Ayurvedic Insight
Issue #34, August 2004
In This Issue
Ayurvedic Tips for Healthy Joints
by Shannon Mooney
As we begin to understand how to maintain proper health and
function of the joints, let us first look at their anatomy
and physiology from an ayurvedic perspective. Joints hold
the bones together and are designed to provide movement
within the skeletal system. The main function of bone is
support, while the joints allow a certain amount of
flexibility and "give" to our structure. The synovial
joints, where the ends of bone are connected by a joint
cavity or capsule containing synovial fluid, allow freedom
and fluidity in the articulation of our movements.
All of the supportive tissues, bones, ligaments, tendons,
and connective tissue, are kapha dosha, while the joint
cavity or space where the bones meet is an element ruled by
vata dosha. The joint capsule provides a container for the
slippery synovial fluid, again a kapha substance, that
lubricates the ends of the bone surfaces and also
accommodates a tough, protective covering into which the
ligaments and tendons can insert themselves. It is through
the ligaments that nerve impulses are transmitted to the
muscles signaling movement, a function of vata dosha.
Healthy joint tissue and function are crucial to how we move
and express ourselves through our bodies. According to
ayurveda, vitiated or disturbed vata dosha can create
imbalance within the joints resulting in pain and
discomfort. Most commonly affected joints are knees, ankles,
elbows, wrists, fingers and toes. When there is an imbalance
in the joints, it is important to discern whether or not the
imbalance exists with or without ama, a sticky toxic
substance. A simple test can be done with organic sesame
oil. Massage the oil into the joint. If the symptoms are
aggravated, then there is ama present, a condition known as
amavata. If the symptoms are alleviated by the oil massage
or stay the same, then the treatment will begin with the
removal of the causative factors and balancing vata dosha.
The dryness of vata can deplete the lubricating qualities of
kapha and joint surfaces can become rough and brittle.
Common symptoms of vata imbalance in the joints are dryness,
popping and cracking, and muscle tics and spasms. Some
common causative factors are jogging, jumping, excessive
exercise, injury, consuming too many dry foods, living in a
cold, dry climate and irregular eating habits and lifestyle.
Entering the vata season of life of fifty years and older
will also increase vata dosha throughout the body.
Particularly during the vata season of Fall, when the
temperature becomes cold and the wind begins to blow,
symptoms may become aggravated. Ayurveda offers simple
guidelines and herbal remedies for supporting healthy
function of the joints.
A few lifestyle therapies for balancing excess vata in the
joints are:
- Maintain a regular schedule, sleeping and waking at the
same time each day.
- Abhyanga, self-oil massage every evening. Choose organic
sesame or vata massage oil.
- Massage medicinal Mahanarayan oil locally into sore, stiff
joints.
- Follow vata pacifying diet, taking meals at regular times
each day.
- Banyan Botanicals Joint Support.
- Practice gentle yoga. The Pawanmuktasana Series
(wind-relieving or anti-rheumatic group) of circular
movements decrease vata and increase lubrication of the
joints.
In a condition of amavata, ama is carried by misdirected or
vitiated vata into general circulation throughout the body.
When it interacts with the kapha in the joint spaces, the
synovial fluid loses its' highly viscous quality and changes
into a sticky toxic substance. It can begin to block vital
channels throughout the body that carry nutrients to the
tissues and cause disfunction within the joint. The immune
system can begin to attack the ama stored in the joints
causing an inflammation of the joint lining. Inflamed tissue
can result in symptoms of excess heat, redness, pain,
stiffness, and swelling. Acute inflammation, if left
untreated, can cause damage or injury to the joint and bone
tissue resulting in a chronic condition. Untreated chronic
inflammation can lead to degenerative disease, such as
rheumatoid arthritis. Ama can be clotted together with dead
cells which the immune system sweeps up. Because it can also
be so deeply embedded within healthy tissue, the immune
cells can become confused by the similarity to that which it
has been scavenging, unable to properly identify the toxic
invader from the healthy tissue; an "autoimmune" reaction.
The primary causes for accumulation of ama are improper
diet, excessive exercise, exhaustion due to overwork,
extreme worry, and the use of alcohol. It commonly occurs in
cold, damp climates. For the condition of amavata, removing
the causative factors and eliminating ama from the body are
paramount. Treatment to balance the doshas and rejuvenate
the joint and bone tissue ensues.
Here are some additional lifestyle guidelines to help reduce
ama and restore balance:
- Favor warm, nourishing, easy to digest meals. Try
ama-reducing kitchari.
- Include ghee or flax seed oil in your diet, both
nourishing and anti-inflammatory. They help to increase
cellular intelligence.
- Avoid white sugar and alcohol. Use unprocessed, raw honey
(uncooked) to help gently scrape away ama.
- Avoid dairy, particularly ice cream and cheese.
- Apply a thin layer of castor oil to sore joints before
applying heating pad to help reduce inflammation and scrape
ama.
- Keep your colon clean. Empty bowels regularly.
- Sip hot water and tea made from dry ginger root (or ginger
tea bags).
- Practice deep, abdominal breathing. Ujjayi and Nadi
Shodana pranayama gently help to move toxins from the body.
- Meditate daily for clarity.
- Address any psychological disturbances or unresolved
emotions.
One of the best herbal formulas to alleviate joint problems
and maintain healthy function of the joints and muscles is
Banyan Botanicals Joint Support. This formula contains the
following herbs synergistically blended to help increase the
body's digestive fire enabling cleansing and expulsion of
ama, while reducing inflammation and rejuvenating the
joints. Below, each ingredient of the formula is listed
along with a description of the action or effect it has on
the body.
- Guggulu an anti-inflammatory with strong purifying and
rejuvenating properties. Indicated for arthritis,
rheumatism, gout, lumbago disorders of the nervous,
respiratory, digestive and circulatory systems.
- Guduchi - a broad spectrum pitta-reducing herb that
destroys toxins and strengthens immunity.
- Amalaki, Bibhitaki, and Haritaki - the three fruits
comprising the detoxifying and tonifying ayurvedic panacea, Triphala.
- Vidanga - a powerful herb which destroys ama (toxins).
- Ashwagandha - an adaptogenic rejuvenative herb with
anti-inflammatory properties.
- Gokshura - an anti-inflammatory and rejuvenative.
- Turmeric - an anti-bacterial and powerful blood purifier
with anti-inflammatory properties.
- Ginger, Black pepper and Pippali - powerful digestive aids
to increase agni (digestive fire), helping to burn ama and
promote circulation.
Enjoy these ayurvedic tips and know you are on your way to
maintaining healthy joint function and restoring comfort and
balance to your joints and muscles. Support your bones and
joints and they will support you!
Recipe: Favorite Snow Peas
Sattvic, 0 Vata, - Pitta, 0 Kapha
- 2 cups fresh snow peas
- 1 1/2 T. ghee
Wash snow peas and pat dry. Warm ghee in a large skillet.
Toss in snow peas. Stir to coat well with ghee. Cover and
cook over medium heat until beautifully green and tender,
two to three minutes at most.
Recipe reprinted with permission from Ayurvedic Cooking for
Westerners by Amadea Morningstar, Lotus Press, P.O. Box 325,
Twin Lakes, WI 53181.©1995 All Rights Reserved.
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