Introduction
The disease Sandhi gata vata is explained under vata vyadhi (Vata disorders) in Ayurveda texts. Accumulation of Vayu in the different joint and produces symptoms like Pain, Swelling etc. It can be understood as Osteoarthritis in the perspective of Allopathy system.
Osteoarthritis is the degenerative joint disorder which strongly associated with ageing. Most common form of Arthritis that affects all the joints, much affected joints are weight bearing joints and frequently used joints.
Causes
Sandhigata vata includes various causes which are associated with food, Mind and lifestyle
- रूक्षशीताल्पलघ्वन्न – Intake of Dry, Cold, Less and light foods.
- व्यवायाति – Excessive sexual indulgence.
- प्रजागरैः – Remaining awake at night in excess.
- विषमादुपचाराच्च – Inappropriate panchakarma / other therapies.
- दोषासृक्स्रवणादति – Excess of panchakarma therapies, Raktamokshana.
- अति लङ्घन – Excessive fasting.
- अति प्लवना – Excessive swimming.
- अति अध्व – Walking for long distance.
- व्यायामाति – Exercise or any physical activity in excess.
- धातूनां सङ्क्षया – Depletion of body tissues, loss of dhatu.
- चिन्ताशोकरोगातिकर्षणात – Weakening due to excess stress, grief, Worries, excessive emaciation because of affliction of diseases.
- दुःखशय्यासनात् – Sleeping over uncomfortable beds and sitting.
- क्रोधा – Anger
- दिवास्वप्ना – Sleeping during daytime.
- भया – Fear
- वेगसन्धारणा – Suppression of natural urges.
- आम – Formation of undigested materials
- मर्माघाता – Injuries to Vital points like joints.
- गजोष्ट्राश्वशीघ्रयानापतंसनात – Riding over fast moving vehicles.
How above causes leads to Sandhigata vata ?
Above causes increases and vitiates Vata dosha (The functional entity in its normalcy helps for all the movements in the body) which leads to degenerative changes in the body. If the degeneration occurs in the joints such condition called as Sandhi gata vata.
Symptoms (Lakshana)
Aggravation vata dosha in joints gives rise to
- वातपूर्णदृतिस्पर्शः शोथः – Oedema of joints which, on palpation, appears as if it is a leather bag filled with air. Sparsha is sheetha (Cold on touch).
- प्रसारणाकुञ्चनयोः प्रवृत्तिश्च सवेदना – Pain while making efforts for flexion and extension of joints. There is a natural elasticity or contractility in the joint by virtue of which the movement in different direction can be performed. This is destroyed due to the vitiated vata, as a result the patient is not able to move his joint freely especially in the extension and contraction. There will be severe pain, if the affected person tries to move.
Treatment (Chikitsa)
Treatment for sandhi gata vata (Osteoarthritis) include
- Therapies like Janu basti
- Internal medications
- External applications
