Immense knee pain and  regular joint aches have become unending problems for most of the people in the present time. The swelling and irreversible destruction of  joints leaving the patient handicapped and somewhat weakened. This condition of inflammation and reduced flexibility of joints is called Arthritis. The long time medications and impairment in the functioning of joints, increase the demand of yogic approach at home for the treatment of this chronic disease process.

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What is Arthritis?

‘Arthritis’ means ‘inflammation of joints’ of the body and is one of the most common of all disabling diseases. Symptoms comprise pain, swelling, redness, heat and loss of function in one or more joints. Large and weight bearing joints like hips, knees and ankles are mostly affected. Joints that are responsible for repeated movements like fingers, also majorly affected.

Arthritis assumes various forms, the most common types are:

Gout Arthritis: This is the special form of arthritis which happens due to dietary self-poisoning. People with excessive protein intake suffer from Gout Arthritis commonly. Uric Acid a waste by-product formed after the digestion of protein, usually excreted in urine. In this case, it accumulates in the joint fluid. Gout represents dietary self-poisoning in the form of arthritis. Hypertension, Obesity, cardiovascular disease are the major risk factors for Gout Arthritis.

Osteoarthritis: It is a chronic degenerative disease which usually targets old and middle age-groups of population. It usually afflicts those who are obese, have a heavy and toxic diet and involve in less or no physical exercises. Osteoarthritis eventually occurs as a result from structural changes in the articular cartilage in the joints, usually weight bearing joints such as spine and knees or those which suffered injury earlier.

Pain and Stiffness of joints are the major symptoms of osteoarthritis. The pain usually increases after exercises. Osteoarthritis can also be caused due to excess calcium intake either through diet or due to imbalanced parathyroid gland.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: It is a serious disorder of joint degeneration which affects not only joints of fingers, wrists, hips, knees and feet but also the muscles, tendons and other tissues of the body. It often targeted young and middle-aged people with the inflammation of joints accompanied by swelling and ultimate deformity. Rheumatoid Arthritis majorly caused by emotional stress, infection, shock, injury, hormonal imbalance or hereditary factors are also responsible.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is also called the “cooked food disease”, it is usually triggered frequently by emotional shock, or due to sudden introduction of foreign substances into the circulation, sometimes from the administration of powerful drugs or acute infection. If these substances accumulate in the joints, the immune system sends white blood cells there and starts an inflammatory reaction against them. Tissues with rich blood supply can be free from these substances easily, but in joint spaces with less blood circulation and more stiffness their removal becomes a difficult process. Symptoms include anemia, constipation, digestive disturbances, low blood pressure, deformed hands and feets.

Lifestyle factors that leads to Arthritis

According to Yoga, arthritis is not considered as a disease but a symptom of metabolic and pranic malfunction. Many factors of stress, unhealthy diet and faulty lifestyle are responsible for an unbalanced endocrine system and central controlling mechanism of the brain which are the main systems for the health of the organism.

Unhealthy Diet: Major cause of arthritis is self-poisoning, a toxic build diet. Acidic wastes and toxins accumulating in the joints irritates the sensitive nerve fibres in the joint, causing pain and stiffness. If there is no proper circulation of prana in the joint for a longer period of time, the joint will start to degenerate itself. If the process continues, the movement of the joint becomes difficult, pain and deformity arise and the joint is destroyed completely which leaves the patient in crippled and helpless condition.

Overeating, greasy foods, excessive rich diet, animal fat, refined foods, synthetic foods, excessive protein consumption, all packaged or canned foods, excessive milk, butter, white sugar & salt are all reasons for the degeneration of joints. Constipation and Digestive disorders aggravate the condition of arthritis.

Lack of Exercise: Due to sedentary lifestyle and habit to attain all time comfortness, increase stiffness and heaviness in the ligaments and joints of the body. According to the report published in Harvard Medical School researchers found that both walking and muscle-strengthening were safe and effective, reducing pain and disability in people with arthritis. Also, according to other study persons with RA who participate in appropriate exercises may lessen fatigue levels and experience other positive effects without worsening their arthritis. Due to lack of exercise the joints become stiff and less flexible which are the main reasons for arthritis at an early age.

