Category: Knee Pain

September 26, 2018

Ayurvedic Treatment of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Overview

Anterior cruciate ligament injury is defined as the tearing or injury of the one of the major ligament that supports and controls movements of our knee joint. Usually acute cruciate ligament injury is major combination of severe damage of ligaments and bones that are linked with our knee joint. You can hear a loud popping sound in the knee during this injury.Usually knee joint ligaments are mostly injured by indirect twisting and bending of the knee joint. So, athletes and players of soccer, football, high jump and gymnastics are at the major risk of this disease. Depending upon the severity of injury, it is divided into three different grades. In grade 1, injury ligament is slightly stretched or mildly damaged with local tenderness and but the ligament is still capable to stable knee joint. In grade 2, ligament with more disruption and no instability but in grade 3, there is total damage of ligament occurs.

ACL

Knee joint is totally disrupted and ligament is divided into two pieces.Femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone) and patella (knee cap) are the three major bones of our body that are joined together to make our knee joint. Patella is the major bone that sits over front of all the bones to provide protection and to make balance of knee joint. All these bones are connected to each other with the help of ligaments. These ligaments act as a strong connection and support between all these bones. In the same way, collateral and cruciate are the two major ligaments that support our knee joint. Ligaments that are found on the sides of the knee joint are called as collateral ligaments. These ligaments further divided into two types- medial ligament (this ligament is situated inside) and lateral ligament (this ligament is situated outside). Ligaments that are found inside the knee joint is called cruciate ligament. Anterior cruciate ligament inside the knee joint is found in the front side while posterior cruciate ligament is placed in back inside the knee joint. These ligaments inside our knee joint helps to control the movements.

Ayurvedic Outlook

According to Ayurveda, snayu is word that refers to ligaments. Snayu and kandra are very important to perform very crucial functions and movements of joints in the body. Ligament damage is correlated with sandhigatavata according to Ayurveda. External abhighata (injury) in the knee joint leads to rasa, raktadidoshadushti and vataprakopa leads to the vikurti of sandhi, snayu, asthi and kandra of knee joint. Rupture of sanyu is responsible for stiffness, difficulty in movements and also causes severe inflammation and pain.

Causes

This type of injury occurs due to many different reasons that include

  • Direct contact with an object like football etc.
  • Sudden stopping while running
  • High jumping
  • Rapid direction changing
  • Sudden stopping while running

Symptoms

The major typical symptoms of anterior cruciate ligament injury include

  • Killing pain
  • Excessive inflammation
  • Loss of movements
  • Severe tenderness
  • Walking discomfort

Herbal Remedies for Treating Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

According to Ayurveda, herbal formulation and natural herbs are very effective for treating joints related problems. Herbs help in faster healing and give miraculous results with causing any side effects to other organs of the body. Planet Ayurveda provides you amazing and herbal supplements to treat this problem associated with the knee joint naturally. All these herbal supplements are free from preservatives, chemicals, binders, additives, starch and yeast. These herbal formulations are totally safe and have no any side effects. Various herbal formulations for this disorder include

1. Boswellia Curcumin Capsules

Boswellia and curcumin are the major anti inflammatory herbs used to prepare this wonderful herbal formulation of Planet Ayurveda. Boswellic acid present in shallaki is very effective anti-inflammatory that helps to reduce excessive stiffness and inflammation of joints. Turmeric is major herb of Ayurveda that helps to treat various joint related disorders. Regular use of this herbal supplement is also helpful in treating other vata dosha related problems in body like gout, arthritis, rheumatoid etc. Both the herbs are good for promoting healthy movements of joints. Curcumin is natural anti-oxidant that helps to stimulate our immune system and give strength to our body cells to fight against foreign invaders. Both the herbs help to fight against various harmful toxins and free radicals that are major cause of internal infections and excessive inflammation. This herbal supplement helps to pacify vitiated vata dosha in the body.

Dosage :- 2 capsules two times a day after meals with normal water.

