Abstract

MANAGEMENT OF AMAVATA (RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS) WITH VIRECHANKARMA

Dr. Abhilasha C. Lagad* and Dr. Sadananda V. Deshapande

Abstract

Amavata is a disease in which vitiation of Vata Dosha and accumulation of Ama takes place in joints and it is responsible for RA at modern parlance. Shaman (conservative treatment) and Shodhana (biological purification of the body) are advised in Ayurveda whereas anti-inflammatory, analgesics, steroids and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are required for this management as per modern medicine, which have some side effects. Accourding to Ayurveda Pathyapathya is also very important for Amavata treatment. When Ama and vata gets vitiated simultaneously and gets deposited in the Koshtha(gut), Trik(sacral region), Sandhi(joints) where it produced shotha(oedema), Shoola(pain), and Stabdhata(stiffness) then the manifestation is known as Amavata. Due to inpaired Jatharagni the ahar rasa formed is Apakva, this Apakva ahar rasa thus formed is in AMA stage which causes sarva doshprakopa. Virechana is the purification process of Ayurveda. When doshas are expelled out from the body through anal route then it is called as Virechana. Ama which is formed as a result of Mandagni being macromolecular in nature gets accumulated in the sukshma strotas and there this Ama causes Strotavarodha (channel obstruction). Thus Virechana karma is one of the important bio-purificative procedure which is indicated for complete elimination of Dosha and thus results in eradication of disease.

Keywords: Ama, Amavata, Jatharagni, Mandagni, Virechana.