Ayurveda has different basics of explaining the conditions of health and disease. Arthritis, Spinal disorders and MSD’s – all are associated with pain. The nature and intensity of pain varies from one condition to the other.
Why do we get painful conditions like various forms of Arthritis or MSD’s? Let us try to see what Ayurveda has to say about it in a nut shell.
Causes for painful conditions:
1. Agnimandhya (Disturbed Core and or tissue metabolism) and formation of Ama (Metabolites or endotoxins) –
- Unless otherwise proved, the set of events leading to formation of unwanted cellular wastes (metabolites / endotoxins) caused due to a disturbed cellular metabolism resulting from a deranged core metabolic fire in gut is the common cause of many MSD’s, Various types of Arthritis and Spinal disorders. In all the cases of painful conditions, treatment is started as default with an initial plan-up of getting rid of these endotoxins. The formation of ama also predisposes for stagnation at the level of cells and hence exposing them to various types of infections.
2. Srotodushti & Khavaigunya:
- Blocks or obstruction of many types leading to deficient supply of nutrients and essential elements needed for the smooth functioning of the joints. This may in turn cause localised defects and loss of local immunity for the diseases.
3. Disturbance in equilibrium of Doshas (especially abnormal increase) –
A pathological increase of Vata (Vata Prakopa and allied stages) causes excess dryness, roughness and degeneration of bony joints and soft tissues causing pain of variable intensity.
Other symptoms: Swelling, Crepitus, Loss of movements of the concerned joints, difficulty in walking or working etc.
Vata disturbance in the joints can cause Degenerative arthritis like Sandhigata Vata (Osteoarthritis), Vatarakta (Vata type of Crystal Arthritis or Gout), many MSD’s and Spinal disorders of Vata origin etc
A pathological increase of Pitta (Pitta Prakopa and allied stages) causes excess heat and inflammation in the joints, inflammatory swelling and soft tissues causing irritating and burning pain of variable intensity.
Other symptoms: Inflammatory swelling, burning sensation, rise in temperature, redness etc in the joints (along with other inflammatory conditions in the body)
Pitta disturbance in the joints can cause Inflammatory Arthritis like Amavata or Pittaja Vatarakta (Rheumatoid Arthritis in its various stages), many MSD’s, Neuro-muscular conditions and Spinal disorders of Pitta origin etc
A pathological increase of Kapha (Kapha Prakopa and allied stages) causes excess swelling (non-inflammatory) in the joints and soft tissues causing dull, heavy pain and stiffness of variable intensity.
Other symptoms: Non-Inflammatory swelling, heaviness, stiffness, etc in the joints (along with systemic disorders caused due to sluggish metabolism)
Kapha disturbance in the joints can cause Non-Inflammatory Arthritis like Amavata (Rheumatoid Arthritis variant), Neuro-muscular conditions and Spinal disorders of Kapha origin, autoimmune disorders etc
The pathological combination of 2 doshas or all the 3 can also cause many painful conditions; the symptoms will be of mixed type and proportion.
4. Dhatu Dushti:
- The tissues are in the form of energy providing elements and offer strength and immunity at various levels. A disease process according to Ayurveda basics starts with the localisation of aggravated Doshas in the weaker Dhatus (tissues) and ends with the destruction of the tissue and defences of tissues. This is called Dhatu Dushti.
5. Mala Sanga:
- Improper and inadequate elimination of wastes of the body, mainly Faeces, Urine and Sweat along with tissue toxins.
Other Contributory Factors:
- Not following the rules and regulations of Dinacharya, Sadvritta (Diurnal lifestyle and principles of living) – Includes exercise, diet, stress etc
- Not following the rules and regulations of Ritucharya (Seasonal adaptation)
- Abhighata – Trauma, accidents
Hope this nutshell gist will help you in understanding the joint disorders as explained by Ayurveda to some extent. I will try to give more details of the same in the future blogs
Ayurveda treatments (preventive and curative), Good Dinacharya and Ritucharya, planned Diet, Keeping away from stress and going natural and herbal with food keeps these painful conditions at bay….
Let us all believe that we are important than our problem and the health ailments are a small part of us.
Join hands in working towards a pain free and arthritis free world
Dr Raghuram Y.S.
MD(Ay), Ayurvedic Rheumatology
Consultant Ayurvedic Physician
Speciality: Joint and Spine care
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Ph: +91-9480071422
Email: drraghuramys@gmail.com
Skype: raghuramsastry1973
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