Ayurvedic Oils for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Inflamed joints are often painful and give you a repulsive appearance. Wake up!  It is rheumatoid arthritis, when left unnoticed can dramatically affect the functioning of other organs of your body. Experts term it as a long term ailment that ends up in swelling, irritation and redness of the joints and tissues surrounding it. The ancient wonder science gifted by our ancestors has mind-blowing and natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis.  This illness is known as Ama vata in Ayurvedic terms and most often it is said that the pain in the affected joint areas is as painful as a Scorpion’s sting. The prescribed use of Ayurvedic essential oils according to the Ayurvedic body types has proven positive effects in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Causes and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis:  The exact cause for rheumatoid arthritis is not known. Few may inherit this disease from their family and Ayurveda strongly denotes that the basic reason behind this illness is due to the toxins known as ‘Ama’ due to unevenness of body fire. This sultry toxin has the dangerous effect of jamming the function of the vital parts of the body that helps in nourishing the system.  Imbalanced vata carries this toxin and it finally reaches kapha subjugated parts of the body like stomach, joints, brain, chest and few others. Since this is an autoimmune disease, it erroneously affects the healthy tissues of the body and gradually lowers the regular functioning of the body and slows down the system.

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are swelling, inflammation of the joints, loss of appetite, indigestion, pain, morning stiffness, pleurisy, burning and itchy eyes, insomnia, burning sensation in the feet and hands, loss of energy, fatigue, nodules under the skin, weakness, aversion to food and few more. This disease is common among women than men, especially in the middle ages. According to Ayurveda, there are three types of rheumatoid arthritis. They are Vataj, Pittanubandi and Kaphanubandi and each of them have the predominance of the Ayurvedic doshas, vata, pitta and kapha.

Ayurvedic remedies for rheumatoid arthritis: The greatest value to treasure about Ayurveda is that it treats a disease from the beginning by analyzing its root cause and not by looking at it just at the surface level. This is because it aims at permanent remedy as well as focused prevention of the illness in the future. By this time, you must have clearly understood that rheumatoid arthritis occurs mainly due to the uneven deposition of toxins in the body especially, the joints. So Ayurveda focuses on the process of eliminating, purifying and discharging the toxins settlement using simple yet startling essential oils and certain other natural remedies.

  • Turmeric essential oil for rheumatoid arthritis: Popularly known as the ‘Golden Goddess’ this oil has innumerable curative properties and the most highlighting among them are anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-bacterial properties. Turmeric essential oil eliminates the toxins that are stored in the body and cleanses the system and is perfectly called as an ‘All-purpose cleanser’ in the Ayurvedic world. It treats the kapha imbalance and is prevalently used in weight-loss treatments with its therapeutic and warming properties. A renowned research has proved that Turmeric and its extracts like Turmeric essential oil with the presence of curcuminoids are in charge for the antiarthritic effect and have been effectual in treating and preventing inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Peppermint essential oil: Another celebrated remedy for rheumatoid arthritis is the use of peppermint essential oil that has anti-inflammatory, anesthetic and analgesic properties that help in lessening the inflammation, reducing pain and soothe the inflamed areas from within. It is also used as an excellent cleanser for mouth, which is considered as the storehouse of ‘Ama’ or the toxic substances of the body. You can dilute this oil in carrier oils like jojoba oil or olive oil and gently massage the affected areas for guaranteed relief from pain, swelling and irritation.
  • Oil Pulling: Oil pulling is a natural treatment for removing toxins from the mouth and from all over the body. The benefits of which are mentioned in Charaka Samhita, the Ayurvedic text. Regular oil pulling with sesame oil, coconut oil or sunflower oil preferably in the morning in empty stomach for about 20 minutes will help in oral hygiene, whiter teeth, stronger gums and natural alleviation of toxins from the body that cause rheumatoid arthritis and other major health disorders.
  • Other natural remedies: Apart from the use of Ayurvedic oils for treating rheumatoid arthritis, Ayurveda has few more suggested remedies like the use of Ashwagandha herb (Withania Somnifera) and Asparagus racemosus, which have been proved beneficial in the healing of rheumatoid arthritis. Ayurveda also insists on regular physical exercises that involve the movement of joints, yoga and meditation for quick remedy of rheumatoid arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation has also listed a research update by the scientists from the Baltimore John Hopkins University, stating that yoga has absolutely been helpful for treating people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Whatever illness you may have, Ayurveda has the right protective shield for you and it is rightly called as the ‘Science of Life’.

