Ayurvedic medicine or Ayurveda originated in India thousands of years ago and is considered a form of complementary and alternative medicine. This medical system looks to balance body, mind, and spirit using herbs, massages, and special diets, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Practitioners of Ayurveda may recommend a specialized diet for you if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis -- an autoimmune disease that leads to inflammation and destruction of the joints. There is no one specific diet but these diets embrace some basic Ayurveda principles.
Adding Spices to the Diet
An Ayurvedic diet for rheumatoid arthritis includes the use of herbs and spices to help relieve symptoms of stiffness and pain. Ginger has been used for many years and may help improve digestion and metabolism, thus improving balance, according to J. V. Hebbar, MD, at EasyAyurveda.com. Turmeric or curcumin can also play a role in this diet; using this spice can lessen the morning stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis and joint swelling, as noted on DharmaAyurveda.com. Fenugreek can be included in your cooking to manage rheumatoid arthritis, according to Ayurvedic Diet Tips. The exact amount of each of these spices that would be needed is not clear. Discuss the use of these spices with your Ayurveda practitioner.
Increase Garlic Intake
Your practitioner may also recommend an increase in your garlic consumption to treat your rheumatoid arthritis. Garlic may lower the pain of rheumatoid arthritis by improving inflammation, according to DharmaAyurveda.com. A December 2010 study by Williams and colleagues published in "BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders" found that garlic was somewhat protective against bone destruction in arthritis. The Ayurveda practitioner can help you with suggested amount of garlic in your meals.
Drink Warm or Hot Beverages
In Ayurvedic medicine, drinking hot water and teas can be beneficial to digestion and may improve joint flexibility, according to J. V. Hebbar, MD. Some practitioners suggest drinking hot water with your meals, as noted by Atharv Ayur Health Care. This hot water can be in the form of teas, like a ginger tea with or without lemon and honey, according to the Ayushveda website. You can also drink a glass of hot water with lemon when you get up in the morning, according to Ayurvedic Diet Tips. Drinking chilled water or beverages with your food can interfere with digestion.
Reduce Animal Fat Consumption
Eating less animal fat is another common component of Ayurvedic diets for rheumatoid arthritis. Many practitioners recommend vegetarian diets for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, as noted on the Ayushveda website. Even if you don't become a strict vegetarian, decreasing your intake of high fat meats may be beneficial. You still need to eat some foods with fat content but those foods should be of plant origin like olive oil or nuts. Including fish in your Ayurvedic diet may vary between practitioners; fish and fish oil may be beneficial for this type of arthritis, according to DharmaAyurveda.com. However, J. V. Hebbar, MD, suggests avoiding fish in your diet. Your doctor can discuss fat intake and the types of fats for your specific diet.
Concerns
Since this regimen requires the use of many herbs and spices, make sure that your treatment does not contain harmful contaminants like mercury or lead, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Scientific evidence for specific components in these diets does not always exist so it is difficult to prove that any one component is effective in managing your rheumatoid arthritis. Consult with an Ayurvedic practitioner before starting this type of diet in order to remain healthy and to avoid complications. This will allow you to discuss any other medications that you are taking and determine which parts of this diet work or not.
References
- "BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders"; Dietary Garlic and Hip Osteoarthritis: Evidence of a Protective Effect and Putative Mechanism of Action; Frances MK Williams and colleagues; December 2010.
- Atharv Ayur Health Care: Rheumatoid Arthritis: Aamvata
- Ayurvedic Diet Tips: Ayurvedic Diet in Arthritis
- "Easy Ayurveda"; Diet for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Ayurvedic Recommended Food; J V Hebbar MD.
- "Easy Ayurveda"; Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet -- Food to Avoid; J V Hebbar MD.
- "Ayushveda"; Rheumatoid Arthritis(Aamavata)
