Treatment of Osteoarthritis (Sandhivata) in Ayurveda

Treatment of  Osteoarthritis (Sandhivata) in Ayurveda

Dr (Mrs)Himanshu Sharma                 

Dr Gagandeep Sharma

                        

Ayurvedic Physicians

Amrit Ayurvedic Chikitsalya           ,                                                                                                Nabha,Distt Patiala                                                                                                                       9569266659,9465343479

www.counterwithayurveda.blogspot.com                                                                                   smily_himanshu@yahoo.com

drgags.herbalcure@gmail.com

Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that features the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. Cartilage is a protein substance that serves as a "cushion" between the bones of the joints.

Osteoarthritis is known as Sandhivata in Ayurveda. In Ayurveda ,there are herbal medicines which cure the patient without any side effects. We have successfully   treated several patients  with Ayurvedic medicines  who were suffering from this problem.

 In allopathy,analgesics(pain killers) are the mainstay of treatment.

What causes osteoarthritis (Sandhivata)in Ayurveda?

 As per Ayurveda, word Sandhivata, Sandhi means the joint and Vata stands for the Vata Dosha. When activities of the Vata increase inside the Sandhis, joints, it is known as the Sandhivata.

Vata is dry in nature so it absorbs the fluidity, from any part of the body and it is also destructive or catabolic in nature, due to these two reasons Vata cause destruction of the cartiages and reduction in the Synovial fluid inside the joint capsule. Individuals with the Vata Prakruti are more prone for the Osteoarthritis, as their main Dosha is Vata.

It is a chronic degenerative disorder  also due to natural aging of the joint. With aging, the water content of the cartilage increases, and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. Eventually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming tiny crevasses.

 In advanced osteoarthritis, there is a total loss of the cartilage cushion between the bones of the joints. cushion between the bones of the joints. Repetitive use of the worn joints over the years can irritate and inflame the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling. Loss of the cartilage cushion causes friction between the bones, leading to pain and limitation of joint mobility. Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate new bone outgrowths (spurs, also referred to as osteophytes) to form around the joints.

Sign and Symptoms of osteoarthritis (Sandhivata)?

·        Pain, causing loss of ability and often stiffness. "Pain" is generally described as a sharp ache, or a burning sensation in the associate muscles and tendons.

·        crackling noise (called "crepitus") when the affected joint is moved or touched, and patients may experience muscle spasm and contractions in the tendons.

·        Pain may extend to hands, feet, spine, and the large weight bearing joints, such as the hips and knees.

·        In smaller joints, such as at the fingers, hard bony enlargements, called Heberden's nodes , though they are not necessarily painful, they do limit the movement of the fingers significantly.

·        It is the most common cause of joint effusion, sometimes called water on the knee in lay terms, an accumulation of excess fluid in or around the knee joint.

 Treatment of  Osteoarthritis (Sandhivata) in Ayurveda

 

Our Ancient Acharayas has mentioned several classical ayurvedic formulations for the cure of sandhivata.  Ayurvedic  herbal preparations  cures by establishing the equilibrium of Tridosha(Vata,pitta,kapha)and sapt dhatus (body tissues).

v In Ayurveda, the main treatment is vata shamak chikitsa.

·         There are several herbs named

·        Rasona

·        Gandha prasarini

·        Sunthi

·        Erand

·        Pippali

·        Rasna

·        Guggulu

·        Karanj

·        Puti karanj

There are several Classical preparations named        

·        Rasnadi guggulu

·        Maha vish garbh tailam

·        Ajmodadi churna

·        Mahavatvidhvansak ras

·        Erand tailam

·        yograj guggulu

In Ayurveda , each and every patient is an individual entity and the treatment also differs from patient to patient. Rogi Nidaan has its different parameters. It’s not as simple as in modern medicines. Prakriti parikshan, Saar, Sahanan(Compactness), Vyayam shakti(Exercise), Agni (Digestion)all these parameters are  studied by an ayurvedist. An ayurvedist makes a clear picture of the individual by understanding a patient as a whole and also  decides what kind of mode of  preparation to be used for the patient. Panch KashayKalpana(SWARAS(Juice),CHURNA(powder),KALK,HIM,PHANT,)  is based on this principle.

·        So I emphasis that patient must take the ayurvedic medicine under the guidance of an Ayurvedic physician

·         

Diet for sandhivata in Ayurveda

                                                                                                                  

·        Cereals:- wheat

·        Fruits&vegetables:-parvala,bitter gourd,grapes

·        Others:- garlic, dry ginger,fresh ginger,hingu,black pepper,

Apathya(Don’ts) for Sandhivata

·        Avoid hevy food,curd, jaggery  in  diet.

·        Night awakening,stress

·        Suppression of natural urges.

The above are certain suggested choices only.However,dose and duration of treatment,choice of herbs and medicines,do’s and dont’s are to to be decided by the Ayurvedic physician on case to case basis on Ayurvedic principles.

Conclusion                                 

Osteoarthritis (Sandhivata) can be successfully manageable through Ayurveda.

For Details Contact /email.

                                                                   Dr (Mrs)Himanshu Sharma  

                                                                   Dr Gagandeep Sharma   

                                                                   Ayurvedic Physician

                                                                   Amrit Ayurvedic Chikitsalya    ,                                                                                                                                                                       Nabha