Dr. Vikram Chauhan, Author at Dr. Vikram Chauhan's Blog

How Ayurveda Deals With Rheumatoid Arthritis (Ra)

Arthritis is a very common disease that has affected millions of people throughout the globe either in the form of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that primarily affects small joints of hands and feet, further it involves the bigger joints. It is a progressive disease that disturbs the normal chores of individuals and usually it affects females than males. Those who are affected by rheumatism presents with stiff and inflamed joints along with pain. Initially, it affects joints further it can affect the other organs also.

According to Ayurveda

According to Ayurveda rheumatoid arthritis is called as Aamavata. Here, in this condition, the main involved entities are – Agni, Vata and Ama.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?

Weak immune system
Improper diet and lifestyle
Genetic factor
Risk factors-
Obesity
Age above 50 are more prone to rheumatoid arthritis.
Smoking and alcohol

FAST FACTS ON RA

Swelling and pain increases during the rainy season and cold weather.
RA initially affects small joints, with time it affects large joints too.
Usually, stiffness occurs in the early morning and as the day passes, person feels better.
Stiffness often relieves with mild physical activities.
Sometimes symptoms tend to disappear but relapse after a short period of time.
It also affects other systems of the body.
Initially, RA affects interphalangeal joints, further it can affect bigger joints.

SYMPTOMS

(Reference – Bhavaprakasha / Madhyam khanda / Chikitsa sthana / Chapter no. 26 / Shloka no.7)

In this shloka symptoms of Amavata (Rheumatoid arthritis) are explained, they are

Angamarda (Body pains)

Vrishchak damsha vat vedanam” means the character of pain is same as of scorpion bite.

This is the cardinal sign of rheumatoid arthritis.

Aruchi (Loss of appetite due to mandagni)
Trishna (Increased thirst)
Goravam (Heaviness all over the body)
Jwara (Low-grade fever)
Apaka (Indigestion)
Inflammation – Usually swelling is present in all affected joints, especially more at knees.
Tenderness
Itching – Mostly itching is present along with swelling. Itching occurs due to kapha.
Stiffness – Early morning stiffness is also a cardinal sign of amavata. Gentle physical activities relieve stiffness
Warm – On touch, the inflamed area is hot /warm.
Weakness
Decreased sleep
Reduced mobility or functional deformity of affected joints
In severe cases, joint deformity (swan neck deformity), arthritis mutilans and nodules can occur.

DIAGNOSIS

Alone on a clinical basis, we can’t confirm the diagnosis, we need to take the help of some other diagnostic tools to confirm rheumatoid arthritis.

These diagnostic tools are:

Rheumatoid factor
ESR (Erythrocyte sedimentation rate)
C-reactive (CRP)
X–ray
MRI

MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

The main cause of amavata is Mandagni so, the management starts with Agni

Management Strategy includes:

Increasing digestive fire
Detoxifying the body
Symptomatic management
Restoring functional deformity.
Boosting Immunity

TREATMENT ACCORDING TO AYURVEDA

Treatment includes palliative care as well as detoxifying procedures, they are

Panchakarma

Among purification procedures Patra pinda swedana or Valluka Sweda, Upanaha sweda, Virechana, Vaitarna basti or Kshaar basti are helpful. They help to remove toxins and restore the functional deformities.

PALLIATIVE CARE

Internal medicines are required to remove toxins, manage the symptoms and eradicate the cause of rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, Planet Ayurveda offers herbal supplements to manage rheumatoid arthritis by the name of ‘RA CARE PACK’, that includes – Boswellia curcumin, Aamavatantak churna, Joint aid plus, Ashwagandha and Rumogin 5 capsules.

Let us go through their action

BOSWELLIA CURCUMIN

These capsules contain Shallaki (Boswellia serrata) and Haridra (Curcuma longa). Shallaki is a well-known herb for its action on joints. It has anti-arthritic and anti–inflammatory properties that help to relieve inflammation, restores the function of affected joints, and reduces the level of cartilage degrading enzyme.
Haridra has anti- inflammatory and anti- histamine properties thus relieves inflammation and infections.

Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily with plain water, after meals.

AAMVATANTAK CHURNA

The constituents of this formulation are – Ashwagandha, haridra, methi, gorakhmundi, surnanjan, shunthi. These herbs help to eliminate toxins, cleanse the channels of body, relieves stiffness and also these herbs act on digestive fire thus work as an appetizer and reduces the production of Aama.

Dosage: ½ to 1 teaspoon twice daily with plain water, after meals.

ASHWAGANDHA CAPSULES

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a health tonic that helps to rejuvenate the body, boosts up immunity and also helps to maintain body strength and vigor. In amavata, ashwagandha alters the surroundings of joints so that the toxins will not gather over them.

Dosage: 2 capsules twice a day with plain water, after meals.

JOINT AID PLUS

These capsules composed of nirgundi, shallaki, ashwagandha, sounth, guggulu and giloy. It is considered as one of the best herbal supplements for rheumatoid arthritis because the herbs possess anti- inflammatory and analgesic properties. Thus, it reduces inflammation of swollen joints and pains by removing aama from the affected joints.

Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily with plain water, after meals.

RUMOGIN 5 CAPSULES

This herbal formulation contains, haldi, shallaki, and trikatu (saunth, maricha, and pippali). Basically, helps to strengthen joints detoxify body

Dosage: 1 capsule twice daily with plain water, after meals.

EXTERNAL APPLICATION

a) Lepa application of medicated paste over affected joints is beneficial. For this, you can prefer – vaishnavar churna, panchakola churna, etc.
b) Abhyanga – Oil massage is helpful you can use vishagarbha taila, dashmula taila, prasarnyadi taila, brihat saindhava taila, etc.

GUIDELINES

YOGA AND PHYSICAL EXERCISES are helpful in this condition to relieve stiffness.

HOME REMEDIES

You can add shunthi (dry ginger) powder in your diet, daily consumption of 1 gm of shunthi with lukewarm water on an empty stomach is proven beneficial in this condition.
Gomutra – Cow urine is helpful in treating rheumatoid arthritis, you can consume 5 ml of cow urine daily.
You can use hot and cold pack compressions alternately.
Castor oil is also helpful.

Diet in Rheumatoid arthritis

Avoid

Curd, milk, black gram, oily foods, all sea foods, citrus fruits, potatoes, brinjal, red meat, fast food, etc.

In Take

Prefer – Shunthi, shigru, rasona, hot water, black pepper, haldi, amla ajwain, hinga, jeeraka, karela, neem, apple, pumpkin, pointed gourd, lentils, etc.

Natural Ways to Prevent Diabetes – Healthy and Balanced Diet for Diabetics

Overview

There are many natural ways to prevent getting diabetes, you need to be a little alert in selecting the food you are having routinely. It doesn’t matter if you have type 1 or type 2 kind of diabetes, you might gain, lose or maintain your weight, but it becomes most important to choose a healthy food and not the usual crap. If you take healthier food, than you lower the risk of getting diabetic. But every one doesn’t agree as each person has a unique taste and liking and disliking, one food might be good for one and bad for another. Today we are going to discuss general foods that can help in preventing diabetes. So choose a diet after consulting your doctor, only then you can save yourself from getting diabetic.

Natural Ways to Prevent Diabetes

Select Healthy Carbohydrates:

All carbs influence the glucose level of the body. Select the foods that have healthy carbs. Some of the foods that can join you in general are whole grains like brown rice, white oats and buckwheat. Fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, pulses like beans, lentils and chick peas, dairy products like unsweetened yogurt and milk.
Also keep another thing in your mind, to some diets that should be avoided like the foods that have low fiber in them like white bread, white rice and highly processed cereals. If you still feel perplexed while choosing, look at their labels before you buy them, check the ingredients, foods with fiber are in and avoid all other foods that have low fiber content.

