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|title=Rheumatic diseases
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|description= Diagnosis and Management of Rheumatological diseases in Ayurveda
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{{Infobox
|title = Contributors
|label1 = Section/Chapter/topic
|data1 = [[Concepts and Contemporary Practices]] -[[Nidana]] [[Chikitsa]] / [[Vyadhi]] / Psychiatric diseases
|label2 = Author
|data2 = Rammanohar P. <sup>1</sup>
|label3 = Reviewer
|data3 = Basisht G.<sup>2</sup>
|label4 = Editors
|data4 = Deole Y.S.<sup>3</sup>, Aneesh E. G.<sup>2</sup>
|label5 = Affiliations
|data5 = <sup>1</sup> Research Director, Amrita School of Ayurveda, Amritapuri, Kollam, Kerala, India.
<sup>2</sup>[[Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre]], I.T.& R.A., Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
<sup>3</sup> Executive Editor and Professor in Kayachikitsa, G.J.Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India
|label6 = Correspondence emails
|data6 = carakasamhita@gmail.com
|label7 = Date of first publication:
|data7 = January 24, 2022
|label8 = DOI
|data8 = Under process
}}
<div style='text-align:justify;'>
This article is based on a lecture delivered by Vd. P. Rammanohar, Research Director, Amrita School of Ayurveda, Amritapuri, Kollam, Kerala, India. in Prof. M. S. Baghel Memorial Lecture Series on November 09, 2021.
==Rheumatism & Rheumatology==
Diseases that affect the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons resulting in pain, swelling, stiffness, and potentially causing joint deformities are called ‘rheumatic disorders’. The study of such associated conditions is called ‘rheumatology’. Rheumatologists treat a group of diseases called “systemic autoimmune diseases”, otherwise termed as “collagen vascular diseases” or “connective tissue diseases”. This is a group of diseases where a person’s immune system attacks his body systems. This ends up causing inflammation, pain, swelling, and organ damage. These may affect the eyes, skin, nerves, kidneys, lungs, heart, and other internal organs. Rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren’s disease, scleroderma, polymyositis, and vasculitis, etc. are some examples.
The term rheumatism includes a variety of disorders marked by inflammation, degeneration, or metabolic derangement of connective tissue structures (especially joints and related structures). The clinical features include pain, stiffness, or limitation of movement. It includes such disorders as arthritis, osteoarthritis, bursitis, and sciatica.
==Ayurvedic perspective==
Involvement of three [[dosha]] and middle pathways of the manifestation of diseases (madhyama rogamarga) can be inferred. Inflammation, degeneration, and metabolic derangement represent tridosha. Involvement of joints and connective tissue represents the middle pathway of manifestation of diseases (madhyama rogamarga).
The Ayurvedic concept of ‘joint’ – termed as ‘sandhi’ represents not only bony joints but all connective tissues and collagen vascular disorders. [A. Hr. Sutra Sthana 12/47]<ref name= Hridaya > Vagbhata. Ashtanga Hridayam. Edited by Harishastri Paradkar Vaidya. 1st ed. Varanasi: Krishnadas Academy;2000.</ref> The connective tissues in the body are all affected by inflammatory, degenerative, or metabolic pathologies. It shows derangement of [[dosha]] in various permutations and combinations. The simultaneous involvement of multiple structures in the disease pathogenesis makes the disease difficult to treat. [A. Hr. Sutra Sthana 13/21]<ref name=Hridaya/> Even in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (vatarakta) vascular involvement is also very clearly indicated. [A. Hr. Nidana Sthana 16/18]<ref name=Hridaya/>
===Role of [[ama]]===
‘[[Ama]]’ is a key concept in the Ayurvedic understanding of physiology, pathology, and therapeutics. Rather than being a single entity or substance, [[ama]] denotes the deranged process of digestion and metabolism. It leads to metabolic byproducts in the body, which cannot be neutralized or eliminated by the body. It can be considered as a state of a substance in which it is not undergoing any further transformation, either digestion or metabolism. In [[Ayurveda]], [[ama]] has been defined from three viewpoints. On a closer examination, it can be understood that these three viewpoints represent [[ama]] in its totality. They are as below:
#[[Ama]] is the byproduct of impaired digestion.
