Alternative Treatment For Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Ever noticed an elder at your home who faces difficulty in climbing stairs whereas a young man easily does it. This might be because of the pain in the knees because of the loss of cartilage. This cartilage, which is basically a protective layer of soft tissue protects our joints from wear and tear. It works as a shock absorber when our joints move. In some people with time especially in later ages this tissue starts deteriorating resulting in a condition known as osteoarthritis. Today in this topic we are going to learn more about this condition like its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and most importantly its management and cure in Ayurveda.

Introduction

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis in which the protective cartilage between the joints starts getting deteriorated. This is the commonest type of arthritis. Once this cartilage gets worn down, it results in rubbing of bones, ends in the joints involved causing pain and stiffness. Mainly affected joints are knees, hands, back and hip although other joints may also get involved.

Symptoms

Following are the symptoms of Osteoarthritis

• Pain
• Stiffness and rigidity
• Reduced range of motion
• Swelling around the joints
• Crepitus (sounds of popping, crackling, grating etc from the joints when moving)
• Bone spur

Causes

This condition occurs when the cartilage gets worn down. This happens over time and is a progressive disease. The changes can’t be reversed. There are several risk factors that play an important role in the occurrence of osteoarthritis like:

• Gender: Women are more affected than men.
• Age: This condition is more common in older ages.
• Overweight: This contributes to the excess weight on the cartilage and hence causes damage to the cartilage over the time.
• Occupation: If you are involved in such activities because of your job profile e.g if you are a sports person, where there is repetitive stress on your joints may eventually result into osteoarthritis.
• Injuries: Injuries like in accidents or sports injuries especially in knees increases the risk of this condition.

Diagnosis

When a patient presents in the OPD with the above mentioned complaints, a physician may be able to diagnose this condition with the help of a general physical examination. Usually, an X-ray is advised to see the progression of disease. Though the cartilage could not be seen in X-ray itself, narrowing of space between two bone ends indicates the loss of cartilage. It also helps to see the bone spurs, if any.

Treatment in Allopathy

Unfortunately, there is no promising treatment in allopathy for osteoarthritis. This condition is managed only with the help of painkillers which of course have side effects in the long term. As an alternative, some patients are advised for physiotherapy which might relieve symptoms to some extent but not fully.

Ayurvedic Point of View in Osteoarthritis

In Ayurveda, the approach of healing is holistic. This is because the aim of treatment does not limit itself only upto the organs involved but to the system as a whole which also includes psychological and spiritual health. The reason behind this approach is that it is strongly believed that there are energies which run the system. These energies also called doshas are the result of a combination of different elements in a definitive proportion. There are basically three types of doshas in Ayurveda; Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. They are responsible to keep up with the life processes and co-exist in a balanced way. A disease is nothing but a deviation from this balance. Therefore, it is very important to know which dosha is involved or says is in dominance. In osteoarthritis, there is a predominance of Vata dosha and we can relate this with Sandhi vata.

Planet Ayurveda is a leading firm which prepares natural herbs using authentic ways and has great results in treating osteoarthritis. All the herbs that are prepared here are free from chemicals, preservatives, starch, additives, colors, yeast, binders and fillers. They are 100 percent natural and are formulated by MD Ayurvedic doctors with years of experience. It has a worldwide range of distributors and has a great response from various countries when it comes to curing diseases that are considered incurable by allopathic doctors.

Products Available at Planet Ayurveda for Osteoarthritis

1. Bone Support
2. Boswellia Curcumin
3. Yograj Guggul
4. Coral Calcium Complex

Products Description

1. Bone Support

This is a polyherbal formulation which is very beneficial for joint complaints. It improves bone density and increases strength of bones. This is a well indicated remedy for the joint problems especially in women in menopause and elderly. Mukta, which is a compound of pearl calcium, is well known for its good source of natural calcium that helps to provide calcium and helps in healing of fractures easily. Ingredients of the Bone Support are Hadjod (Cissus quadrangularis), Mukta (Compound of pearl calcium), Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), Shudh laksha (Laccifer lacca), Suhanjana beej (Moringa oliefera), Praval pishti (Corallium rubrum) and other herbs.

Dosage: 1 Capsule twice daily with lukewarm water, after meals.

2. Boswellia Curcumin

This polyherbal formulation is an inevitable remedy for joint affections. It could be used to decrease inflammation around the joints because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Very useful medicine to reduce the morning stiffness and arthritis pains. It relieves the pain in any joint of the body like back pain, neck pain, wrist pain, knee pain etc. Ingredients of Boswellia curcumin are Curcumin (Curcuma longa), Shallaki (Boswellia serrata) and other herbs.

Dosage: 1 Capsule twice daily with lukewarm water, after meals.

3. Yograj Guggul

Yograj guggul is a classical ayurvedic formulation in tablet form which has been used since ancient times for various vataj conditions. It consists of ingredients such as Guggul (Commiphora mukul), Yavani (Trachyspermum ammi), amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Pippali (Piper longum) etc . The remedy has great vata pacifying and rasayana effect which assist in preventing degenerative changes in the body. It also helps in reducing the inflammatory changes in the spine and prevents various symptoms such as pain and inflammation.

Dosage: 2 Tablets twice daily with lukewarm water, after meals.

4. Coral Calcium Complex

Coral calcium complex is a capsule formulation provided by Planet Ayurveda to meet the calcium needs of the body. It contains Akik pishti, praval pishti, jahar mohra pishti and various others. Coral calcium complex is the natural source of calcium which is used in various degenerative conditions i.e. Ankylosing spondylitis, Spinal degeneration, disc bulge, cervical spondylitis, cervical spondylosis and many more.

Dosage: 1 Capsule twice daily with lukewarm water, after meals.

Conclusion

This could be concluded that the chronic pain of osteoarthritis is something that one can get rid of with the help of Ayurveda. This is possible because of the natural healing power of the herbal remedies which unlike modern medication, helps to reduce swelling, strengthen bones and increase bone density. At Planet Ayurveda there are many patients who have got relief from their years old joint problems. You could become one of them. For any queries you could visit www.planetayurveda.com or simply dial our customer care at +91-172-521-430.