Osteoarthritis Ayurvedic Treatment & Care

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease in which the cartilage at the end of the bone loses elasticity and wears away. This condition is most prevalent in aging individuals and is the most common type of arthritis. Without the cushioning of the cartilage, the bones start rubbing against each other causing pain, stiffness, inflammation and loss of movement.
 

Osteoarthritis usually appears in the body joints of hands, knees, spine, hips, neck and lower back. According to the modern system of medicine, there is no cure for this condition; medication can only provide symptomatic relief and slow down the progression of the disease.
 

Signs of Osteoarthritis
 

The symptoms of osteoarthritis develop gradually and worsen with time. Some of the commonly observed symptoms include:

• Mild to severe pain in the joints during movement or immediately following it.
• A tender feeling in the joints especially when some pressure is applied to it.
• Stiff joints that prevent the comfortable movement of the joint to its entire extent of motion; this stiffness is more obvious immediately after waking in the morning or after a brief period of inactivity.
• Hearing or sensing a grating action of the bones that makes up the affected joint.

Causes Of Osteoarthritis (OA)
 

The exact cause for the development of the Osteoarthritis is still a matter of research, but various factors have been identified as contributing to the development of this condition.
 

Some of the major factors include:

• Inflammation
• Cellular disorders and
• Biomechanical imbalances that create stress on the joint

People in an advanced stage of osteoarthritis suffer not only physical pain but also emotional stress. The pain decreases their mobility as well as morale and this affects their ability to work and participate in daily normal activities with friends and family.
 

Treatment of Osteoarthritis
 

The first line of treatment in osteoarthritis is painkiller medication. Classes of drugs called as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to prevent the release of prostaglandins that serve as the mediators of the pain and inflammation mechanism.
 

Commonly used NSAIDs include ibuprofen, aspirin, celecoxib, piroxicam and naproxen. Unfortunately, quite a few of these drugs have dangerous side effects such as bleeding in the stomach, peptic ulcers and increased risk for cardiovascular problems.
 

Conventional therapy for osteoarthritis cannot cure the condition; all measures that are adopted can only help to deal with reducing the inflammation and pain in the joints. More important, some of the drugs used in treatment have significant side effects that often lead to greater discomfort. In extreme cases of osteoarthritis, doctors often opt for joint surgery but this comes with its own limitations of cost as well as risk.
 

Ayurvedic Treatment for Osteoarthritis 
 

Ayurveda describes a condition known as Sandhigat Vata, which closely resembles the condition of osteoarthritis. In this disease, the Vata dosha gets vitiated and settles into the bone and the bone marrow, leading to the typical stiffness and pain in the joints along with loss of muscle strength and impaired movement of the affected parts.
 

Aggravation of Vata occurs due to various factors such as over exertion, intake of cold items, improper diet and ageing; this leads to a drying up of the synovial fluid that normally lubricates the joint capsule. As a result, the joints get degenerated and the cartilage there is destroyed, leading to pain and inflammation.
 

Osteoarthritis Ayurvedic Treatment and Panchakarma Detox 
 

Ayurveda treatments recommends specific therapy to deal with osteoarthritis. Some of the most important ones include:
 

Abhyanga (Ayurvedic Message):
 

Abhyanga is a type of Ayurvedic full body massage with medicated oils such as sesame oil, mustard oil or Mahanarayan oil, followed by hot fomentation using a heated sandbag.
 

Svedana ( Herbal Steam Bath):
 

This is a form of steam therapy where the entire body is exposed to steam that is infused with the aroma of medicated oils. This treatment induces sweating that causes the expulsion of toxins from the body through the sweat.
 

Basti:
 

This refers to the use of a medicated enema prepared using herbs. The herbal preparation is introduced into the rectum and it helps to eliminate the colonic contents, helping to rid the body of toxins.
 

Janu Basti:
 

Janu Basti is an ayurvedic therapy done by recollecting the specific chosen warm medicated oil above the painful knee joints for definite interval. Janu basti reinforces the joints, muscles and soft tissues around, recovers circulation and empowers one to recommence back activities.
 

Osteoarthritis Herbal Treatment 
 

There are numerous natural herbal remedies available for the treatment of Osteoarthritis. They have no side effects and are completely safe, unlike the commonly prescribed medicines.
 

Herbs like turmeric, Boswellia Serrata, Ginger, Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), Commiphora Guggul, Triphala, and Asparagus Racemosus(Shatavari) possess excellent anti-inflammatory properties that resist the production of the inflammatory chemicals in the body.
 

