SAKSHAL HOLISTIC HEALING: AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR OSTEO-ARTHRITIS

Osteoarthritis

Chronic degenerative ailment affecting cartilages of the knee joints, hips, lower spine, and joints of fingers and toes.
Ayurveda considers excessive accumulation of vata humour in the joints as the main cause. Consumption of dry, cold or stale food, wrong sleeping habits, and exposure to severe cold and dry weather aggravate the disease.
Common symptoms are moderate to severe pain at the affected joint, joint stiffness especially after prolonged rest and restricted and painful movements of the joint.
Ayurvedic therapies will focus not only to prevent further deterioration of the joints but also to rejuvenate the damaged cartilages and normalize the body doshas.

Diagnosis the Ayurveda way

The first consultation with an Ayurveda doctor, including the diagnosis will last for more than an hour. The basic step in the diagnosis will be to find the person's body humor (Dosha) Vata, Pitta or Kapha, because it is the imbalance of these body humours that create the disease.
The dominance of dosha in a person is found by asking several questions on his behaviour, food habits, sleeping patterns, personal details like age, height & weight, place of life, profession, health problems and medical reports etc. Ayurveda diagnosis comprises of clinical and laboratory tests also. The doctor can decide if an Ayurveda treatment is helpful on providing these details.
Pulse, tongue, nail, and eye examinations are important diagnosis methods used to reveal a person's body humor and its imbalance.
Pulse diagnosis in Ayurveda is not just counting the beats. It also reveals the health status of the entire body constitution, including the dosha imbalance and the health of the various body organs.
In tongue diagnosis, the doctor checks the general appearance, colour and coating of the tongue. In Ayurveda, as different areas of the tongue correspond to different organs of the body, the Ayurvedic practitioner can determine which organs of the body are out of balance by having a detailed tongue examination.
Nail examination is done to check the type, colour and shape of the person's nail. Imbalances of doshas are easily detected on close examination.
In the eye diagnosis, the colour, size, and even the shape of the eyes are important in determining the dosha dominance of a person. His mental status, nervousness, anxiety, confidence level etc can also be learned through eye diagnosis.
A preliminary consultation with Ayurveda doctors online is also possible nowadays for guests worldwide.

Treatment Methods for Osteoarthritis

After the diagnosis, the doctor sets out to treat the patient in a very systematic manner. This would include a set of appropriate Panchakarma treatments and Rasayana therapies .
The Panchakarma Treatments are meant to flush out the toxins, They are classified as pre-purification, main purification and post purification phases and include various types of therapies like oil massages, fermented liquid massages, medicinal enemas, herbal purification methods.
The Rasayana Therapies are meant to nourish the body, to bring the doshas back to balance and to regenerate the body.These comprise diet regulations, daily regimens, intake of oral medicines and ayurveda tonics, yoga and a stress free life. After the treatment the ayurveda doctors will advise you how to lead a healthy life. The beneifts and results of the treatment are shown only after the Rasyana Treatment is over and doctors advise is strictly followed. The results will manifest itself normally after 3 to 4 weeks as the body takes time to regenerate itself.

Panchakarma for Osteoarthritis

Pre-purification therapies are the first ones applied to loosen the toxins, open up the circulation channels and get the body ready for discarding these wastes. These methods are highly relaxing for the body and mind.
The following pre-purification methods are usually adopted for curing Osteoarthritis.
Abhyangam Anti inflammatory full body warm oil massage. The high penetration ability of the healing herbs helps surface the toxins inside the body, and ensures active blood circulation to afflicted areas.
Lepam is spreading of thick herbal paste on any afflicted body part. The paste is a blend of many potential anti-inflammatory herbs such as mustard, ginger, sesame seeds, sweet flag, vitex nigundo etc.
Njavarakizhi is a tissue-nourishing bolus-massage using highly nutritious rice callezd Njavara along with medicinal herbs. It stops the degenerative of tissues and muscle and nourishes body parts. The herbs used commonly are sida, winter cherry and asparagus.
Thailadhara is a continuous showering and massaging process of the whole body using warm medicated oil to activate the muscles and nerve endings. White leadwort, malabar nut, liquorice, sesame oil etc. are the commonly used ingredients.
Snehapanam means the oral intake of specially prepared medicated ghee in empty stomach. It is done to lubricate all body channels so as to discard body toxins.

Main Purification Therapy

Main purification therapy is the phase of elimination of toxins that were loosened at the pre purification treatment stage. These therapies are highly potential methods and are usually overseen by doctors.
The commonly adopted Panchakarma treatments for Osteoarthritis are Vasthi and Virechanam.
Vasthi is the ace colon cleaning Panchakarma treatment. This enema, using herbal oils and decoctions, would flush out the arthritis causing toxins and controls the ama. Honey, rock salt, herbal pastes, oils and decoctions are the main ingredients used in Vasthi.
Virechanam is the purgation using oral intake of safe herbal medicines. This eliminates poisonous wastes through the anal route. Generally, the herbs used are turpith, embellia fruits, ginger, cardamom, long pepper, cinnamon , guggul etc.

Rasayana Therapies for Osteoarthritis

These are body nourishing therapies to rejuvenate the body and mind after the Panchakarma treatments. They keep the enzymes in the tissue cells in their normal functioning condition, restore and balance the body functions and maintain the overall health and well being of an individual for much longer periods after the Panchakarma course. Rasayana includes oral medicines and diet regulation.

Oral medicines for Osteoarthritis

It is used for Osteoarthritis will be extracts of pure medicinal herbs, leaves, spices etc. They are prepared specifically for the disease to help restore the lost balance. Kashayam and Arishtam - herbal decoctions and fermentations Lehyams semi solid formulation are commonly prescribed. Guggulu, sarsaparilla, fenugreek, cinnamon bark etc. are few of the powerful herbs and spices used in these oral medicines. Guggulu increases white blood cell counts, decreases joint pains and swelling and has excellent rejuvenating properties.

Diet Regulation for Osteoarthritis

Diet regulation will be suggested for Osteoarthritis patients during and after the treatment. They are designed for controlling the digestive fire, better digestion, reduction of ama and for well being.
Easily digestible cooked vegetables and lots of green salads are to be included in the diet. Vegetable juices and soups of lentils, pulses etc. are good. Spices like ginger, black pepper and long pepper can be moderately added to the diet. Juices of carrot, beat root and cucumber mixed together are also beneficial. Fruits like apples, oranges, grapes and papaya can be taken. Ghee and oil in moderate amounts are needed in the diet for proper lubrication of joints.
Spicy food, some gas causing vegetable, sweets, too much tea, coffee, nicotine etc. will be taken off from the diet.
You can find out your type of Prakruthi and decide a diet for yourself.

yoga and exercise for Osteoarthritis

Yoga helps relive musculoskeletal pains thanks to its various asanas or postures. Certain postures strengthen the quadriceps and helps stretching as both these are beneficial for Osteoarthritis patients. People with arthritis should begin asanas slowly and they should be performed only after a warm up. Yoga is best performed under the careful guidance of a reputable instructor.
It is advised to take at least one or two weeks of rest after the Panchakarma experience. At this time the body is weak after a purification process and needs time to get back to normalcy. Avoid strenuous exercise, late nights, too much television, and other stimulating experiences. Overweight is a problem for Osteoarthritis.
Therefore one should avoid being overweight, because the excess weight increases load on the joints. Do regular moderate exercise to keep affected joints mobile and to prevent further damage......

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