HOW AYURVED TREATMENT IS HELPFUL IN AMAVATA ?

In Ayurvedic texts Amavata is considered a painful condition in which aggravation of Vata dosha is associated with Ama ( metabolic toxins) and generally affects joints. The main reason for development of this disorder is said to be deranged digestion and metabolism (agni). This condition is correlated with Rheumatoid arthritis due to same clinical features in modern day.

The diseased is seems to be simple but its prognosis is not so good. Concept of Ama is quite unique in Ayurveda. Ama is immature nutritional essence formed in stomach because of poor digestion of ingested food. The nutritional essence is quite immature and unprocessed which goes into circulation and is made available to all body tissues. As ama is unprocessed it is not metabolized by the tissues and gets accumulated there. The accumulated ama due to its sticky nature clogs all channels of nutrition in body leading to depletion of tissues and organs . This depletion leads to multiple tissue damage and manifestation of different conditions.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF AMAVATA ?

• Viruddha Ahara – Consumption of incompatible combination of foods.
• Virruddha Chesta-Indulging unwholesome lifestyle practices
• Nischala – Leading sedentary life
• Mandagni – Low metabolism and slow digestion for longer period
• Snigdha bhojana, Vyayama – Indulging in exhausting activities immediately after consumption of heavy/ unctuous to digest food.

PATHOGENESIS :

• Due to above mentioned causes there is formation of plenty of ama in body.
• There is also vitiation of Vata dosha which pushes the already formed ama into different parts of the body through circulation
• The Vata pushes ama into Sites of Kapha i.e. bony joints and muscles.
• Ama on further vitiation by kapha and vata enters the circulation and gets associated with morbid Pitta which give corrosive nature to combination.
• The corrosive combination tends to destroy every organ and tissue which comes in contact with it .
• It gets lodged into various joints mostly pelvis, lower back and hips and produce stiffness and severe pain there.

SYMPTOMS OF AMAVATA :

In initial stages Amavata produce symptoms like :

• Aruchi- Decreased appetite
• Angamarda -General body aches
• Trishna-Increased thirst
• Alasya- Weakness or Lethargy
• Gaurava- Feeling of heaviness in body
• Jwara-Fever
• Shunata- Swelling in body parts
• Apaka- Indigestion

Symptoms manifested in later stages when it spreads to joints, tissues and organs are :

• Saruja shopha -Painful swelling of hands and feet.
• Agni dourbalya – weak digestive fire
• Vrishika damshavat peeda- Pain which mimicks the scorpion sting.
• Parseka- Excessive salivation.
• Aruchi-Anorexia
• Gaurava- Feeling of heaviness in body
• Utsaha Hani- Lack of enthusiasm
• Daaha- burning sensation.
• Varirasyam- Abnormal taste in mouth
• Bahumutrata-Increased urination
• Apakwa mala- Stools comprised of indigested food.
• Grahani Dosha- Contaminated intestines
• Kukshi kathinata- Hard abdominal muscles
• Chardi-Vomiting
• Hrid graham- Tightness of chest
• Anaha- Flatulence

MODERN CORRELATION OF AMAVATA WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS:

In modern Amavata is correlated with Rheumatoid arthritis due to similar clinical features. RA is an auto-immune disorder of the joints that causes swelling, stiffness, joint pain and decreased joint movements of the affected joints. In active Ra their presence of stiffness of affected joints in morning time which can last one to two hours and gradually subsides with movement of joints.

CAUSES OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS :

As it is a auto-immune disease exact cause is not known but certain factors contributes increasing the development of RA. The factors includes:

• Obesity
• Weak immunity
• Family history of RA
• Old age
• Hormonal imbalance
• Women are more prone to RA than men.

SYMPTOMS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS :

Common symptoms that are experienced by most Rheumatoid arthritis patients includes:

• Morning stiffness in affected joints that last for 1to 2 hours
• Swelling, stiffness and tenderness in more than one joint
• Mild fever
• Stiffness and pain in same joints on both sides
• Fatigue
• Appetite loss
• Weight loss
• Decreased range of motion of affected joint.

MANAGEMENT OF AMAVATA THROUGH AYURVEDIC TREATMENT :

As Amavata is caused due to vitiation of tridosha along with formation  of Ama in body due to vitiated digestive fire , so the treatment should be done accordingly. The line of treatment for Amavata includes :

• Langhana(fasting)- It is first line of treatment which is used for the digestion already formed Ama dosha. It usually mean intake of light to digest food items than complete fasting.
• Swedana (Sudation therapy) – Swedana therapy is done externally on affected joints to provide relief from the symptoms like joint pain, stiffness and swelling. Most commonly Rooksha valuka sweda is recommended in Amavata condition as it not only helps to pacify vata thus reduce pain and swelling it is also helpful for removal ama accumulated in joints.
• Tikta and Katu Deepana – Use of medicienes having tikta (bitter) and katu(pungent) taste which helps to increase the digestive fire that in turn digest the ama .
• Virechana(purgation) – It helps to normalize the gati of vata thus reducing the symptoms it produce in amavata. It has direct effects on agnisthana thus improving the digestive fire also.
• Vasti(Enemas)- Vasti is the most effective treatment in panchakarma for vitiated vata dosha. Adminstration of panchamuladi vastu ,kshara vasti etc combats both vata and ama and leads to samprapti vighatana of amavata.

PATHYA AHARA :

• Red rice
• Shyamaka
• Kodrava
• Drunstick
• Pointed gourd
• Bitter gourd
• Ginger
• Hot water
• Barley
• Horse gram

APATHYA AHARA :

• Fish
• Curd
• Jaggery
• Contaminated water
• Unconducive foods
• Heavy to digest food items
• Milk
• Upodika