Arthritis / Bone / Joint Health Archives | Page 54 of 63

Herbal Remedies for Ankylosing Spondylitis – Symptoms and Diagnosis

Included in the group of Seronegative spondylo arthropathies, ankylosing spondylitis affects your spine with intense pain and stiffness from neck to lower back. Fusing together of the vertebra (spine) making your spine rigid is the typical feature. This changes can vary from mild to severe forms and it can even get worse forming a stooped over posture.

Even though the incidence is common for all age groups, it is more prevalent in male gender among their teens and 20s.

Causes of ankylosing spondylitis are still unknown, but it has strong connections with the genetic factor (HLA-B27 gene).

Major Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis

Pain and stiffness – It mainly affects your lower back, buttocks, and hips. You have to doubt for spondylitis, if you have pain for longer than 3 months. It often starts in the sacroiliac joints.
Bony fusion – Affect a person by hindering them to perform daily activities. Fusion of the ribs to the spine or sternum, limits the expansion of the chest when taking a deep breath.
Pain in ligaments and tendons – Mainly in Achilles tendon
As ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic disease, you can also have fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite
Eye inflammation with redness and pain
Lung, and heart problems – Rare cases

Diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis

Symptoms
Physical examination
X-rays of back and pelvis
Measurements of the chest when breathing
Lab tests

Herbal Remedies for Seronegative Spondyloarthropathy

When other systems of medicines still search in darkness for an effective treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, Ayurveda is blessed with a lot of potent herbs which can manage ankylosing spondylitis. Along with proper medication, physical and occupational therapy should also be maintained to have proper functioning and to minimize deformity. In very severe cases, surgery may be the last resort.

Planet Ayurveda offers eminent formulations in a complete care pack, ‘joint support pack’. All the medicines in this pack are guaranteed to be purely herbal and with no side effects, as they are formulated with no added preservatives or chemicals. Drug interactions are also least noted. This pack is efficient enough to tackle with every joint issue.

Bone support capsules
Curcumin capsules
Joint aid plus capsules
Coral calcium complex capsules

1. Bone Support

Boswellia serrata (asthishringala),
Laccifera lacca (laksha),
Moringa (morianga oleifera)
Arjuna (terminalia arjuna),
Pravala pishti (incinerated form of purified coral)

Boswellia is an excellent choice of remedy for joint disorders. It is a natural pain killer and fastens the reunion of bones. It helps to inhibit the bone mineral density loss and cartilage loss. Laksha is mainly used to increase the bone density and joint disorders.

Dosage – 2 capsules twice a day with lukewarm water after meals

2. Curcumin Capsules

Curcumin, which is extracted from turmeric is a potent anti inflammatory drug. They help to boost the immune system and also to modulate. They are mainly indicated to enhance the blood circulation in the body. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant. Curcumin is very popular for its antibacterial action. It helps to relieve the pain and inflammation.

Dosage – 1 capsule twice daily with lukewarm water after meals

3. Joint Aid Plus

It contains the extract of

Nirgundi (vitex negundo),
Guggulu (commiphora mukul),
Shallaki (boswellia serrata),
Ginger, (zingiber officinale)
Guduci (tinosporia cordifolia),
Ashwagandha (withania somnifera).

Being the natural diet for bones and joint, it is a great aid for joint disorders. It relieves pain and inflammation to a great extent.

Dosage – 1 capsule two times a day with lukewarm water after meals.

4. Coral Calcium Complex

Coral calcium complex – Coral calcium complex – This is an excellent combination of drugs, which supplements calcium in the body to strengthen the bones. Bone infections are best treated by this complex. This complex includes coral, agate, jawar mohra pishti, Kamdudha ras, Mukta pishti and guduci (tinospora cordifolia).

Dosage – 1 to 2 capsules twice a day after meals with lukewarm water

Diet & regimen in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Choose the foods which help to fight against inflammation and keep your bones strong. Maintaining a healthy weight is very crucial in this point, as an extra pound can strain your joints.
Include more colorful fruits and vegetables, which are high in antioxidants. Antioxidants help to relieve arthritis symptoms.
Whole grains like brown rice should be added more. Whole grains protect your heart, as in later stages of spondyloarthropathy heart health can be affected.
Always stay hydrated. But avoid alcoholic beverages as it may weaken your bones.
Avoid high fat and high cholesterol foods
Avoid tobacco smoking or chewing to prevent the aggravation of the disease.
Include calcium and vitamin D supplements in your diet
Practice some yoga postures to relieve from the symptoms. You can include
- Child’s pose
- Bridge pose
- Downward facing dog
- Cobra pose
- Locust pose
- Mountain pose
- Cat pose
- Cow pose
- Staff pose
Some most effective ankylosing spondylitis exercises include Standing posture, Lying posture, Swimming, Deep breathing, Yoga, Walking posture, Sitting posture, Sleeping posture etc. regular exercise relieves pain and inflammation and enhances your flexibility. Proper posture of the body helps to reduce the sprain on the spine
Consult your physician before starting to exercise and yoga. He will help you to get the apt posture for you. If you follow the treatment plan properly and stay active, it prevents disease becoming worse.

Management of Osteoporosis in Ayurveda – Natural Treatment

Introduction

Osteoporosis, which is also known as brittle bone disease is characterized by fragile, porous and easily breakable bones. According to WHO, osteoporosis holds the second place after heart diseases among the most popular diseases. October 20th is regarded as World Osteoporosis Day.

A bone mineral density less than – 2.5 is considered to be chronic osteoporosis.

