Osteoarthritis treatment for ayurved

Overcome the pain of osteoarthritis with Kottakkal Ayurveda treatments

Sandhigata vata or osteoarthritis is one of the most common degenerative joint disorders that affects the joints, cartilage, and bone in the long period. As an Ayurvedic specialist and Ayurvedic Treatment for Osteoarthritis Pain, Chennai clinic, some of the most common complaints that I see in my clinic is osteoarthritis.

Prevalence and risk factors for osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis severely affects day-to-day life, affecting most of the joints that bear the body’s weight. This primarily includes hip and knee joints. Osteoarthritis becomes increasingly common as a person ages, especially over 60 years. Women are also more likely to develop this condition. Obesity is another common risk factor for osteoarthritis.

The other risk factors include following lifestyle that increases stress on the important joints of the body, sedentary lifestyle, occupations that places a lot of strain on the joints, and poor posture. Osteoarthritis is also suspected to have a genetic connection.

Ayurveda categorizes osteoarthritis as a vata roga arising from the toxins that accumulate in the digestive tract, travel through the bloodstream, and finally deposit in the joints that are already at risk for developing osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is characterized by progressively severe pain in the joints, stiffness leading to loss of movement in the affected joints. The pain is especially severe in the morning. The joints are often swollen and deformed and severely limit the ability of the person to move around.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Osteoarthritis Pain

  1. Many carefully prepared herbal formulations help control the pain and support in improving the joint mobility.
  2. Managing diet will help in improving digestion and removing the toxins that stimulate this condition. A stringent food regiment includes adding milk, castor oil, ghee, turmeric, spices such as pepper, ginger.
  3. Regular fasting also helps reduce the toxic effects of certain foods.
  4. Herbal massages help in managing the pain and reducing the joint inflammation.
  5. Regular heat fomentation with herbal concoctions help ease the joint pain.
  6. Practicing a healthy lifestyle is however key. Regular exercise that is not damaging to the joints is a healthy choice. Yoga is also essential to achieve a healthy mind–body balance.

Kottakkal Ayurveda treatment certainly has a completely balanced approach toward healing the pain and degenerative repercussions of osteoarthritis. A healthy lifestyle with moderate physical activity and stringent food habits will go a long way in providing trusted benefits.

Ayurveda Hospital Chennai

Traditional Ayurveda Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis or Vatarakta is one of the common health complaints that many of my patients in Ayurveda Hospital Chennai come to me with. Vatarakta is a tough battle to win mainly because it is an autoimmune disorder, where your own body turns against its joints.

Yes, that’s true! Vatarakta can be a debilitating condition that affects all aspects of the joints – from the synovial fluid and cartilage to the ligaments and bones. The result of this condition is severe pain, swelling, and stiffness of the affected joints. With such complications associated with Vatarakta, can Ayurveda really help? Of course, we can!

Let me explain how your Ayurveda doctor can help you overcome the complications of rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms of Vatarakta

In addition to painful joints, Vatarakta causes body pain, a feeling of illness, fever, loss of appetite, swelling because of inflammation in the joint areas, and indigestion. Patients commonly wake up to painful morning stiffness around the joints. One characteristic feature of Vatarakta is the symmetric nature of swelling – in many instances, the same joint on both sides are affected simultaneously.

What causes Vatarakta?

Surprisingly the actual cause of this autoimmune disorder is still a bit of a mystery. Yes, there is a genetic aspect associated with Vatarakta. For some of us, our body considers its own tissues as invaders and prepares for an attack. In such individuals, when there are certain triggers, such as exposure to pollution or cosmetics, obesity, or smoking, the body immediately starts its attack, focusing on the joints. The body releases antibodies called rheumatoid factor into the blood, which often helps in the diagnosis of this condition. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women, especially starting from the age of 40.

Ayurveda also associates this condition with the release of toxins in the body because of metabolic imbalance. These toxins target the joints, causing inflammation. The metabolic imbalance is triggered by unhealthy lifestyles including poor eating habits, improper sleep timings, sedentary lifestyle, excessive wear and tear of the joints, and stress.

Hence, the primary focus of Ayurveda Hospital Chennai treatment is to reverse these toxic effects to restore a healthy balance.

Ayurvedic treatment of Vatarakta in Ayurveda Hospital Chennai

Ayurveda focuses on a holistic approach rather than just pain and symptom management. The complete approach of Ayurveda treatments includes the following example treatments.

