What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect joints. In some people, this condition can damage various body parts, including the skin, eyes, heart, lungs, and blood vessels. It is a long-term disease that affects the lining of the joints, causing local damage, pain, and swelling that ultimately leads to bone erosion and joint deformity.
As the disease progresses, other joints may be affected, like the wrist, knees, ankles, elbows, hips, and shoulders.
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
With Rheumatoid Arthritis, there are times when symptoms get worse, known as flares, and when symptoms improve, known as remissions.
Signs and symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis include-
- Pain or tenderness in joints
- Stiffness in joints
- Aching and swelling in more than one joint
- Symptoms are same on both sides of the body (e.g. in both hands or both knees)
- Fever
- Tiredness or Fatigue
- Weakness
- Weight Loss
Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis
There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis and it is a lifelong progressive disease with few symptoms. Several medications, rehabilitation therapies, and surgery have dramatically improved treatment options that have helped slow down or prevent its progression and symptoms.
There are certain medications to cure Rheumatoid Arthritis-
NSAIDs- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce pain and relieve inflammation. Over-the-counter NSAIDs include naproxen sodium (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others).
Conventional DMARDs- These medicines can slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and prevent the joints from permanent damage. Common DMARDs include leflunomide (Arava), methotrexate (Trexall, Otrexup, others), hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine).
Steroids- Corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone, reduce inflammation and pain and slows down joint damage.
Ayurveda Cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Ayurveda is an ancient medical approach from India that focuses on holistic treatment for health. Ayurveda began in ancient India i.e. more than 3,000 years ago. As the heart of this medical system, it is the belief that illness is caused by an imbalance in the person's environment, mind, body, and spirit. Lifestyle changes and home remedies help restore this balance.
According to Ayurvedic belief, every human being consists of five elements (water, air, fire, space, and earth). These elements create three doshas, or life forces called Pitta, Vata, and Kapha, which affect a person's likelihood of falling ill.
In Ayurveda, Rheumatoid Arthritis is referred to as Amavata, a joint disease caused by Vata imbalance. The goal is to reactivate Asthi and Majjadhatu will help strengthen your nervous system and brain.
Ayurvedic principles, dietary and lifestyle changes have long been described in ayurvedic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis like Panchakarma, Langhanam, etc.
Home Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis for treatment at home works to restore the balance between body, mind, and spirit. There are different types of remedies and lifestyle changes you can make.
Stretching- Stretching the muscles around the affected joints can help reduce the discomfort and pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Simple stretching exercises can greatly reduce joints pain.
Exercise- Light, fast, low-stress exercises such as yoga, Pilates, swimming, and cycling can be beneficial for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Swimming and cycling are low-impact exercises that can also effectively strengthen joint muscles and reduces weight.
Hot and cold compresses- Applying hot or cold compresses can help relieve discomfort in the affected area. You can apply an ice pack (ice cubes wrapped in a cloth, as ice should not be applied directly to the skin) or a heating pad to the affected area to relieve pain.
Adequate rest- A balance between an active lifestyle and rest is important to avoid undue stress on the joints. A sedentary lifestyle can worsen joint pain, while overactivity can also exacerbate joint inflammation and pain. A doctor or physical therapist can advise you on achieving the right balance.
Stress Management- Reducing physical and psychological stress can benefit people with rheumatoid arthritis. Stress reduction can be achieved through meditation, yoga, tai chi, or emotional stress counseling.
Diet- A plant-based diet can improve and benefit rheumatoid arthritis patients and improve overall health. A vegan diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and whole grains significantly reduces inflammation, pain, and discomfort associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Fish Oil- Fish oil contains a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, which reduces inflammation and pain and promotes overall health. Fish oil supplements can be taken daily along with anti-inflammatory drugs that block inflammatory receptors.
Spices- Spices such as cinnamon, black pepper, garlic, and ginger, when added to food, can help with joint pain and slow disease progression. This spice contains polyphenols, which are compounds that help reduce degenerative changes in cells.
Green tea- The polyphenols and antioxidants in green tea are great in reducing joint pain in some patients.
Turmeric and Curcumin- Turmeric and curcumin have anti-inflammatory properties that cures joint pain and knee pain effectively. They can be added to herbal tea or taken as a dietary supplement.
Conclusion
Ayurvedic therapies and home remedies for arthritis can be easily and safely integrated into your life. If you want to know more about Ayurvedic medicines for arthritis.
In this case, you can try our Sandi Karma Ayurvedic Massage Oil for joint and knee pain. This ayurvedic massage oil for arthritis acts best in treating joint pain, inflammation, or swelling due to the presence of pain-relieving ingredients, rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
You can also try our Sandi Joint Karma Yog Ayurvedic Arthritis Medicine for joint swelling and pain. It acts as the best arthritis ayurvedic tablet for knee pain and joint pain due to its useful medicinal properties like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, laxative, and antibacterial properties. It is an effective and 100% natural treatment for treating arthritis without any side effects