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2. Ashwagandha Capsules

Pure extract of herb, ashwagandha is used to prepare this beneficial supplement of Planet Ayurveda. Ashwagandha is the major herb of Ayurveda that is well known for its restoring properties and immune system boosting effects. Indian ginseng is the common name of ashwagandha and it is very effective herb to improve our internal strength and immunity. Regular use of this herbal supplement helps to reduce excessive pain and inflammation of knee joints due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Bioactive compounds present in this herb is also known for treating anxiety and stress. This herbal supplement also have strong action on testosterone and helps to promote fertility in men. This herb is also very effective remedy for bones and also used to increase muscle mass. Regular intake of this herbal supplement also helps to improve brain function and good to reduce high blood pressure and glucose level in the body.

Dosage :- 2 capsules two times a day after meals with normal water.

3. Joint Aid Plus

Joint aid plus is again unique blend of various anti-inflammatory herbs of Ayurveda. Nirgundi, shallaki, ashwagandha, guggul and the sonth are the various herbs used to prepare this herbal formulation for bones and joints. Nirgundi is the amazing herb of Ayurveda that is anti-arthritic in nature. Anti-inflammatory properties of shallaki and ashwagandha helps aid with joint inflammation and pain. Regular intake of this herbal supplement is also very beneficial for treating other disorders associated with joints and bones.

Dosage :- 2 capsules two times a day after meals with normal water.

4. Aamvatantak Churna

Major cause of serious joint and bone related problems in Ayurveda is vata dosha. This powerful blend prepared by Planet Ayurveda works on vitiated dosha and protects our bones and joints from harmful effects of vata dosha. Aamvantantak churna is fine blend of ashwagandha, methi, suranjaan, gorkhmundi, haridra and sonth. All the herbs used in this fine powder are analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and immune-modulator in nature. This herbal supplement helps to nourish and strengthen our bones and joints. This herbal formulation fight against harmful toxins and protect our body cells from the harmful effects of inflammation. It is also very useful for treating gout and rheumatoid.

Dosage :- 1 tablespoonful two times a day after meals with normal water.

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April 28, 2017

Top 7 Home Remedies for Fibromyalgia-Fatigue

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain which is accompanied by fatigue, memory, sleep and mood issues. It is a chronic condition where is non-inflammatory tenderness in muscles, ligaments and joints. Fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way by which brain processes pain signals. Fibromyalgia patients have been found to have lower levels of a brain neurotransmitter known as—serotonin which leads to lowered pain thresholds and increased sensitivity to pain. Serotonin also promotes calm and stable mental state.

Women are much more likely to develop fibromyalgia. Many people suffering from fibromyalgia also suffer from tension, headaches, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), anxiety, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, etc. There is no cure of fibromyalgia in modern medicine but a variety of medicines are available to control its symptoms. Exercise and stress-reduction measures may also help.

Home Remedies for Fibromyalgia

What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?

  1. Widespread pain—There is a constant dull ache that has lasted for at least 3 months. The pain occurs on both sides of the body and also above and below the waist.
  2. Cognitive difficulties—A symptom commonly known as—fibro fog impairs the ability to focus and concentrate on mental tasks.
  3. Fatigue—Patients suffering from fibromyalgia often awaken tired and the sleep is often disrupted by pain and many patients also develop sleep disorders like—restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea.
  4. Many patients who have fibromyalgia also experience depression, headaches or cramping pain in the lower abdomen.
  5. Stiffness
  6. Burning sensation
  7. Pain is usually severe on waking up in the morning and gradually decreases with passing of the day.

What are the causes of Fibromyalgia?

  1. Infections—Some illnesses trigger or aggravate fibromyalgia.
  2. Physical or Emotional Trauma—Post-traumatic stress disorder can be correlated with fibromyalgia.
  3. Heredity—Fibromyalgia tends to run in families.

Diagnosis

  • The diagnostic evaluation of fibromyalgia can take time, but this should not be the barrier in primary care practices. It is diagnosed on the basis of characteristic symptoms. Patient history, physical examination and ruling out co-morbid disorders are the cornerstones of fibromyalgia recognition. No radiological testing is required however some tests like—ESR, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a complete blood cell count, rheumatoid factor (RF) factor is recommended.

