Joint Diseases – Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Diseases of the joints can be classified mainly into two categories: 1) Diseases of joints resulting from inflammation 2) Diseases of joints resulting from degeneration.  In clinical practice, very often, there is a considerable overlap between the two.

The common joint diseases mainly encountered are as follows:

1) Osteoarthritis: This is known as the ‘wear and tear arthritis’; the commonest presentation being osteoarthritis of the knees. Basically, this condition results from degeneration of the joint cartilage due to trauma, overuse, obesity, or familial tendency. This disease is usually progressive, meaning conservative treatment does not stop it from progressing.

2) Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is an autoimmune disease primarily causing inflammation, pain and swelling in the small joints. Anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids and immune suppressants can bring about a response, but there is no long term cure. Most autoimmune disorders affect the joints in the long run.

3) Spondyloarthropathies: This is a group of joint disorders that usually include ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease associated arthritis, and reactive arthritis aka Reiter syndrome. Most patients have an involvement of the spine, though in a few patients, large joints may be involved. Treatment is mostly symptomatic and supportive.

4) Gout: This is a metabolic disorder with high uric acid being deposited in excess, mainly in the big toe. This can be treated with drugs and diet control.

5) Bursitis: This is inflammation of bursae, which are fluid filled sacs which provide cushioning and sliding surfaces for tendons close to joints. Trauma and overuse are the most likely cause of inflammation leading to bursitis. Treatment is again symptomatic.

Global Burden of Joint Diseases: As per 2019 estimates, nearly 530 million people were affected globally with osteoarthritis, with nearly 65 million cases in India alone. During this same period, 224 million cases were affected worldwide with rheumatoid arthritis. This is the severity of joint disease and the huge burden it places in terms of economic loss, loss of working hours, severe compromise in quality of life, and not to mention the burden in terms of increased morbidity and mortality.

In most households, several senior citizens and middle aged people; also some unfortunate young individuals, are forced to limit themselves to their houses due to severe restriction in activity resulting from joint diseases. The same story plays out even in the houses of health professionals themselves, since conservative allopathic treatment has limited benefit, especially in rheumatoid arthritis, while the surgical treatment of osteoarthritis calls for huge expenses which are beyond the reach of most individuals who are paying for their treatments.

In such a scenario, it would be worthwhile to consider and review the enormous treatment potential of Ayurvedic herbal medicines for all joint diseases.

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Joint Diseases: Ayurvedic treatment for all joint diseases is with three treatment modalities: 1) Local application: Medicines like Narayan oil, Mahamash oil, Vishgarbha oil, and Gandhapuro oil are used as local application and are followed up with medicated steam fomentation usually using Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata) leaves. This is highly effective in reliving joint pain, swelling and stiffness.  2) Oral medications: These include herbs like Guggulu (Commiphora mukul), Rasnamul (Pluchea lanceolata), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Shunthi (Zinziber officinale), Shallaki (Boswellia serrata), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Bala (Sida cordifolia), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), and Asthishrunkhla (Cissus quadrangularis). These medicines have excellent anti-inflammatory properties, are good immune modulators, and can be given safely for prolonged periods in high doses without serious adverse effects.3) Panchkarma Procedures: Panchkarma procedures like snehan (oleation), swedan (fomentation), virechan (induced purgation), basti (medicated enema), and rakta-mokshan (blood-letting) have immense additional therapeutic value in bringing about remission in very advanced joint disease too.

A combination of these three treatment modalities can help Ayurvedic treatment to bring about a complete remission in most patients affected with rheumatoid arthritis and other types of inflammatory arthritis. Ayurvedic herbs can repair joint cartilage and help heal advanced osteoarthritis and indeed remove the need for joint replacement. Ayurvedic herbal treatment can thus bring about significant improvement in all types of joint diseases. It is the need of the hour to bring about global awareness about the immense treatment potential of Ayurvedic herbal medicines in joint diseases.