#[[Ama]] is the accumulation of unexpelled wastes in the body.
#[[Ama]] is the first expression of aberrations in the physiological process in the body.[Madukosha-M.Ni. 25/1-5]<ref name=MNi> Madhavakara. Madhava Nidanam (Roga vinischaya). Translated from Sanskrit by K. R. Srikantha Murthy. 8th ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha orientalia;2007</ref>
[[Ama]] formation may be due to inflammatory, metabolic as well as infective pathologies. [[Ama]] in a particular character triggers autoimmune disorders.
====Classification of [[ama]]====
'''I. Based on the quality:'''
#Dormant [[ama]] in tissue (leena): This causes silent and chronic diseases like cardio vascular diseases, cancer etc.
#Sudden manifestation of symptoms followed by dormant state (leena – aleena): Episodic illness like bronchial asthma, rheumatoid arthritis etc. Sudden flare-ups and remissions are the characteristic features of this condition.
#Static or immobile state, [[ama]] cannot be removed from body in this state (achala)
#Freely moveable state, [[ama]] can be removed easily from the body (chala)
[[Ama]] when becomes deep seated (leena) in the tissue ([[dhatu]]) it triggers auto immune disorders, because body is not able to distinguish between [[ama]] and the tissue ([[dhatu]]).
'''II. Based on quantity:'''
#Less quantity (alpa)
#Medium quantity (madhya)
#Large quantity (bahu)
'''III. Based on location:'''
#The alimentary canal (koshtha)
#Peripheral tissues (shakha)
#Vital points ([[marma]])
'''IV. Based on state of [[dosha]]:'''
#Undigested (ama)
#Partially digested (vidagdha)
#Occluded (vishtabdha)
The pathology changes based on the type of [[ama]]. If there is infective pathology, it is mostly due to an undigested state. Inflammatory pathologies are due to a partially digested state. [A. Hr. Nidana Sthana 16/1]<ref name=Hridaya/> The occluded state leads to a degenerative type of pathology. For the treatment, separation of [[ama]] from tissue ([[dhatu]]) is very much essential, otherwise, it will cause complications. [A. Hr. Sutra Sthana 13/28]<ref name=Hridaya/>
The treatment strategies change based on the location of [[ama]] and state of the [[dosha]].
==Joint diseases in [[Ayurveda]]==
A careful study of the classical Ayurvedic texts reveals that joint and connective tissue disorders can be broadly divided into three categories viz ‘[[Amavata]]’, ‘Vatarakta’ and ‘Sandhivata’. These disease entities are quite comprehensive as they represent the possible pathologies that can arise in the joints due to the derangement of [[kapha]], [[pitta]], and [[vata dosha]] respectively. There are other ailments of the joints to be considered like inflammatory swelling of the knee joint (kroshtukashirsha). An accurate fixed modern correlation is not at all possible in any of these conditions. ‘[[Amavata]]’ is correlated to rheumatoid arthritis, but the concept is much broader than that. It includes many other conditions like rheumatic fever, ankylosing spondylitis etc. In ankylosing spondylitis, when there is axial spondyloarthropathy the symptoms resemble [[amavata]].[M.Ni. Amavatanidana/5]<ref name=Madava/> There will be stiffness in the entire spine. It’s an assortment of conditions put together because it mainly affects musculoskeletal diseases or due to the involvement of autoimmune pathologies. Rather than a fixed correlation, it is always beneficial to keep a separate diagnosis system. A diagnosis in conventional medical system is based on the available criteria. Parallelly, Ayurvedic diagnosis of the same condition can be done based on classical clinical features.
===[[Amavata]]===
This condition is predominantly seen in younger age where [[ama]] vitiation is happening very quickly. The body is in [[kapha]] dominant stage at this time.
It is caused by incompatible (virudha) foods. The signs of accumulation of [[ama]] are seen in the premonitory stage. The [[ama]] is accumulated in the bigger and smaller joints. The onset is sudden. It initially affects the big joints and later all joints in the body.
