Sandhi vata :- OSTEOARTHRITIES

Sandhi Vatam

Osteo arthritis is the most common form of the Arthritis. It is mostly found in the aged people. It is commonly known as O.A. and also called degenerative arthritis and degenerative joint disease. This is a condition in which low grade inflammation results in pain in the joints by wearing of the cartilages. These cartilages act as a cushion inside the joints. When these cushions are not in a proper form the bones making a joint touch each other and cause pain. The second reason is, decrease or destruction in the synovial fluid in side the space of a joint. This fluid is unctuous in nature and helps in a friction less activity of a joint. When any of these two conditions start appearing in the joint (Loss of cartilages or decrease in synovial fluid) pain appears in the joints. Generally the pain in the Osteoarthritis is aching with loss of mobility of the effected joint.          Due to loss of movement muscles and ligaments surround the joint are also weakened due to lesser uses and disability increases with the time. Generally OA attacks the bigger and weight bearing joints. Knee and elbow joints are the mostly effected. Because OA proceeds slowly-slowly, that is why a patient “awakens” when a lot of damage has occurred inside the joint.  Causes of the Osteoarthritis Aging: Due to hardening of arteries, bones cannot get the proper nutrition, which is most important for the joints to maintain their laxity. Poor metabolism of the Calcium in the body. Over-weight and obesity, causing extra load on the weight bearing joints. Lack of proteoglycones, which are helpful in the bone formation. Osteoarthritis in Ayurveda :      Arthritis is one of the biggest problems that has been faced by millions of people worldwide. Arthritis is a general term that literally means pain and inflammation in joints.    Osteoarthritis is known as Sandhivata in Ayurveda. In word Sandhivata, Sandhi means the joint and Vata stands for the Vata Dosha. When activities of the Vata increase inside the Sandhis, joints, it is known as the Sandhivata. Vata is dry in nature so it absorbs the fluidity, from any part of the body and it is also destructive or catabolic in nature, due to these two reasons Vata cause destruction of the cartiages and reduction in the Synovial fluid inside the joint capsule.        Individuals with the Vata Prakruti are more prone for the Osteoarthritis, as their main Dosha is Vata. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. Despite lot of research and effort, an effective cure is still not possible. All that can be offered are the anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain killer) drugs. Ayurveda can offer some effective, long lasting and safe remedy for this chronic disease. It is characterized by the deterioration of cartilage in the joints, resulting in pain and reduced or loss of function. This condition primarily affects weight-bearing joints such as the reason for which has been attributed to the fact that these weight bearing joints are the sights in maximum motion. These weight bearing joints therefore slowly come to a state which has an aggravated VATA which reduces KAPHA the principle which is known to have binding and lubricating properties. This leads to increased friction and damage to osteophytes as suggested in modern science and cause the pain and stiffness associated with the disease.  Sign and Symptoms of OA/Sandhivata:  Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:   1. Pain 2. Tenderness 3. Stiffness 4. Loss of flexibility 5. Grating sensation. 6. Bone spurst Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints. Unlike many other forms of arthritis that are systemic illnesses (conditions that affect multiple areas of the body or the entire body), such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus, osteoarthritis does not affect other organs of the body like skin tissue, the lungs, the eyes, or the blood vessels. The most common symptom of osteoarthritis is pain in the affected joint(s) after repetitive use. Joint pain of osteoarthritis is usually worse later in the day. There can be swelling, warmth, and creaking of the affected joints. Pain and stiffness of the joints can also occur after long periods of inactivity (for example, sitting in a theater). In severe osteoarthritis, complete loss of the cartilage cushion causes friction between bones, causing pain even at rest or pain with limited motion. Symptoms of osteoarthritis vary greatly from patient to patient. Some patients can be debilitated by their symptoms. On the other hand, others may have remarkably few symptoms in spite of dramatic degeneration of the joints apparent on X-rays. Symptoms also can be intermittent. It is not unusual for patients with osteoarthritis of the finger joints of the hands and knees to have years of pain-free intervals between symptoms. Osteoarthritis of the knees is often associated with excess upper body weight, with obesity, or a history of repeated injury and/or joint surgery. Progressive cartilage degeneration of the knee joints can lead to deformity and outward curvature of the knees, which is referred to as being "bowlegged." People with osteoarthritis of the weight-bearing joints (such as the knees) can develop a limp. The limping can worsen as more cartilage degenerates. In some patients, the pain, limping, and joint dysfunction may not respond to medications or other conservative measures. Osteoarthritis of the cervical spine or lumbar spine causes pain in the neck or low back. Bony spurs, called osteophytes, that form along the arthritic spine can irritate spinal nerves, causing severe pain that can radiate from the spine as well as numbness and tingling of the affected parts of the body. Osteoarthritis causes the formation of hard, bony enlargements of the small joints of the fingers. Classic bony enlargement of the small joint at the end of the fingers is called a Heberden's node. The bony deformity is a result of the bone spurs from the osteoarthritis in that joint. Another common bony knob (node) occurs at the middle joint of the fingers in many patients with osteoarthritis and is called a Bouchard's node. Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes may not be painful, but they are often associated with limitation of motion of the joint. The characteristic appearances of these finger nodes can be helpful in diagnosing osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis of the joint at the base of the big toe of the foot leads to the formation of a bunion. Osteoarthritis of the fingers and the toes may have a genetic basis and can be found in numerous female members of some families.   Causes While there isn’t any single known cause of osteoarthritis, there are several risk factors that should be considered. Knowing and controlling these risk factors can help you minimize the risk or even help postpone or prevent getting OA altogether. Having risk factors for OA doesn’t mean everyone will definitely get it. No single risk factor is enough to cause OA; it is more likely that a combination of risk factors works together to cause the disease. There are two distinct types of osteoarthritis – Primary Secondary Primary osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis not resulting from injury or disease, is mostly a result of natural aging of the joint. With aging, the water content of the cartilage increases, and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. Eventually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming tiny crevasses. In advanced osteoarthritis, there is a total loss of the cartilage cushion between the bones of the joints. Repetitive use of the worn joints over the years can irritate and inflame the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling. Loss of the cartilage cushion causes friction between the bones, leading to pain and limitation of joint mobility. Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate new bone outgrowths (spurs, also referred to as osteophytes) to form around the joints. Osteoarthritis occasionally can develop in multiple members of the same family, implying a hereditary (genetic) basis for this condition. Secondary osteoarthritis is a form of osteoarthritis that is caused by another disease or condition. Conditions that can lead to secondary osteoarthritis include obesity, repeated trauma or surgery to the joint structures, abnormal joints at birth (congenital abnormalities), gout, diabetes, and other hormone disorders. Obesity causes osteoarthritis by increasing the mechanical stress on the joint and therefore on the cartilage. In fact, next to aging, obesity is the most significant risk factor for osteoarthritis of the knees. The early development of osteoarthritis of the knees among weight lifters is believed to be in part due to their high body weight. Repeated trauma to joint tissues (ligaments, bones, and cartilage) is believed to lead to early osteoarthritis of the knees in soccer players and army military personnel. Interestingly, studies have not found an increased risk of osteoarthritis in long-distance runners. Crystal deposits in the cartilage can cause cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis. Uric acid crystals cause arthritis in gout, while calcium pyrophosphate crystals cause arthritis in Pseudogout. Some people are born with abnormally formed joints (congenital abnormalities) that are vulnerable to mechanical wear, causing early degeneration and loss of joint cartilage. Osteoarthritis of the hip joints is commonly related to structural abnormalities of these joints that had been present since birth. Hormone disturbances, such as diabetes and growth hormone disorders, are also associated with early cartilage wear and secondary osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Risk Factors Factors that increase your risk of osteoarthritis include: Older age - The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age. Sex - Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, though it isn't clear why. Bone deformities - Some people are born with malformed joints or defective cartilage, which can increase the risk of osteoarthritis. Joint injuries - Injuries, such as those that occur when playing sports or from an accident, may increase the risk of osteoarthritis . Obesity - Carrying more body weight places more stress on your weight-bearing joints, such as your knees . Sedentary lifestyle - Cartilage depends on joint use for its nutrition. Certain occupations - If your job includes tasks that place repetitive stress on a particular joint that may predispose that joint toward eventually developing osteoarthritis. Other diseases - Having diabetes, underactive thyroid, gout or Paget's disease of bone can increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis. Family history

