Category: Stiff Joints

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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November 3, 2016

Effective Herbal Remedies for Chikungunya Fever

Abstract

Chikungunya was first detected in 1952 in Africa. Chikungunya word comes from the Makonde language meaning that which bends up. This is a reference to Chikungunya symptom where patient walks in a stopped posture due to joint pain. It is also known by the name Chicken guinea, Chicken gunaya. Presence of word chicken has lead a lot of misconceptions about the disease. It is a viral disease transmitted in humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Aedes aegypti mosquito (yellow fever mosquito) is the primary transmission agent of chikungunya. This mosquito is usually found in tropics and hence chikungunya is predominantly seen in Asian countries. It generally bites during the day time.

Chikungunya Fever

Incubation period of Chikungunya disease is 2-6 days but the symptoms usually appear 4-7 days post infection. It has 2 phases : Acute phase and Chronic phase.

1. Acute Phase

Characteristics of acute phase includes an abrupt onset of chills, fever reaching up to 40 degree celsius(104 degree F). Severe joint pain and muscular pain is the main and most problematic symptom experienced by the patients suffering from chikungunya.

2. Chronic Phase

Chronic phase is characterized by poly-arthralgia that can last from weeks to years beyond the acute stage. 95% of the infected adults are symptomatic after infection which can also lead to disability.

Ayurvedic View

  • In ayurveda, it is known as sandhi jwara that literally means ‘fever of the joints’. Chikungunya fever is considered as vata dosha disorder.  In chikungunya, Ayurveda believes in enhancing the immunity of an individual. Thus, Immuno-modulator medications are prescribed that help to modulate the immune response of body against antigens which inadvertently affects the joints. Ayurvedic treatment helps to reverse the inflammatory process as well as prevents the tissue damage. Medicines to improve immunity, medicines to reduce fever and treatment to bring down muscle pain, nausea, fatigue, rash, headache are given in Ayurveda along with rejuvenation medicines.
  • Allopathic treatment options are only symptomatic for mitigating the pain and fever along with anti-inflammatory drugs, in such cases convalescence cause prolonged joint pain which may require analgesics along with long term anti-inflammatory therapy.

Diagnosis

  • Chikungunya fever is diagnosed on the basis of serological tests like ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays) for detection of antibodies like IgG and IgM and RT- PCR (Reverse Transcriptase polymerase chain reaction). These tests are used to detect the presence of virus in blood.
  • A study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri has found that symptoms and blood test results of patients with chikungunya is similar to that of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Symptoms of chikungunya

  1. Severe joint pain
  2. Fever
  3. Rash
  4. Headache
  5. Nausea
  6. Vomiting
  7. Muscular pain
  • Several varieties of viral infections are spread through droplets discharged into the atmosphere by the sneezing of the infected patients.
  • It is important to note that sometimes, post chikungunya affects multiple joints leaving a person debilitated for a long time so proper treatment is necessary.

Some key points about Chikungunya

  1. It is a viral disease.
  2. Mosquito control is the only effective prevention technique.
  3. Usually non- fatal
  4. Currently, there are no vaccines available.
  5. Transmission is only through mosquito bite not through human to human.

Prevention of Chikungunya fever

  • Vaccine is yet to be developed. It is in experimental stage. Currently the only way to prevent disease is to avoid mosquito bites. It spreads from human to human only through a mosquito carrier.
  • Hence mosquito control is the best way to fight chikungunya.
  • Stangnant water must not be allowed in and around residential areas as it is the breeding site for the mosquito.
  • Since there is no cure for chikungunya in modern medicine. Ayurvedic treatment provides relief to a large extent without causing any side effect.
  1. Giloy Capsules
  2. Joint Aid Plus
  3. Curcumin Capsules
  4. Immune Booster
  5. Tulsi Capsules


Herbal Remedies For Chikungunya Fever

Product Description

1. Giloy Capsules

  • Giloy capsules are wonderful and effective herbal formulation by Planet Ayurveda which is prepared from the pure extract of herb Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia).
  • Giloy is considered as anti-pyretic, immuno-modulator and anti-inflammatory thus provides relief in all kinds of fevers.

Dosage : 1 capsule twice a day with plain water after meals.

2. Joint Aid Plus

Joint Aid Plus capsules of Planet Ayurveda has both anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties which is effective against both chronic and acute inflammations caused by chikungunya fever.

Ingredients of Joint Aid Plus Capsules

  1. Nirgundi (Vitex negundo) : It is pure natural herb which is useful in treatment of various diseases like joint pain, muscular pain etc.
  2. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) : It is useful in relieving symptoms of various diseases like stress, rheumatism, inflammation etc. and gives strength.
  3. Shallaki (Boswellia serrate) : It has anti-inflammatory property. It has positive results for joint pains. It is good choice for osteoarthritis, joint pain, gout and rheumatoid arthritis.
  4. Guggul (Commiphora mukul) : It has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It has pain relieving property.
  5. Sonth (Zingiber officinale) – It is also known as dry ginger. It has anti-inflammatory property. It is used in joint pain

Dosage : 2 capsules twice a day after meals.

3.Curcumin Capsules

Curcumin capsules of Planet Ayurveda contains Curcuma longa. It is considered as best anti-inflammatory agent due to the presence of curcumin in it.

Dosage : 2 capsules twice daily after meals.

4. Immune Booster

Immune Booster of Planet Ayurveda are prepared using a wonderful combination of the various useful herbs that are mentioned in an Ayurvedic texts and are frequently used for various other health benefits too. The herbs used in the preparation of this product include

  1. Grape seeds (Vitis vinifera)
  2. Go – Piyush (Bovine colostrums)
  3.  Bhumi amla (Phyllanthus niruri)
  4. Amalaki (Emblica officinalis)

All these herbs are used in their natural forms. This product is a great way to supplement the healthy diet in order to stay healthy.

Dosage : 1 or 2 capsules twice a day after meals.

5. Tulsi Capsules

Regular use of Tulsi capsules of Planet Ayurveda helps body to fight infections in a very effective way. It is a natural immuno – modulator.

Dosage : 1-2 capsules twice a day after meals.

All the products of Planet Ayurveda for Chikungunya are completely safe and natural without any side effects.

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