If you have frequent and recurring joint aches and they become swollen easily, don’t ignore it as a normal phenomenon. It’s time to pay a visit to your doctor because there are high chances that you might get a diagnosis of some form of Arthritis. The ‘arth’ in Arthritis means joint and ‘itis’ means inflammation. So the easiest way of describing Arthritis is that it’s a form of the degenerative bone disease where the erosion of the bone tissue and other connective tissue surrounding it, causing inflammation and pain in the said joints.

There are two major types of Arthritis that are most commonly seen in the population.

1. i) Osteoarthritis- This condition develops when the cartilaginous tissue cushioning the bones at the joints wears out due to mechanical stress and the bones come in direct contact with each other causing friction which leads to inflammation and discomfort. It normally starts from a single joint.
2. ii) Rheumatoid arthritis– In this condition, an autoimmune response from the body targets and destroys the synovial membrane surrounding and encasing joints leading to similar results as in Osteoarthritis, causing deformity and chronic joint pains. Rheumatoid arthritis often targets several joints at once and can be symmetrical in nature, i.e., will occur in both hips or in both knees.

Needless to say, once you lose the integrity of your bones and joints they can’t really be regained again, hence arthritis is a chronic condition. As time passes the age of developing arthritis has reduced. In our grandparents’ generation, we see people suffering from it at the age post 60 to 65 years. In the millennials, people have started to get joint pains at the age of 50 years or even earlier. This happenstance is because of the unhealthy lifestyles we have developed, with no heed to fitness or healthy eating, normal sleep schedules, etc.

Arthritis might not be totally curable but it certainly can be controlled and managed so you can live life with the least possible discomfort. Since it happens at an advanced age, it is hard to recover if one chooses surgical treatment. Hence doctors themselves refer patients to natural pain management therapies. The primary care begins from home. The patient should get to know about the disease and their condition as much as possible. They should make some changes in their lifestyle like manage their weight, quit smoking, and avoid overexerting themselves. Knowing their limits and keeping an optimistic attitude will help in the management of the disease.

The Ayurveda way-

As for natural modes of therapy, there is always Ayurveda which has a solution to every disease known to us. It is believed that Vata dosha causes arthritis hence Ayurveda has named Rheumatoid arthritis as Aamavata. The goals of the Ayurvedic treatment are to balance the Doshas, increase the metabolic fire, increase the digestion and excretion of Aama. Panchakarma therapy is an important step to correct all physiological imbalances. Abhyangam or massage therapy can be useful in more than one way. It can relieve the pain and stiffness in your joints and bring ease of movement and also it can relax your mind and bring positive thoughts. Aromatherapy goes hand in hand with massage as various herbal oils are used in the procedure, whose aroma can create a calm and receptive mindset which becomes open to the avenues of healing. Hot and cold therapy improves circulation and flexibility and allows for more ease of movement. It can be in the form of hot wax therapy, hot stone therapy, and soaking in medicated hot water.

Some important herbs and natural products used for the treatment of arthritis to provide pain relief and reduction of inflammatory reaction are-

• Aloe Vera
• Frankincense
• Eucalyptus
• Ginger
• Green tea
• Turmeric
• Willow bark
• Clove
• Camphor
• Bergamot
• Lavender

Physical therapy approach-

It is very important to keep your joints moving because it is very easy to lose mobility intact to avoid pain. Hence the above therapies are useful to relieve the pain so you can maintain a semblance of mobility. But remember to always be under the guidance of an instructor during any physical therapy.  Some of the useful yoga asanas for arthritis patients are-

•  Virabhadrasana or Warrior pose
• Marjariasana or Cat stretch
• Vrikshasana or Tree pose
• Savasana or Corpse pose
• Trikonasana or Triangle pose
• Setubandhasana or Bridge pose

Now some of the physiotherapy treatments to manage arthritis that are used by practitioners are hydrotherapy, Manual therapy, approaches such as acupuncture and acupressure. Electrical Stimulation-Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy is the most common form of electrotherapy used to treat Rheumatoid arthritis.

Last but not the least, natural healing from a disease like arthritis also requires healing your mind because it is draining to face such pains and limitations on your body on a daily basis. Hence to achieve and maintain a positive mindset, meditation is key. It is prescribed by doctors themselves since the benefits of meditation are proven. Doing it on a regular basis is going to do wonders to your attitude and courage to face a challenge like arthritis on a regular basis. All these natural treatments combined are going to help you heal and take control of your life back.

Nimba Nature Cure is a holistic healing center where we believe in natural treatment methods and apply them to help our visitors combat and win against impossible diseases like arthritis.