Arthritis Management

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement. There are over 100 different types of arthritis.

Arthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage normally protects the joint, allowing for smooth movement. Cartilage also absorbs shock when pressure is placed on the joint, like when you walk. Without the usual amount of cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain, swelling (inflammation), and stiffness With some injuries and diseases, the inflammation does not go away or destruction results in long-term pain and deformity. When this happens, you have chronic arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type and is more likely to occur as you age. You may feel it in any of your joints, but most commonly in your hips, knees or fingers. Risk factors for osteoarthritis include

• Being overweight
• Previously injuring the affected joint
• Using the affected joint in a repetitive action that puts stress on the joint (baseball players, ballet dancers, and construction workers are all at risk)

Other types or cause of arthritis include

• Rheumatoid arthritis (in adults)
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (in children)
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Gout
• Scleroderma
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Reiter's syndrome (reactive arthritis)
• Viral arthritis
• Gonococcal arthritis
• Other bacterial infections
• Tuberculous arthritis etc.

Arthritis is one of the most common ailment for which Ayurvedic help is being sought these days.

According to Ayurveda mostly pains are caused by the aggravation of vata (air) dosha. Arthritis is a condition which is caused by accumulation of ama and aggravation of vata. (Ama is a toxic by-product of improper digestion). This ama circulates in the whole body and deposits or gets collected at the siteswhich are weaker. When it deposits in the joints and at the same time there is aggravation of vata , it results in a disease called amavata. This amavata is the root cause of various form of arthritis like reactive arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and other autoimmune disorders leading to arthritis. The other forms of most common arthritis i.e osteoarthritis is called Sandhivata in ayurvedic terminology. Osteoarthritis or sandhivata is known to be caused by the vitiation of Vata Dosha. The causative factors in vitiation of Vata Dosha are like - consumption of dry, cold or stale food, irregular sleeping habits, suppression of natural urges, and exposure to severe cold, and dry weather. Local causative factors- such as degeneration of the cartilages due to ageing, excessive strain on the joint, any kind of injury to the joint, are the frequent causes of this form of arthritis.

Other forms of arthritis, which are caused by infections, is due to either derangement of pitta dosha or kapha dosha or all three dosha and the treatment is done accordingly.

Depending on a person's lifestyle, diet, and emotional pattern, either vata, pitta, or kapha goes out of balance. Then that particular dosha slows down agni (digestive fire), resulting in the toxic, sticky by-product of inadequate digestion known as ama.

Vata, the main active dosha, brings the ama into the colon, and from there it travels through the system and lodges in the bone tissue and in the joints, giving rise to the stiffness and pain characteristic of arthritis.

Ayurveda attempts to remove the ama from the joint and bring it back to the colon, and then to eliminate it. To do this, we need to keep the colon clean. It is best to determine the type of arthritis and manage it for the remedies recommended for the specific type.

To achieve this goal Ayurvedic panchkarma therapies are very effective. Along with the therapies and herbs an appropriate diet is also essential and is advised as a part of the treatment.

Body massage with sesame or mustard oil or any Ayurveda herbal oils like Dhanwantharam oil, Murivenna etc helps to reduce the vata and thus reduce the pain and inflammation .The joints affected by pain can be massaged for longer time till the pain reduces.

Special therapies are very effective for managing chronic and acute arthritis like Vasti, Kizhi, Dhara etc. Different mediums like Kanji, takra, oils and medicated poultices are used for the process as per the type of arthritis.

Light exercise is useful but you must know your limits. Strengthening the surrounding facia and muscles supporting the joints through exercise is very useful. Specific Yog asanas are highly beneficial if done properly under expert guidance.