  1. Removal of toxins through Panchakarma is recommended
  2. Correcting the metabolic balance
  3. Rasayana or internal medications that improve the health of the joints and body immunity
  4. Medications or aushadhas that control the pain and inflammation to improve the quality of life
  5. Strict dietary regimens or pathyas, as well as fasting, to prevent recurrence through diets rich in grains, legumes, buttermilk, castor oil, green and leafy vegetables, and flavnoids, as well as complete avoidance of food that are oily and slow down the metabolic rate
  6. Complete adoption of a healthy lifestyle through vihara chikitsa to avoid the triggers that cause the condition
  7. Physical therapy is minimal
  8. General guidance for avoiding recurrence would be to reduce body weight so there is no stress on the joints, practice good posture that do not harm the joints, sleep on firm mattresses, and exercises that do not apply undue pressure on the joints

Rheumatoid arthritis is indeed a tough condition to manage, but with traditional Ayurvedic treatments and well-trained Ayurveda doctors, you can definitely lead a healthy life despite the possibilities of this condition.

Spondylosis treatment for ayurveda

Ayurveda Treatment for Spondylosis

Seeking Long-Term Relief , Ayurveda Treatment for Spondylosis

Spondylosis, a vata roga, is a common disorder of the aging population but is also fast becoming a common lifestyle disorder in Chennai. Hence, seeking long-term relief from spondylosis through Ayurveda treatment has become much more relevant today than looking for quick fixes. Let’s find out more about this disorder and Ayurveda Treatment for Spondylosis.

What is spondylosis?

Spondylosis is a gradual, yet painful, degenerative change in the structure of the spine. It usually affects the cartilage, bone, vertebral discs, and even joints. Any of the following parts of the spinal cord can be affected by this change:

  1. Cervical spine or the neck, causing cervical spondylosis or griva sandhigata vata. This is one of the most common forms of spondylosis
  2. Thoracic spine, or the upper and mid back, which causes thoracic spondylosis
  3. Lumbar spine or the lower back, which causes lumbar spondylosis

What are the symptoms of this disorder so as to give effective Ayurveda Treatment for Spondylosis?

Spondylosis affects the quality of life and severely limits our ability to carry out activities of daily living. The symptoms are painful, including stiffness, tenderness, back pain, muscular spasm, etc.

What causes spondylosis?

According to the Ayurveda, spondylosis and food habits are closely connected. Junk food, spicy food, minimal consumption of water, and other such unhealthy eating habits increase the chances of spondylosis. Today’s irregular routines and lifestyle habits such as excessive use of electronic items, stress, desk jobs, late nights, and other irregular routines and habits increase the tendency for developing spondylosis.

What is the Ayurvedic solution?

A healthy combination of herbal medicines, physical treatments, and exercises help in

  • Relieving the pain
  • Rejuvenating the body
  • Improving strength
  • Getting rid of other symptoms such as stiffness

A stringent Ayurvedic regimen will completely overcome the need for complicated and habit-forming medications and surgery. Ayurveda focuses not only on relieving the symptoms but also on curing the body, mind, and soul so the condition does not recur.

A quick summary of the treatment modalities in Ayurveda hospitals for Ayurveda Treatment for Spondylosis is as follows:

  1. Panchakarma routines and therapies such as nyavarakizhi, basti, dhara, ilakkizhi, etc.
  2. Pain-relieving natural herbs that are consumed or applied as a paste across all the affected regions
  3. Herbal oils that relieve pain when massaged into the affected parts or gently applied with fomentation. Abhyangam involves a full-body massage with the relevant medicinal oils and the process involves strengthening the muscles and joints of the body
  4. Dietary control for Ayurveda Treatment for Spondylosis by avoiding certain foods, such as white-colored food such as bread and potatoes, avoiding oily food, exposure to cold
  5. A condition-specific lifestyle modification – in terms of daily routine, exercise, correct postures, and stress management help in preventing recurrence

Spondylosis does not mean limiting your happiness and freedom to move. With the best of treatments from Ayurveda hospitals and clinics in Chennai, you can lead a disciplined and happy life with the painful condition fully under your control.

I know that you have many more questions about spondylosis for which you are seeking answers. Do connect with me today to say bye to your spondylosis.

