Abstract:
Amavata is a disease in which vitiated
Vata Dosha carries
Ama to the multiple organs and joint(s) causing swelling, pain, stiffness, loss of appetite and decreases the
Agni. Both the
Shamana Chikitsha (conservative management) and
Shodhana Chikitsha (purification of the body) is advised in
Ayurveda for the treatment of
Amavata. On the basis of sign and symptoms
Amavata closely resembles with rheumatoid arthritis. RA is a chronic, progressive disease which causes pain, inflammation, stiffness, swelling of the joints and sometimes also showing extra articular symptoms. Prevalence of RA is 1 % world-wide and is increasing with population growth. Modern medicines advises NSAID’s, anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for the management of RA which has limitation for long term uses and sometimes having severe side effects. A 45 year old male suffering from multiple joints pain associated with swelling, morning stiffness, body ache, loss of appetite, decreased sleep and restricted movements for past 2 years was diagnosed as
Amavata/rheumatoid arthritis (having 6/10 score as per classification criteria for RA, ACR, 2010). The whole treatment includes
Deepan Pachana for 3 days,
Baluka Sweda and
Vaitarana Basti along with
Brihat Saindhavhadi Taila Anuvasana Basti in
Karma Basti format for 30 days along with
Shaman Chikitsha. The assessment was made on the basis of laboratory investigations and relief in sign and symptoms. Assessment done after the 3 months shows negative RA factor, CRP unchanged, ESR reduced to 02 mm/hr. with remarkable relief in pain, morning stiffness and marked reduction in swelling of the joints. Thus the above case report emphasizes that
Amavata (rheumatoid arthritis) can be controlled with minimum medicines when treated with the same guideline of
Amavata Chikitsha as mentioned in
Ayurveda. Since the single case is not enough more rooted study in this is required.