An unconventional perspective
on the causes and ayurvedic treatment of arthritic disease
Dr. Violeta Pîrvu
Specialist in family medicine
Competence in aphytotherapy, ayurveda
Arthritis is the most common form of bone disease found mostly in the elderly, and its most common cause is degeneration of the articular cartilage that lines the bony extremities in the joints. The disease appears after the age of 50-60, and pain and limited mobility in the joint are the symptoms most often experienced by the patient.
From an Ayurvedic point of view the disease occurs due to excess Ama (toxins) in the body, associated with a decrease in digestive fire (Agni), essential elements that lead to the vitiation of both Vata (air) in the body and Rakta (blood).
Fundamental Ayurvedic treatise Charaka Samhita, tells us that people who tend to manifest this type of disease have poor health, an indulgence in eating unhealthy foods and have sedentary habits.
The causative factors that lead to the development of this disease are:
Excessive use of astringent, bitter, excessively spicy tastes;
Excessive use of unhealthy foods (meat, sugar, coffee, fizzy drinks, fast food) or alcohol, cold and dry foods in general;
Eating food without the previous meal having been digested;
Failure to perform regular body cleansing techniques;
Joint overuse or joint impingement;
Excessive exposure to cold and dry weather;
Sleeping during the day and not sleeping at night;
Excessive feelings of anxiety, restlessness, anger.
All these above factors lead to aggravation of Vata in the body (air) and vitiation of blood (Rakta), which will then affect the vulnerable joints.
How does the disease manifest itself?
Deep pain that worsens with movement and reduces with rest (in severe cases the pain is continuous);
Joint stiffness occurring in the morning or after 15 minutes of joint rest;
Joint swelling and sometimes local heat;
Joint cracks (specific sounds) on mobilisation;
Muscle weakness in the affected joint;
The appearance of bone deformities in the affected joints;
Restriction of movement in the affected joints until joint ankylosis.
Treatment
Preventive treatment of the disease includes keeping the weight within normal limits, a healthy diet suitable for the constitutional type, moderate exercise, avoidance of excessive joint strain, avoidance of stress and negative emotions that can generate this type of condition.
The treatment of arthritis is holistic and includes healing on several levels. Thus in addition to general dietary rules and herbal or Ayurvedic treatment, it is necessary for the patient to know and eliminate the negative emotions that have been at the root of the disease, to calm the mind so that it can effectively control pain, to cultivate a deep spiritual relationship both with oneself and with the Universe in order to be fully healed.
Moderate physical exertion is also absolutely necessary to keep joints mobile and prevent ankylosis.
Dietotherapy
Avoid using too spicy, salty, fried, oily, fast food, semi-prepared foods, meat, excess dairy, sugar, fizzy drinks or alcohol in the diet;
Fresh foods, hot soups made from legumes or vegetables, and vegetarian diets rich in raw vegetables are recommended;
Spices like ginger, pippali, turmeric, black pepper can be used in different combinations in the diet to stimulate the digestive fire Agni;
Vegetable oils and ghee are used in moderate amounts to keep the joints well lubricated and to decrease the excessively dry quality present in joints with arthrosis.
Food medicine in arthrosis
Some foods used constantly in the diet and in increased quantities have therapeutic properties, being indicated both in the prevention and treatment of arthritis:
Cherries, fresh blueberries contain anthocyanins and flavonoids with very good anti-inflammatory effects, but also increase the quality of collagen in the joints.
Quercine, which is found in onions, broccoli, red grapes, has very good anti-inflammatory properties due to the flavonoids it contains.
Onions and garlic are also rich in sulphur-containing amino acids (cysteine and methionine) which are essential in building joint cartilage and have antioxidant potential. Eggs are also a good source of sulphur, with the same properties.
Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, are rich in glucosinolates, substances that increase the body's detoxification processes and help prevent inflammation.
Seeds and nuts are an important source of essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.
In addition to all this, in Ayurvedic dietetics, depending on the aggravated dosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) that has generated the particular type of arthrosis, one will choose in the diet those foods that bring into balance the Pitta (fire) or Vata (air) or Kapha (earth and water) doshas that have been vitiated (e.g. aubergines, can increase Kapha and Pitta in the body, cabbage decreases Pitta and Kapha and increases Vata, potatoes decrease Vata and Pitta but increase Kapha, grapes decrease Vata and Pitta but can increase Kapha).
Antioxidants - Vitamin C and E taken from natural sources can provide protection for joint cartilage from degeneration.
Minerals - Calcium, phosphorus or zinc taken from natural sources are often combined in therapy. A study conducted at the American Arthritis Study Association in November 2005 showed that low chromium in the body can exacerbate arthritis symptoms. This can be done by using Spirulina, an algae extracted from the salt lakes of Hawaii or South India that provides an amazing variety of amino acids, Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals as well as an increased percentage of plant proteins.
