AIIMS study endorses Ayurveda for arthritis

The study, conducted on 125 RA
patients, found Ayurvedic medicines Ashwagandha powder and Sidh Makardhwaj,
helped in relieving pain in tender and swollen joints, and increased mobility
in a majority of subjects. (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: In a
significant scientific validation for traditional therapies, India’s premier
medical institution, AIIMS, has found certain
Ayurvedic formulations effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which
causes irreversible joint damage.

The study, conducted on 125 RA patients, found Ayurvedic medicines Ashwagandha
powder and Sidh Makardhwaj, helped in relieving pain in tender and swollen
joints, and increased mobility in a majority of subjects. Ashwagandha powder is
derived from a plant while Sidh Makardhwaj is a formulation of herbal and
mineral ingredients.

The study was part of a larger research being conducted by the institution,
known for cutting-edge treatments, for scientific validation of therapies
offered under traditional systems of medicine. PM Narendra Modi’s endorsement
of alternative medicine has given further push to the programme.

AIIMS is also conducting multiple studies to validate alternative therapies for
epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and chronic heart failure, among others. Dr Y K Gupta,
who heads AIIMS’ pharmacology department, told TOI that scientific validation
of alternative therapies and medicines was one of the mandates of the
institute.

“Interest in traditional medicines is renewed and growing exponentially
due to the adverse drug reactions and economic burden associated with modern
system of medicine. The central government is promoting them too,” he
added.

AIIMS is also conducting studies to validate the medicinal values of turmeric,
sankhpushpi or Evolvulus alsinoides and stem bark of terminalia arjuna (a
medicinal plant used by Ayurvedic physicians) for treating various health
ailments.

AIIMS doctors said Ashwagandha powder had anti-inflammatory, anti-stress and
immuno-modulatory properties, which help improving physical function and joint
pain in RA patients.

A researcher who participated in the study said the formulations had multiple
benefits. The subjects were administered 5 gram of Ashwagandha powder twice a
day for three weeks with lukewarm water or milk and 100 gram of Sidh Makardhwaj
daily with honey for the next four weeks as part of the pilot study.

“The drugs decreased RA factor and there was significant change in
post-treatment scores of tender joints, swollen joints, pain assessment score
and patient self-assessed disability index among other,” the researcher
said. The study has been published in the latest issue of the Indian Journal of
Medical Research.

Dr (Gen) Ved Chaturvedi, rheumatologist at Army (Research and Referral
hospital) said this is a welcome step. “Whether we accept it or not, there
are many people in India who subscribe to the health benefits of alternative
therapies. It is important to scientifically validate the claims about their
efficacy rather than ignoring them totally,” he said.

According to him, rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating condition in which
patients have to take life-long medications. “In many cases, where
treatment is delayed or the joints get damaged badly, costly joint replacements
is done,” added Dr Chaturvedi.

The NDA government recently announced opening of institute of Ayurveda on the
lines of AIIMS in Delhi and several other parts of the country.

Article sourced & published in Times Of India- 04.04.2015