Arthritis

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Understanding Arthritis by Kester Marshall  The most common complaint when when it

 The Western Western Viewpoint

comes to arthritis is pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. This can be the  The Disease Process fingers, the hands, the toes, the feet, the Osteoarthritis develops as a result of ankles, knees, wrists, shoulders, hips, stress and resultant wear and tear on a spine… anywhere. And it doesn’t doesn’t have to particular joint (this can be due to injury be ‘full blown’ arthritis before we start to or infection, excess weight, congenital experience this sort of discomfort. Often reasons or other neuro/muscular pain or stiffness can be mild to begin with dysfunction). First the cartilage and most of us tend to overlook it, push degenrates which then means bone it to the back of our minds or put it surfaces are less well protected and can down to over exercising, age or normal become damaged. This is very painful  wear and tear. Unfortunately this means and can be accompanied by stiffness and that we often don’t get around to doing even locking of of the joint. anything about it until later, when the symptoms are generally worse and the Rheumatoid arthritis on the other hand is a systemic inflammatory as  well as affecting the jointsdisorder can alsothat can affect  Arthritis is a word taken from greek and other tissues and organs. It involves an literally means ‘Joint-Inflammation’. This inflammation and swelling of the capsule inflammation can affect one or more around the joints, excess synovial fluid joints depending on the type of arthritis and the development development of fibrous tissue in and the chronicity or severity severity of the the joint capsule. Long-term this can lead condition. There are many types of to the destruction of cartilage car tilage and even arthritis, including osteoarthritis, fusion of the joints. Rheumatoid Rheumatoid arthritis rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing can also produce inflammation in the spondylitis, gout and even psoriatic lungs, the membranes membranes of the lung arthritis. It can also be a symptom that is (pleura), the membrane around the heart secondary to another disease such as SLE (pericardium), and whites of the eyes (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), (sclera). Although the cause cause of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ross River rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, it is  Virus or Barmah Bar mah Forest Virus (both of considered to be a systemic Autoimmune underlying problem harder to treat.

 which are quite common on the north coast), Ehlers-Danlos Symdrome, Familial Mediterranean Mediterr anean Fever, Haemochromatosis and Sarcoidosis.

Disease.

control and exercise may be recommended depending on the type type of arthritis.  

 The Ayurvedic Viewpoint

 The Disease Process  The ancient Ayurvedic texts describe two two basic types of arthritis that correspond  with osteoarthritis ( Sandhigat Sandhigat Vata   ) and rheumatoid arthritis (   Ama Vat  Vat   ). It is important to remember when considering any disease from an Ayurvedic Ayur vedic perspective that it is not just the disease that is treated, it isasthe person.case Every person is treated a unique and many variables are taken into account to ensure that a treatment program is specifically tailored for them as an individual. Having said that, lets take a look at the disease states of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis from an Ayurvedic perspective…. In Ayurveda, osteoarthritis is considered a disease of malnutrition that tends to affect vulnerable joints (due to previous injury or infection, congenital reasons etc). However, However, as with all disease, to find the root cause of osteoarthritis, we first must look at the processes of digestion, or Agni  or Agni . When Agni  When Agni  (the  (the ‘digestive fire’ ) is not working properly, properly, wastes or toxins t oxins known as Ama are produced instead instead of useful nutrients for the tissues. These toxins accumulate in the gut and at the same time, Vata   (  (   Air/Ether   ) accumulates in the colon.

 Treatment  Treatment  According to conventional conventional medicine, there is no known cure for for any form of In this article I’ve chosen to look at arthritis and treatment is aimed at osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis as minimizing symptoms or modifying the these are generally the most common and disease process. This is usually done using things could get very geeky and and boring if pain killers and NSAIDS (non steroidal  we start considering the rest as well. Lets Lets anti-inflammatory drugs), cortisone start by looking at the main differences (steroids) orally or as injections and in the between them from a western point of case of rheumatoid r heumatoid arthritis, DMARDS DMARDS Causes of Vata aggravation include: eating  view..  view (Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic excessively cold, dry, rough, bitter, astringent or drugs). DMARDS are drugs that are used  pungent foods (including (including an excess of raw foods); alone or in combination to try and irregular schedules or meal times; excessive prevent degenerative tissue changes; they travelling; constant multitasking and rushing include Methotrexate, Sulphasalazine and around; high stress or high anxiety jobs or Hydroxychloroquine. Hydroxyc hloroquine. Apart from situations; lack of of sound sleep; excessively cold or pharmaceuticals, physical therapy, weight dry environments;   a physically or mentally PRODUCED BY THE MUDITA I NSTITUTE