Unbalanced Mental Health: Stress, anxiety, tensions, suppressions of emotions, fear, hypersensitivity leads to rigidity of the personality, which in turn results in allergies, physical tensions, endocrine imbalance and contraction of nerves & arteries. All psychic issues lead to arthritis, rheumatism, and constipation. Suppressed feelings and emotions of a patient creates toxins which disturbs physical and emotional metabolism of the body and mind.

Yogic Treatment At Home

Yogic approach to treat arthritis is considered to be the best treatment process for the disease so far. According to peer-reviewed research from clinical trials (published from 1980-2010) that used yoga as an intervention for arthritis patients and reported quantitative findings, Eleven studies were identified that described evaluating the effects of a yoga intervention in persons with arthritis were examined. The articles include ‘Iyengar yoga for treating symptoms of Osteoarthritis’, ‘Evaluation of a yoga based regimen for treatment of Osteoarthritis’  and  ‘The benefits of yoga for rheumatoid arthritis’.

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As a result of the study Improved balance was found in post-menopausal women with arthritis, Improvements in pain and movement was also found in the most of the patients. Persons with arthritis who practiced Kundalini yoga reported increased self-efficacy and frequency of yoga behaviors. According to one report improved emotional roles and energy with a trend toward improved mental health was also found.

The Yogic approach never promotes a drug treatment for any disorder but provides a better way of living through a natural diet, healthy lifestyle and a yoga program. Yogic practice to treat arthritis can be done for a few months in an ashram, home or within a lesser number of people. The complete solitude and more connection with yourself will boost the positive aura of the body rapidly. Staying in a positive environment with pure and good thoughts will help in the improvement of mental and physical health of the patient.

A complete program of yogic therapy to treat Arthritis is here,

Yoga Asanas

A series of Pawanmuktasana Anti-Rheumatic Groups is very effective in case of light to severe conditions of Arthritis. This series of asanas involve complete body movement of joints and are best to improve the flexibility and range of motion. Before starting the practice the patient should soak the limbs in warm salty water to reduce stiffness and increase blood circulation.

Take a complete guide of the series of asanas in the video,

After a few weeks, if the patient is feeling improvement in flexibility of the joints, other asanas can be performed slowly like, shashankasana, bhujangasana, virabhadrasana, and tadasana. Vajrasana should be performed for 10 minutes after meals.

5 to 10 repetitions of surya namaskar can be done after complete movement and reduced pain in the joints. This plan of yoga asanas will help you to maintain the movement of joints throughout life and prevent arthritis. Including many benefits of yoga it is the safest one and has no side effects at all.

Shatkarma Program

Jal Neti and Kunjal kriya are the major detoxifying processes for the body. Both will help in the treatment of constipation and eliminating metabolic acids and toxins wastes which accumulate in the joints or blood. Before treating Arthritis it’s important to cure constipation, which is a major cause of toxins accumulation in the joints.

Jal Neti

• A special neti pot will be used for this practice given in the image.
• Fill the pot with warm saline water.
• The nozzle on the end of the pot should be comfortably fit into the nostrils so that water doesn’t leak out.
• Put the nozzle of the pot in the right nostril, lean forward and tilt your head with neti pot towards the left side.
• Breath through the mouth, do not  focus on the nose for breathing.
• Stay relaxed and do not panic.
• The water will start passing from the right nostril and comes out from the left nostril.
• Once the pot is empty, fill the pot again and repeat the same practice from the left side.
• After performing from both nostrils, sit in vajrasana and perform a few rounds of kapalbhati.
• Remove complete water from nostrils and dry out your nostrils completely. Keep your head down for a few minutes and let the water come out from both nostrils.

