Osteoarthritis Ayurvedic Treatment

In Ayurveda, Osteoarthritis is known as Sandhigat Vaata. Osteoarthritis is also called Degenerative Joint Disorder, since the cartilage which covers the ends of bone gets degenerated. There are various treatments for osteoarthritis in Ayurveda. Osteoarthritis can be severe or mild and can greatly affect day to day activitites.

Osteoarthritis is a vata disorder disease, which causes dryness in the joints followed by swelling, pain, stiffness of joints and immobility. The Ayurvedic cure of the disease prevents further deterioration of joints as well as restore the damaged cartilages. Ayurveda stresses on osteoarthritis cure by modifying lifestlye, diet, some light exercises and also advises Purvakarma and Panchkarma detoxification techniques. Some Ayurvedic cures for osteoarthritis are discussed in this article.

Ayurvedic view of Osteoarthritis

• The disease is believed to result from vitiation of the vata dosha.
• The vitiated vata present in the joints tends to cause deformity or dislocation of the joint, pain and swelling.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Osteoarthritis
Some Ayurvedic treatments for osteoarthritis are given below –

• Guggul — This helps bone strengthening. Guggul lessens the inflammation and soothes kapha dosha.
• Trikatu — This enhances the balance of pitta dosha and also enhances digestive fire.
• Boswellia — Phellodendron bark or Boswellia gum and scute root mixed together and used in combination with fang feng root, myrrh gum and jiao root.

Some Ayurvedic home remedies for Osteoarthritis treatments are as follows –

• Warm mustard oil or sesame oil mixed with powdered dried ginger massaged into the joints.
• Groundnuts cause a decrease in the vata dosha. Hence, a local massage with groundnut oil is recommended.
• Warm some sesame oil or mustard oil and mix the powders of turmeric, garlic and camphor into it. This is an effective massage oil for joint pains.
• Seeds and leaves of papaya will decrease pain and swelling. In case of joint pains, warm the leaves and apply as a hot fomentation onto the affected joints, or the seeds can be crushed and mixed into mustard oil for local massage.

Characteristic Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

• Tenderness and enlargement of the joint with limitation in its movements.
• Pain in the affected joints, which increases on movement and decreases with rest.
• Articular stiffness and wasting of the muscles.
• The pain might increase with change in the weather.