It is an autoimmune disease that results in a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, mainly attacking flexible, (synovial) joints. It can be disabling and painful condition. The pathology of the disease process often leads to the destruction of articular cartilage and fusion of joints. It primarily affects joints.It may also affect other organs in 15-25% of individuals. Arthritis of joints involve inflammation of synovial membrane. Joints become swollen, tender and warm, stiffness,limits their movement with time and multiple joints maybe affected. Most commonly involved are small joints of hands, feet, and cervical spine.

It is a chronic disease where joints get inflamed leading to swelling, pain, stiffness, and loss of function. In this disease, the immune system itself attacks the joints of body. This destroys the joints protective cartilage. In rheumatoid arthritis patients, the cartilage breaks down and wash away. Then the bones rub together causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. More women than men get rheumatoid arthritis. It often starts in middle age and is most common in older people. But children and young adults can also get affected.

CAUSES OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS OR VATA SHONITHAM

Genes, environment and hormones can contribute to rheumatoid arthritis, is believed to be genetic to some extent. Hence family history is an important risk factor.

• Foods containing apposite qualities.
• Oily foods.
• Heavy and cold food items.
• Irregular intake of food.
• Intake of more amount of curd or milk.
• Excessive exercise.
• Awakening at night.
• Lack of exercise.
• Suppression of natural urges.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

• Morning stiffness.
• Joint pain with warmness, swelling, tenderness.
• Low grade fever.
• Fatigue.
• Limited range of motion in the affected joints.

CONCEPT OF VATA SHONITHAM ACCORDING TO AYURVEDA:

Pain is caused by the vitiation of vata and rakta. It is caused by the accumulation of ama (toxins) and aggravation of vata. This ama circulates through the whole body and gets deposited at the sites which are weaker. When it gets deposited in the joints,at the same time there will be aggravation of vata and circulatory system. This is called as Vata Shonitham.

MANAGING VATA SHONITHAM OR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN AYURVEDA:

Correcting the metabolism by balancing vitiated body constituents may help to improve Vata Shonitha condition. The line of treatment involves in treating inflammation and stiffness of joints. The toxins which causes the blockage of the channels has to be removed and the metabolism has to be normalised. Healing Earth Multispeciality Ayurveda Hospital takes care of all parameters in diagnosing the condition and the line of treatment goes according the individual.