Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment (Aama Vatha Chikilsa)

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder disease which middle age people are usually prone to and it is seen more in women than in men. Children too, may get affected. Tissues and organs are likely to get affected in one’s body, but principally it attacks the joints producing a inflammatory synovitis that often progresses to destruction of the articular cartilage and ankylosis of the joints. The Rheumatoid arthritis disease could also produce diffuse inflammation in the lungs, pericardium, pleura, and sclera, and also nodular lesion, which is most common in subcutaneous tissue under the skin. Although the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, autoimmunity plays a pivotal role in its chronicity and progression. In Ayurveda, rheumatoid arthritis is known as "Sandhi Vata.

In Rheumatoid arthritis, standard medication may not be very helpful, the condition becomes chronic, or treatment may have significant side effects. In such cases Ayurvedic herbal treatment may be very useful and effective. The primary advantage of Ayurvedic herbal medicines in such an affliction is that, medicines may be taken for long periods without any serious side-effects.

Ayurvedic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis consists of the following procedures :

"Snehan" use of local and oral medicated lubricants

"Swedan" (local fomentation)

"Lep" (Local application of medications)

"Anuloman" (mild laxative treatment for prolonged periods)

"Raktamokshan" (blood letting)

"Dahan" (local heat branding) and

"Shaman" (symptomatic oral treatment).

Treatment :

1. Diet - Vegetarian food to be consumed. Dairy products, sweets, oily foods, junk and fast foods, salty and sour foods, jaggery, black gram, fish, cold drinks and ice creams are to be avoided.
2. Life style- One should avoid cold breeze and excessive wind. Warm water bath is recommended. Take a gentle walk after consumption of food.
3. Medicines - Guggulu is the most effective drug in treating 'Amavata'. Also herbal preparations of Ashwagandha, Haritaki, Rasna, Sunthi, Pippai and Trivrut are helpful.
4. Panchakarma Therapy - This is purification process by which toxins are eliminated from the body