Introduction
Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune condition in which the immune system attacks the healthy cells of the body considering them to be foreign particles. It largely affects the joints by causing severe pain and swelling and results in bone erosion and joint deformity. Advanced treatment and medications have been developed for rheumatoid arthritis, but in severe cases, it may lead to physical disabilities. Ayurveda is a holistic practice that emphasizes food, exercise, and other lifestyle changes.
What Are the Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
The symptoms may vary depending on the severity of the condition. The symptoms are:
- Joint pain and swelling.
- Stiffness of joints, which worsens during morning and if immobile.
- Fatigue.
- Fever.
- Loss of appetite.
Initially, rheumatoid arthritis occurs in smaller joints that attach the fingers to the hands and toes to the feet. In the long term, it affects the knee, wrist, ankle, elbow, shoulders, and hip.
What Are the Risk Factors?
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Sex- Women are more vulnerable to rheumatoid arthritis.
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Age- It occurs at any age but is usually seen more in middle-aged persons.
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Family History- It is more common to inherit from the family. If a member of a family is affected by rheumatoid arthritis, they are more likely to transfer the gene to the next generation.
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Smoking- Smoking increases the risk of the occurrence of the disease. It is associated with great disease severity.
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Overweight- People who are overweight have a high risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
How Does Ayurveda Help With Rheumatoid Arthritis?
People with rheumatoid arthritis may feel better by following an ayurvedic diet, lifestyle practices, and yoga. This ayurvedic practice may help to deal with inflammation, reduce symptoms, and restrict flare-ups. Ayurveda is based on three doshas:
- Vata (air)- which means to blow or move like air.
- Pitta (fire)- refers energy state of a person’s body.
- Kapha- it refers to water and earth.
Research tells that people with rheumatoid arthritis experience pitta imbalance which causes the inflammation of the joints. This is accompanied by Vata imbalance which is responsible for joint pain. Conditions vary from person to person, so a consultation with the doctor before the following ayurveda is advisable.
What Is the Recommended Diet?
Food is recommended to balance both vata and pitta, which are responsible for the inflammation and pain of the joints. The food recommended is similar to that of amavata, a condition related to joints.
Food to Be Taken:
- Easily digestible grains like cooked rice and oats.
- Legumes such as lentils, dal, and mung beans.
- Lukewarm water enhances digestion and helps remove toxins.
- Vegetables, berries, buttermilk, and wild animal meat.
- Include ginger, turmeric, and garlic which helps in digestion.
Food to Be Avoided:
- Chili powder and cayenne pepper.
- Tough digestible fruits and vegetables like turnip, onion, apple, and broccoli.
- Avoid sour and fermented food like cheese, cream, green grapes, pineapple, and grapefruit.
- Avoid alcohol and salt.
Overall, the fruits and vegetables should be cooked. Sweet fruits and vegetables, like squash, sweet potato, cooked resins, and cooked apples, should be used. Spices are important in ayurveda, but fiery hot spices like chili powder or cayenne pepper should not be used; instead, cinnamon, nutmeg, and turmeric can be used.
What Are the Exercises to Be Followed?
Before practicing any physical activity, consultation with a doctor is necessary as heavy exercises may worsen the condition. Only low-impact physical activities should be followed that are gentle on the joints.
Activities to Be Done Are-
- Yoga.
- Walking.
- Simple stretches reduce the pain in the case of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Simple motion exercises to avoid immobility of the joints.
Along with the exercises, hot and cold packs should be applied to the affected area to reduce discomfort and pain. Ice packs should not be applied directly; instead, they should be wrapped in a cloth and should be applied.
How Does Sleep Affect the Rheumatoid Arthritis Condition?
Usually, people with severe pain tend to have a disturbed sleep cycle and are awake at night. Specific changes are to be made in the sleep cycle, such as
- Sleep early.
- Massage the feet with warm sesame oil.
- Consumption of honey and warm water before sleep.
How Does Yoga Help?
Yoga helps to deal with the physical and mental health of the person. Yoga helps to reduce physical pain, enhance overall health and energy, and deal with mental depression. People with rheumatoid arthritis should consult a doctor before starting yoga to know how long yoga should be performed and what yoga postures should be modified. Certain yoga postures should be avoided as they can worsen the condition.
What Are the Other Lifestyle Changes to Follow?
Before starting any lifestyle changes or physical activity, consultation with a doctor is recommended; as the person may be under any medication, these lifestyle changes may interfere with the treatment.
Some of the other lifestyle changes are
- Herbs and supplements.
- Oil therapy.
- Purification rituals.
- Hot and cold therapy.
- Castor therapy.
Why Is Ayurveda Chosen for Rheumatoid Arthritis?
It Works on the Root Cause-
Unlike other treatment procedures, which directly look into the symptoms, ayurveda starts from the root cause of the disease. It begins by detoxing the entire body, which helps medicines to work more effectively. Ayurveda treatment can be a personalized treatment with herbs, and medicines.
It Acts More Than Just Medicine-
Other than ayurvedic treatment, home regimes, and lifestyle changes play a major role in complementing the benefits of the treatment. Ayurveda gives equal importance to diet and lifestyle.
Reduces Health Risks-
It prevents the occurrence of severe health risks that are caused due to untreated underlying medical conditions., People who have undergone complete ayurveda treatment will have a reduced risk of health complications in the future.
What Are the Other Complementary Therapies?
- Aromatherapy- Massage with essential oils reduces inflammation and pain once a week.
- Meditation- People with rheumatoid arthritis suffer from mental stress due to severe pain. Practicing yoga and meditation helps to calm the mind, which in turn enhances a better mental state, a drop in inflammatory markers, reduction in the severity of the symptoms.
- Acupuncture- Acupuncture reduces inflammation around the knees and regulates the autoimmune response.
Conclusion
Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune condition that causes painful joints; in severe conditions, it also affects other organs like skin, eyes, and other organs. Many advanced treatments and medications have been developed, but ayurvedic medications, proper food habits, and a healthy lifestyle improve the condition. Any lifestyle changes or physical activity should be initiated only after consultation with the doctor. Low-impact exercise or yoga, along with ayurvedic treatment, helps to deal with the immobility of the joints but may worsen the pain. Therefore, ayurvedic treatment helps to completely cure the condition by treating the root cause and restoring a healthy life.
