Private research done on the subject showed that Arthritis affected more than 180 million people in India, its prevalence being higher than many well-known diseases such as diabetes, AIDS and cancer. Arthritis has been most associated with age and nutritional factors and its believed that one must be deprived of physical activities, and that the recovery from the same is a prolonged one. This is one of the many myths that was broken by Dr. Remya Krishnan our expert speaker on ‘Arthritis’ on 28th May 2023.
Dr. Remya Krishnan is an Associate Professor & Head of the Department of Dravyagunavijnan, Rajiv Gandhi Ayurveda Medical College, Government of Puducherry, Mahe. She is a practicing clinician as well as an educator for over 16 years and has developed a novel methodology for standardized decision-making called Evidence Triad Approach(ETA) and the forerunner of the Science Based Evidence Based Ayurveda(SBEBA) project.
Conventional Ayurveda practitioners prescribe between 5- 15 medications without analyzing the specific causal mechanisms behind the nature of Arthritis and the nature of the patient. It may also require multiple admissions and procedures and include pain relief rather than addressing the root cause.
Different types of Arthritis need to be understood and treated in accordance. They include Inflammatory, Degenerative with damage to cartilage , Connective tissue, Infectious, Metabolic Arthritis and Juvenile (Autoimmune). The cause of these are different and unique, needing detailed study and specific management by scientific diagnostic principles of Ayurveda.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the membrane covering joints and this can affect the joints, skin, lungs and eyes too. Inflammation is like fever and pain doesn’t subside with rest. Oil massage and Panchkarma may not be the right solution for inflammatory conditions.
The SBEBA specifies that inflammation causing mechanism needs to be reversed by neutralizing toxins in the Immune system. And in Stage 2 the focus is to rectify the Immune system by scientific practices. The principle of Diet- Exercise – Sleep (DESH) determine the recovery parameters.
Osteoarthritis(OA) or ‘Wear & Tear Arthritis’ is associated with continuous inflammation which leads to pain and stiffening which worsens with time. OA is not due to excessive use of joints or lack of calcium. Its commonly thought that this affects only the elderly but could occur in young with a sedentary lifestyle or abnormal DESH pattern. What’s less known is that pain in OA is caused by inflammation rather than loss of cartilage, hence accurate scientific practices need to be used to repair and restore the joints instead of replacing the same.
Psoriatic arthritis is caused by an altered autoimmune system followed by psoriatic lesions.
Gouty arthritis is associated by sudden swelling, pain and tenderness caused by higher uric acid levels due to sedentary life style, meat eating or certain medications. The good news is that PA can be reversed with fragmented doses of the right Ayurveda formulation.
In conclusion, scientific Ayurveda doesn’t aim at symptomatic care and its possible to reverse symptoms rather than blocking them. It optimizes your immunity, cellular metabolism and internal drainage mechanisms reducing chances of getting Diabetes, heart attack. Its aim is to educate over-medicate and hence its important to give the right feedback to your doctor.
It was an extremely informative session but had to be concluded due to the shortage of time. Dr. Remya can be contacted for consultation through WhatsApp at 828112583 or email drremyaraj@gmail.com or through sbeba.org.in
Photo credits: Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
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