rheumatoid Arthritis (Aamvata) :

• Do meditation regularly at least 15 min. daily.
• Anulom -Vilom
• Kapalbhati pranayama
• Do morning walk regularly

Do any five regularly from below given asana-

• Trikonasana
• Parsvakonasana
• Virabhadrasana
• Ardhachandrasana
• Pada Hastasana
• Uttanasana
• Marichyasana
• Ardha  Matsyendrasana
• Salabhasana
• Dhanurasana
• Uttanpadasana
• Ustrasana
• Setubandhaasana

How to prevent rheumatoid arthritis naturally?

• Try to live stress-free life
• Do lifestyle and dietary changes as recommended in rheumatoid arthritis above.
• Avoid undue pressure on joints.
• Bowel movement should be regular
• Initial treatment means less joint damage so the pain.
• The patient should increases the level of movement.
• Food rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants are good.
• Losing weight means lessen stress to the knees and hips.
• Walking is good for arthritis as it burns your calories, strengthens muscles and bones.
• Stretching exercises are beneficial for arthritis.
• Adequate sleep is good.
• Avoid control of natural urges.

Ayurvedic Medicines for Rheumatoid Arthritis (Aamvata) :

1.Decoctions-

• Rasna-panchak,
• Gulgulu thikthakam
• Decoction of Shunti (Zingiber officinale) and Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris)
• Decoction of Shunti (Zingiber officinale) and Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia)
• Pippalyadi Kwatha – Decoction of Pippali (Piper longum), Pippalimula (Root of Piper longum), Chavya (Piper retrofractum), Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica) and Shunti (Zingiber officinale)can be used.
  2.Gutika or Vati-
• Rason Vati
• Agnitundi Vati
• Ama pachana vati,
• Kaishore Guggulu,
• Sanjivani vati.
• Amvatari Guggulu
• Sihnad Guggulu
• Tryodashang Guggulu
  3.Powders- 
• shunthi (Ginger),
• Vaishwanar,
• guduchi
• Panchasama churnam
• Phalatrikadi Churnam
• Panchakola churnam 
• Ajmodadi Churan
• etc will be more beneficial.
  4.Rasa –
• Hinguleshwar rasa
• Vatagajaankush Rasa
• Samirpanga Rasa
• Mahavatvidvansan Rasa
  5.Taila—
• Mahavishgarabh tail
• Panchgun Tail
• Parsarni Tail
• Mahnarayan Tai
  6.Asav-arisht—
• Punarnava asana
• Amritarist
• Maharasanadi Kawath
• Mahamanjishthadi Kawath
• Ashawgandarist

A modified diet and good lifestyle along with ayurvedic medicines and panchkarma will yield a great result in treating Rheumatoid arthritis.