Unani Medicine and Regimental Therapies (Cupping/Hijama, Leech therapy, Massage, Steam Therapy etc.,) in Osteoarthritis (Joints Pain)

 

Sage Unani Hospital and Research Center,  Chennai

Know the disease!!!

Osteoarthritis

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative, progressive, musculoskeletal disease, primarily of movable joints characterized by joint destruction, cartilage loss, and occasionally gross derangement of the joint's integrity.

What does Osteoarthritic patient observe?

• Joints pain
• Swelling over the joints.
• Morning Stiffness lasting less than 30 mins.
• Limitation of movements over the Joints
• Joints instability or buckling. (when they are descending stairs)
• Most often in weight bearing joints like Knee and Hip joints.

Causes of Osteoarthritis?

• Excessive consumption of dry, cold or stale food
• Exposure to severe cold and dry weather. 
• Excessive use of joint (Wear and Tear). 
• Obesity and overweight. 
• Joint injury and overuse: Repetitive movements or injuries to joints (such as a fracture, surgery or ligament tears) can lead to osteoarthritis. e.g. athletes, certain careers that require standing for long periods of time, repetitive bending, heavy lifting or other movements can also make cartilage wear away more quickly. An imbalance or weakness of the muscles supporting a joint can also lead to altered movement and eventual cartilage breakdown in joints.
• Hereditary (Genetic inherited traits - a defect in body’s production of collagen). 
• Old age. 
• Biochemical imbalances that put stress on joints.  
• Cellular disorders that lead to abnormal breakdown of cartilage.

What Unani Medicine says about Osteoarthritis?

• OA is described as “Tahajjar-ul-Mafasil” under the heading of “Waja-ul-Mafasil.” 
• The cause of all arthritic pains is described to be humoural imbalance. 
• The predisposing factors of OA is accumulation of abnormal humour, such as dominance of damavi (sanguine), or safravi (choleric), or Balghami (phlegmatic), or saudavi (melancholic) khilt (humour), or a mixture of any two ghair tabayi akhlat or reeh (gases).
• The other predisposing factor is abnormal temperament that can be either sue mizaj saada (without any morbid matter) or sue mizaj maddi (with morbid matter). 
• The exciting factors are old age, chronic diseases, congenital weakness of the organ, emotional upsets, alcoholism, insomnia, sedentary life, menstrual disturbances in women, trauma, heredity, and so on.

Can Unani helps in treating Osteoarthritis?

• The main goal in the management of OA is to control pain, to improve the movements, and minimize morbidity.
• In Unani, drugs which have musakkin (analgesic), muhallil (anti-inflammatory), muqawwie (nervine tonic), and mudir boul (diuretic) properties are used for this depends upon the temperament.
• Numerous Unani (Herbal) singular/ compound medicines are available to give permanent solutions to the ailing OA patients. 
• SAGE UNANI HOSPITAL are bound to do a complete justice in treating  / preventing various factors that are leading causes of Osteoarthritis.

Diet in Osteoarthritis

Dietary Recommendations 

Wheat, pulses specially Bengal gram, Indian millet, Big Beans, French Beans, Palak, Piyaz, Beat root/ Choqandar, Carrot, Red chilli, Black pepper, Injeer, Badam, Pista, Walnut, Khajoor/ Khurma, Apricot, Angoor, Aaloo, Pure ghee, Menthi, Shaljam, Seb, Makka (Zea mays) and Papita. In Non-Veg, bird meat and fish are beneficial in arthritis. 

Research has proven that fasting has a definite effect on the reduction of symptoms in arthritis. 

Dietary restrictions

Food items which are having hot temperament should be avoided in the diseases of joints, particularly in arthritis. These items include most of the cold temperament drugs, red meat etc. Protein-rich diet aggravates the symptoms of arthritis, e.g. red meat and kidney beans etc. 

Some of the restricted dietary items are curd, butter mixed with milk, Banana, Guava, Brinjal, Gobhi etc.

  Regimental therapies: - 

They increase the circulation in the affected joint and the inflammatory mediators and other toxic radicles are destroyed.

1. Cupping (Al hijama), 

2. Leeching (Irsale Alaq),

3. Massaging (Dalak),

4. Steam Bath (Inkabab) etc.

If you wish to discuss / consult any specific problem, you can ask a free question or visit our center. 

Dr. Waseem Ahmed M.D. 

Sage Unani Hospital and Research Center,  Chennai

044 3591 9026 

+91 93447 30043

+91 63806 66981