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Symptoms
The main symptom of this disease is
severe pain in the affected joints. The muscles, ligaments, synovial membrane and
cartilage get inflamed and the movement of the joint becomes extremely painful, specially
in cold, windy and damp weather. If this condition is not treated properly, the joint
becomes immobile and this may ultimately lead to deformity of the joint. Sometimes it is
associated with fever.
Causes
Arthritis or pain in the joints is a
very common problem. It becomes aggravated in cold, damp and windy climate. 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. When the food we eat is not digested completely by the digestive fire, it
produces a toxic substance called ama. This ama circulates in the whole body and deposits or gets collected
at the sites which are weaker.
Depending on the site of deposition, it
causes many diseases in the body. For example, if it deposits in the lungs, it causes
cough and asthma, in the intestines it causes dysentery. When it deposits in the joints
and at the same time there is aggravation of vata ,
that means if biological humor air is also disturbed, it results in a disease called amavata. This amavata is
arthritis. Thus the patient generally has a weak digestion. A history of wind and
constipation is usually found in these cases. People who overeat or eat too much fried
foods, sweets, meats etc. and have no or very little physical activity can develop this
problem.
Remedies
- As described above ama and vata are the main
causes, so efforts should be made to digest ama and to
reduce the vata. The digestion should be improved so that no further ama is produced. Efforts should be made to relieve the pain
and inflammation. This is the line of treatment according to Ayurveda.
- Fasting is very beneficial for digesting
the ama. People with vata type constitution should not fast for more than three days. Pitta constitution can fast for five days and kapha for seven days. The fasting be complete or partial
depending on the strength of the person, season and place. Two tea spoons of lemon juice
mixed in 250ml. of warm water and a tea spoon of honey is good to take twice a day
-morning and evening.
- Bake one or two egg plants (about
250gms. ). Mash it properly and fry it in about 50ml. castor oil. Some spices like cumin,
coriander, turmeric and salt can be added to it while frying. This recipe can be taken
once daily for two to three months. Adding two cloves of garlic while cooking makes it
very beneficial.
- Whole body massage with sesame or
mustard oil helps to reduce the vata and thus reduce the pain. The joints affected by pain
can be massaged for longer time.
- Alternate hot and cold fomentation and
sunbath gives some temporary relief from the pain. Mix 10g&127;m camphor powder in
40ml. of kerosene oil. Then put this mixture in a transparent bottle and close the cap
tightly. Keep the bottle in sunlight or mild heat for one hour. Massaging this on the
affected joints gives immediate relief from the pain.
- Camphor, wintergreen and cinnamon oils
are beneficial for external application.
- Guggul
is a very helpful herb for curing arthritis. If available it can be taken in one to 3gm
dose twice a day after meals with warm water.
- Make a paste of red chilies and fresh
ginger (5gms. each). Mix this paste nicely in 100ml. sesame oil and strain it. A gentle
rubbing of this oil on the painful area instantly reduces the pain. Taking 2gm turmeric
powder twice a day along with warm water helps in curing arthritis.
- Take two cloves of garlic and fry them
in ghee (clarified butter ) or in castor oil. Eat
these cloves once daily for two-three months. Or, eating one raw clove of garlic every day
is very beneficial. It is little difficult to eat raw garlic because of its strong smell
and burning taste.
Diet and Regimen
- Foods which are easily digestible and do
not make wind or gas are good. Vegetable juices and soups are good. Juices of carrot, beat
root and cucumber mixed together is also beneficial. Coconut water or coconut milk is
good. Green salad with a dressing of lemon juice and a little salt is also good. Khichree, a recipe made by cooking one part rice and six
parts mung dal (green beans or pulses) is very nice. Mung beans can be found in Indian stores. Fruits like
apples, oranges, grapes and papaya can be taken. Cooked vegetables like squash, zucchini
and pumpkin are good. Cooking with spices like cumin, coriander, ginger, asafetida,
garlic, fennel and turmeric is also helps a lot.
- Avoid eating hot, spicy and fried foods,
sweets, wind forming foods like cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, okra and potatoes
should be prohibited. Avoid taking too much tea, coffee, alcohol, white sugar, yogurt,
chocolate and cocoa, excessive smoking and use of anti-biotics, pain killers and steroids.
- Sleeping during day time, staying up
late in the night and mental tensions like worry, anxiety, fear, stress and grief etc.,
should be given up. Regular physical exercise and every day massage with oil, once or
twice a week, should form an important part of life style.
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