Ayurvedic treatment
Ayurveda offers a whole range of therapeutic procedures used to reduce excess doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) aggravated in the joints and to restore their proper functioning, as well as a wide range of herbs with both an effect of increasing Agni (digestive fire) and eliminating toxins (Ama) present in the joints but also with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and cartilage regenerating effects: boswellia, turmeric, ashwagandha, ginger, triphala, guggul and shatavari.
Among the Ayurvedic procedures most often used are Panchakarma deep body detoxification techniques which may involve therapeutic vomiting, therapeutic purging, therapeutic enemas, or local procedures: massage with oils (sesame, coconut or mustard), hot baths, sweating, hot fomentations, application of warm poultices or the use of different types of ointments on affected joints.
Janu Vasti- is an Ayurvedic therapy involving the application of specially prepared herbal oil to the knees in a complex in-office procedure performed by the Ayurvedic therapist. This procedure soothes and extracts vitiated dosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) from the knees and is very helpful in relieving pain, decreasing inflammation and improving joint mobility in cases of arthrosis.
The herbs most often used in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of arthritic disease are:
Boswellia- Boswellia serrata, is a well-known herb in the treatment of bone disorders. In combination with ashvagandha and turmeric, it leads to the lowering of Vata, the elimination of Ama, with the reduction of pain and elimination of joint inflammation.
Turmeric- Curcuma longa, is a well-known spice in Asia and a well-known Ayurvedic remedy used in a large number of inflammation-related diseases. Its most active component is curcumin, which has the effect of inhibiting some inflammation-producing substances (cyclooxygenase, lipooxygenase and phospholipase A2) and other studies suggest that it protects the stomach against the harmful effects of anti-inflammatory NSAIDs.
Ashwagandha- Withania somnifera, is known through many studies to have anti-inflammatory effect, by suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory molecules (TNF-alpha and interleukins). Some studies compare its anti-inflammatory effect to that of cortisone. It is a very good Vata dosha calming agent and is useful in joint diseases with excess Vata.
Ginger- Zinziber officinale, can be used in fresh form as root, or dried root powder, increases Agni, digestive fire and helps burn Ama toxins in the body. Ginger manifests its anti-inflammatory effect by blocking the activity of an enzyme (cyclooxygenase), an enzyme involved in producing inflammation in the body.
Triphala- It is a very well known Ayurvedic remedy in which the fruits of 3 plants, Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Bibitaki (Terminalia belerica), Haritachi (T erminalia chebula) are included, it is a very good tridosha soother, used a lot in Ayurvedic treatment.
Guggul- Commiphora guggul, is a resin extracted from the Himalayan mountains, which acts in the body also through a mechanism of inhibition of pro-inflammatory enzymes (NFKB enzyme), causing decreased joint inflammation and pain.
Shatavari- Asparagus racemosus, is an Indian herb used in Ayurvedic medicine having a calming, cooling and lubricating effect on the body. Its anti-inflammatory effect is manifested by lowering the Pitta (fire) component in the body. It is especially used in arthroses that develop with inflammatory flare-ups.
Traditional herbal medicine - there is a wide range of anti-inflammatory, remineralising, antioxidant and healing herbs that can be used in arthritic diseases:
Willow bark - Salix alba, contains numerous substances such as: salicoside, salicortoside, salirepozide, salidrozide, salinigrozide, populoside, considered precursors of acetylsalicylic acid, with very good anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in atrophies.
Black poplar buds -Populus nigra, with their high content of saligenol derivatives, flavonoids and essential oils, are very effective in the treatment of rheumatism and arthrosis through their anti-inflammatory, analgesic and depurative effect.
The aerial part of the crepe- Filipendula ulmaria contains phenolic heterosides, spirein, flavonoin, a volatile oil with depurative, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, recommended in cases of arthrosis, rheumatism and gout.
Arnica - Arnica montana, is known in traditional herbal medicine as having excellent effects in cases of atrophy and rheumatic joints. It is used in external applications.
Earth oil-Tamus communis, a plant that is used in many preparations for local use such as massage, ointments or tinctures, with very good effects in reducing pain and inflammation.
Harpagophyutm - Devil's Claw - is one of the most popular and widely used herbs for the treatment of joint disorders, its effects being proven by numerous scientific studies.
The practice of meditation and prayer
Research has shown that regular meditation and prayer can change the way our minds perceive pain. Meditation helps us to detach from pain and separate our experience from the physical sensations of pain and the negative emotions that generate it.
Negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, depression, can greatly accentuate joint pain, and many observations have shown that the mind is a very powerful tool to regulate our emotions, reduce the anticipation of pain and increase relaxation, thus having a sedative effect on the psyche and analgesic effect on joint pain.