ARTHRITIS – THE MODERN CONCEPT
The term arthritis covers a group of more than 100 disease that involve inflammation of joints and discomfort in connective tissues throughout the body. In many parts of the world the disease is called rheumatism.
The arth part comes from the greek word meaning joint, while itis means inflammation or infection. Thus the word arthritis means inflammation of joist.
There are three great enemies of mankind,
1 Atherosclerosis – which is a greatest killer.
2 Rheumatoid Arthritis – which is the greatest crippler
3 Psychological Diseases – which is the greatest social problem.
The most common forms
The most common forms of arthritis are osteo – arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In the U.S over 16 million people have osteo arthritis and about 6 million people have rheumatoid arthritis. Osteo arthritis is sometime known as the wear and tear disease or old age arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is inflammatory and attacks more than one joint. It may cause disease in the lungs, skin, blood vessels, eyes,spleen,and heart.this is a type of arthritis that can cripple and even kill. It is a chronic disease, but in some cases aute spells occur when inflammation flares up unpredictably. About three times more women have this type than men.
The wear and tear disease
Osteo arthritis affects more people than any other type.. physicians refer it as a degenerative joint disease. Patient usually know this disease best as old age arthritis.
How is osteo arthritis is treated
There is no cure for osteo arthritis. The goal of therapy is to control the disease and possibly slow its progress by keeping the affected joints mobile, preventing further disability , and relieving pain. In some cases drugs,special exercises, rest and heart are effective.
Especially a weight reducing diet does help the patients of osteo arthritis.
What causes Rheumatoid Arthritis ?
It most commonly affects people between ages of 20 and 40. the cause for rheumatoid arthritis is unknown.
How is Rheumatoid Arthritis is diagnosed ?
A test calles ESR( Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) will indicate the presence of any inflammation in your body.
Another test with blood sample determine the presence of R.A.(Rheumatoid Arthritis) factor, an abnormal antibody present in most people who have rheumatoid arthritis.
How is Rheumatoid Arthritis is treated.
The goal of therapy are reduction of inflammation and pain, preservation of function, and prevention of deformity.
Treatment for arthritis
Cold treatment:- usually it is recommended for the first 24 to 48 hours after an acute injury.
NSAID (Non Steroidal Anti – Inflammatory Drugs):- most of them act like aspirin in that they interfere with the formation of prostaglandins, which trigger the inflammation.
Steroid;- steroid s are the most potent anti inflammatory drugs available. Normally your body makes its own steroids, but when you begin to take steroids as drugs , your body slowly loses its ability to produce them. For this reason , when you go off a steroid programme you must do it very slowly so your body can regain its ability to produce its own steroids. An abrupt cessation of the drug could subject your body to a harmful jolt. This is why its most important to follow your doctors exact instructions concerning steroids.
Remission including drugs:- Still in the experimental stage is a new gold containing drugs that can be taken orally. This would be a great advantage, because the present weekly injections may be painful and require frequent visits to the physician’s office.
Predisposing factors of Arthritis
- Normal ageing process
- Overstraining of back may cause it.
- Hereditary factors cant be ruled out.
- Occupation and life style may also be related to arthritis.
- Overweight may also affect the larger weight bearing joints.
- Rise in uric acid in blood serum.
- Mental tension/ stress can also be counted.
- Whether conditions have also been considered responsible for causing arthritis especially damp and cold water.
AYURVEDIC CONCEPT OF AAM – VATA
The general symptoms of the disease are ,
- Body ache
- Lassitude
- Heaviness
- Fever
- Swelling
- Loss of appetite
- Indigestion
- Constipation or Diarrhoea
If we evaluate these symptoms according to doshas , they are mainly of vata and kapha . Pain the predominant symptom of vata; all other symptoms show kapha derangement. No vruddhi or growth without kapha.
As far as the ayurvedic aetiology of AAM – VATA is concerned, mainly jataragni is involved. Agni is the fire. It can be slow ( mand), intense (tikshna) , alternating (vishamam), or normal ( sam ).
If the fire is normal the digestion is perfect. If the fire is intense then the food is over cooked or burnt. If the fire is slow or mand then the food remain half cooked or ill cooked. Or improperly cooked. Then it is not useful and hence the body tissue don’t accept them and hence it is a waste called AAM, because they cant be assimilated in to the dhatus.
According to Ayurveda , GIT changes are primary and fundamental. The pre requisite in the series of pathogenesis of R.A. is the hypo functioning of the digestive mechanism or impaired digestion.
The AAM is so formed is sticky , cold and heavy. It gets deposited in the various channels of circulation and obstruct the passage of VATA. Where ever the passage is obstructed there is congestion or inflammation. There is an association of vata and aam and the disease which manifests itself is known as AAM- VATA. So aama – vata is a vata kaphaja derangement. Food and mode of living which aggravates vatha and kapha precipitate the disease and hence they should be avoided.
The aam literally means unripe , uncooked, immature or undigested indicating the incomplete processing due to deficiency of chemical of physical fire ( agni). In humans it refers to incomplete digestion of fooddue to impared digestive secretions. Ofcourse in relation of RA the role of impaired digestive mechanism has been focussed as a primary cause.
As we have stated above RA is not a localised disorder but a systemic one . the systemic manifestation of symptoms are loss of appetite. Excessive salivation, bad taste in the mouth, thirst , nausea, vomiting, gurgling, constipation, pain and distension, of abdomen, polyurea, giddiness, cardiac irregularities, disturbed sleep, lassitude, heaviness and burning sensation in the body.
In modern science, shatin etc…have also confirmed the involvement of digestive system in the etiology of RA, which is very closer to Ayurvedic concept.
If we accept this etiology then we have to follow the principles of Ayurveda enunciated in the treatment of this disease – RA and that is FASTING.
Fasting does not mean abstaining from food only. It is also advised to keep cool and have physical and mental rest.
SO THE TREATMENT (therapy and drug) SHOULD BE
· Clinically well tried
· Should be backed by long clinical experience.
· Should be harmless.
· Should satisfy the etiological points enunciated in Ayurveda.
· Should protect and preserve vital organs and there functions.
· Should prevent catabolic effects of modern NSAID
· Must have quick and lasting penetration to have immediate and lasting effect.
· Should have balanced combination of drugs so as to have a synergistic action.
· It should have anti – inflammatory and analgesic effect.
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