Arthritis and Ayurveda

In recent years the diseases of connective tissues, joints and bones have become a topic of growing interest for Modern medical Researchers with an aim to evolve safer anti-inflammatory drugs from alternative systems like Ayurveda. Surveys in general practice suggest that nearly 10 per cent of the clinical practice is devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders viz., Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, systemic Lupus erythematosis, Gout, Osteo—Arthritis, Intervertebral disc diseases etc. which are grouped under the term 'Rheumatism'. The conditions like Amavata, Sandhivata, Vatarakta, Katisoola, Kroshtukasirsha, Gridhrasi etc., described in Ayurvedic classics may be considered as the diseases afflicting locomotor system. The diseases namely Amavata, Sandhivata and Vatarakta are interpreted as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteo-arthritis and Gout respectively by most of the Ayurvedic scholars. Some of the Ayurvedic scholars interpreted Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis under the chronic stage of gambheera vatarakta. In this monograph an at-tempt is made to interprete vatarakta as Raynaud's disease. Some of the observations made with Parijata (Nyctanthes arbortristis) and Simhanadaguggulu are reported in this monograph alongwith the review of several research communications about the indigenous anti-inflammatory drugs. I am greatly beholden to the renowned scientist Dr. I. Sanjeeva Rao, Retired Additional Director, Dept. of IM & H, for his most valuable foreward to this monograph. I am indebted to Brihatrayeeratna Dr. Namburi Hanumantha Rao, Director, Academy of Ayurveda and Dr. Pilla Venkateswarlu, Corporation Medical Officer (Retd.), who have encouraged me to pen my thoughts. I must thank many scientists whose research ob-servations have helped me in making a comprehensive review about anti-inflammatory drugs. I express my sincere thanks to Dr. C.V.S. Uttaralakshmi, Corporation Medical Officer for her active participation in conducting the clinical tri-als. My special thanks are due to Mrs. K.Lalitha, Managing Director, Kausthuba Ayurved Bhavan for her meticulous help in the proof-reading work. My heartfelt thanks to Dr. N.V.N. Murthy, Viranchi Herbals, Hyderabad for having accepted with alacrity to publish this monograph. I also thank Mr. V. Satyanarayana for typing the manuscript.