- Connective tissue disorders – sparked by auto-immunity to the antibiotics that our body develops over time
- Senile degradation of tissues like bones, muscles
- Damage to digestive system and kidneys
Ayurved defines the scope of the word “Joint” differently – not only bone joints (like knee, shoulder, hip etc) considered as joints but also the joints between nerves, arteries, veins, those between different channels and tissues in our body. The sheer number of joints just cannot be counted – there are innumerable joints! After all one must not forget the blood – the largest connective tissue in the body – when considering “Joints”. It plays a vital role in the auto immunity and is THE link between the digestive system and the connective tissues of various types.
This difference in approach towards what is considered as a joint, leads to further differences in the approach towards treatment. While Allopathy aims at controlling pain, Ayurved aims at curing the root cause of the pain. What’s more is that as per Ayurved, cerebral infracts as well as the Valve atreisa in the cardiac valves is just as possible to be treated as the strictures and curvatures formed in the hand and leg joints. Many disorders that are ‘untreatable’ by Allopathic medicine like sub dermal sclerosis, interstitial lung fibrosis and fibrosis and sclerosis of any connective tissue (e.g. sclerotic patches in the brain) any where in the body can be treated by Ayurvedic medicines.
What happens inside the body when you experience joint pain?
Initially, the pain occurs in the muscles that pull the concerned bone, the muscles become taut & stretched and need antispasmodic treatment and good lubrication.
If so-called ‘pain-relieving’ medicines taken at this stage, the renal load tends to increase causing the swelling around the joint to increase further. In many cases where the patient is hypertensive there is the danger of ‘modern’ medicine to treat the bone-joints for pain rather than the muscles surrounding the bones that actually cause the spasmodic pain.
How does Ayurved treat joint pains?
These cases are better treated by treating the circulating load causing hypertension. In a few cases there is extravasation of blood / plasma around the joint and is above the joint proper and its coverings. In such cases the approach is to be changed and the swelling needs to be drained to give immediate relief. The consolidation of blood / plasma should be liquefied before trying to drain it. Small edema in the joint coverings can be taken care of by applying the medicine on the skin (Lepa), dusting & dry rubbing of medicine powders (Udgharshana, Avachoornana). Edema of the bony tissue is to be treated in a different manner by using bone metabolism enhancers and specific agents that can eliminate the debris through colon. The bone edema in consolidated form (osteophytes) can be resolved by using bone reabsorbing medicines. The worn out bones can be regenerated by using specific Rasayana Medicines. Bones can be reshaped and surfaces hardened. In order to maintain the joint spaces mechanical measures like Padmasana, Swastikasana etc. can be effectively used with supporting changes in lifestyle. The results can be maintained by exercise to elevate metabolic rate and dietary support for bone density. What is most noteworthy is that the auto-immunity caused by dosages of (damage-causing) antibiotics can be redeemed by treating with agents that can dissolve the proteins that make up the excess antibodies. These agents act by helping the liver step up the metabolism to stop further production of antibodies until the optimum balance is achieved.
In infective conditions of the joints, antimicrobials given in the texts are to be employed & in mycobacterium infection the medicines from Rajayakshma are to be employed.
Medicine resistance is a risk that can occur with the joint pains and disorders. In such cases the usual modus operandi is halted while resolving the resistance to medicine takes priority. For this different approaches are given in the Ayurvedic texts. I have practiced these and have observed the medicines to be working at 100% efficiency.
Immune boosting at the end of treatment can be considered – I call it an optional necessity. This is done using different Rasayanas.
Due consideration must also be given to the fact that our joints are linked to each other and linked with our body organs by specific electrical linkages…and hence, there exists a different course of medicine for each specific joint area. For instance, the treatment for joint problems in the area around the right knee is not the same as that for joint pains in the area around the left knee. In both sided joint pains the entire complex pathology is analyzed carefully and medicine pattern needs to be designed based on the priorities and dependencies.
As you see, joint pains are curable – even without joint-replacement! However, the treatment is complex and needs to be handled by an expert Ayurvedic practitioner. I would strongly advise that one does NOT experiment with treating oneself without proper knowledge of Ayurved.
Keep Healthy and Happy !!
