The Ayurvedic Whole System (AWS) has shown significant promise in managing Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), according to a new scientific study. This pioneering research demonstrates AWS's ability to alleviate RA symptoms and induce a metabolic shift towards normalization.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), also known as "Amavata'' in sanskrit language, occurs when your immune system attacks the lining of your joints, disrupting the production of lubricating fluid. According to Ayurvedic texts, this occurs due to an imbalance in the Vata dosha, building up of ama (toxins) in the body. RA primarily leads to joint pain, swelling, and reduced function in the affected joints.
Researchers from reputed research institutions, including Arthritis Treatment and Advanced Research Center (A-ATARC), Department of Kaya Chikitsa, State Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Lucknow University; Centre of Biomedical Research (CBMR), SGPGIMS Campus, Lucknow; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, conducted this study which was published in the reputed Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medicine (JAIM).
The study focused on RA patients, assessing their disease activity scores, joint inflammation, and metabolic markers before and after AWS intervention.
Results revealed substantial improvements in key clinical parameters. Disease Activity Score-28 Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (DAS-28 ESR) decreased significantly, along with the number of swollen and tender joints. The Ama Activity Measure (AAM) Score, indicating toxin levels, also showed a marked reduction.
Metabolic profiling revealed a shift towards normal metabolic levels in RA patients, post-AWS treatment, suggesting a return to a balanced metabolic state. This study is the first to demonstrate AWS's clinical efficacy in managing RA.
'This study is significant from the perspective of possible pathology reversal in case of RA being treated with whole system Ayurveda approach. This endorses ayurvedic concepts of ‘Samprapti Vighatan’ where a pathogenesis – disease complex is dismantled and ‘Doshas’ are brought back to normality.
Dr. Sanjeev Rastogi
While these findings are promising, further research is needed to confirm the results and understand the underlying mechanisms. This innovation emphasizes how combining conventional Ayurvedic treatments with contemporary medical methods might enhance patient results for long-term illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis.
Reference:
Rastogi, Sanjeev, Ankita Verma, Rimjhim Trivedi, Anuj Shukla, and Dinesh Kumar. “Clinical metabolomics investigation of rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving ayurvedic whole system intervention.” Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine 15, no. 4 (July 1, 2024): 101009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101009.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Dr. Aditi Bakshi/MSM)
