Arthritis can be described as an agonisingly crippling disease, characterised by painfully stiff, swollen joints, and affecting
the quality of life of the person affected. It gets so troublesome to the point that even getting out of bed is difficult at times. Treatment options are plenty for arthritis, varying from the gargling oil to hot-water formentation. But like always, it is important to separate the good treatment optons from the bad.
There are two basic types of arthritis - osteo and rheumatioid. Blood tests, x-rays and clinical tests help diagnose whether it is the common osteoarthritis, or the rarer, rheumatoid arthritis, caused by a systemic disorder. Arthritis is typically a disease affecting the elders, but some factors such as obesity and sports injuries result in even younger people suffering from it.
Yoga addresses not just the body, but the mind as well. It is a comprehensive, holistic healing process, dealing with both the cause and effect. A patient is assessed thoroughly and is then provided with a specific treatment plan. By examing the patient, the vaidya(medic) can find out what 'doshas'(ills) are causing the problem. And then the patient is made to understand what changes he needs to make in his lifestyle and diet. The choice of drugs and treatment varies for each person.
The treatment depends on the severity and type of arthritis. Mild arthritic patients feel much better just by weight reduction, physiotherapy and medication. The yogasanas(yoga postures) are modified to suit each individual. For example, gentle asanas are prescribed in winter. When the joints are less stiff, the patient feels much better. The patient is initially subjected to panchakarma(cleansing) treatment, and then the medicines are administered. Once the doshas or ills are elimintaed from the body, the medicines are better absorbed, controlling the disease. But caution needs to be taken in that all karmas(medications) are not suitable for everybody and only a vaidya should prescribe him or her.
The treatment provides not only symptomatic relief, but also relief from the disease itself. Moreover, there are no side effects. The object is to reduce pain, followed by restoring functional ability so that the patients can get on with the normal routine. And then the strenghtening of the structure takes place. As far as possible, recurrences are avoided. But age-related problems are not reversible.
If the pain is severe, the patient might need allopathic or ayurvedic medication, in addition to yoga. Yoga is best used as a complimentary medical system, and yoga and ayurveda go hand-in-hand since the theories are the same - both dealing with vatha-pitha-kappa. But it is always left to the individual to choose his preferred mode of treatment.