===Vatarakta===
Vatarakta is usually seen in middle age. [[Pitta dosha]] dominance is observed in this age. It manifests due to vitiation of blood ([[rakta dhatu]]) and [[vata dosha]] at the same time. It affects not only the joints but also the skin and blood vessels. Typically the disease starts with the symmetrical involvement of smaller joints of both hands and feet. [Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 29/12] [A.Hr.NidanaS thana 16/7]<ref name=Hridaya/> Symmetrical arthritis is also a typical feature of rheumatoid arthritis described in conventional medicine.
In later stage, it spreads all over and systemic involvement is seen. [A. Hr. [[Nidana Sthana]] 16/7]<ref name=Hridaya/> In advanced stages, severe deformity of the joints is seen. When the skin is involved, it shows cutaneous manifestations. When blood vessels are involved, it can cause damage to the blood vessels, extreme pain, and even death.
It is caused by incompatible foods (viruddha) and foods that cause burning sensation (vidahi). Its progression is slow. In the premonitory stage, relapse and exacerbations is present. This disease evolves in two phases.
A. Superficial (uttana): It involves skin and connective tissues.
B. Deep (gambhira): It involves joints and other deeper structures.
Eventhough it involves blood and [[vata dosha]] vitiation, it also involves [[ama]] as a key pathogenic factor. In the beginning, the treatment should focus on [[kapha]]-[[vata]] dominance. Vitiation of blood shall be addressed to prevent complications.
====Classification====
Vatarakta is classified into 75 subtypes. There are 35 types of [[vata]] predominant vatarakta, 30 types of [[pitta]] predominance, and 10 types of [[kapha]] predominat vatarakta. [Chakrapani on Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 29/24-29] But in today’s clinical practice, these sub-classifications are less focused. These subtypes might be 75 different stages of a single disease. Such stage-wise identification and its related treatments should be focused into clinical practice.
Some [[Ayurveda]] scholars correlate malignant conditions with vatarakta. Prolonged chronic inflammation is said to be the leading causative factor for malignancy. Thus it is logical that methotrexate, which is previously used for cancer management has become the mainstream drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
====Treatment principles====
Vatarakta is said to be a condition where the body is in a state of anger against its systems. [A. Hr. Chikitsa Sthana 22/18]<ref name=Hridaya/> It is suggestive of autoimmune disorder. Just like anger cannot be appeased suddenly, the treatment of vatarakta also requires patience and an abundant amount of time. The flare-ups are unpredictable. After removing the [[ama]] and the body is purified the treatment should be continued for a long period to prevent a recurrence. This principle of treatment is very relevant in autoimmune diseases.
===Sandhivata===
Sandhivata is a degenerative disease of the joints. It is caused by food which causes obstruction (vishtambhi). Usually, it is a gradually progressing disease primarily caused by wear and tear. Sudden onset due to injuries is also observed in some cases.
Pain associated with movement is the typical feature of this condition. Swelling of the affected joint is present. On palpation, the joint feels as if filled with air. It may affect any joint.
Osteoarthritis is prevalent in old-aged persons. [[Vata dosha]] dominance is seen in this age group. In sandhivata, the main focus is on [[Vata dosha]]. It is usually correlated to osteoarthritis. Apart from this, other degenerative joint conditions like lumbar and cervical spondylitis also come under the umbrella of sandhivata.
==Ayurvedic perspective of rheumatoid arthritis==
It is difficult to find an exact match for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the classical texts of [[Ayurveda]]. In the early texts of [[Ayurveda]] like Charak Samhita, the major disease described that affects the joints is ‘Vatarakta’. Vatarakta is described as an inflammatory disease affecting the joints. Some physicians correlate this condition with RA. ‘Sandhivata’ is very briefly mentioned in Charak Samhita. In the later texts like Madhava Nidhana, the first description regarding ‘[[Amavata]]’ is found. It may not be a new disease, but the term is introduced to give more granularity in understanding different clinically important conditions. It might be a condition where vitiation of blood ([[rakta]]) is not predominant. This condition is correlated with RA by some physicians.
