“Rheumatoid Arthritis”, or RA, is a systemic inflammatory disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of motion in the joints. It is anautoimmune disease – one of many in which, for unknown reasons, a person’s immune system attacks his or her own body tissues. In RA, the immune system attacks the synovium, which is the tissue that lines the joints, causing inflammation in and overgrowth of this tissue.

 

The symptoms of RA vary from person to person and can mimic those of other inflammatory joint conditions, sometimes making the diagnosis difficult. Common RA symptoms include:

 

• Tender, warm, swollen and stiff joints, often first noticed in the hands and feet and usually symmetrical, e.g., both wrists are affected at the same time.

 

• Stiffness and pain that are usually worse after waking in the morning and last at least an hour before improving, which occurs with use and motion.

 

• Symptoms like tiredness, low-grade fever, weight loss and a general feeling of malaise that may develop even before the onset of joint symptoms.

 

• Systemic effects on other parts of the body such as the tear and salivary glands, lungs, heart and blood vessels.

 

• Soft lumps called Rheumatoid Nodules occur in 20 to 30 % of people with RA.

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a Joint Disorder, which affects Multiple Joints at various sites. It is described as “Amavata”in Ayurveda. The word ‘Ama’ means‘Toxic material generated as a unwholesome product in the body due to weakening of digestive fire’. This ‘Ama’ is then carried by ‘Vayu’ and travels throughout the body and accumulates in the joints, which is the seat of ‘Kapha’. As this process continuous, all the Joints are gradually affected, which results in Severe Pain and Swelling in the Joints. When ‘Pitta’ also gets aggravated, it causes Burning Sensation around the Joints.

General Clinical Features of Amavatam according to Ayurveda: 

“Angamarda aruchistrushna alasyam gouravam jwara!
Apaka sunyatanganam amavathasya lakshnam!!” 

Body Pains, Lack of Taste, Thirst, General Weakness, Feeling of Heaviness, Fever, Morning stiffness of the Joints, Pain and swelling in the affected parts, Shifting of pain in Joints, Constipation, Indigestion.

  Ayurvedic Management of Amavata:

“Langhanam swedanam tiktham deepanani
katunicha virechanam snehapanam
Vasthayaschamamaruthe saidhavadhya