Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) - A Comparison of Modern (Allopathic) and Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) - A Comparison of Modern (Allopathic) and Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

An autoimmune disease is a disease in which the body's immunity fights against the body or a body organ instead of helping it. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one such autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, pain and swelling in small joints, usually symmetrical. Although rare, larger joints can also be affected. This disease is chronic in nature but may present different views in different patients. Nearly 50 percent of patients have mild symptoms that are easily controlled with standard treatment. About 25 percent may have a chronic but limited course, while the remaining 25 percent have a severe, unremitting form of the disease, usually resulting in severe pain and joint disfigurement.

Conventional modern treatment for RA uses painkillers and medications to treat inflammation. These are available as both oral medications and topical applications. Such oral medicines are usually very harsh on the stomach and intestines and can lead to acidity and ulcers. Prolonged use can cause serious damage to the liver and kidneys. Patients with severe or refractory RA are treated with steroids and immunosuppressants. These medications show beneficial results within a few weeks; However, the long-term results are not very impressive. In fact, long-term use of these drugs can cause significant and serious side effects.

Ayurvedic herbal medicines are very effective in reducing chronic inflammation as well as modulating immunity so that they aid the recovery process. Herbal medicines reduce pain and joint swelling and also help repair the damaged joint structure. When started early, herbal medicines can help prevent or reverse joint deformities. About eight to eighteen months of regular treatment is usually enough to achieve significant improvement, even in patients with refractory RA. Most of these patients may have concurrent symptoms of other autoimmune diseases, particularly those related to the skin and mucous membranes. These symptoms can also be treated very effectively with herbal medicines.

Most herbal medicines regularly used to treat RA must be given in high doses and for long periods of time to be effective. Nevertheless, these medications do not show any serious side effects. Ayurvedic medicines have a great advantage in treating refractory patients by limiting the possible side effects. For patients with very active disease who do not respond even to standard Ayurvedic treatment protocols, supplementing treatment with Ayurvedic Panchkarma procedures usually results in a favorable response. The procedures include induced vomiting, induced cleansing, bloodletting and one or more courses of medicated enemas. Local fomentation of affected joints with medicated steam can help relieve pain quickly.

In conclusion, Ayurvedic medicines play an important role in the treatment of aggressive and refractory types of rheumatoid arthritis due to their effectiveness and safety, compared to modern medicines which have an immediate effect in suppressing symptoms but prove ineffective and harmful in the long run. It should be noted that even with Ayurvedic treatment, patients should avoid self-medication and seek advice from a qualified and experienced Ayurvedic doctor.

Inspired by Abdulmubeen Mundewadi