Ayurvedic Options for Arthritis, Muscle & Joint pain

Depending on a person's lifestyle, diet, and emotional pattern, either vata, pitta, or kapha  can easily get out of balance. The imbalance slows down agni (digestive fire), resulting in the toxic by-product of inadequate digestion, better known as ama.

Vata, the main active dosha, brings the ama into the colon, and from there it travels throughout the system and lodges in the bone tissue and in the joints, giving rise to the stiffness and pain characteristic of arthritis.

Ayurveda attempts to remove the ama from the joints and bring it back to the colon, where the body can then eliminate it. To do this, we need to keep the colon clean. Triphala is the most commonly prescribed herb for cleansing the colon, or the combination of Triphala & Guggul. Ayurveda recommends general techniques for increasing the intensity of the digestive fire (agni) in order to burn up the toxins that are harming the body. This can be done with dietary changes, such as adding more spices to the diet, such as turmeric, chilis, pepper, cardamom and cloves when cooking. Taking herbal extractions such as Turmeric, and Boswellia can be very effective in reduction of pain and swelling, as well as ease of movement, while Ashwagandha can help with balancing the doshas and reducing thenegative effects of stress in the body.

Various oils may be applied to the skin in order to aid the body in clearing toxins, relieving pain and restoring mobility. Two oils in particular have been used in Ayurveda for thousands of years- these are Maha Vishgarbha Oil and Mahanarayan Oil. They are both formulations of many herbs, usually mixed in a base of sesame oil. Massaging the painful areas can improve flexibility, stiffness, muscle fatigue, circulation and can help with pain. These oils when massaged into the skin can also assist in breaking up blockages. After oil application, warm heat, yoga, bath, or mild exercise can further improve this situation. 

Tattva’s Herbs also carries a potent muscle & joint care oil that works well for lessening the pain associated with not just arthritis, but also painful joints due to injury, overuse, or muscle tension due to stress.

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