Learn to listen to your body
Rheumatism can be treated successfully with traditional Ayurvedic therapies. According to the state of the course of the disease, Ayurvedic measures can alleviate the symptoms and even eliminate them at the initial stage.
Rheumatism is one of the most common widespread diseases in the western world, which limits the mobility of the affected persons as the disease advances. However, the symptoms are much broader in appearance than the imagination of an old person who stoopingly walks with unstable steps along the streets, the knotted hands on a crutch, and the expression of pain in the face.
The rheumatic diseases are divided into four groups:
Degenerative joint and spinal disorders, which include various types of neuralgia (nerve pain), belong to the most frequent disease patterns. Soft-tissue rheumatism – fibromyalgia – where the tendons, connective tissue and muscles are infected, occurs very frequently, too. Likewise, metabolic disorders such as gout can be associated with rheumatic ailments and finally the group of inflammatory rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis or polyarthritis and Bechterev’s disease.
Almost all organs can be affected by an inflammatory-rheumatic disease: kidneys, eyes, pleura, myocardial inflammation and inflammation of the intestine and the vessels.
Anyone who receives the diagnosis of rheumatism should implicitly ask which disease pattern it is exactly as this provides information about the involvement of the three functional principles Vata, Pitta and Kapha and thus helps to give orientation about the further course of the Ayurvedic treatment.
Balance life energy
In the Ayurvedic philosophy and its medical system the functional principles Vata – formed from the elements air and ether, Pitta – formed from the elements fire and little water and Kapha – formed from the elements water and earth – are responsible for the maintenance of health. Vata regulates all movement and transport processes, Pitta controls all transformation processes and metabolism, and Kapha regulates the constitution and structure of the body.
The balance of these principles ensures health and harmony of life energy on the physical, mental and spiritual plane. If they are uncontrolled and imbalanced over a long period of time, disease may develop.
Unless external influences such as accidents and natural catastrophes do not shake life and health, diseases are not caused by onetime misbehavior, but by long-term, repetitive factors such as malnutrition, stress, physical and mental overload, and a destructive lifestyle.
Blocked energy flow
Rheumatism, deriving from Greek “rheo” (I flow), is today freely translated as a pulling, tearing pain.
Rheo – I flow: here is the metaphor of the symptoms: the flow stagnates. The mobility of the locomotor system, the metabolism and the nervous system is restricted. Joints, vertebrae, cartilage, synovial membranes, tendons, muscles and nerves can be affected. Gross and subtle energies are hindered in their flow by slags and block life energy. The complaints move through the body and cause pain which is an indication for an elevated Vata. Every rheumatic disease is caused by a Vata imbalance. Often an acute trauma of physical or mental origin is the trigger for a rheumatic disease.
Pain is a master
Particularly at the beginning of the disease an Ayurveda treatment is most effective. However, if the disease continues untreated, it manifests and becomes chronic. Then the functional principles Pitta and Kapha are increasingly involved in the process of the disease. The healing process is therefore more difficult and protracted.
To prevent diseases, it is necessary to train self-awareness for the signals the body sends. It indicates through pain and changes that lifestyle is not working properly at the present moment. Through the pain the body tells us: “Stop, stand still and think about your lifestyle.”
It is in one’s own self-responsibility to stop and look for solutions and new ways in order to change the pathogenic factors, to turn towards the own body with gratitude and love in order to maintain it in good health.
“Rheumatism belongs to the most widespread diseases in the western world “
It is important to distinguish between osteoarthritis and rheumatic complaints. Contrary to osteoarthritis, where joint pain describes an age and wear based change in the joint in which the cartilage layer is attacked, rheumatoid arthralgia is an inflammatory disease of the joints, which is due to a disturbed immune system.
The sooner the symptoms are perceived and taken serious, the greater the chances of healing.
Calm Vata
At the beginning of the rheumatic complaints simple measures can have a regulating effect on the organism and on the immune system. Priority has to be given to Vata calming measures and the removal of Ama, the metabolic deposits, which hinder metabolism. It treats the appearing symptoms at the initial stage of the disease, even if these are not yet detectable by laboratory values. Vata-reducing diet and Vata-reducing therapeutic measures according to the symptoms and constitution can soothe the bioenergy Vata at an early stage and harmonize the functional principles.
Vata is very closely connected to the nervous system, so it is important to balance lifestyle and to integrate a healthy relation between tension and relaxation into the daily routine. Walks in the fresh air, meditation, yoga, breathing exercises and a physical exercise program referring to the constitution are recommended. Suitable clothing depending on the season protects against cold and damp-humid climate. Food intake should be on a regular basis, meals should be warm and easily digestible. Acid, cold and hard-to-digest food such as cheese, yoghurt, soured milk products, curd, fatty meat, eggs, coconut oil and sunflower oil should be avoided.
Medicinal plants such as nettles, dandelion and birch leaves stimulate the activity of the kidneys and help to excrete acids and to stimulate metabolism. Compresses with cabbage leaves and baths in a hay flower decoction can relieve the pain. A nutrition consultation and a precise, individual, constitutional composition of the corresponding medicinal herbs is urgently recommended.
When the rheumatic disease is at an advanced stage, a targeted cleaning treatment is indispensable. A Panchakarma cure (five detoxification treatments / purgation) is highly recommended to free the whole organism from Ama and to activate the healing process.
Metabolic deposits
Ama means metabolic intermediates, slag substances and toxins, which are deposited in the organism due to a weakened digestion. They may be the cause for the development of a wide range of complaints.
Local Ama: normally it is produced in the gastrointestinal tract and can be removed quite simply by corrective measures in diet and lifestyle
Systemic Ama: Ama can also be found on the systemic planes, that is to say it left the gastrointestinal tract and caused the symptoms of the disease pattern. Then a Panchakarma Cure is urgently recommended.
The treatment principle of every disease means:
Soothe Ama
Remove the impairment
Symptoms of rheumatism
- Long-lasting morning stiffness for more than two hours
- Stiff joints and deformities
- More than one joint is affected
- Expands from one joint to another
- Continuous local pain
- Local pallor or redness and sensitivity
- Local elevated temperature may occur
Co-existing symptoms or systemic symptoms in rheumatism
- They are caused by a spread of Ama throughout the entire body
- Fatigue, weakness, fever, limb pain, increased urination, heart pain, vomiting, dizziness, constipation, flatulence, loss of appetite, loss of sense of taste
- Poor wound healing
- Loss of weight
…..to be continued
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Kerstin Tschinkowitz
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CH-2502 Biel / Bienne
Info@ayurvedabalance.ch
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