Fibromyalgia according to Ayurveda

  1. The Charak Samhita Sutrasthana Chapter 13 elaborates on the pre-eminence and primacy of the Vata dosha in the body. Acording to Master Charak, Vata is the physical energy of the body penetrating as a life force everywhere in the physiology. Fibromyalgia is classified as Mamsa Dhatugat (diseases affecting muscles and tendons) and Mamsavrut Vata (diseases due to excess of Vata dosha in muscles and tendons). It involves dysfunction in Vata Vaha Srota, Mamsa Vaha Srota and Mamsa Dhatvagni. It falls into a sub-type of disease known in Ayurveda as “Vatavyadhi”—the diseases caused primarily due to the vitiation of Vata dosha—the physiological energy responsible for the stability and activity of the nervous system.
  2. It is described in ancient texts as manifesting with a variety of possible and changing symptoms and signs including pain, stiffness, fatigue, gradual loss of movement, mental disturbance etc.  Dietary and lifestyle modifications are suggested in Ayurveda to correct the Vata imbalance. In Ayurveda, accumulation of toxins is believed to be the root cause of various auto-immune disorders like—rheumatoid arthritis, cervical spondylosis and fibromyalgia.
  3. The build-up of toxins can lead a person to feel fatigue all the time. When toxic accumulation takes its toll on the nerve tissue, it results into the symptoms of tenderness, sensitivity and pain. Therefore, cleaning of toxins becomes necessary. Primarily, samprapti (pathogenesis) originates in the gastro-intestinal tract, then branches out through the madhyama rogamarga, the middle channels of the pathogenic process of disease with special inclination for shleshma sthana especially mamsa dhatu (muscle tissue) and their corresponding channels.

Ayurveda uses a range of natural anti-arthritic herbs to treat this condition. Various herbs are

  • Shallaki (Boswellia serrata)—This herb is commonly known as “Salai Guggal”. It is a resin obtained from the tree and is purified and used to treat pain and inflammation. It has the potential to relieve pain naturally without having any side effects and is a popular natural anti-inflammatory herb used by Ayurvedic physicians across the world.
  • Nirgundi (Vitex negundo)—It is considered as the most potent anti-arthritic herb effective in controlling pain and inflammation in arthritic conditions.
  • Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)-–  This herb is commonly known by the name Indian ginseng by the western countries. This herb has anti-inflammatory and anti-stress properties.
  • Guggul (Commiphora mukul)—This herb has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. This herb helps particularly in osteo-arthritis.
  • Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia)—This herb is one of the leading immunomodulators. This herb is known by the name “Amrita” meaning elixir for long life.
  • Ginger (Zingiber officinale)—It is a very common anti-inflammatory herb that reduces inflammation and also a good analgesic.

Top 7 Home Remedies for Fibromyalgia:

  1. Grind 8-10 papaya seeds and mix it in a glass of water and boil it. Drink this water twice or thrice a day for a month.
  2. Drink freshly prepared cranberry juice or radish juice daily.
  3. Drinking freshly prepared juice of beetroot, carrot can help in fighting this condition, apart from improving overall health.
  4. Make Meditation as a part of your lifestyle.
  5. Regular Sleeping Habits—This is important for reducing pain
  6. Make a habit of morning walk every day.
  7. Epsom salt—Epsom salt is magnesium sulphate. Epsom salt bath helps the body to absorb magnesium as fibromyalgia is associated with magnesium deficiency.

Diet—Things to be Taken

  • The best suited diet for fibromyalgia are vegetable juices, cow’s ghee, spices such as—ginger, coriander, asafoetida, turmeric, fennel, etc. It is a condition mainly associated with magnesium deficiency, so it is good to consume green leafy vegetables, soybeans, cashews, almonds. Taking omega-3 fatty acids help in creating a hormone prostaglandin that helps in reducing inflammation.
  • It is essential to drink plenty of water to flush out toxins from the body.

Things to be Avoided

  • Avoid eating spicy food, caffeine, refined sugar, yogurt.

Note : It should be noted that herbs give results but it will take some time for herbs to manifest in the body.

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