Ayurveda treats musculo-skeletal problems holistically, taking into account the whole physiology, psychology and physical presentation of the person and the problem.
The goal of the treatment is to restore balance and to bring the person back to their natural psycho-physiological baseline or constitution.
Joint pain treatment is based on bringing the disturbed Dosha (Energetic principles that govern all biological processes in the body – Vata, Pitta and Kapha respectively) back into a balanced state.
This is achieved by diet, lifestyle, Marma (Ayurvedic Acupressure) massage with herbal oils, use of herbal poultices, Nadi Svedan (herbal steam treatments), herbal oil dhara (oil dripping) treatment of the affected body parts, herbal formulations and Panchakarma (detoxification and rejuvenation therapies).
According to Ayurvedic theory you have to look at the person as a whole…the individual and his/her interaction with the environment.
Two main reasons for joint pain are tissue degeneration and blockage of prana (energy) or circulation. These are are affected by external and internal factors which determine whether one is more prone to injury or how easily one heals from injuries.
External factors affecting these conditions are due to:
Physical factors such as trauma, overuse, poor diet and sleep deprivation.
Environmental causes like exposure to cold, wind or damp weather will also predispose one to these problems.
Psychological stress, worry, anxiety, too much activity or travel can also play a major role in affecting the proper functioning and reserves of the body.
Internal factors are due to:
Genetic factors which determine physical, psychological and physiological make up of a person also accounts for why one person gets injured easily and why another might heal faster.
Due to poor digestion, factors that weaken the functioning of organs and poor elimination of waste products.
Accumulation of toxins results in blockages, impaired circulation and degeneration of the tissues. All these lead to impaired function and pain.
For joint pain treatment the focus is on opening up blockages in micro-channels of the injured tissues, to remove toxins or metabolic waste products from these tissues, to improve metabolic capacity of the injured tissue for proper uptake and assimilation of nutrients and to improve macro and micro digestion of the whole system.
Opening up of channels facilitates flow of Prana or Qi or energy. Prana is the cellular intelligence that controls proper movement and functioning of the whole system.
Removal of blockages also allows for proper circulation at the micro-cellular level providing nutrition and removal of metabolic waste products. With right movement of Prana and circulation the tissue is given an optimal environment for recovery.
Balancing the Doshas to their natural state restores balance within the body and brings the system back to a state of homeostasis.
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