Ayurveda
is an traditional Indian practice involving a natural, holistic method for
treating medical conditions. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) treatment is done by Ayurveda.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease which causes chronic inflammation
of the joints. It causes inflammation of the tissue around the joints, as well
as in other organs also. Autoimmune diseases cause illnesses that occur when
the body's tissues are mistakenly attacked by their own immune system. Patients
suffering from autoimmune diseases have antibodies in their blood that target
their own body tissues, where they can be associated with inflammation. Because
it can affect multiple other organs of the body, it is referred to as a
systemic illness and is sometimes called rheumatoid disease.
Ayurvedic treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis depend
on which diagnostic guidelines the practitioner uses. Like those who practice
from the guidelines "Madhava Nidana" believe that imbalances in the
gut and inflammatory compounds cause RA and on the other hand, practitioners believe
that RA is the result of poor dietary and reflects lifestyle habits which causes inflammation in
the body. Both approaches use herbs, dietary changes, exercise, supplements, and
to help relieve RA symptoms.
Symptoms:
- Swelling
- Lethargy
- Thirst
- Indigestion
- Heaviness in the body
- Pain and stiffness in the body
- Pain and stiffness in the joints of the
hands
- Sometimes lack of appetite
Herbs and supplements:
Some of the herbs to treat RA include:
- Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense)
- garlic
- ginger
- Ricinus communis (castor oil)
- Ashwagandha
Diet & Lifestyle Advice:
- Avoid eating fish and milk together or jaggery
and milk together.
- Avoid incompatible, heavy, and oily foods.
- Avoid an improper diet and lifestyle, such as waking up late in the night, getting direct exposure to cold winds and suppressing natural urges of the body.
- Increase intake of barley flour, split
green gram, horse gram, honey, celery seeds, dried ginger root powder, garlic, cumin
seeds, bitter gourd and castor oil.
Diet to be avoided:
Ayurvedic practitioners believe the following dietary
habits may cause or worsen the symptoms of RA:
- drinking alcohol
- taking in excess salt
- eating spicy foods
- eating uncooked foods
- consuming too many sour, sweet, or sugary
foods
- eating foods that cause acid reflux
