Joint Pain and pain while movement are among the most common problems for which a patient consults a doctor. There are several conditions that affect the normal functioning of the joints, leading to the manifestation of different diseases. Injury due to trauma is one of the issues, leading to impaired joint function, but the main issues that cause dysfunction in joints are inflammation and degeneration.
Wear and tear. With age, the cartilage lining the bones tends to get worn out, leading to a reduction in the space between the bones and produces grating when the joint is moved. The bones can also get weak due to several factors like age, lack of exercise, deficiency of Calcium or Vitamin D, and after menopause in women. This can also lead to chances of a fracture and can cause joint pain and other problems in the joints.
Inflammation is a process, wherein the body secretes several chemicals to breakdown substances that are not functional or are foreign to the body, to disintegrate the unwanted materials and remove them. This is a protective function meant to protect the healthy tissues from invading organisms like bacteria and viruses and from being affected by the damaged tissues. Inflammation may be triggered by damages to the tissue as in the case of injury, or by infection or by a process called auto-immunity. However, inflammation that gets out of control can badly damage the tissues, leading to impaired functioning. Auto-immunity is one such condition where the immune system mistakes parts of the body for invading organisms and start attacking the body’s own tissues, leading to damage to the structures involved.
Injury can cause structural damage to any of the tissues of a joint, like the bones, the menisci, tendons, and ligaments, that can affect the functioning of the joints and lead to diseases.
The goal of ayurvedic treatment for joint pain and other joint problems is to get rid of the symptoms like pain, tenderness, swelling, redness, stiffness etc associated with the problem, to enable the person to perform the normal activities, and to prevent further complications and recurrence.
The Ayurvedic approach to treatment is very individualised. However, the approach to treatment of patients suffering from Inflammatory conditions differs significantly from that of Degenerative conditions.
It is seen that chronic joint problems tend to be similar after a long time. I.e., if inflammatory conditions last long, they lead to degeneration, and degeneration over a long period of time leads to inflammation. So patients who suffer from either of these conditions for a long period of time will have a combination of inflammation and degeneration which have to be addressed simultaneously.
According to Ayurveda, the initial stages of Inflammatory conditions are considered to be associated with toxicity and are dealt with by detoxification. Detoxification in Ayurveda is three prong. For mild level of toxicity, Ayurveda advocates very light food with warm fluids and rest. For moderate levels of toxicity, Ayurveda advocates administration of herbal decoctions that help the liver to metabolise and eliminate the toxins. For toxicity of a high degree, Ayurveda advocates Panchakarma (The five methods of Cellular Bio-purification). Ayurveda also advocates a number of herbs that have a very effective anti-inflammatory action, The main one is Guggulu, and it is one of the most important herbs used in Ayurveda for the treatment of Inflammatory conditions. Ayurveda also employs a number of therapies like Dhanyamladhara (Pouring of warm fermented liquid), Abhyanga ( Oil massage), Podikkizhi (Herbal powder massage), Ilakkaizhi (Herbal leaf massage) and a large variety of Vasthis (Enemas) which are very effective for inflammatory conditions. Course of Vasthi as a continuous process numbering 8, 15 and 30 are called Yoga Vasthi, Kala Vasthi, and Karma Vasthi, respectively, and are very effective in reducing very severe inflammation and restoring normalcy. It is seen to be the main tool used in bringing down the inflammatory markers like ESR, CRP, etc. significantly.
Ayurveda is also very effective in addressing degenerative skeletal-muscular conditions. Ayurveda recommends a holistic approach to treatment consisting of diet, lifestyle, herbal medicines, and therapies for addressing degenerative joint conditions. There are many medicines in Ayurveda that help strengthen the joints and reduce degeneration. Ayurvedic physicians can choose ideal combinations for each individual. Therapies like Tailadhara (pouring of medicated oils), Navarakkizhi (massage with boluses of rice boiled in medicated milk), and Ksheera Vasthi are among the most effective therapies for preventing degeneration and to strengthen the joints. It is very important to note that if there is associated inflammation, the anti-degenerative therapy is advised only after the inflammation is brought under control.