Treatment of Costochondritis in Ayurveda with Herbal Remedies
Abstract
There are many possible causes of chest pain. Most of the time it is related to the cardiac issue. But there may be many other potential reasons for the chest pain, which include problems in lungs, muscles, ribs, esophagus, or nerves. Some of these conditions are severe and can even prove fatal, so the chest pain must never be ignored. One of the diseases that has chest pain which mimics cardiac arrest or other such conditions is costochondritis. In this article we are going to discuss this disease, it’s possible cause, clinical features, and the best Ayurvedic herbal formulations for the management of the Costochondritis. 
Introduction
The costal cartilage is the name given to the cartilages that join the sternum to upper ribs. Costochondritis is basically the inflammation of this connecting area (costochondral junction) of ribs and cartilages. The main feature of the disease is the complaint of chest pain that resolves on its own after sometime. Chest wall pain, costosternal chondrodynia, or costosternal syndrome are considered as the synonyms of costochondritis.
Sign and Symptoms
The clinical manifestation of costochondritis includes the feeling of discomfort in the chest, burning, stabbing or aching type of pain in the chest that is usually seen between the second to fifth ribs region. There is sharp intense pain near the sternum radiating to the abdomen or back. This pain is aggravated by episodes of coughing and on deep inspiration. There is slight relief in the pain as the person starts breathing calmly or if the person is lying down quietly. The presence of tendress in the joints of the ribs and it is the most definitive feature of costochondritis. This pain is associated with the signs of inflammation at the affected area. If the costochondritis is formed as a result of surgery then there is persistent redness, purulent discharge or redness at the site of the operated area in the chest.
Causes
The costochondritis in some cases might be caused due to idiopathic reasons that are not known. However few potential causes of the disease include the history of repetitive trauma to the chest wall, prolonged respiratory disease that is presented with chronic coughing episodes, heavy weight lifting with the upper part of the body and persistently doing strenuous exercises or carrying heavy backpacks on either sides. Any of the arthritis or disease that affect chest cartilage like history of osteoarthritis , ankylosing spondylitis. Or the chronic viral infections or fungal infections (in rare cases) affecting the respiratory tract, tumors moved from other body parts to the chest, history of cardiac bypass or other chest regions’ surgery in the near past, and the usage of IV drugs usage or the bacterial infection as a post surgical complication in the chest region.
Ayurvedic View
In Ayurveda this disease can be best related with Urahkshat, the nidaan (causative factors) i.e. doing heavy exercises or indulging in sexual activity more than one’s limit, lifting heavy weights, history of fall from height, excessive swimming and running, can leads to vitiation of tridosha, these dosha will go to chest region and causing pain which leads to the condition of urahkshat. The clinical features of urahkshat as described in Samhita as
Patients are presented with Uroruk (pain in chest region), which is sometimes accompanied by shonitchardi (haematemesis), and kaaso (cough). These three are the classical features of urahkshat. Further these symptoms are usually accompanied by parshprishtkatigreh (stiffness in chest, back and lumbar region).
Treatment
Planet ayurveda is an herbal manufacturing unit that formulates medicines with strict adherence to ayurvedic texts and ideology. These formulations are gmp certified and are being made from 100% natural sources that too in the guidance and surveillance of our expert team of ayurvedic physicians. Herbal medicines are made with ancient time tested formulas.
Best herbal remedies for the treatment of Costochondritis as suggested by Planet Ayurveda’s experts are as following-
- Boswellia-Curcumin
- Osteo Plan
- Sinhnaad Guggul
- Hakam Churna
Product Description
1. Boswellia-Curcumin
This capsule made by Planet Ayurveda’s experts with the goodness of its two ingredients i.e. standardised extract of Shallaki (Boswellia serrata) along with the functional phytochemical (Curcumin) extracted from Haridra (Curcuma longa). This combination of these two ingredients make it the best remedy for the inflammatory cases. Shallaki has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. And Haridra consists of an abundance of antioxidants that prevent any further infection in the inflammatory condition like costochondritis.
Dosage- Two capsules twice daily, with plain water after meals.
2. Osteo Plan
These are the capsule formulation of Planet Ayurveda made from the ingredients like Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Asthi Shrinkhala (Cissus quadrangularis), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna). This formulation will not only help in relieving the tenderness but helps in strengthening the bones and cartilages. Also the Arjuna helps in improving the heart function and blood circulation. These capsules are thus very much beneficial in Costochondritis condition.
Dosage- One capsule two times a day, after meals with plain water.
3. Sinhnaad Guggul
This is a classical poly herbomineral preparation which is used since ages for relieving the inflammatory and pain related cases. The ingredients of this tablet include triphala (extract of fruits of three herbs namely Terminalia chebula, Terminalia Bellirica, and Emblica Officinalis), along with Guggul (Commiphora mukul) and sudh gandhak (purified form of sulphur) all mixed in the liquid of errand oil (Caster oil). In Costochondritis these ingredients help in elimination of vata dosha due to the presence of errand oil and guggul that relieves the symptom of pain, aggravated pitta dosha is being dealt by the gandhak help in relieving the redness and tenderness associated. And other ingredients i.e. triphala help in eliminating the toxins that promote healing by cleansing and improving blood supply to the affected part.
Dosage- Two tablets twice daily after meals, with lukewarm water. (to be crushed or chewed well before use).
4. Hakam Churna
The ingredients of this churna include Chandrashoor (Lepidium sativum), Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi), Methi (Trigonella foenum) and Kalonji (Nigella sativaa). These all herbs are having vata shamak properties that help in reducing the pain and inflammation of the cartilages and bones or costochondral junction associated with costochondritis. Further use of these herbs for a longer duration also help in promoting the strength of cartilages and bones.
Dosage- 1 teaspoon twice daily with lukewarm water, after meals.
Conclusion
As already discussed this pain usually resolves on its own but in chronic cases this may lead to severe inflammation which may hamper the breathing or swallowing. There is no exact treatment for this disease with Allopathic medicine. They just rely on symptomatic management of the disease by recommending steroidal or nonsteroidal pain killers and other such medications which too have many gastric and other side effects on long term use. Whereas Ayurveda, on the other hand focuses on treating the disease from the root cause by an integrated approach of herbal medication dietary and lifestyle modifications, is the best way of treatment of Costochondritis in a safer and more effective way.
