Role of Panchakarma in the management of rheumatoid arthritis

Panchakarma is one among mode of treatment through Ayurveda, which involves the usage of these therapies along with palliative measures these days. Mechanism involves physical and physiological barriers, propulsion of the food, ion and water absorption mechanism, and presence of immune and inflammatory cells, form readily available substrates for the modulator activity of the therapeutic measures. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune chronic inflammatory disorder. As the disease progresses, the inflamed synovium invades and damages the cartilage and bone of the joint. In Ayurveda, Vatarakta is a disease caused by vitiated Vata and Rakta, where the aggravated Vayu gets obstructed in its course by the vitiated blood and the Vayu vitiates the entire blood. This vitiated Rakta in long term involves mamsadi dhatu. RA cannot be correlated with one single disease entity in Ayurveda. It was observed that clinicians use the protocols for management of Amavata and Vatasonita in different stages of RA. It can consider by the management of Amavastha and Niramavastha with medicines and Panchakarma procedures. It was concluded that RA can be cured completely or manage well with Ayurveda medicines and Panchakarma without any side effects, whereas non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs cause during the treatment.