Contact Pure Herbal Ayurved Clinic in Melbourne, Australia to get best unique herbal capsule of Ayurvedic herbs according to your own ayurvedic body type to cure oesteoarthritis. Below listed herbs are most effective ayurvedic herbs to control oesteoarthritis.
 

Boswellia:
 

Ayurvedic herb Boswellia Serrata, also known as Indian frankincense can alleviate joint pain and inflammation. It blocks an enzyme called 5-lipoxygenase that plays an important role in the formation of leukotrienes, which are chemicals that stimulate and perpetuate inflammation.
 

Ashwagandha:
 

An extract of the Withania somnifera plant is known to possess effective anti-inflammatory effects. It helps to suppress the production of pro-inflammatory molecules; TNF-alpha and two interleukin subtypes.
 

Turmeric:
 

Turmeric is a rhizome from Curcuma longa, traditionally used as a spice and colouring agent in cooking, especially in south and East Asian cooking. It has antiseptic properties and is also effective against inflammation due to the presence of the pigment, curcumin. Curcumin, is effective in inhibiting the inflammation-producing enzymes like cyclo-oxygenase, lipo-oxygenase, and phospholipase A2.
 

Ginger:
 

Although it is more known for its digestive properties, ginger obtained from the rhizome Zingiber officinale, also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. It impairs the functioning of cyclooxygenase, an enzyme that is involved in the production of inflammatory chemicals in the body.
 

Triphala:
 

Triphala is a product that has been used effectively for thousands of years for treating Osteoarthritis. It consists of three myrobalans, Emblica officinalis (Amalaki), Terminalia bellirica (Bibhitaki), and Terminalia chebula (Haritaki). This fruit has been proved to have anti-inflammatory effects.
 

Guggul:
 

This is the oleoresin obtained from Commiphora guggul and it acts as a potent inhibitor of inflammation. Guggul contains phytoconstituents called guggulsterones and gugulipids which are capable of neutralizing the action of factors that lead to inflammatory reactions.
 

Shatavari:
 

The aerial parts of the Asparagus racemosus plant have a cooling, soothing, and lubricating influence on the body. This herb also works as an inhibitor of inflammation creating chemicals, such as TNF-alpha, and IL-1B.
 

Ayurveda Natural Medicine For Osteoarthritis
 

The following ayurveda medicine are known to work in oesteoarthritis.

1. Dasamoolahareethaki Lehyam 
2. Aswagandhadi lehyam
3. Thriphaladi choornam
4. Rasnadi choornam
5. Yogaraja Gugulu vatika
6. Kaisora gulgulu vatika
7. Chandraprabha vatika 
8. Punarnavadi Kashayam tablets
9. Gulguluthiktakam Kashayam 
10. Guluchadi kashayam 
11. Dasamoola kashayam
12. Dhanwantharam 101 capsules
13. Sahacharadi Thailam
14. Pinda thailam 
15. Naravana Thailam 
16. Murivenna Oil
17. Mahamasha thailam 
18. Kottamachukkadi thailam
19. Dhanwantharam Thailam
20. Karpooradi thailam
21. Bala Thailam
22. Aswagandharishtam
23. Dasamoolarishtam

Osteoarthritis Cure and Yoga 
 

Some yoga postures such as Tadasana (Mountain Pose), Virbhadrasana (Warrior Pose), Padangusthasana (Big Toe Pose), Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) and Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose) are effective in osteoarthritis.
 

Diet For Arthritis 
 

Along with therapy, it is also helpful to follow a healthy lifestyle and diet to have relief from the pain of osteoarthritis. Here are a few tips to be observed.

• Eat food that is hot and freshly cooked.
• Use oil and ghee in moderation; too much will lead to weight gain and too less will prevent the normal lubrication of the joints, leading to pain in the dried up joints.
• Avoid consuming deep fried, very spicy foods because they can damage the joints, which are already degenerated.
• Include herbs such as black pepper, fennel and ginger in your daily diet to benefit from their ability to reduce Vata.

Moreover 

• Try to lose weight by mild physical exercise for at least 30 minutes every day.
• Avoid suppressing the natural urge to pass stool and urine, which tends to increase Vata in the body.

Osteoarthritis is a painful disease and the chronic nature of this condition may often leave a person irritable or depressed. If you are looking for relief from these symptoms through a solution that avoids the use of harmful chemical substances with side effects, explore Ayurveda as a healthy alternative. To know more about how Pure Herbal Ayurved Clinic can help you, contact best ayurvedic doctors in Melbourne today.
 

Dr. Gurnam Saini

Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery

MD Alternative Medicine

Panchkarma Detox Expert