How We Can Take Care Of All Joints, Pain, And Discomfort With Traditional Indian Medicine.
Joints • 14 Apr,2025

Introduction: Joint pain is one of the common problem which affects most of them during their lifetime. The term sandhi shoola or sandhi ruja is used in ayurveda for joint pain.Vata dosha resides in asthi (bones) and sandhi (joints). Sandhishoola is mainly due to imbalance in vata dosha . The vata dosha gets affected due to various internal and external factors, leading to dryness stiffness and inflammation of joints and causes various vataja vyadhis.Different types of vataja vyadhis include:Sandhi vata (Osteoarthritis)Kati graha (Low back ache)Hanusthambha / hanu graha (Temporomandibular joint pain and stiffness)Gridhrasi (Sciatica)vishwachi (Frozen shoulder)Vata rakta ( Gouty arthritis, varicose veins)Other vataja vyadhi like bursitis, tendinitis, etcCauses for Vata vyadhis:Due to intake of dry cold food, very less quantity of food, improper diet and lifestyle, exposure to cold breeze, too much of physical activities, more exercise, loss of sleep or less sleeping during night, suppression of natural urges etc All these factors causes increase of Vata dosha.Lakshana of Vata vyadhis (Symptoms):Inflammation of joints, redness, swelling, tenderness, stiffness of the joint, pain, range of movement will be affected,Increased temperature over the joint can be felt.Vata vyadhi chikitsa (Treatment):Main Basic principle in ayurveda is to avoid the etiological factors. In ayurveda we use the Herbal medicine, which pacify the Vata dosha, and eliminates toxins and nourishes the Sandhi (joint tissue).In Sandhi Vata (Osteoarthritis) – internally various Kashaya (Syrup), churna(Powder) Arishta,vati (Tablet)mainly of guggulu preparations are given. Locally abhyanga (Massage), swedana (Steam), lepa (Herbal paste), janu basti (Oil pooling) are advised. Shodhana (Purification therapy) like anuvasana and asthapana basti (Enema) is indicated .Treatment in kati graha (Low back ache): Avoid causative factors, internally various Kashaya, vati, arishta. Locally abhyanga (Massage) swedana (Steam) and kati basti (Oil pooling) therapy. shodhana like snehapana (Oleation) and basti (Enema) are done.In hanu Stambha and hanu graha (TMJ pain and stiffness) – avoid the cause, internally vati (tablets) preparations, externally abhyanga (Massage) followed by swedana (Sudation) and shodhana like nasya (Nasal drops), Kavala and gandusha (Oil pooling) are advised.In gridhrasi (Sciatica) – internally various Kashaya, vati, churna are given. Locally abhyanga (Massage ) and sweda (Sudation) are done. shodhana like sneha pana (Oleation therapy), basti (Enema) and siravyadha (Blood letting) Agni karma (Thermal microcaturey) is advised.Vishwachi (Frozen shoulder) – Avoid the etiological factors, vati (Tablet), Kashaya (Syrup based formulations), arishta, and locally abhyanga (Massage ), swedana (Steam) followed by sneha pana(oleation therapy), nasya (Nasal drops).Vata rakta (Gouty arthritis / Varicose veins ) – internally Kashaya, vati, asava arishta preparations, locally we do abhyanga, swedana, rakta moksham (Blood letting), shodhana like virechana (Purgation) and basti (Enema) are advised.According to the nature of the disease, and the constitution of the person the treatment modalities varies from person to person. Along with these even the diet and life style modifications which pacify Vata dosha has to be followed. in all these treatment the herbs used posses analgesic, anti inflammatory properties there by relieving different kinds of joints pain.Conclusion by all these ayurvedic treatment modalities one can get rid of joints pains and discomfort. Most of the people during the initial stage of the joints pain, where one has mild to moderate joint pain and who cannot do surgery because of age factor, in all these conditions one can opt the traditional system of medicine. which helps in curing the pain without any adverse effects and restoring the damaged cartilage cells, nourishes the cartilage cells and helps in lubrication of joint and improves the movement