Thought for the day:

Health is the soul that animates all the enjoyments of life, which fade and are tasteless without it.                       – By Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Suggested reading:

  1. Oil Pulling Therapy: Detoxifying and Healing the Body Through Oral Cleansing by Bruce Fife.
  2. Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy by Mukunda Stiles
  3. Yoga & Ayurveda: Self-Healing and Self-Realization by Dr. David Frawley

Reference Links:

  1. Rheumatoid Arthritis by PubMed Health
  2. Ama Vata by Podar Ayurved Medical College
  3. Yoga helpful for Rheumatoid Arthritis by Arthritis Foundation
  4. Turmeric extracts containing curcuminoids prevent experimental rheumatoid arthritis by The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
  5. The benefit of Ayurvedic diagnostics in treatment strategies for rheumatoid arthritis by European Journal of Integrative Medicine.

Think Ayurveda To Think Better

Your thoughts decide your actions and your actions define ‘YOU’. There are myriad emotions that are exclusively indulged with humanity. Only you can smile, you can talk, you can discover and you can create. Thinking positive indicates that you are a proud owner of a healthy physique that keeps your thinking sound as well. Ayurveda talks about the constructive effects of positive thinking that helps you keep going on and on. Pessimism or negative thinking can even stop the functioning of your heart and collapse the brain’s functionality. Every human being has his own problems but just the severity of the problem differs. You can laugh at a person if he says he is free of troubles because in this materialistic world only a five-headed snake can be free of worries. It does not count whether you have problems or not but it matters how you deal with it and Ayurveda paves way for such an optimistic living.

Optimistic thinking: There’s a popular book named ‘You Can Win’ by Shiv Khera where the author beautifully lists the mentality of Pessimists’. 3 of my favorite lines in that excellent piece of writing are:

‘Pessimists don’t see the doughnut, only the hole,

Pessimists forget their blessings and count their troubles

Pessimists stop sleeping in bed when they hear that more people die in bed than anywhere else’

Yes my dear friends! This is the way that negative thinking affects your life and the best way to come out of this dark world is to think better with the natural and holistic healing of the ancient science named Ayurveda.

Ayurvedic treatment for optimism: According to Ayurveda, a healthy mind is the key to a healthy body and your attitude decides it. In this mechanical epoch that drains you, demands more than your potential with taut deadlines and cumbersome workload ends up in mental stress, difficulty in striking balance between your work and your family, anxiety, fear, fatigue and deep depression. When every single problem is placing you in the darker side of the world, let it know that you are strong with the real power granted by the natural Ayurvedic essential oils, meditation and yoga along with the robustness to turn the tide.

Ayurvedic essential oils for positive thinking: Essential oils of lavender, marjoram, grapefruit, thyme, sandalwood, jasmine, lemon, peppermint and ylang ylang possess an adorable fragrance in nature. These oils have soothing, calmative, stimulating, energizing and revitalizing properties that can enrich your spirits along with your mind and body. Using these essential oils either as a massage oil or to your bath tub or in your diffuser will calm your nerves, relax your muscles, alleviate stress, lighten your pressure, uplift your mood, kindle your thoughts, augment your mind power, improve your memory power, balance your emotions, fortify your immune system, strengthen your will power, encourage a peaceful sleep while invigorating your system for a replenished crack of dawn.

Meditation: Ayurvedic way of treating humanity can never be fulfilled without meditation. Spend some quality time for yourself and let that time of eminence be your meditating time especially in the early hours of the day when your environment is calm and composed. Meditation with deep breathing exercises can empower your mind while promoting positive feelings and preparing your body to adapt to new challenges and your mind to learn luminously, think undeniably, regulate stressful situations, recall your past and retain your balanced system for the days of harmony ahead you.