Eat Less Salt:

When you consume lots of salt, you run the risk of getting high blood pressure, which enhances the chances of getting heart disease and a stroke, might prove fatal for you. If you already are suffering from diabetes then you are more at risk of having a stroke.
Set a limit, not exceeding 6g (1 teaspoonful) a day. Mostly the food packages have their labels on them, better do the checking before you buy it. If you are cooking yourself, you can have a keen eye on how much salt are you putting in your dishes? You can also become creative by adding different herbs and swap salt with something that enhances the flavor of your dishes.

Avoid Meat products:

If you are having non-vegetarian food or you are habitual to, you have to set a limit or quit it completely as all kind of meat is related to cancer in one way or the other. Try swapping the meat with pulses like beans and lentils, which are rich in having fiber and don’t affect your blood glucose level too much and keeps your stomach in a hunky dory position. Try eating the herbs that have omega-3 fatty acids that protect your heart. Get vegetarian diet, it will also keep you fit & fine.

Eat more Fruits and Veggies:

Enhance your diet by eating more green veggies and fruits which can be eaten as snacks, whenever you feel hungry. This will get you more vitamins, minerals and fiber that is required by your body to stay fit & fine.
Fruits are sweet but contain natural sugar which is never harmful.
The whole fruit is great for everyone, even if you have diabetes.
As their juices do contain some added sugar, so better eat the fruit in its raw form.
Keep eating fruits all day long, don’t eat them in excess in one go.
It will keep your body satisfied and in a enthusiastic manner.
If you are already diabetic, choosing a diet gets tough that will help in keeping your diabetes in control.
However it is more important to eat foods that don’t allow diabetes to raise its ugly head.
Here are some of the foods that help in keeping your diabetes in check, type 1 or type 2, doesn’t matter.

Fruits and Veggies for diabetics

Choose healthy Fats:

Everybody needs some fat to provide energy to the body to do any physical activity, but there are bad fats too that harm the body in different types.
Healthier fats can be found in foods like unsalted nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil, grape seed oil and sunflower oil.
Some of the saturated fats can enhance the amount of cholesterol level in your blood; and cause the risk of some heart problems.

Such fats can be found in animal products like:

Red & processed meat
Ghee
Butter
Lard
Biscuits, cakes, and pastries.

Healthy Tips

It’s a wonderful idea if you never use any oil in your cooking, try grill, steam or baked different foods. Try this idea at least once, if like it tell others and let’s make this world a better place to live & enjoy.
I know cutting sugar is an uphill task initially, so some needs to be done when cutting the sugar intake as ‘longest journeys begin with a single step.’ You can try some sugar free sweeteners that are available in the market, but keep their number getting gradually less.
Tea and coffee without sugar also tastes the same. When you quit sugar, you can take care of your blood sugar levels in a perfect manner and help manage your weight too. If your dietary treatment requires these sweeteners to maintain your hypos, have a discussion with your doctor before leaving these sweeteners.

Quit Boozing:

Alcohol has lots of calories and is too dangerous if you already have diabetes quit all the things that have a tinge of alcohol in them. If you are habitual and find difficulty in giving up, try leaving it with getting actively involved in doing something else, play a game or get involved in any activity you love, just remain busy.
I know initially you might get tense, but give a break into your company of old friends, the binge drinkers, but think positive and a strong will power will give you lots of benefits in the long run, you will have more fun and your economic blues will also wither away and you can have lots of fun, thus making your family have more fun with you.
Alcohol can make hypos to happen regularly. So better say no when anybody asks you to give him/her company, which should be heard by everybody around you, in a loud & clear way.
You ought to follow the above mentioned natural and organic foods (fruits & veggies) to prevent, if already exist, then ways on how to control it in a natural way. But it will be much better if you take the advice of your doctor before proceeding.