Osteoarthritis : Sandhivata

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of the Arthritis. It is mostly found in the aged people. It is commonly known as O.A. and also called degenerative arthritis and degenerative joint disease. This is a condition in which low grade inflammation results in pain in the joints by wearing of the cartilages. These cartilages act as a cushion inside the joints. When these cushions are not in a proper form the bones making a joint touch each other and cause pain. The second reason is, decrease or destruction in the synovial fluid in side the space of a joint. This fluid is unctuous in nature and helps in a friction less activity of a joint. When any of these two conditions start appearing in the joint (Loss of cartilages or decrease in synovial fluid) pain appears in the joints. Generally the pain in the Osteoarthritis is aching with loss of mobility of the effected joint.

Due to loss of movement muscles and ligaments surround the joint are also weakened due to lesser uses and disability increases with the time. Generally Osteoarthritis attacks the bigger and weight bearing joints. Knee and elbow joints are the mostly effected. Because Osteoarthritis proceeds slowly-slowly, that is why a patient "awakens" when a lot of damage has occurred inside the joint.

Causes of the Osteoarthritis:

1.       Aging: Due to hardening of arteries, bones cannot get the proper nutrition, which is most important for the joints to maintain their laxity.

2.      Poor metabolism of the Calcium in the body.

3.      Over-weight and obesity, causing extra load on the weight bearing joints.

4.      Lack of proteoglycones, which are helpful in the bone formation.

Osteoarthritis in Ayurveda :

Osteoarthritis is known as Sandhivata in Ayurveda. In word Sandhivata, Sandhi means the joint and Vata stands for the Vata Dosha. When activities of the Vata increase inside the Sandhis, joints, it is known as the Sandhivata. Vata is dry in nature so it absorbs the fluidity, from any part of the body and it is also destructive or catabolic in nature, due to these two reasons Vata cause destruction of the cartiages and reduction in the Synovial fluid inside the joint capsule.

Individuals with the Vata Prakruti are more prone for the Osteoarthritis, as their main Dosha is Vata.

Sign and Symptoms of Osteoarthritis/Sandhivata:

1.       Cracking sounds in joints.

2.      Chronic pain, which becomes sever in cold seasons and during nights.

3.      Inability to bear the weight in knee joint.

4.      Pain during walking is the most common symptom of the Osteoarthritis

Is Calcium supplements are important to get rid of the Osteoarthritis?

When one is diagnosed with the Osteoarthritis, one starts to look for the calcium supplements to heal his/her joints. But perhaps you don't need those supplements anymore. Calcium is the most dry element of the nature and according to Ayurveda it holds a lot of Vata component and Aakash Mahabhuta (as it is porous in nature) that is why by using more and more Calcium supplements we only invite the renal calculi, don't get any calcium for our bones and joints. It is a truth that our bones reshuffle the calcium with those after an age. If this calcium gets stored at a proper place, bones will remain healthy. When the same calcium from bones, goes to wrong places, it makes spikes, known as osteophytes, these spikes cause pain most of the times. So if you want to make your bones intact and stronger, go for the diets and lifestyle, which can help body in proper metabolism of the calcium, available with our body.

Follow the diet and lifestyle listed below to maintain your bones and joints properly-