Abstract

ANTI-RHEUMATIC MEDICINAL HERBS IN SIDDHA SYSTEM OF MEDICINE - A REVIEW

Devaki R.* and Santhosh Kumar R.

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Abstract

Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India, was established by the World Health Organization (WHO) for maximizing the potential of traditional medicines through modern science and technology to enhance the health of the people and the World. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic multisystem disease of unknown cause. The most prominent manifestation of RA is inflammation of peripheral joints, usually, with a symmetrical distribution, its structured manifestation includes blood disorders and pulmonary, neurological, and cardiac abnormalities. The movements of activated pathogenic T cells from the outlying lymphoid tissues into the joint tissue (synovial tissue) which affects the joints that advance in inflammatory arthritis are mediated essentially by a chemotactic process. It causes morning stiffness of the affected joints, fever, fatigue, tenderness of the joints, and swollen, warm, and rheumatic nodules under the skin.[5] The therapy comprises the therapeutic regimen that aims the enteroarthropathy for rheumatic arthritis and some classified as DMARD (Disease-Modifying Anti- Rheumatic Drugs) have been used. Rheumatoid arthritis is correlated with 'Vali azhal keel vayyu’ in the Siddha system of medicine. Accordingly, it is due to the variation in vali and azhal that is caused by eating meat, fish, egg, and potatoes in disproportionate quantities. Often consuming alcohol and toddy; physical inactivity is the main cause. The symptoms include indigestion, regurgitation, constipation, fever, insomnia, and increased body weight. The Siddha system of medicine is efficient in alleviating rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis through its herbal products along with mineral, metallic, aquatic, and animal preparations.

Keywords: Siddha, Rheumatoid arthritis, Vali azhal keel vayu, Anti-rheumatic Medicinal herbs.