Amavata
Amavata is a painful condition explained by Ayurveda that is like Rheumatoid Arthritis. Amavata initially manifests as a gut disorder with symptoms of indigestion and loss of appetite. As the condition persists it encroaches all the tissues, bones, muscles, joints, and multiple organs which results in a complex of symptoms.
The condition will continue to progress due to the vicious amalgamation of morbid vata and ama. Ama is the immature nutritional essence formed in the stomach due to agnimandhya (slow digestion) and ajeerna (indigestion). The ama enters circulation as an unprocessed immature form of nutrients and is made available to all the tissues and organs of the body. Since it is immature, the tissues can take it but cannot metabolize it due to lack of identification. It is therefore stored in the cells and is neither digested nor flushed out. Owing to its sticky nature ama blocks and clogs all the channels of nutrition in the body. This depletes the nutrition and essential materials to the tissues and organs. As a result, there is multiple tissue damage and wide array of diseases are manifested.
Causative factors of Amavata
- Viruddha ahara – mutually incompatible foods
- Viruddha chesta – unwholesome lifestyle practices
- Mandagni – long term low metabolism and digestion
- Nischal – sedentary life activities
- Snigdha bhojana vyayama – consuming unctuous, oily, and heavy foods prior to exercise
Preliminary symptoms
In the initial stage’s symptoms appear as slow digestions and indigestion and is just the beginning of dosa morbidity and has not yet settled in the joints.
- Angamarda – pain in body parts, general body ache
- Aruchi – anorexia, tastelessness
- Trishna – thirst
- Alasya – lethargy, weakness
- Gaurava – heaviness of the body
- Jwara – fever
- Apaka – indigestion
- Shunata – swelling of body parts
In the later stages when the condition spreads to the joints, tissues, and organs there are multiple symptoms of tissue and organ damage.
Signs and symptoms of Amavata
- Saruja shopha – painful swelling in the joints of hasta (hand), pada (foot), shira (head and neck), gulpha (ankle), trika (sacrum and coccygeal), janu (knee), uru (thigh, hip).
- Vrishika damshavat peeda – pain mimicking that of a scorpion sting
- Agni dourbalya – sluggish digestion
- Praseka – excessive salivation, nausea
- Aruchi – tastelessness, anorexia
- Gouravam – heaviness of the body
- Utsaha hani – lack of enthusiasm
- Vairasyam – sensation of abnormal taste in the mouth
- Daaha – burning sensation
- Bahumutrata – excessive urination
- Grahani dosha – contamination of intestines
- Apakwa mala – stools comprise of indigested food
- Kukshi kathinata – hardness of abdomen
- Shulam – colic
- Nidra viparyaya – sleep disturbances
- Trishna – thirst
- Chardi – vomiting
- Bhrama – giddiness
- Murcha – fainting
- Hrid graham – feeling of tightness of chest
- Antra kujana – gurgling sounds in the abdomen
- Anaha – flatulence
Sandhigata Vata
Sandhigata Vata is another painful condition explained by Ayurveda which is like Osteoarthritis. Sandhigata Vata means the invasion and localization of morbid vata in the joints of the body which produces pain, swelling, and impaired mobility.
Causative factors of Sandhigata Vata
Since this disorder is caused by vitiated vata, all the foods and lifestyle activities which cause Vata Prakopa (increase) are responsible for Sandhigata Vata.
- Vyayama – excessive exercise
- Apatarpana – excessive fasting
- Prapatana – accident or injury
- Bhanga – bone fractures
- Kshaya – depletion of tissues, undernourished
- Jaagarat – awake all night
- Veganam cha vidharanat – suppression of natural body urges
- Ati shuchi – improper administration of Panchakarma
- Shaityadi – excessive intake of cold foods and activities
- Traasaat – fear
- Ruksha – excessive intake of dry foods
- Kashaya – excessive intake of astringent foods
- Tikta – excessive intake of bitter foods
- Katu – excessive intake of pungent foods
- Vari-ghanagame – cloudy rainy season
- Parinate anne – post digestion of food
- Aparahne – evening time
Among the causative factors, Asthivaha Sroto Dushti (contamination of channels providing nutrition to the bones) and Vatala Ahara Vihara (vata increasing food and activities) is also explained. In case of Sandhigata Vata, the vitiated vayu gets lodged in the weakened asthi dhatu (bone tissue) and asthi-sandhi (bony joints).
Asthi dhatu and vata always are related to each other in an ashraya-ashrayi or natural relationship. Thus, pathological increase or decrease of vata has a serious impact and damaging effect on bone tissue more than any other tissue. Dhatu kshaya (depletion of tissues) is also a direct cause for aggravation of vata.
Thus, in Sandhigata Vata there may be direct or indirect depletion of all the tissues, leading to deterioration in immunity and integrity of the body. When the vitiated vata has considerably damaged the bones and joints many complications like immobility, deformity, and crippling are present.
Signs and symptoms of Sandhigata Vata
- Shula – joint pain
- Atopa – sound of crepitus in the joints, looseness of the joints
- Shotha – joint swelling
- Prasarana Akunchanayoho pravritti savedana – painful immobility of the joints
Both Amavata and Sandhigata Vata are two very different types of arthritis understood by Ayurveda and it takes a trained Ayurvedic doctor to fully understand the correct holistic management. If you or your clients have arthritis or chronic joint pain, we recommend consulting with Dr. Vishwanath, our own senior Ayurvedic Doctor, who is also a staff member.
An Ayurvedic consultation will help you understand the root cause of your painful joint condition as well as the best protocol for fast relief from the discomfort it causes. If you would like an Ayurvedic consultation or mentorship, visit our website to meet Dr. Vishwanth and schedule your consultation now.
Kottakkal Products for Arthritis
Ostikot Tablets are an ideal herbal product which helps in managing Sandhigata Vata or Osteoarthritis as it helps reduce inflammation, pain, and further degeneration of joints and strengthens damaged cartilage. This tablet contains the following ingredients in equal proportion; Rasna, Aragvadha, Sunthi, Trikantaka, Tribulus Eranda, Punarnava and Guggulu.
Rhukot Tablets are a unique herbal product that helps manage inflammation and pain caused by Amavata or Rheumatoid Arthritis. This tablet helps remove the accumulated ama (toxins) from the body, and has free radical scavenging and immune-modulatory activity. The main ingredients in this tablet are Bala & Guduchi.
Bala Tailam Softgel Capsules has remarkable results in arthritis, as it helps to nourish the bones, muscles, and cartilage, reduces vata in the joints and nerves, and increases flexibility in the tendons, muscles, and joints. It is famous for all vata conditions including all types of avarana vata conditions.
Original source: Dr JV Hebbar, EasyAyurveda.com
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Kottakkal Ayurveda products and this information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. If you have serious, acute, or chronic health problems, please consult a trained health professional. If you are seeking the medical advice of a trained Ayurvedic practitioner or doctor, call (800) 215-9934 or email us at contact@kottakkal.shop and we will provide you with one of our affiliated Ayurvedic professionals. Check with your doctor before taking herbs when pregnant or nursing.