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Rheumatological disorders (Rheumatoid Arthritis)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function of the joints. In an autoimmune disease, your immune system starts attacking your own healthy tissues. In RA, the immune system targets the lining of the joints, causing inflammation and joint damage. RA usually affects smaller joints, such as the joints in the hands and feet, with the same joints typically involved on both sides of the body. However larger joints such as the hips and knees can also be affected. The disease may also affect other parts of the body.
The causes of RA are unknown. There is usually a throbbing and aching sort of pain. Pain and stiffness are usually worse in the mornings and after you have been sitting still for a while. Pain and stiffness hamper your day to day life and tasks that require joints to move.
When you have RA, antibodies attack the synovium, a membrane (thin layer of cells) that covers each of your joints. The synovium becomes inflamed, which causes chemicals to be released and synovium to thicken. The lining of the affected joint becomes inflamed, causing the joints to swell, become hot, tender to touch and painful. These chemicals can also damage bones, cartilage (the stretchy connective tissue between bones), tendons and ligaments. The chemicals gradually cause the joint to lose its shape and alignment.
According to Ayurveda rheumatoid arthritis (Amavata) is due to imbalance of vata dosha. Intake of vata and kapha-aggravating foods lead to the impairment of digestive fire which forms ama (toxin) in body. These toxins accumulate in joints leading to rheumatoid arthritis.
Ayurvedic treatment can include supplements, dietary changes, massage, and exercise. According to Ayurveda, herbs pacifying vata dosha along with kapha dosha and herbs eliminating the toxins (Ama) from body can help. Use of herbs helps to improve the digestive fire thus prevent the formation of ama (toxins) in body. Abhyangam (massage), swedana (hot fomentation) can help to reduce stiffness, swelling and pain. Panchkarma (virechana and vasti) can help as well.
