Imagine waking up to a body that feels like it has aged decades overnight. Stiffness grips your joints, and even ordinary tasks become daunting challenges. This is the reality for millions battling RA. An autoimmune anomaly, when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body's tissues. RA turns the body’s defense system into a rogue agent, attacking the very joints it’s meant to protect. Over time, this relentless assault can erode cartilage, deform bones, and cripple joints, casting a long, painful shadow over daily life.
Ayurveda, the ancient system of Indian medicine, offers a profound understanding of RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, drawings parallels with its own disease entity AMAVATA.
With march of time, most of dietary habit, social structure, life style and environment have been changing.Occurance of Amavata on large scale is one of the outcomes of this modification.
THE CONCEPT OF AMAVATA
The term ‘Amavata’ is a fusion of ‘Ama’ (toxins) and ‘Vata’ (one of the three doshas responsible for movement and activity). In Ayurvedic parlance, Amavata is the pernicious dance of toxins and disrupted bodily functions, eerily mirroring the symptoms of RA.
This disease initially manifests as a gut disorder which later on encroaches all the tissues, bones, muscles and joints and multiple organs to cause complex symptoms.
What is 'AMA'?
Ama is the substance which remains unripe, uncooked, immature and undigested. It means the substance which is still unripe and undergoes further digestion and associated changes. It denotes the impaired metabolism that leads to build up the toxins, which cannot be neutralized or eliminated easily by the body.
CAUSES FOR AMA FORMATION
Imbalanced diet: consuming foods that are cold, heavy, oily, difficult to digest, incompatible foods, especially in excess, or skipping meals, eating at irregular times or eating before the previous meal is fully digested can slow down digestion and contribute to the accumulation of AMA.
Lifestyle Factors: lack of physical activity, chronic stress, anxiety or emotional disturbances can impair circulation and metabolism, contributing to Ama build-up in the body.
Suppression of natural urges like sneezing, burping, passing stool or urine and many more can disrupt bodily rhythms and promote Ama formation.
Previous illnesses like frequent fevers or untreated infections can lead to the creation of Ama in the body.
PATHOGENESIS OF AMAVATA
Weak Digestive Fire (Mandagni): The root cause begins with a weakened digestive fire, leading to the formation of Ama.
Circulation of Ama: Ama enters the bloodstream and is carried to various parts of the body.
Aggravation of Vata: Vata, being mobile and active, picks up Ama and deposits it in the joints.
Joint Affliction: The combination of Ama and Vata in the joints causes inflammation, stiffness, pain, and swelling, mirroring the symptoms of RA.
CLINICAL FEATURES OF AMAVATA
Amavata is characterized by the following symptoms
Severe joint pain often worse in the morning or after rest
Swelling, tenderness and stiffness in the affected joints
General fatigue and weakness
Loss of appetite and indigestion
Feverish sensations and body ache
Reduced mobility and flexibility
These symptoms closely resemble those of RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS making the comparison between the two conditions particularly relevant.
In later stages when multiple organs and tissues get affected symptoms like
excessive salivation and nausea
hardness of abdomen
Tightness in the chest
Giddiness
Sleep disturbances
Excessive thirst, vomiting
Excessive urination and many more are seen.
AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF AMAVATA
Amavata progresses through stages that align with the gradual accumulation and systemic impact of Ama and aggravated Vata. Early intervention in the initial stages can significantly alter the course of the disease, preventing severe symptoms and complications.
Ayurvedic treatment strategies vary at each stage, focusing on detoxification, balancing doshas, and rejuvenating the affected tissues and organs. Understanding these stages helps in tailoring personalized treatment plans that are more effective in managing the disease.
DIET MODIFICATIONS
Improving the digestive fire or scientifically called AMAPACHANA, helps in relieving symptoms like inflammation, stiffness and pain in the joints thereby preventing further progression of the disease. Hence following a diet that pacifies Vata dosha, avoiding foods that cause Ama (toxins), and incorporating warming and easily digestible foods is the first and foremost way to manage AMAVATA.
Include grains like BARLEY, RED RICE, HORSE GRAM, MILLETS, vegetables which are bitter and pungent in taste like DRUMSTICK, BITTER GOURD, small onions, bottle gourd, and spices like GINGER, LONG PEPPER, BLACK PEPPER, GARLIC, TURMERIC AND CUMIN more in your diet.
Avoid CURD, WHEAT, MILK, CHEESE, PANEER,JAGGERY, FISH, foods prepared from BLACK GRAM, foods that are heavy to digest, that are OILY, SOUR in taste, contaminated water, reheated foods, tinned foods, vegetables like POTATO, CAULIFLOWER, TAPIOCA, SWEET POTATO, CLOCCASIA ROOTS.
2. PANCHAKARMA THERAPIES
The journey to wellness begins with eliminating Ama. Panchakarma, the quintessence of Ayurvedic detoxification, is the spearhead. The external therapies like SWEDANA, ABHYANGA, PINDA SWEDA, UPANAHA, DHARA and many more :
Helps in reducing Ama by improving digestion
Induces sweating to eliminate toxins through the skin
Cleanses the digestive tract and removes accumulated toxins
Reduces stiffness and pain in the joints thereby improving the flexibility of the affected joints
3. LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS
In order to improve flexibility and quality of life, certain modifications in lifestyle are also needed to manage AMAVATA.
Regular gentle stretching exercises and walking helps in maintaining muscle tone and mobility of joints.
Stress Management : Practices like Meditation for at least 20 minutes, Pranayama (breathing exercises like Kapal Bhati, Anulom Vilom) and mindfulness can help reduce stress, which is a common trigger for Vata imbalance.
Ensure sufficient sleep and adequate rest to allow the body help to rejuvenate and heal.
Avoid controlling natural body urges and habit of staying awake whole night.
Avoid areas that are cold and windy.
Practicing YOGASANASAS like TRIKONASANA, VAKRASANA, SHALABHASANA, PADMASANA helps in maintaining joint flexibility and circulation and balance Vata.
RECOVERY TIME
Short-Term Recovery: For early-stage Amavata with mild symptoms, recovery might take a few weeks to a few months.
Long-Term Recovery: For advanced-stage Amavata or severe symptoms, the recovery process could extend to several months or even years,
PREACAUTIONS
While Amavata has a tendency to recur, by focusing on diet, regular detoxification, lifestyle adjustments, and certain herbal remedies, one can significantly reduce the chances of flare-ups and manage the condition effectively and improve your quality of life.
Embark on your journey to joint health through SAKALYA AYURVEDA. It's a path that leads to rejuvenation May your path toward wellness be steady and harmonious! 🌿🙏
By embracing the holistic harmony of Ayurveda, we unlock a treasure trove of healing, guiding us towards a life of balance, health, and unyielding vitality. In the convergence of ancient wisdom and modern science, lies the key to a pain-free, empowered future.
For more details or to know more about the condition and treatment please feel comfortable to call +91-9388099009 or mail sakalyahospital@gmail.com or chat online with our doctors through www.sakalya.com
留言