Ayurveda And Yoga Guide to Getting Healthy Joints

Ayurvedic Remedies For Better Joint Health

Joint pain is a very common problem. It can occur from several factors like overuse, injury, infection, inflammation or merely from your sitting position. The science of life, Ayurveda, addresses joint health with great importance. In Ayurveda three doshas are responsible for any imbalances happening in your body. 

According to the principles of Ayurveda, your joints are formed mainly by Kapha dosha. This kapha dosha is responsible for the proper functioning and lubrication of your joints. Properly balancing this Kapha dosha is essential for your joint health.

Whenever an injury happens or when you overuse your joints, the vata dosha in the body increases, which then leads to degeneration and destruction of the joints. Vata dosha is responsible for all the movements in your body it is also responsible for any degeneration your body experiences. This vata dosha makes the kapha in the joints to be imbalanced.

Ayurvedic principles advise prevention as well as treatment of health issues. Following are some remedies that you can follow daily for healthy joints.

• Drink a Glass of Milk Daily if You are Lactose Tolerant: Milk contains calcium, vitamin D, and proteins that help strengthen bones and form healthy joints. It is always better to drink low-fat milk, as overusing high-milk fat can be detrimental to your joints.
   
• Spice Up Your Dishes: Incorporate spices into your daily food diet. Spices like turmeric, ginger, and garlic have great anti-inflammatory actions that can protect your joints from inflammatory conditions like arthritis. 
   
• Try to Consume More Vata Pacifying Foods: Dry and cold foods can promote vata dosha, which can affect the health of your joints. Include warm and nourishing foods into your diet, such as ghee (clarified butter), whole grains, cooked vegetables, meat soups and nuts.
   
• Avoid Inflammatory Foods: Always say no to inflammatory foods like processed foods, excessive dairy, red meat and refined sugar.

Following these simple and pragmatic tips can help if you want healthy joints. If you have specific joint conditions like arthritis, a customised diet plan after considering your condition can be done.

How Else Can Ayurveda Help?

Ayurveda is not only a treatment method. It is a way of life. When you start incorporating the Ayurvedic way of life, you will experience healthy changes in your joints apart from overall wellness.. Here are selectively curated Ayurvedic lifestyle practices you can adapt to your life.

Abhyanga - The Ayurvedic Massage

Ayurveda recommends incorporating Abhyanga as a daily practice in our routine especially on the head, ears, and feet. Prioritising time to gently massage your joints before taking a shower can help alleviate stiffness or discomfort and promote overall flexibility and mobility.

Gently massage in circular motions around your joints daily.You can use coconut oil or other medicated oils like dhanwanthara tailam on your joints. A slightly warm oil massage will provide better results. 

Vyayama - The Ayurvedic Way of Exercise

The principles of exercise in Ayurveda are different. It is not what your gym trainer advises. The principles of Ayurvedic exercises are very joint-friendly. Exercise is a part of the daily regimen in Ayurveda. According to this holistic medicine system, exercise must be done based on your physical strength. The important thing to note is that you should stop exercising when you lose half of your strength, start sweating along your spine and feel your tongue go dry. Following this principle makes exercising very joint-friendly.

Joint Friendly Ayurveda Therapies

Ayurveda has many useful therapies for your joint issues. Practising these therapies daily may be challenging, but practising them at least once a week is possible. If you have specific joint issues, you can take these therapies as a treatment course. Following are some therapies that can benefit your joints:

Swedana 

The hot fomentation therapy in Ayurveda or Swedana involves medically making your body sweat, to open up the closed channels in your body. Different types of swedana with different combinations of medicines according to your body type are available. After consulting with your Ayurvedic doctor, you will know e what type your joint needs the most. Swedana helps in relieving pain and swelling in your joints.

Some simple hot fomentations you can add to your daily joint care are as follows:

• Applying a heating pad.
• Pouring lukewarm water on the joint.
• Taking a warm water dip.
• Getting a hot shower.

Note : Hot fomentation must not be done if you have a recent joint inflammation.

Localised Vasthi

The process of retaining medicated oil over your affected joints for a certain duration or vasthi increases the contact time of the oil with your affected joints. Your joint pain eases and gets better lubrication through this process.

Lepana

Application of medicated herbal paste over the joints. This helps by reducing the inflammation of your joints. The herbs are selected according to the joint health condition. 

Dhara

A continuous stream of medicated oil is poured over the affected joints. This technique will increase the flexibility by improving lubrication of the joint.

These are some of the main Ayurveda therapies to improve your joints. These ayurvedic therapies not only focus on the joints but also on improving the strength of your muscles.

How Yoga Impacts Your Joint Health Positively

Yoga is an integral part of an Ayurvedic holistic lifestyle. From Suryanamskara to Shavasana, yoga enlists a list of asanas you can practice daily. 

Did you know even breathing exercises can improve your joint health? Let me explain how. 

When you experience stress, it can trigger inflammation in your joints. However, practising breathing exercises such as Pranayama can balance your stress levels and keep your joints healthy and happy. Other than breathing exercises, there are many asanas that you can do daily for more flexible and stronger joints.

To name some;

• Titli Asana (Butterfly Pose)
• Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose)
• Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
• Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
• Utthita Hasta Padasana (Extended Hands and Feet Pose)

To know more about the asanas and how to practise, read our blog.

To achieve the best results from ayurveda and yoga practices, it's important to prioritize a lifestyle and diet that are gentle on the joints. This way, you can ensure that you are taking care of your body and minimizing the risk of injury or discomfort.

The Key Takeaway

In conclusion, Ayurveda and Yoga can be highly beneficial for maintaining healthy joints. Incorporating Ayurvedic remedies and lifestyle practices into your daily routine can help promote joint flexibility, reduce stiffness and discomfort, and thus improve overall joint health.

The principles of Ayurveda focus on balancing the doshas and promoting overall well-being, which can have a positive impact on your joint health. By implementing these practices, you can maintain healthy joints and live an active, happy life.