Being an optimist is the best way to setting your life as a role model for your younger ones to lead their life with great trust as real optimists always see an opportunity in every threat:)

Reference Links:

  1. You Can Win by Shiv Khera
  2. The healing force is within ourselves by Ayurveda France
  3. Attract more positive energy by Rejuvenation Lounge

Pimento Berry Essential Oil

Won’t it be a heavenly feeling after opening a box full of all the spices put together? Undoubtedly ‘Yes! ‘is the answer that I can read from your face. Known as ‘ALLSPICE’, Pimento berry and its steam distilled essential oil from the leaves and dried berries smell like seventh heaven as its power-packed spicy aroma reminds you of warm spices like clove, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg.

pimento-berry-bannerBotanically acknowledged as Pimenta officinalis and Pimenta dioica, this herb is also nurtured with other common names like Jamaica pepper, clove pepper, new spice, bay rum berry and pimento. Known as seetful and kabab cheene in Ayurveda, Pimento berry has been used conventionally for relieving toothache and treating bad breath.

Purchase Pimento Berry Essential Oil – Wholesale – CLICK HERE

Historical uses of Pimento berry:

Indigenous to Central America, Caribbean Islands and Jamaica, this herb has been in use in the folklore medicine of Mexico during the Pre-Hispanic period and the traditional Jamaicans used this remedial herb in tea and as a tonic for healing menstrual cramps, stomach problems and cold. The Haitian inhabitants in Cuba used Allspice in herbal preparations for treating digestive disorders and toning the stomach.

Allspice herb and its oil have been historically used for curing gastrointestinal problems, cramps, rheumatic pain and toothache.

Pimento leaves were used in the Dominican Republic in tea for reducing vomiting and the Western herbal medicine makes use of Allspice extracts in making plasters for treating rheumatic and neuralgic pains. Allspice water and Allspice oil were recognized by the British Pharmacopeia in 1898. This herb was also trusted to help quitting bad habits, breaking magical spells and guarding against evil powers.

Chemical constituents and therapeutic properties of Pimento berry oil:

Pimento berry essential oil has stimulant, tonic, depurative, carminative, astringent, deodorant, stomachic, antidepressant, purgative, diuretic and antiseptic properties. The chemical constituents that contribute to the remedial values of this oil are eugenol (about 75%), sesquiterpene caryophyllene, β-caryophyllene, methyl eugenol and 1, 8-cineole.

Ayurvedic health benefits of Pimento berry essential oil:

Universally known as the mother of all healing sciences, Ayurveda is the oldest of all medicinal systems in the world. Ayurvedic texts have recorded brilliant remedial measures right from common cold till plastic surgery methods that was carried out by the Ayurvedic physician, Sushruta during 6th century BC in India and he is celebrated as the father of plastic surgery.

According to this magnificent methodology, human beings are a vital part of nature and every action whether physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological or environmental are linked with natural energies. Illness, according to Ayurveda just indicates that the human body is out of balance with nature.

Ayurveda precisely classifies that human beings are made up of three energy elements known as doshas in Sanskrit (vata, pitta and kapha), where vata represents air, pitta symbolizes fire and kapha stands for water. All these three doshas should strike perfect balance for an individual to be healthy and sickness indicates either increase or decrease of any of these or all the 3 doshas.

Ayurvedic remedies consist of herbs, essential oils, Ayurvedic massage, meditation, yoga and physical exercises along with spiritual ideals that help one to understand the purpose of life. Allspice essential oil in Ayurveda is said to treat pitta deficiency along with surplus of vata and kapha.

The key Ayurvedic health benefits of Pimento berry essential oil are:

pimento-berrry-broucher1. Treats respiratory problems:

The major cause for respiratory problems like sinus, cough, severe cold, chest congestion, difficulty in breathing due to excess mucous and phlegm deposits on the lungs etc., is due to the water based energy element kapha. Increase in kapha dosha due to climatic conditions or irregular food habits increase water content in the body and further infections cause cold and other respiratory problems.

