Rheumatoid Arthritis

Definition:

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disorder of the joints. It is marked by inflammation and severe degeneration and causes permanent deformity in the joints.

Causes of arthritis:

• It is an autoimmune disorder wherein the immune system, which generally protects the body from various infections and diseases, starts to attack and damage normal body tissues.

• Irregular diet. Eating unfavorable foods, which can cause chronic indigestion and formation of endotoxins.

Arthritis Symptoms:

• Mainly, smaller joints in fingers, toes and ankles are affected. Severe pain, swelling and rise in temperature around the affected joint.

• The pain and other signs are transitory in nature, that is, only one or two joints are affected at a time and the symptoms shift to the other joints, after some time.

• In most cases, the signs are associated with fever and general weakness.

• Although visible abnormality in the joint is not seen in the initial stages, gross deformities can be seen at the advanced stage.

Do's & Don't :

• Add a pinch of ginger powder to drinking water.

• Include foods containing barley, rice, pulses and lentils in regular diet.

• Add powdered long pepper, black pepper, and ginger and piper root in regular meals.

• Avoid spicy, pungent and fried foods.

Suggestions/ Rheumatoid arthritis remedies:

• Ginger is excellent as antiendotoxic (digests all the endotoxins from the system) in nature. Powdered ginger should be taken in a 1-gm dosage, twice, daily.

• A decoction of roots of ten herbs (Dashamoola) in a 30-ml dosage, thrice, daily. Castor oil in a 5-10-ml dosage, at regular intervals.

• Tablets made of ginger, castor seeds and gum guggul (Comiphora mukul), in a 500-mg dosage, thrice, daily.

• Avoid oil applications on the affected joints. Instead use a dry fomentation with a cloth bag containing hot sand.

Herbs Can Be Used :

• A decoction of potato peels, in a 15-ml dosage, thrice, daily. Juice of bitter gourd, with honey, in a 60-ml dosage, twice, daily.

• A paste of rhubarb and sugar in a 2-gm dosage, thrice, daily.

• Take an extract of celery seeds (5-10 drops), thrice, daily.