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Panchakarma  is  is essential. Panchakarma   (which means Five-Actions) will remove  Ama  and  and imbalanced Doshas  from  from deep in  This is where Ayurveda and Western Western the tissues enabling progress to be made Medicine differ dramatically. dramatically. If the  Aggravated  Agg ravated Vata  along  along with Ama  with Ama  (toxins)  (toxins) condition is particularly chronic or severe, in a much shorter period of time and enormously reducing the likelihood of move from the gut into the channels of  Ayurvedic treatments can greatly reduce any relapse. circulation, find places in the body that its debilitating effects or help prevent it are weak or vulnerable (in this case the from getting any worse. worse. If it is mediumFrom an Ayurvedic point of view these joints) and  settle in. The qualities of Vata   level chronicity, chronicity, Ayurveda can help to forms of arthritis build in the body fo forr a and this particular type of Ama  of Ama   have have a reverse the disease process, leading to a long time before they become fully catabolic/drying effect that causes state of remission. In many cases, noticeable as ‘Arthritis’. They are deterioration of the soft tissues in the  Ayurveda can actually offer a cure. cure. therefore considered chronic diseases and joints and eventually the bones. At the Because the disease process is very well are usually well established in the body by same time, Ama  time, Ama  can  can block the channels understood, treatments can be applied supplying nutrients to the joints causing that effect change at the root cause of the the time any treatment for them is sought. As with any chronic disease, two further malnutrition. The deterioration disease. of the most important medicines are and subsequent irritation in the joint  patience  and persistence. Sticking with causes inflammation, stiffness, swelling In both cases of arthritis, ar thritis, strengthening prolonged ged and pain.  Agni  and  and removing Ama  removing Ama  is  is the immediate a line of treatment over a prolon period of time (sometimes up to 2 years) concern. Without this any other is necessary but the results are well worth In Ayurveda, rheumatoid arthritis is seen treatment will be of little effect. This is it. as a disease of toxic accumulation and achieved by following a special diet that immune malfunction. In the case case of allows the Agni  the Agni  to  to become stronger and But the best medicine for all of us is that rheumatoid arthritis, there is a very high the body to begin eliminating excess level of accumulated Ama  accumulated Ama  (hence  (hence the toxins. In fact, vast improvements can be of  prevention - following a way of life that supports strong Agni  strong Agni , reduced Ama  reduced Ama   name) and in many cases, a considerable made in terms of inflammation, i nflammation, pain, traumatic event; extreme grief, change or shock; taking drugs; and excessive stimulation and movement.

 Treatment  Treatme nt

swelling and stiffness just by diligently amount of excess heat (or Pitta). This  Ama , combined with aggravated Vata  and  and following the correct diet. Pitta  moves  moves into the channels of the body and begins to affect Ojas  (the  (the vital essence  Along with a well structured approach to of the tissues and the body-mind’s body-mind’s diet, home remedies can also be very ver y strength and immunity). This causes Ojas   helpful, especially if the condition is not to become depleted and its qualities are chronic or severe. Castor oil (1 tsp taken changed. At the same time Ama  time Ama  blocks  blocks before bed with ginger tea), fenugreek ( "  the channels and prevents the production tsp of powder in warm water before before of Ojas , depleting it further. This is the breakfast) and turmeric (1 tsp twice daily) basis of autoimmune-disease. autoimmune-disease. Ojas  begins  begins are common household items and can be to function incorrectly and, along with  very effective when taken consistently consistently  Ama , causes the inflammatory responses, and in the correct way. swelling and pain that we recognize as rheumatoid arthritis. In osteoarthritis the next step after diet and home remedies is to provide support using traditional herbal formulations. for mulations. Causes of Pitta aggravation include: include: eating excessively heating, fried, stimulating, pungent,  These will work more deeply to reduce reduce sour or salty foods and drinks (including red inflammation and swelling, calm the meat, fermented foods, alcohol, coffee, chilli, acidic aggravated Vata  and  and begin nourishing the  foods); exposure to excessively hot or humid humid tissues that have become malnourished or environments; not eating when hungry; living depleted. In the case of rheumatoid with highly irritating situations; excessively arthritis, the emphasis should remain on a heating exercise; excessively hot showers; excessive longer longer-term -term program of  Ama  reduction,  reduction, exposure to anger, violence, conflict and highly plus herbs that reduce inflammation and competitive situations. nourish Ojas  in  in order to correct the inappropriate immune response. Things that deplete Ojas: excessive sexual  Ayurvedic body therapies such such as activity, overwork, stress, physical trauma (such Pindaswed also help enormously with the as a severe sever e car accident), psychological trauma reduction reduc tion of  Ama , swelling, pain and (such as excessive stress or intense grief) and inflammation. vigorous exercise beyond your capacity.

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and balanced Doshas … and seeking help from an Ayurvedic Practitioner when joint pain is still in its earliest stages.  

Kester Marshall has been a practicing  Naturopath, Western Western Herbalist and Ayurvedic Practitioner for over 15 years. He is a regular speaker at Gaia Retreat & Spa in Northern  NSW, teaches the Ayurvedic Ayurvedic component at a number of Yoga Teacher Training Training Programs in Byron Bay and the Gold Coast and  has had articles on Ayurveda published in national national health magazines. Kester is the Director of the Mudita Institute & Health Clinic in Byron Bay.

But for the best possible results,  Ayurveda’ss unique deep cleansing and  Ayurveda’ rejuvenation process known as 2 

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