Self-Help Guidelines & Ayurvedic Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthiritis

1. Avoid animal fats, fried food, dairy products, refrigerated food, white sugar, alcohol, chilies, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and tobacco. Reduce the use of salt.

2. Food during exacerbation should be light, little & liquid. Weak ginger tea taken with lemon and honey is best if your tongue is coated.

3. Castor oil alone can reduce the inflammation & scrape out the ama (undigested). A film of castor oil can be applied on the affected point & then dry heat should be applied.

4. Take a mixture of equal parts of sand & powdered rock salt, heat it in a pan & pour the heated powder into a cotton or linen bag, & apply it to the point. Sunbath is also good.

5. The intake of bitter & pungent substances controls vaata & relieves ama. Some commonly used herbs which are bitter, include giloy, neem bark, etc.

6. Triphala Guggulu, a compound preparation, is often useful in such conditions, as Triphala purifies the system. Long pepper improves digestion while Guggulu controls inflammation.