AYURVEDIC TREATMENT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Pain makes us conscious for the presence of the injurious agent and that is why we seek removal of the injurious agent by appropriate measures. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is corelated with aamvata in Ayurved. Rheumatoid arthritis is basically an autoimmune chronic inflammatory disorder that mainly affects the symmetrical metacarpophalangeal joint and more than two to three proximal interphalangeal small joints of the body. This disease is commonly found in females as compared to males. The female male ratio is 3:1. Prevalence of Rheumatoid arthritis increases with age, with 5% of women and 2% of men over 55 years being affected. Rheumatoid arthritis is rare in men under the age of 45, where there is 6:1 female surplus. It’s a very painful disease which usually cause tender, swelling and inflammation in joints. Joint stiffness worse in the morning and remain for more than one hour. Chronic inflammation, granuloma formation and joint destruction is commonly seen. Fatigue, fever, weight loss, irritation and depression are also the most common non-articular symptoms. A satisfactory treatment is available in Ayurvedic medicine for this disorder. Various Ayurvedic drugs have been proved useful for these manifestations. This case report is a classic case of Rheumatoid arthritis, which was treated for six months under the name of aamvata with Ayurvedic drugs. The patient was on modern medicine and we efficaciously exchange him from conventional modern medicine to ayurvedic medicine.