Both correlations might be true. One condition is emphasizing [[ama]] more and the other condition emphasizes blood ([[rakta dhatu]]). A clinical study also reveals that when vitiation of blood is present, [[amavata]] treatment is not enough.<ref name=Furst>Furst DE, Venkatraman MM, McGann M, Manohar PR, Booth-LaForce C, Sarin R, Sekar PG, Raveendran KG, Mahapatra A, Gopinath J, Kumar PR. Double-blind, randomized, controlled, pilot study comparing classic ayurvedic medicine, methotrexate, and their combination in rheumatoid arthritis. J Clin Rheumatol. 2011 Jun;17(4):185-92. doi: 10.1097/RHU.0b013e31821c0310. Erratum in: J Clin Rheumatol. 2011 Oct;27(7):407. PMID: 21617554.</ref> Therefore, personified treatment principles in [[Ayurveda]] include management of both [[ama]] as well as [[rakta dhatu]].
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Table 1: Comparison of onset and clinical features of rheumatoid arthritis, [[amavata]] and vatarakta
|-
! Rheumatoid Arthritis !! [[Amavata]] !! Vatarakta
|-
| | Slow onset in most cases || Slow onset, not specified as a characteristic feature || Slow onset and progress is a typical characteristic similar to the spread of rat’s poison
|-
| | First affects fingers and toes of hand and feet || First affects the trika sandhi, which may be the joints in the lumbosacral region or the cervical region || Specifically mentioned that joints of hands and feet are affected first, especially fingers and toes
|-
| | In some cases, general symptoms manifest before joints are affected || Typically, general symptoms manifest before joints are affected || Cutaneous manifestations may be seen in the prodromal stage. Typically starts with joint afflictions
|-
| | Typically, joints are affected in a symmetrical fashion || Symmetrical involvement of joints not specified || Joints of both limbs affected at the same time
|-
| | Morning stiffness of joints is a key symptom || Stiffness of the whole body is a characteristic sign, morning stiffness is not specified. It is also not specified whether the stiffness affects the joints || Stiffness is one of the signs. Morning stiffness not specified.
|-
| | In the initial stages, there are remissions and flare ups || Remissions and flare-ups are not characteristic signs || Remissions and flare-ups are characteristic signs.
|-
|}
It is difficult to make a one-to-one correlation. More research works are required to establish specific correlations.
==Treatment==
[[File: Treatment_algoritam_for_vatarakta.JPG|500px|'''Image 1: Treatment algorithm for vatarakta'''|thumb]]
[[File: Treatment_algoritam_for_rhematological_diseases.JPG|500px|'''Image 2: Treatment algorithm for rheumatological diseases'''|thumb]]
The treatment depends on multiple factors. Rather than using a single medicine, a treatment algorithm is required for each disease. Especially in the case of chronic autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, the approach should be to pacify the immune system. The basic causes that triggered immune response shall be found out and treated accordingly. It is a slow and stage-wise process. The various stages of [[ama]], [[dosha]], [[dhatu]] shall be considered. [[Ayurveda]] offers a treatment algorithm based on all these as below Image 1 and 2:
Immediate purificatory treatments are not advised. [A. Hr. Sutra Sthana 13/21]<ref name=Hridaya/> It needs long-term treatment. Bringing the [[dosha]] back from the middle pathway (madhyama rogamarga) and the skin and six [[dhatus]] (shakha) to the gastrointestinal tract (koshtha) is the primary objective. This requires repeated medications for kindling ([[deepana]]) and promoting digestion ([[pachana]]). [A. Hr. Sutra Sthana 13/29]<ref name=Hridaya/> The treatment is decided on the structures involved in the pathogenesis.
===Clinical perspective of pathogenesis===
The Ayurvedic understanding of pathologies is different from conventional medical science. Pathogenesis of cervical spondylosis occurring in a person sitting continuously in an AC room and that in a person who is working on fields directly under the sun or by riding two -wheelers must be treated in different ways. Because the first condition is caused by the predominance of cold (shita) and dry (ruksha) properties and later is caused by hot (ushna) and dry (ruksha) properties. Even though the radiological investigations may appear similar in both conditions, but Ayurvedic treatment approach will be different. Some patients may get relief by using Karpasastyadi taila and some others with Pinda taila.