The writer, Dr A A Mundewadi, is available as an Ayurvedic Consultant at 

https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com

Recurrent Abortions – Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Definition: Recurrent abortion or pregnancy loss is defined as two or more consecutive loss of pregnancy. Infertility in the woman – along with many other reasons - may also be due to recurrent abortion within the first few weeks, and may go unnoticed, since the bleeding occurs at the time of the next expected period.

Causes of Recurrent Abortions: 1) Anatomic defects such as unicornuate or bicornuate uterus, and the presence of fibroids 2) Genetic problems, which are usually the commonest cause of recurrent abortions 3) Hormonal abnormalities, which are most common in PCOS 4) Immunological factors 5) Heamatological problems such as intensive angiogenesis, coagulation or fibrinolysis 6) Infectious agents like toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes and 7) Environmental effects like obesity, low weight, intake of caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs, stress, diseases of kidney, liver and autoimmune disorders, and the use of medications like NSAIDs and aspirin.

Conventional Treatment of Recurrent Abortions: This consists of 1) Reassurance and 2) Treating the known cause. Treatment includes a) medications like Heparin, Metformin, Progesterone, HCG hormone, immunotherapy, and b) surgery for incompetent os and fibroids 3) Avoidance of smoking, alcohol, and recreational drugs and 4) taking a well-balanced, nutritional diet. The overall results and success rate with this approach is however, not very impressive.

In this scenario, it would be worthwhile to consider the Ayurvedic herbal treatment for this condition.

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Recurrent Abortions: In Ayurvedic texts, abortion before the fourth month is mentioned as Garbhastraav, while beyond this period, it is known as Garbhapaat. Ayurveda also mentions habitual abortions with terms like Apraja, Putraghni Yoni, and Jataharini.

In Ayurvedic treatment too, the principle of treatment is to treat the known cause. While surgery can take care of causes amenable to surgery, the medical treatment, for the remaining causes, is divided into two main categories:

1) Ayurvedic Treatment to Achieve Pregnancy/Conception: This includes herbs like Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Laghu Kantakari (Solanum xanthocarpum), Bruhat Kantakari (Solanum indicum), Pippali (Piper longum), Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris), Bharangmul (Clerodendron serratum), Dadim Patra (Punica granatum), Usheer (Andropagan muricatum), Rasna (Vanda Roxburghi), and Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia).

These medicines have antiviral and antimicrobial actions, are immune modulators, combat immune complexes, correct oxidative damage at the placental level, and promote pregnancy.

2) Ayurvedic Treatment to Maintain Pregnancy and Avoid Complications: This includes herbs like Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Vidari (Ipomea digitata), Shrungatak (Trapa bispinosa), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Bala (Sida cordifolia), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), and Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris).

These medicines provide essential nutrients and immune modulation, have excellent anti oxidant properties, and improve the birth weight of the foetus.

Garbhapal Ras is a traditional Ayurvedic medicine known to similarly provide nutrients and help maintain a healthy foetus to full term.  Likewise, a group of medicines known as Laghu Malini Vasant, Madhu Malini Vasant, and Suvarna Malini Vasant are known to nourish all seven tissues of the body as per Ayurvedic physiology, and are considered useful in nourishing the foetus and stabilizing pregnancy.

Ayurvedic texts also mention Masanumasik Garbhini Paricharya; this includes information pertaining to a) The diet for each month of pregnancy b) The do’s and don’ts for each month of pregnancy and c) specific treatment for each month of pregnancy. This includes a separate group of herbs to be given at each month of pregnancy to provide nutrition as per the month-wise growth of the foetus, and to prevent foetal anomalies and accidents.  These medicines can be taken in the form of powder, paste, decoction or medicated ghee.

A Pertinent Observation: Ayurveda has an established and safe system of treatment for infertility and recurrent abortions; the treatment procedure is safe and tried and tested for decades. It is rather unfortunate that a sizeable population of childless couples all over the world, including health professionals, go through their entire lives without experiencing the joys and wonders of conception and parenthood, simply because they are totally unaware of this System of AYURVEDA, and the immense potential it has in the treatment of infertility and recurrent reproductive/conception loss.

The writer, Dr A A Mundewadi,  is available as an Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com