CAUSES

Inadequate calcium intake
Menopause and ageing
Tobacco consumption
Alcoholism
Excess consumption of carbonated beverages & coffee, salt & chocolate
Inactivity
Prolonged use of anti inflammatory corticosteroids
Inherited factors
Health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, hyperthyroidism & Cushing’s syndrome

SYMPTOMS

Osteoporosis is generally asymptomatic. Increased risk of fracture is the main characteristic due to low mineral density. Delayed union of fractures can also be noted.
Females are more at risk as compared to males. Estrogen (females) plays a crucial role in keeping bone mineral density. In males this role is taken care of by testosterone.
Towards menopause and aging, hormone levels decreases owing to bone demineralization.

DIETARY MANAGEMENT AND HOME REMEDIES

Adequate calcium & vitamin D and optimum protein intake are the cornerstones of dietary management.

Milk & milk products – milk, paneer, curd, soymilk etc.
Lean chicken and eggs
Berries & cherries – strawberries and blue berries
Green leafy vegetables – spinach, water cress, spirulina, turnip greens, kale. Kale is regarded as the king of vitamins.
Green vegetables – broccoli, cabbage, green peas. Cabbage is abundant in vitamin k, vitamin c and calcium.
Sour fruits – orange, kiwi, grapes, plums. These are rich in vitamin c. Vitamin c aids in calcium absorption. Plums are best when used in dried form (prunes). Prunes have high concentration of polyphenols (anti-oxidants) which can prevent fractures and maintain adequate bone density.
Omega 3 fatty acids – fish oils, salmon, sardine, walnuts, hemp, chia seeds. Omega 3 fatty acids help to keep the bone strength.
Seeds – pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
Sesame seeds – high in calcium content. It contains magnesium, manganese, vitamin k and vitamin D. Snack on a handful of roasted sesame seeds anytime a day.
Apple & apple cedar vinegar – these are rich in antioxidants like polyphenols and flavonoids. These allow the body to retain calcium. Try to include the skin while eating apple.
Pineapple – rich in manganese, which is vital in preventing osteoporosis.
Virgin coconut oil – this brings magic to women with estrogen deficiency. Virgin coconut oil helps to reverse and stop the loss of bone density. Have 3 tsp of virgin coconut oil daily.
Almond milk – they are rich in calcium, magnesium, manganese and potassium. They are also rich in antioxidants. Keep 1 cup of almonds at water overnight. Peel off the skin and blend well with 2 cups of water. Add a dash of cinnamon and honey. It can be taken twice a day after staining.
Coriander – it is rich in calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium. 2 tsp of coriander is boiled with 1 cup of water. This is cooled to room temperature. It can be taken twice daily with honey.
Green tea – rich in antioxidants and can be taken daily.
Food to avoid – sweets, carbonated beverages, alcohol, excessive salt, coffee, artificial colors, sweeteners and canned foods.

EXERCISE AND OSTEOPOROSIS

It is a fact that exercises increase bone density.
It is a natural process that bone density will decrease with age.
It is better to keep your bone density intact before old age.
As we all know, prevention is better than cure.
So start exercising from today.
Male bones are skilled to increase its bone mineral density till the age of 33 and for females it is 28.
Weight bearing exercises are best suited for osteoporosis. Aerobics, brisk walking, jogging, skipping, climbing stairs, hiking, tennis etc can be added to the account.
All exercises should be done in accordance to your strength and tolerance level.

Yoga Postures for Osteoporosis include

Padangusthasana
Adho mukha svanasana
Uttitha hastha padangusthasana
Uttitha parsvakonasana
Uttitha trikonasana
Ardha chandrasana
Parivrtta parsvakonasana
Uttanasana
Urdhwa dhanurasana
Veerabhadrasana

Practice yoga under the strict supervision of a trained yoga instructor.

Soorya Namaskara

Ayurveda also mentions to practice soorya namaskara daily in the morning.Exposure to sunlight for at least 20 minutes a day is recommended for vitamin D, which aids in calcium absorption in the body.

OSTEOPROSIS AND AYURVEDA

In Ayurveda view point, osteoporosis comes under the category of vatika roga. When the vata aggravates in the body (due to imbalanced life style and ama dosha), it accounts for the DHATU kshaya (asthi kshaya) in the body.
Santarpana therapy (nutritive therapy) is advised in these conditions. Also it is mentioned in Ashtanga Hrdaya sutra stana that decreased state of asthi dhatu is to be treated with vasthi (enema) using milk, ghee, and tikta rasa dravyas (bitter taste drugs)

Medications Used Are

Bone Support – capsule consisting of boswellia serrata (asthishringala), laccifera lacca (laksha), moringa, arjuna (terminalia arjuna), and pravala pishti. Boswellia is an excellent choice of remedy for fractures. It is a natural pain killer and fastens the reunion of bones. It helps to inhibit the bone mineral density loss. Laksha is mainly used to increase the bone density.
Lakshadi Guggulu – it helps to calm down the aggravated vata and is excellent for fracture healing. It also helps to reverse the bone density loss and helps n the Management of Aches and Pains associated with osteoporosis.
Pravala pishti, akik pishti, Mukta pishti, giloy satwa, Jahar mohra pishti etc are also used. These can be used for Natural Calcium Supplement, which helps to strengthen the bones and joint.
Arjuna Capsules – terminalia arjuna bark extracts are used to prepare this capsule. 34% of calcium carbonate is present in arjuna. Also it contains sodium and magnesium. Arjuna has powerful healing properties.