Today, many people have stiff joints or sore knees, which can result in osteoarthritis (OA). There are several factors which cause OA. Some example are inflammation, biomechanics, or cellular imbalances of the cartilage around bones, among others. Over time, your bones lose elasticity and wear away. This stiffens your bones and lowers mobility levels. Thus, it prevents you from achieving ideal health and wellness.

Unfortunately, most conventional medication options have potential side effects. Doctors and healthcare professionals alike recommend an alternate low-risk therapy. Many people turn to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian school of science, for an option. This provides simple and effective remedies to ease joint pain.

Understanding Joint Pain

According to Ayurveda, there are two reasons for joint pain; vata-related or ama-related. Firstly, vata-related joint pain is by aggravating one’s vata or air-dominant dosha. This weakens circulation, metabolism, and the capability to effectively digest food. The bone tissue eventually weakens due to undernourishment. Subsequently, poor lubrication causes discomfort, cracks, and rigidity.

Secondly, ama-related joint pain is a result of toxin build-up in joints. This can cause heaviness and stiffness. Coldness and humidity can further aggravate your symptoms. Existing toxins increase in their irritation and reactivity levels. As a result, joints can become inflamed, swollen, and painful.

Fortunately, Ayurveda has a solution for both forms. Some Ayurvedic remedies for knee pain are dietary, movement, and relaxation related, which follow below.

Diet

Vata-Related joint problems can reduce joint lubrication due to dryness of the Shleshaka Kapha. You will need a diet of mostly sweet, sour, and salty foods to pacify your Vata dosha. Also, try incorporating calcium rich foods to strengthen your bones. Some examples are:

• Cooked grains with a little ghee, such as rye, amaranth, and quinoa
• Organic, juicy fruits and vegetables, such as spinach, kale and asparagus
• Healing herbs and calcium supplements, if needed
• High quality organic milk
• Certain root vegetables
• Split mung dal soup

Make sure that you avoid caffeine or a highly acidic diet. These can deplete your body’s calcium and magnesium levels. However, the above mentioned dietary pointers differs from an ama-inducing diet. These include warm, lighter and dry foods which are easier to digest. Some examples are:

• Nourishing soups
• Warm, freshly cooked grains and vegetables
• Ama-pachana water (water infused with ama-reducing spices)
• Cooked apples with prunes and figs

These serve as an Ayurvedic medicine for knee pain that delivers sustainable and promising results. However, Remember that you cannot rely on an Ayurvedic diet alone. You will need to tweak your overall lifestyle to reduce joint pain. For instance, following an effective herbal treatment and yoga routine can alleviate stress. This can boost the effects of your diet as well.

Herbs

Ayurvedic herbs have anti-inflammatory properties without conventional side effects. Thus, these are a safe and effective treatment alternative to conventional medication. Each of these have unique medicinal properties, that can aid joint pain through diet or medicinal properties. For example, ginger, eucalyptus, and Nirgundi have specific anti-inflammatory properties which can ease joint pain.

Firstly, ginger can reduce pain and swelling through its antiseptic properties. Moreover, it warms and heals affected areas by increasing blood circulation. You can consume ginger in multiple forms. For example, you can apply ginger oil or paste to the effected areas to soothe your skin. Alternatively, you can sip hot ginger tea as a quick and easy remedy.

Secondly, eucalyptus is another popular herbal treatment. The element tannis in eucalyptus leaves can reduce swelling and pain caused by arthritis. Moreover, it calms down the brain with an aroma.

Thirdly, Nirgundi holds anti convulsing and antioxidant properties which provide respite to joint pain. These properties are specifically present in the seeds and stem. It has a bitterness and potency which makes it useful. You may apply it in the form of an oil, paste, or leaf decoction.

Meditation

Ayurveda is a form of healing that emphasises on holistic well-being. Thus, it is unsurprising that balancing the mind and spirit is vital to regulating joint health. Meditation is one such form of mental rejuvenation. Subsequently, it lowers physiological challenges including inflammation.

The power of meditation lies in perception. Through regular meditation practice, you can change how the mind perceives pain. To clarify, meditation will change your perception of pain rather than getting rid of it completely. For instance, you can easily manage feelings of anxiety, fear, or depression. This is otherwise not an easy task.

Meditation serves a dual benefit of both emotional and stress-related management. Typically, we respond to stress through a fight-or-flight response. For instance, increased heart rate, shallow breath, rising stress hormones and blood sugar levels are some symptoms. Subsequently, these weakens our immune system and can worsen joint pain symptoms. In contrast, meditation produces a state of restful awareness and control of our body and mind.

Certainly, meditation alone cannot treat joint pain. However, is indirectly aids the process through its physical and emotional healing process. Most importantly, it lowers adrenalin and cortisol levels. This will lower your blood pressure, optimise oxygen use, produce more DHEA (an anti-ageing hormone), and improve immune response. Each of these contribute to ideal joint health.

Yoga

Yoga and meditation go hand-in-hand. In particular, yoga for osteoarthritis helps to relieve stiffness and pain due to low movement. It loosens up this tightness and recirculates synovial fluid surrounding joints. Thus, regular yoga can lubricate and cushion joints which eases the pain. It also stabilises forces and strengthens muscles in the case of those with loose or hyper mobile joints.

Try to go for yoga poses that target specific areas of joint pain. In other words, you can customise your yoga routine to either target your arms, legs, spine, hip or knee joints. For instance, try to go triangle or modified triangle for the knees and hips. Alternatively, you could try the eagle pose to challenge your joints.

Take a look at our yoga and meditation guide here.

You can additionally opt for a yoga retreat in Kerala with Mekosha. Check out your options here. 

Takeaways

Ayurveda is a safe and effective branch of medication in healing joint pain. It recommends a healthy diet, herbal treatment, and meditation and yoga to relieve such pain naturally and effectively. However, you may need to practice these alongside over-the-counter medication. Consult your practitioner to devise a plan that works for you.

We recommend an Ayurvedic treatment for Arthritis in Kerala through one of our package deals. We offer you a simple knee pain treatment in Ayurveda without the hassle. Take a look here for more details.