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Kunjal Kriya

• Drink at least 6 glasses of lukewarm salty water as quickly as possible until the stomach becomes full and the feeling of vomiting has occurred.
• When an urge of vomit occurs, lean forward, open your mouth and place the middle and index fingers of the right hand far back on the tongue.
• Gently rub and press the back of the tongue and start the expulsion of water from the stomach.
• Do not feel stress and relax your body and mind.
• Continue this process until the stomach is empty and whole water comes out from the stomach.

Pranayama

Nadi shodhan or Anulom Vilom should be performed in a very slow manner and with the capacity of holding the breath in every change of nostrils. Perform 10 rounds after shatkarmas.

Yogic breathing includes abdominal breathing 10 breath, chest breathing 10 breath and clavicle breathing 10 breaths should be performed slowly every morning.

10 breaths of Bhramari and Ujjayi should also be performed one after another.

10 breath of Bhastrika will be helpful in improving digestive fire and provide relief in constipation and other indigestions. The practice of pranayama will provide a better flow of prana in the joints of the body and reduce inflammation.

Meditation

Mindfulness Meditation is helpful in reducing inflammation, reducing biomarkers, improving healing power or prana of the body and providing relief from stress, anxiety and unbalanced emotional metabolism. Meditation releases mental and emotional tensions which is one of the major causes of arthritis. Practice of Yoga Nidra is an important method to deal with pain or inflammation, suppressed emotions, excessive thoughts and uncontrolled urges of the mind.

Yoga Nidra includes observation of thoughts, visualization, expression of deep felt anger and aggression and all subconscious cleaning will happen. Deep relaxation and meditation will provide a positive state of mind to the patient and reduce arthritic rigidity.

Diet

The simple and plain diet will be helpful to reduce pain and boost the activity of eliminative and regenerative processes.

• Fresh fruits and vegetables in the form of salad or boiled, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, radishes, and celery can be consumed raw in the form of salad.
• Cooked vegetables may include asparagus, beet root, cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, brinjal, mashroom, onion, beans, peas, spinach and tomatoes.
• In severe cases try to consume a diet of raw vegetable juices only, for a week or so.
• Try to consume green juices, red beet juice and carrot juice to dissolve the accumulation of deposits in joints and bloodstreams.
• Pineapple juice is helpful in reducing swelling and inflammation in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Fasting of 1 or 2 days per week is also recommended to remove toxins from the body.
• Raw potato juice therapy is the most successful diet therapy for the treatment of arthritis.
• Drinking overnight water in a copper container early in the morning is the best method to reduce inflammation and remove toxins.
• Massage of mustard oil with camphor is also recommended to reduce pain, stiffness in the joints.
• A green gram soup mixed with garlic and fenugreek seeds is the oldest home remedy to treat arthritis at home.
• Citrus fruits like lemon and oranges behave as a treatment for the uric acid which is a major cause of arthritis.
• Sea bathing is good to provide a healing effect in joints and natural iodine of sea regulates acid-alkaline balance in blood and tissues which is helpful in regeneration and nourishment of skeletal structure
• Reducing intake of milk and dairy products is mandatory such as ghee and cheese.
• Proper timing of food intake is necessary for the balanced metabolism.
• Snacks and frequent eating throughout the day is not recommended.

Massage Therapy

Hot water bath and hot oil massage are usually suggested in arthritis. Local application of moist or dry heat relaxes muscles, reduces pain and inflammation in joints of the body. Heat will eliminate toxins, improve metabolism, reduce swelling around joints, and remove stiffness of ligaments and joints. Applying a gentle massage of joints and limbs with hot mustard oil promotes blood flow and loosens painful contraction of joints.

Yoga is helpful in the better treatment of Arthritis with the enhanced physical and mental health of the patient. It is the oldest way to treat any disorder at home with the help of old remedies, yoga asanas and meditation. To treat Arthritis, people should follow the given instructions strictly and in a positive environment. Arthritic people should be patient and positive throughout the treatment of Arthritis by yogic therapy. The strength and control of mind can be achieved through Yoga Nidra, during which the mental transformation reduces drug dependency and pain sensitivity in the patient.

Thank you!