Diet for osteoarthritis: Eat a wholesome diet. It is usually seen that from the time heart diseases has increased in our society, cases of OA are increasing day by day. This is due to excessive use of the high-fiber diet and fat free foods. This kind of diet is how much successful in reducing the risk of heart attacks, is clear with the increasing graph of heart diseases all over the world, but it is sure people are more suffering with the painful joints. Avoid eating dry and cold food items. Don’t consume Carbonated Drinks of Cola and Pepsi, these are good for nothing. Avoid eating preserved and packed food stuff. Their nutritious value on the labels is not true always. Cook you food in an Ayurvedic Way and eat it with heart. Don’t consume extra calcium food stuff, like eggs and cheese daily. It is least helpful for your bones. Avoid extra leafy vegetables in your diet. Eat Black Gram cereals at least once in a week. Add Saindhava Salt in your diet along with the Spices according to your Doshas. Lifestyle for Osteoarthritis: Don’t misuse your joints. Both excessive use and reduced use of your joints is bad for you. Move at least for 30 minutes daily. Weight is a main cause in the destruction of your joints. so keep your weight optimum. While loosing weight, try to increase your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate). Don’t go for excessive fasting as it will cause dryness in your body and will increase catabolic process in your body. Don’t bear the natural urges of urine and stool, these increase Vata in your body and causes problems with your bones, as Vata resides in bones, due to their porosity. If you are affected by OA badly, never start long walks all of a sudden. Apply the Ayurveda Massage oils once in a week on your joints to protect your joints and if you are suffering with the disease, then apply these oils daily. After applying the oils on your joints, don’t forget to foment you joints properly, take a sauna bath or an herbal steam bath.   Diagnosis Most often doctors detect OA based on the typical symptoms (described earlier) and on results of the physical exam. X-rays are still the main diagnostic tool however arthroscopy, ultrasound, MRI, CT scan etc. are used specially for experimental studies and not recommended for routine clinical use. X-rays can show the extent of joint deterioration, including narrowing of joint space, thinning or erosion of bone, excess fluid in the joint, and bone spurs or other abnormalities. There is no blood test for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis. Blood tests are performed to exclude diseases that can cause secondary osteoarthritis, as well as to exclude other arthritis conditions that can mimic osteoarthritis. Ayurveda Management Ayurveda is a holistic approach to healthcare with roots in ancient India. According to Ayurveda, Osteoarthritis occurs due to aggravation of Vata Dosha and is known as "Sandhivata" (sandhi=joint). The vata (one of the three bio-regulating principles of the body) is aggravated by various reasons like improper diet, over exertion, injury, exposure to cold & intake of cold items, suppression of natural urges, staying awake at night, stress, depression etc.  Apart from these, aging is a primary cause as vata predominance in body increases as age of the person advances towards old age.  Individuals with the Vata Prakruti are also more prone for the Sandhivata. Vata is rooksha (dry) in nature. When Vata get vitiated in any of the joints, dries up the lubricating synovial fluid inside the joint capsule, degenerates the joints and causes the destruction of the cartilage.   Sandhivata  gradually worsens with time, and no cure exists. But Sandhivata treatments can prevent the progression of the disease, relieve pain, rejuvenates damaged cartilages, and improves the joint lubrication, function & strength. Sandhivata treatment includes both Samana chikitsa and shodhan chikitsa. Shamana chikitsa includes Ayurveda oral medicines and external applications. Shodana chikitsa includes Ayurveda Panchakarma and Kayakalpa therapies for detoxification and rejuvenation. Healthy diet habits & life style are equally important in maintaining the joint health. .The main stay of treatment is pacification of Vata and nourishment of the joints. Panchakarma treatment especially Vasti is very effective for Vata related disorders. Other external treatments like massage, Elakizhi, Januvasti, Sarvanga Dhara are very effective in retarding the degenerative process. These treatments when complimented with good food habits, internal medicines like guggulu preparations, kashayams etc, and small modifications in lifestyle, the outcome is excellent with remarkable improvement in pain and enhancement of the health of the joints, that too without any side effects. Herbal Supplements for Osteoarthritis: Shallaki (Boswelia Serrata): An Ayurveda herb, which reduces pain from joints and rebuilds your cartilages. This is more potent than the glucosamines. Guggulu (Commiphora Mukul): Ayurvedic herb, restores your Vata level to normal and also helps in the reduction of weight so good for those who are over weight and suffers from the Joint pains. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): Well known for its effect on muscles, bones and joints. Reduces pain as well as strengthens the muscles so that they (muscles) can help the joints in proper functioning.