Ayurvedic management approach to Rheumatological disorders, including: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Monoarthritis, Polyarthritis

Ayurvedic management approach to Rheumatological disorders, including:

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Monoarthritis

  • Polyarthritis

This includes classical Ayurvedic correlations, Samprāpti (pathogenesis), Chikitsā Sūtras (treatment principles), formulations, and relevant references.


🔶 1. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)


🔹 Ayurvedic Correlation:

  • RA ≈ Āmavāta (आमवातः)

  • Classical Source:

    • Mādhava Nidāna – Chapter 25

    • Charaka Cikitsā 1/74, A.H. Nidāna 12


🔹 Samprāpti (Pathogenesis):

  • Manda AgniĀma formation → circulates with Vāta → lodges in Sandhi (joints) → causes Shotha (swelling), Ruja (pain), and stiffness.


🔹 Symptoms:

  • Sandhi Shotha, Toda, Stambha, Aruchi, Angamarda, Jvara


🔹 Chikitsā Sūtra (C.S. Cikitsā 1/74):

“Āmavātaṁ samudbhūtaṁ vātamāṁsāsthisandhiṣu।
Rujaṁ janayate tīvraṁ śophaṁ chaiva samantataḥ॥”

“Langhanaṁ svedanaṁ tiktaṁ deepanaṁ kaṭu bastayaḥ।
Āmavāte hitāḥ sarve saṅgrahe rogaṇāmapi॥”


🔹 Management Protocol:

🔸 Acute Stage (Āma dominant):

  • Langhana, Deepana, Pachana

  • Śuṇṭhī, Trikaṭu, Āragvadhādi kaṣāya

🔸 Chronic Stage:

  • Snehana, Swedana, Basti therapy

  • Rasāyana and anti-inflammatory herbs


🔹 Formulations:

  • Simhānad Guggulu, Rāsnā Saptaka Kvātha

  • Maharasnādi kwātha, Dashamoola kwātha

  • Panchatikta ghṛta, Yogarāj Guggulu

  • Suta Shekhar rasa, Vātavidhvāṁsa rasa

  • Eranda sneha, Bala taila (Abhyanga)


🔶 2. Osteoarthritis (OA)


🔹 Ayurvedic Correlation:

  • OA ≈ Sandhivāta (सन्धिवातः)

  • Source: Suśruta Cikitsā 4/12, Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya Nidāna 16


🔹 Samprāpti:

  • Vāta prakopaSandhi kṣaya → degeneration of Asthi + Majjā dhātu → pain, crepitus, stiffness, functional limitation


🔹 Symptoms:

  • Sandhi ruja (pain), kṛcchrāṅgam (restricted movement), śabda (crepitus)


🔹 Chikitsā Sūtra:

“Vātābhibhūta sandhiṣu rujaḥ stambho balakṣayaḥ।
Sneha svēdābhyām samyak tatrābhisyandaḥ praśāmyati॥”

– Use of Snehana, Swedana, Basti, Rasāyana


🔹 Formulations:

  • Yogarāja Guggulu, Trayodashānga guggulu

  • Rasnādi kwātha, Dhanwantaram taila (abhyanga)

  • Ashwagandhādi lepa, Gandha taila, Bala taila

  • Balarishta, Ashwagandhādi churna


🔹 Supportive Therapies:

  • Kati basti, Patra potali sweda, Matra basti


🔶 3. Monoarthritis (Eka Sandhi Roga)


🔹 Ayurvedic Correlation:

  • Vātaja Shotha, Granthi, Eka Sandhi Āmavāta, Kaphaja-Vātaja involvement


🔹 Common Causes:

  • Gout (uric acid), injury, infection (septic), crystal arthropathies

  • In Ayurveda: due to Āma, Vāta–Kapha dosha, Mamsa-Meda accumulation


🔹 Treatment Plan:

  • Langhana, Tikta–Kaṭu drugs, Srotoshodhana

  • Raktamokṣaṇa (if inflammatory with swelling)

  • Local lepaDashanga lepa, Erandamoola paste

  • Punarnavādi kwātha, Guggulu-based yogas


🔶 4. Polyarthritis


🔹 Ayurvedic Correlation:

  • Sarvaṅga Āmavāta, Sarvāṅga Sandhi Roga, Dūṣya Vāta

  • Seen in RA, SLE, Psoriatic arthritis, etc.


🔹 Samprāpti:

  • Generalized Doṣa vitiation, Ojas-kṣaya, Ama-Rakta involvement


🔹 Chikitsā Sūtra:

  • Same as for Āmavāta, but more Rasāyana + Immune support required


🔹 Rasāyana & Immune Modulation:

  • Amṛta (Guduchi), Ashwagandhā, Bhallātaka (carefully used)

  • Chyavanaprāsha, Mahā Tikta Ghṛta, Panchatikta ghṛta


🔹 Formulations:

  • Kaishora Guggulu, Mahārasnādi kwātha

  • Triphala guggulu, Bhallataka Rasāyana (caution)

  • Tapyādi loha – if anemia present

  • Panchatikta kṣīra basti – chronic stage


📘 Classical Reference Summary

Disease Ayurvedic Equivalent Classical Source
Rheumatoid Arthritis Āmavāta Mādhava Nidāna 25, C.S. Cikitsā 1
Osteoarthritis Sandhivāta A.H. Nidāna 16, Suśruta Cikitsā 4
Monoarthritis Eka Sandhi Roga, Vātaja Shotha C.S. Cikitsā 12
Polyarthritis Sarvāṅga Āmavāta Suśruta Uttara 63, Bhela Samhita

🧪 Research Integration:

  • Simhānāda Guggulu – Anti-inflammatory in RA models

  • Eranda Taila + Basti – Proven efficacy in joint inflammation

  • Triphala Guggulu – Clinical support for OA

  • Amṛta (Guduchi) – Shown to modulate cytokines in autoimmune arthritis

  • Ashwagandhā – Reduces pain, stiffness, enhances mobility (published in J-AIM & IJAR)


✅ Panchakarma Support

Therapy Role
Basti (Ānuvasana + Niruha) Best for Vāta + chronic arthritis
Abhyanga + Swedana Pain and stiffness relief
Virechana Pitta and Rakta involved cases
Raktamokṣaṇa For inflamed joints with Rakta dushti


Comments