Allspice essential oil reduces kapha and aids in treating respiratory infections like bronchitis, cough, chills and congestion. For instant relief, you can add 2 drops of Pimento oil in boiling water for steam inhalation.

2. Helps cure digestive disorders:

Widely used as a carminative, Allspice oil has stomachic and tonic properties that aids in assisting problems with digestion, flatulence, nausea, gastrointestinal tract disorders, loss of appetite, colic and dyspepsia. Herbal tea prepared with Allspice powder or a gentle massage with 3 to 4 drops of Allspice essential oil with coconut oil can help in alleviating digestive disorders.

3. Relieves rheumatic and muscular pain:

As known before, excess of kapha causes water retention or fluid retention paving way for rheumatic problems as the toxic substances stagnate in the body, hindering its regular functioning.

Pimento berry essential oil with its warm, diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects helps in relieving rheumatism, reducing inflammation, muscular aches and arthritic pain when used as a massage oil with 2 drops of Pimento berry oil blended with warm carrier oils like sesame oil can grant relief. You can also add 3 to 4 drops of Allspice oil in warm bathing water for utilizing the stimulating rubefacient effect of this oil in treating neuralgia, stiff muscles and rheumatic pain.

4. Positive effects on degenerative and cancerous diseases:

A 2011 research on ‘Composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil of Pimento from Jamaica’ tested the “antioxidant properties of this essential oil in terms of its free-radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical cation and superoxide anion”.

This study witnessed that Pimento berry essential oil possess very high radical fighting activities compared to that of pure eugenol and also recommended its use as a natural antioxidant along with good flavor and enormous health benefits, including cancerous and degenerative diseases due to the effect of free radicals.

5. Calms the mind and body:

The comforting, warming, encouraging, uplifting and fostering aroma of Pimento Berry essential oil renders a sense of personal touch, self-confidence and freshness on the mind and body.  As a proven tonic for the central nervous system, this oil supports in treating neuralgia, nervous exhaustion, convulsions, hysterical paroxysms, depression, fatigue and stressful conditions.

Enriching your potpourri, diffuser, burner, vaporizer or bathing water with 3 drops of Allspice essential oil can grant you ultimate solace after a long tiring day and can also kick start your confidence for a promising dawn. It is for this strong purpose, Pimento berry essential oil has been a part of men’s perfume ranges.

Other health benefits:

Allspice essential oil is also known to be used in food industry for flavoring frozen food items. Its potent antioxidant effects have made its use compelling in meat preservation. Dentists use eugenol as a trusted antiseptic and local anesthetic for treating problems with gum and teeth. Pimento berry essential oil contains rich eugenol content that makes it a promising agent for treating halitosis and other dental problems.

Disclaimer:

Always use essential oils after diluting it in carrier oils. Never take essential oils internally as it may cause harm. Consult your Ayurvedic practitioner before using specific essential oils for your unique constitution and the quantity of oils to be used. Use Allspice essential oil in low dilutions as it has a high content of eugenol and may cause skin irritation.

Thought for the day:

Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf.
-Rabindranath Tagore

Suggested Reading:

  1. Vibrational Healing: Revealing the Essence of Nature through Aromatherapy and Essential Oils by Deborah Eidson
  2. Ayurveda & Aromatherapy: The Earth Essential Guide to Ancient Wisdom and Modern Healing by Dr. Light Miller, Dr. Bryan Miller
  3. The Complete Herbal Guide: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body by Stacey Chillemi

Reference Links:

  1. Traditional Uses of Allspice by Natural Standard The Authority on Integrative Medicine
  2. Composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil of pimento (Pimenta dioica (L) Merr.) from Jamaica published in PubMed
  3. Pimento/Allspice by herbwisdom.com
  4. What Are The Health Benefits of Allspice Leaf? By Livestrong.com