Abstract

CRITICAL REVIEW ON THE ROLE OF AGNICHIKITSA LEPA (LOCAL APPLICATION) IN AMAVATA (RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS)

Dr. Surya K. P.* and Dr. B. A. Lohith

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Abstract

Chronic agonising pain can adversely affect a patient’s ability to work, participate in physical and social activities and there by disrupts his daily life. Despite medications and aggressive forms of treatments, many Rheumatoid Arthritis subject’s experience excruciating pain, stiffness and swelling. Rheumatoid Arthritis can cause inflammation and pain in any joints. Similar clinical presentation is seen in Amavata in Ayurvedic science. Ama (metabolic toxin) produced due to the sluggish functioning of Agni, circulates all over the body and lodges especially in Sleshma-sthanas like Sandhi, Amashaya adi pradesha. This turnout to produce symptoms like Sandhi shoola (Joint pain), Sandhi shotha (Swelling), Sandhi graha (Morning stiffness), Jwara (Fever), Angamarda (Lethargy), Aruchi (Anorexia), Gaurava (Heaviness). Agnichikitsa lepa is a folklore formulation having drugs mostly of Usna Guna and Virya, Katu Vipaka and VataKaphahara property. This lepa exhibits similar action like that of Niragni Upanaha sveda. Owing to the properties of the drugs employed, lepa has Agnideepana, Amapachana Shothahara (anti-inflammatory) and Vedanasthapana (analgesic) actions. The resultant outcome of full body application is reduction of local pain, swelling, stiffness and tenderness of affected joints.

Keywords: Agnichikitsa, Amavata, Ama, Rheumatoid Arthritis.