ARTHRITIS
AND JOINT PAINS
The main symptom of the disease is a severe pain in the affected joints. The muscles, ligaments, synovial membrane and cartilage get inflamed and the movement of the joint becomes very painful, specially in cold, windy and damp weather. If this condition is not treated properly, the joint becomes immobile and this may ultimately lead to deformity of the joint. Sometimes it is associated with fever.
Arthritis or pain in the joints is a very common problem It is more aggravated in cold, damp and windy climate. According to Ayurveda most pains are caused by aggravation of vata (air) dosha. Arthritis is condition which is caused by accumulation of ama and aggravation of vata. Ama is a toxic by-product of improper digestion. When the food we eat is not completely by our digestive fire, the part of food which remains undigested produces a toxic substance called ama. This ama circulates in the whole body and deposits or gets collected at the sites which are weaker. Depending on the site of deposition, it causes many diseases in the body. For example, if it deposits in the lungs, it causes cough and asthma, in the intestines it causes dysentery. When it deposits in the joints and at the same time there is aggravation of vata that is biological humor air is also disturbed, a disease called amavata is caused .This amavata is arthritis. Thus the patient generally has a weak digestion. The history of wind and constipation is usually found. People who overeat or eat too much fried foods, sweets ,meats etc. and have no or very little physical activity can develop this problem.
As described above ama and vata are the main causes, so efforts should be made to digest ama and to reduce the vata. The digestion should be improved so that no further ama is produced. Efforts should be made to relieve the pain and inflammation. This is the line of treatment according to Ayurveda.
Fasting is very beneficial for digesting the ama. People with vata type constitution should not fast for more than three days. Pitta constitution can fast for five days and kapha for seven days. The fasting be complete or partial depending on the strength of the person, season and place. Two tea spoon of lemon juice mixed in 250ml. of warm water and a tea spoon of honey is good to take twice a day -morning and evening.
Bake one or two egg plants (about 250gms. ).Mesh it properly and fry it in about 50ml. castor oil. Some spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric and salt can be added to it while frying. This recipe can be taken once daily for two to three months. Adding two cloves of garlic while cooking makes it very beneficial. Whole body massage with sesame or mustard oil helps to reduce the vata and thus reduce the pain. The joints affected by pain can be massaged for longer time.
Alternate hot and cold fomentation and sunbath gives some temporary relief from the pain. Mix 10 grams camphor powder in 40ml. of kerosene oil. Put this mixture in a transparent bottle and close the cap tightly. Keep the bottle in sunlight or mild heat for one hour. Massaging this on the affected joints gives immediate relief from the pain.
Camphor, wintergreen and cinnamon oils are beneficial for external application.
Guggul is a very helpful herb for curing arthritis. If available can be taken in one to three gram dose twice a day after meals with warm water.
Make a paste of red chilies and fresh ginger (5gms. each). Mix this paste nicely in 100ml. sesame oil and strain it. A gentle rubbing of this oil on the painful area helps to reduce the pain instantly. Taking 2 gram turmeric powder twice a day with warm water helps to cure arthritis.
Take two cloves of garlic and fry them in ghee (clarified butter ) or in castor oil. Eat these cloves once daily for two-three months helps to cure arthritis. OR Eating one raw clove of garlic every day is very beneficial. It is little difficult to eat raw garlic because of its strong smell and burning taste.
Foods which are easily digestible and do not make wind or gas are good. Vegetable juices and soups are good .Juices of carrot, beat root and cucumber mixed together is very beneficial. Coconut water or coconut milk is good. Green salad with a dressing of lemon juice and a little salt is also good. Khichree, a recipe made by cooking one part rice and six part mung dal (green beans or pulses) is very nice. Mung beans can be found on Indian stores. Fruits like apples, oranges, grapes and papaya can be taken. Cooked vegetables like squash, zucchini and pumpkin are good. Cooking with spices like cumin, coriander, ginger, asa asafetida, garlic, fennel and turmeric is very beneficial.
Avoid eating hot spicy and fried foods, sweets, wind forming foods like cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, okra and potatoes should be prohibited. Taking too much tea, coffee, alcohol, white sugar, yogurt, chocolate and cocoa. Excessive smoking and use of anti-biotics, pain killers and steroids should be avoided.
Sleeping during day time, staying up late in the night and mental tensions like worry, anxiety, fear, stress and grief etc. should be given up. Regular physical exercise every day and massage with oil once or twice a week should form an important part of life style.