ARTHRITIS - AYURVEDIC CONCEPT

The various forms of arthritis are each painful and debilitating. Although arthritis is often attributed to aging, certain types of it can occur at any age.......... The type of arthritis known as rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of the immune system. It most often affects the hands of the patient. Rheumatoid arthritis causes severe inflammation of the joints, leading to great pain.........

ARTHRITIS - AYURVEDIC CONCEPT
Arthritis is one of the most common ailment for which Ayurvedic help is being sought these days. Ayurveda attributes cause of any disease to an imbalance in one or all of the doshas, and hence every disease has a supporting theory by the name of tridosha.

SAMPRAPTI (Pathogenesis) OF ARTHRITIS
Ayurveda suggests that arthritis is caused primarily by an excess of ama and lack of agni. Poor digestion and a weakened colon, resulting in the accumulation of undigested food and the buildup of waste matter can cause this. Poor digestion allows toxins to accumulate in the body, and problems with the colon allow the toxins to reach the joints.Healthy, flexible joints rely on strong digestion and metabolism. Poor eating habits and weak digestion allow impurities to accumulate, circulate and build up in the joints. This inhibits joint function, mobility and comfort.
AIM OF TREATMENT

So, the way to treat arthritis is to stimulate the digestive fire (agni) and to treat the ama.
Ayurvedic approach to Arthritis includes:

1. Strengthening the metabolic pathways that prevent blockage of circulatory channels to joints, by impurities
2. Strengthening of digestion to create nutritional plasma that is pure and easy to assimilate
3. Improving the lubrication of joints
4. Anything that aggravates, or overly activates Vata, will increase the sensitivity and experience of pain in the body.

Therefore an important component in treating arthritic pain is to balance and stabilize Vata. This in turn will balance the nervous system function and its sensitivity to pain.As with almost all diseases Ayurveda distinguishes three categories of arthritis, corresponding to more imbalance of vata, pitta, and kapha. To treat this condition properly, it is vital to carefully diagnose which dosha is more imbalanced.

Vata
Most common type. Severe, throbbing and cutting pain that is variable and migrating. This becomes worse in cold weather or when cold water comes in contact with the affected joints. if arthritis is due to vata, your joints will crack and pop. They become dry and are not swollen as they may be if excess vata is not the cause. Other symptoms include dry or scaly skin, stiff joints, bone deformities, gas, abdominal distension, low back pain, nervousness, fear, anxiety and insomnia. Body types will usually be thin.

Pitta
Second common. There will be a burning sensation with redness and inflammation that becomes worse in hot weather or from hot water. Diarrhea, loose stool, anger, sweating, fever, irritability are usually present. The arthritis is characterized by inflammation. The joint becomes swollen and is painful even without movement. It often looks red and feels hot to the touch.

Kapha
Least common. There will be itching, swelling or loss of movement and edema without inflammation around the joints. It becomes worse in cold, damp or wet weather. Other symptoms may be heaviness, aches, oily skin, congestion or mucus in the stool. Heat or hot-dry weather relieves pain. In kapha-type arthritis, the joint also becomes stiff and swollen, but it feels cold and clammy rather than hot. A little movement, rather than aggravating the pain, tends to relieve it.

Well, no matter which way you look at it, ARTHRITIS HURTS YOU! Emotionally, psychologically, and physically, it hurts on a daily basis.It can and will cause pain at any point in your day, and the more you worry over it, the worse it often becomes. It creates low energy levels and a frustration inside of you, hindering you from enjoying and sharing your talents and abilities with others.It is painful and can cause severe physical and emotional scars, that remain with you for the rest of your life.