Ayurvedic Whole System Effective in Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis: Study

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 30th August. A groundbreaking study has revealed the significant effectiveness of the Ayurvedic Whole System (AWS) in managing Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune disorder that impacts millions globally. The research demonstrates that AWS not only alleviates RA symptoms but also induces a metabolic shift towards normalization, offering a promising complementary approach to conventional treatments.

The study was led by senior researchers from esteemed institutions, including the Arthritis Treatment and Advanced Research Center (A-ATARC), Department of Kaya Chikitsa at State Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Lucknow University; Centre of Biomedical Research (CBMR), SGPGIMS Campus, Lucknow; and the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad.

Dr. Sanjeev Rastogi, the study’s first author, emphasized the significance of the findings, noting, “This study is crucial for understanding potential pathology reversal in RA when treated with a whole system Ayurveda approach. It supports Ayurvedic concepts of ‘Samprapti Vighatan,’ where the disease complex is dismantled, and ‘Doshas’ are restored to normality.”

Published in the PubMed-indexed Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medicine (JAIM), the study reported substantial improvements in key clinical parameters among RA patients undergoing AWS intervention. Notable reductions were observed in the Disease Activity Score-28 Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (DAS-28 ESR), as well as in the number of swollen and tender joints. The Ama Activity Measure (AAM) Score, which evaluates the presence of toxins in the body, also showed significant improvement post-intervention.

Furthermore, the research delved into the metabolic profiles of RA patients, comparing them with healthy controls. Initially, RA patients displayed elevated levels of certain metabolites, such as succinate, lysine, mannose, creatine, and 3-Hydroxybutyrate (3-HB), alongside decreased alanine levels. Post-AWS treatment, these metabolic markers shifted towards those seen in healthy individuals, indicating a return to a more balanced metabolic state.

This study is the first to clearly demonstrate the clinical efficacy of AWS in managing RA, reducing symptoms, and promoting a metabolic environment conducive to homeostasis. The researchers, however, call for further studies to confirm these preliminary findings and to explore the mechanisms through which AWS exerts its therapeutic effects.