Traditional Ayurveda Treatment

The Trusted Solution to Manage Common Orthopedic Conditions
Orthopedic conditions are exponentially on the rise among Indians. Over the last 25 years of my experience in treating innumerable patients in Chennai using traditional Ayurveda treatment practices that I’ve learnt from Kerala, I have noticed a startling increase in the percentage of patients coming to me with orthopedic problems. Change in lifestyle, means of living, and food intake are definitely the primary reasons for this surge in orthopedic conditions.

So, let’s take a look at the reasons behind the origin of most of these conditions from the trustworthy perspective of Ayurveda.

The core of a healthy mind and body in Ayurveda is about maintaining a perfect balance between Vatha, Pitta, and Kapha. Any disharmony or vitiation of the three doshas leads to many orthopedic conditions.

Vatha vitiation, for example, catalyses osteoporosis or weak bones, Pitta vitiation exposes the bones to inflammations and infections, and Kapha vitiation leads to dense bones and supportive tissues. Hence different combinations of the three doshas lead to multiple orthopedic conditions – from rheumatoid arthritis to tendency for fracture.

Let’s quickly review some common orthopedic conditions and determine how Ayurveda treatment provides complete relief and resolution for each condition.

Traditional Ayurveda Treatment in chennai
Traditional Ayurveda Orthopedic Treatment

Osteoarthritis (SandhigataVata)
Osteoarthritis is characterized by severe joint pain caused when the cartilage protecting the bones of the joints wears away. A common condition that starts from middle age, osteoarthritis also causes inflammation of the joints, swelling, stiffness, and locking of joints. It commonly affects the knee, hands, hips, and the spine. Osteoarthritis can be cured through a combination of lifestyle changes, fomentation, herbal medication, oleation, and dietary control can help control the condition.

Rheumatoid arthritis (Vatarakta)
Rheumatoid arthritis also affects the joints; however, it is caused by an autoimmune disorder. This condition can affect any joint in the body and the eyes, heart, and lungs, and the entire body through the blood vessels. Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressively limiting disorder affecting an individual’s ability to carry out regular activities. Ayurvedic treatment focuses on correcting the metabolic balance of the body to manage the condition through biological purification or Shodhana, fasting, stringent diet plans, digestive medicines, and shamanachikitsa (pacifying treatments). A disciplined lifestyle also supports in bringing back the body to health.

Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a predominantly vataroga, where the bones are so brittle that they can fracture or deform easily. Ayurveda focuses more on prevention of this condition by balancing the cold characteristics of vata with the warm profile of kapha. Dietary control, herbal medications,yoga, and lifestyle discipline are critical in preventing osteoporosis through Ayurveda treatment.

Tennis elbow
Tennis elbow is a vataroga – a form of inflammation of the tendons near the elbow, caused by excess stretching or movements of the arm muscles around the elbow region. The condition is common in people with excessive physical activities, but also in today’s age of excessive arms-related work (e.g., typing and writing) and in case of excessive physical labor requiring movement of the arms.
Ayurvedic treatment focuses on pain relief since resting the arm usually corrects the condition. Rejuvenation, oleation, and swedana therapies help provide immense relief. Kizhis and medicated oil baths are also helpful in addition to some pain-relieving herbal medication. Dietary control and lifestyle corrections help prevent recurrence.

The list of orthopedic conditions that require attention is much longer but these examples prove the holistic approach of Ayurveda in correcting, eliminating, and overcoming these conditions. Ayurveda’s treatment approach symbiotically combines medication, food (aahar), lifestyle changes (vihar), exercise, and physical therapy of varying complexities to bring back a body’s balance.

This approach is closer to the body’s natural properties and provides a harmless, side effect–free solution to most orthopedic conditions.
In the coming blog posts, I will be reviewing each orthopedic condition in detail and providing a healthy Ayurveda treatment and solution to each condition. Watch this space for a holistic approach to living.

The science of well being and longevity

According to Ayurveda, every human is a unique entity, an embodiment of primal elements existing in a sublime harmony, a cohesive force. When the balance or equilibrium of the forces within the body is upset, disease occurs. Ayurveda seeks to restore this equilibrium, with natural herbs, meditation and a regimen most suited to that individual which incorporates the rules prescribed for healthy living. Ayurveda’s interpretation of health is not the absence of disease, rather, a physical, mental and spiritual state of well-being. Continue reading “The science of well being and longevity” →