===Clinical study on the comparative efficacy of [[Ayurveda]] and conventional treatments===
In a study, preliminary testing of Ayurvedic treatment algorithm has been done. In this study, it is found out that if an Ayurvedic approach to diagnosis is followed in parallel to modern medicine diagnosis effective Ayurvedic treatment can be done without compromising scientific design. The study involved three groups. One group received methotrexate and Ayurvedic placebo, other group received Ayurvedic treatments and methotrexate placebo. The third group received Ayurvedic treatment and methotrexate. Placebos for Ayurvedic dosage forms are introduced in this study. American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria was applied for the assessment of clinical efficacy in all groups. It was found that at 6 months, the Ayurveda group showed maxium respondents with 20% improvement as per ACR criteria. After 9 months, the Ayurveda group showed maximum respondents with 70% improvement in ACR criteria, outnumbering the respondents in the allopathic group. Long-term persistant kindling ([[deepana]]) and digestive ([[pachana]]) therapy, with focus on middle pathway of manifestation of diseases (madhyama rogamarga), slowly bringing the [[ama]] was having a larger benefit. This study is recommended as a blueprint for future studies on complementary and alternative medicine. This paper also received the Excellence in Integrative medicine research award in 2012.<ref name=Furst/>
===Management based on underlying pathologies===
[[Amavata]] may express in two conditions, with involvement of blood and without its involvement. If the patient has vitiation of blood (rakta dushti), classical [[amavata]] treatment further vitiates the blood, and worsens the condition. This is because the property of medicines used is hot (ushna) and dry (ruksha) which disturbs blood. If vitiation of blood is present the treatment must include blood soothing (rakta prasadana) and [[ama]]-reducing drugs. Due to this property, Tinospora cordifolia ([[guduchi]]) becomes the most important drug in its treatment. It is one of the rare herb which reduces [[vata]] and [[kapha]] and soothes blood (rakta prasadana) simultaneously. So it can be used in all stages. But Zingiber officinale (sunti) and Pluchea lanceolata (rasna) is used in [[ama]] predominant condition only. If the predominance of blood is more, oils like Yashtimadhu taila, Balaguduchyadi taila etc are used. In a study, it is found that treatment given according to the combined [[ama]] and blood ([[rakta]]) concept yields better results. The 70% improvement is recorded which is equivalent to methotrexate. In the study, some patients had given only Amrutotaram kashaya which is more for [[ama]]. The other patients were given Balaguduchyadi kashaya, Kokilakshaka kashaya etc. focusing more on blood vitiation (rakta dushti).<ref name=Furst/>
==Conclusion==
Regarding the diagnosis of these rheumatological conditions, modern science diagnosis is also complex and based on assessment of multiple parameters. Specific conditions have been pinpointed by modern medicine through biological or molecular mechanisms. However, from the Ayurvedic perspective, involvement of middle pathway of diseases (madhyama rogamarga), [[ama]] and its classification, and the three broad pathologies viz [[amavata]], vatarakta and sandhivata accommodate all these pathologies.
Correlating Ayurvedic disease with a biomedical condition or biomedical disease with an Ayurvedic condition won’t yield desired results because both these approaches have limitations. It is better to diagnose the disease condition separately in each system and later can search for any natural correlations on case to case basis. The retrospective classification may yield more relevant correlations. Disease descriptions in classical Ayurvedic texts reveal that each disease entity described represents a cluster of diseases that stem from a common underlying pathology. Biomedical disease descriptions represent very specific pathological manifestations. From this point of view, a particular disease described in [[Ayurveda]] would correlate with a cluster of diseases in biomedicine. So instead of fixing one-to-one correlation, if we look at stages of disease and [[dosha]]s and treat accordingly the results will be better. In [[Amavata]] more attention should be given to [[kapha dosha]], in vatarakta more attention should be given to [[pitta dosha]], and in sandhivata to [[vata dosha]].
==Related Chapters==
[[Vatarakta Chikitsa]], [[Amavata]]
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