Guidelines for joint pain patients

Vatavyadhi is a term used for diseases caused by increased vata dosha which includes joint pain, paralysis, and many more diseases. It is a vast term. Generally people mean joint pain by vata vyadhi or Sandhivaat which is osteoarthritis.

The increased vata dosha in body reduces the kapha (Shleshaka kapha) present in joint spaces. So there is no more smooth movement in joint and pain and swelling appears.



The joint pain is sometimes very bad and limits your daily activities. 

Modern medicines give temporary relief and have lots of side effects like acidity, drowsiness etc. So it is better to opt for Ayurvedic medicines and follow healthy diet and lifestyle regimen.

Factors that aggravate joint pain:

• Cold weather and rainy season
• Inactivity
• Strain on joint ( Overuse of joint)
• Indigestion

The treatment for this joint pain mainly comprises of 

• Internal Vata alleviating medicines, 
• Snehana- Svedana ( Oil massage and steam)
• Medicated enema (Basti) ,
•  Oil pulling(local basti) and 
• Agnikarma.

Along with the medications following are the dietary and lifestyle guidelines:

How should be the diet?

Do’s		Don’ts
·         Hot foods and liquids ·         Sweet, saline and sour tastes in diet ·         Food should be moist added with ghee and oil ·         Milk ·         Non veg soups and foods ·         Ghee and oils treated with appetizing and digestive herbs and medicines. e.g. Dadimadi ghrita, Pippalyadi ghrita ·         Alcohol in moderate amount ·Eat in small quantity so that food digests well. Undigested food aggravated the pain.		·         Cold, refrigerated foods and drinks  Bitter, pungent and astringent tastes  Dry and ununctuous foods like biscuits, bread etc.   Eating less Fermented foods Food items made up of black gram (urad daal) Stale food.

How should be the lifestyle?

Do’s	Don’ts
·         Daily abhyanga ( light massage with oil) and steam ·         Rest your body ·         Keep yourself warm with warm clothes ·         Stay in warm place ·         Take shower with warm decoction of herbs like dashamoola. ·         All forms of heat e.g. steam, electric heating pads, hot tub bath etc are useful.      Light exercise and Yoga.	·         Hard work, walking too much, strain over joints by bending etc ·         Don’t expose yourself to direct wind and fan or AC .

Ayurvedic formulations: 

These should be taken only from registered Ayurvedic practitioner.

• Different guggula kalpas e.g. Rasnadi guggul, Yograj guggul, Aabha guggul, Triphala guggula
• Vishtinduk vati, Aamvatari rasa etc.
• Maharasnadi kadha etc. 
• Medicated oils for massage and Basti 

The equilibrium of vata,pitta and kapha maintains healthy state in body. All these vata lowering remedies/ procedures help to reduce joint pain.

Take good care of yourself...!!!