Arthralgia or Joint pain is the pain felt in the joints. A joint is area where two or more bones meet. Joint pain can be a symptom of different ailments such as injuries, infections or arthritis. The treatment options tend to differ depending on the severity, intensity and cause of the pain. It ranges from home remedies such as over-the-counter medicines and physical therapy or surgery.
What Are the Main Causes of Joint Pain?
Joint ache or pain tends to result from a plethora of conditions, injuries or lifestyle factories. Following are the main causes of joint pain-
1. Arthritis.
· Osteoarthritis.
It is caused by the wear and tear of cartilage.
The ailment is common in hips, hands and knees.
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis.
· This is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system of a person attacks joints.
· It leads to pain and swelling.
3. Gout.
The ailment is caused by uric acid buildup in the joints.
4. Trauma or injury.
Any kind of trauma or injury to a joint can potentially lead to post-traumatic arthritis and this can happen owing to the injury damages the cartilage and joint structures. This leads to pain and inflammation.
5. Infections.
Joint pain can also be caused by septic arthritis or direct infection of the joint. Fungi, bacteria and viruses can spread through the bloodstream and this can infect the joint which causes pain.
Fungi enters the bloodstream through the wound or injury and this causes the joint to become infected. This in turn also causes inflammation and pain.
6. Autoimmune disorders.
In any kind of auto immune disorder, the immune system of the body tends to mistakenly attack its own tissues. This leads to an inflammation and damage. For eg- Lupus- It is an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain.
7. Nutritional deficiency.
Vitamin D and B12 nutritional deficiency can lead to joint pain. It weakens bones and causes pain in the joints.
Ayurvedic approach to Joint pain.
Ayurveda focuses on balancing the doshas in the body by offering a holistic and long-term approach in aiding joint pain. It not only restores lubrication but also reduces inflammation. Following are the Joint pain treatment in Ayurveda-
1. Panchakarma therapy.
One of the most common issues that many individuals are grappling with is Joint pain or Knee pain. The issue can limit mobility. Panchakarma, an ancient ayurvedic treatment consists of five therapies for detoxifying the body. Following is the series of procedures involved in panchakarma-
· Preparation- It includes internal and external oleation and the stream therapy. The procedure equips the body for the main therapy by helping it get rid of toxins.
· Pradhankarma- It includes Emesis, Purgation, Enema, Nasya and Raktamokshana.
· Paschatkarma- This is the last phase which includes lifestyle modifications, dietary regulations and the inclusion of herbal supplements.
The rejuvenation treatment in Panchakarma consists of-
· Abhyanga.
This is an oil massage in which warm medicated oils such as Dhanwantharam Taila and Mhanarayana Tila which reduces stiffness and improves circulation.
· Steam therapy.
Also known as Swedana, the herbal steam is applied after massage to open channels and remove toxins from the body.
· Basti.
This medicated enema procedure nourishes joints and also removes deep-seated toxins.
· Lepa.
In this process, a herbal paste is applied to reduce inflammation in the joint.
This is one of the best Joint Pain treatment in Ayurveda.
2. Diet and lifestyle recommendations.
It is very important to consume a balanced diet for managing joint pain. One should focus on incorporating foods such as berries, fatty fish, whole grains and lean proteins in the diet. One should also aim to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. This helps combat oxidative stress and inflammation.
It is advisable to incorporate protein-rich foods such as chicken, fish, turkey and plant based foods.
It is important to reduce or eliminate consuming processed foods, added sugars and refines carbohydrates.
What are the lifestyle recommendation?
· Regular exercise- It is important to exercise regularly. Swimming and cycling also help a great deal in maintaining joint mobility and strength.
· Weight management- If the body is in proportion, it helps maintain joint mobility without putting excessive stress on the joints.
· Hydration- One should drink plenty of water for keeping joints lubricated.
3. External oils for joint pain.
The joints and bones in our body lose muscle mass and density as we get old. This creates a pressure on the joints. It eventually promotes a series of events in the body such as stiffness of the ligaments, weakening of muscles and leaking of fluid between the joints. All these events lead to stiffness, inflammation and pain in the joints.
Following are the oils that helps pacify the effects of joint pain-
· Lavender oil.
This cell-regenerating and pain-relieving feature of this oil makes it an excellent choice. This oil helps reduce inflammation around the joints. This automatically eases the pain.
· Ginger oil.
The oil has a compound called Zingibain which is found in ginger. It has anti-inflammatory properties. These properties help reduce swelling and stiffness. It also reduces the inflammation in the muscles and joints.
· Eucalyptus oil.
The oil is extracted from eucalyptus leaves. It is rich in anti-oxidants and has analgesic properties. It is used as a joint pain-relief oil and it also soothes muscular discomfort.
· Camphor oil.
This oil is one of the pain relief medicine and it relieves sore tissues and muscles. It also improves blood circulation.
4. Herbal formulations.
Some of the most commonly used herbs for joint pain are ginger, turmeric, Boswellia and Willow bark extract.
· Turmeric- It is rich in curcumin which is an antioxidant compound.
· Ginger- The anti-inflammatory properties present in the drug help alleviate joint pain.
· Devil’s claw- It is used to reduce the inflammation and joint pain.
· Primrose oil- The drug contains omega-6 fatty acids which help decrease the pain in joints.
· Valerain- It is an herbal supplement from the roots of the valerian plant.
Dosage
The dosage may vary depending on the specific herb and the needs of the individual. One should follow the instructions on the product label.
References
-
-
Mayo Clinic – Causes of Joint Pain (Arthritis, Gout, Autoimmune Disorders)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arthritis/symptoms-causes -
PubMed – Ayurvedic Panchakarma for Chronic Pain Management
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3339629 -
Harvard Health – Anti-inflammatory Diet for Joint Pain
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation -
NCBI – Efficacy of Turmeric (Curcumin) in Joint Inflammation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5664031
-