Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic condition of the joints in which the cartilage cushioning the ends of the bones gradually loses its elasticity. It occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones wears down over time.
Osteoarthritis can damage any joint in our body, the disorder most commonly affects joints in your hands, knees, hips and spine.
It is also known as Sandhivata.
X-rays of the affected joints can be used to diagnose osteoarthritis. The common X-ray findings of osteoarthritis include loss of joint cartilage, narrowing of the joint space between adjacent bones and bone spur formation.
Symptoms:
- Pain
- Tenderness. Your joint may feel tender when you apply light pressure to it.
- Stiffness. Joint stiffness may be most noticeable when you wake up in the morning or after a period of inactivity.
- Loss of flexibility. You may not be able to move your joint through its full range of motion.
- Grating sensation. You may hear or feel a grating sensation when you use the joint.
- Bone spurs. These extra bits of bone, which feel like hard lumps, may form around the affected joint.
Causes:
Excessive consumption of dry, cold or stale food, exposure to severe cold and dry weather, excessive use of joint, obesity, joint injury, heredity and old age are the main causative factors.In old age, the water content of the cartilage increases and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates as a function of biologic processes.
According to Ayurveda, Osteoarthritis or shandhivat occurs due to increases of Vata Dosha inside the shandhi or joints. Vata governs all movements in the body as well as mind. Vata are dry in nature, destructive or catabolic in nature due to dry in nature it absorbs the fluidity from any part of the body.Destructive or catabolic in nature, it causes destruction of the cartilages and reduction in the Synovial Fluid inside the joint capsule.
Ayurvedic Medicine for Fever, Diet & Lifestyle:
- Avoid carbonated drinks, preserved and packaged foods and dry or cold food items.
- Applying local heat before and cold packs after exercise can help relieve pain and inflammation.
- Exercise including walking stationary cycling and light weight training is helpful for relief of symptoms of osteoarthritis in several ways, including strengthening the muscular support around the joints. It also prevents the joints from "freezing up" and improves and maintains joint mobility.
- Do not withhold natural urges (such as stool, urinating.)
Home Remedy:
The goal of treatment in osteoarthritis is to reduce joint pain and inflammation while improving and maintaining joint function by as rest, exercise, diet control with weight reduction, physical therapy, occupational therapy and mechanical support devices such as knee braces.
Vata pacify treatments through specific herbs are also suggested for lubrication and strengthening of joints.
The herbs used in osteoarthritis such as boswellia, turmeric, ashwagandha, ginger, triphala, guggulu, and shatavari have all been shown to decrease inflammation.
Note:
Medicine should be taken according to vaidya/docter
Treatment with Remedies and Ayurvedic Medicine