Ayurvedic Treatment For (sJIA) Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
ABSTRACT
Juvenile arthritis is the chronic and long lasting and the most common type of arthritis in the children. Arthritis refers to the group of diseases that involve swelling and pains in the bones particularly joints. These diseases are one of the major illnesses that affects the normal growth of the children and cause delayed milestones and many other developmental disorders. One of such rare aurto-immune inherited conditions is Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (sJIA). In this article, we are going to discuss the general about this disease, its clinical features, causes and the best Ayurvedic methods for management of the disease.
INTRODUCTION
Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) is a variety of rheumatic disease that commonly affects children aged 5 years or younger. This is the subtype of Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). sJIA is an auto-inflammatory disease that is rare, but critical. This disease is not only characterised by the general symptoms of arthritis (affecting joints & bones) but it involves systemic manifestations also that are responsible for affecting several internal organs of the body, including the liver, heart and the lungs.
Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis is also marked by an innate hyper activity of the immune system in affected children. The initial manifestations of this disease usually develop in young children at around the second year of life, though can manifest anytime till the age of 16 years. This disease is not gender specific i.e. both the genders are at an equal risk of sJIA. Moreover, this disease can potentially lead to some long-term complications for the children. These consequences can adversely affect normal bone development and growth, and can hamper the body growth which may result in stunted or slow growth, loss of mobility,and joint damage.
SIGN AND SYMPTOMS
The clinical features of Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis includes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints associated with systemic manifestations such as high grade recurring fever (103 degrees or even higher) at a specific time daily, flat, skin rashes which are pink-colored specifically on the trunk,upper or lower limbs, which are quite predominant and noticeable during fever spikes. Nausea, vomiting, generalized feeling of discomfort, swollen lymph nodes, hepatomegaly & splenomegaly (enlarged liver & spleen), swelling in the lining of the heart or the lungs.
CAUSES
As the name of this disease signifies that this disease is of unknown etiology means the exact reason for triggering the disease is not known specifically. But the combination of environmental and genetic factors are believed to be associated with the disease. Children with Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis have a genetic predisposition for the disease which eventually get triggered by certain environmental factors.
The affected children have an hyper responsive immune system which starts attacking its own body cells even in the absence of the forieng antigen or any infectious condition. Furthermore, the two cytokines (inflammatory proteins) namely IL-1 (interleukin-1) and IL-6 (interleukin-6) which are considered as the key cause of several auto-inflammatory disorders are found elevated in the blood investigations of the children affected with systemic juvenile arthritis.
AYURVEDIC VIEW
In Ayurveda, this disease can be best correlated with sehaj sarvangata vata. Here, the sehaj word refers to the hereditary factors associated with the disease that are present in the children by birth. Further the clinical features of sarvangata vata as mentioned by Acharya Charka are as-
(Reference- Charka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana 28/25)
Tingling sensations all over the body (Gaatrasafuran), bodyache (gatra bhanjan), pain in the joints (sandhisfutan), and inflammation of the joints.
Also, this condition is associated with amaj jawar (relapsing fever due to endotoxins), and other abdominal discomforts.
TREATMENT
PLANET AYURVEDA IS THE GLOBALLY LEADING GMP CERTIFIED MANUFACTURING UNIT THAT FORMULATES THE HERBAL OR HERBOMINERAL PREPARATIONS WITH STRICT ADHERENCE TO AYURVEDIC TEXTS AND PRINCIPLES. THE PRODUCTS MADE HERE ARE BASICALLY OBTAINED FROM 100% NATURAL SOURCES, AND ARE FORMULATED INTO THE HERBAL FORMULATION WITH ANCIENT TIME TESTED FORMULAS. UNDER THE GUIDANCE AND SUPERVISION OF AN EXPERT TEAM LED BY AYURVEDIC PHYSICIANS.
Herbal remedies as suggested by Planet Ayurveda’s experts for the management of Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis are-
- Rumo Gin 5
- Ashwagandha Capsule
- Boswellia Curcumin
- Yograj Guggul
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
1. Rumo Gin 5
This is one of the best combinations of five effective herbs made by Planet Ayurveda for making the joints healthy. The ingredients of this capsule include Sunthi (Zingiber officinale), Maricha (Piper nigrum), Pippali (Piper longum), curcumin and shallaki (Boswellia serrata). This poly herbal formulation aids in full body detoxification and has both analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects that are very much beneficial in managing the condition of juvenile arthritis.
Dosage:- 1 capsule twice daily with plain water after meal.
2. Ashwagandha Capsule
This capsule formulation is made from the standardised extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Ashwagandha is well known for balancing the tridosha, it is one of the best strength enhancers and acts as a nervous tonic. This not only promotes the health of the body but also boosts the immunity to help with the auto-immune cause of the sJIA.
Dosage:- 2 capsules twice daily with plain water after meals.
3. Boswellia Curcumin
This herbal formulation is made by Planet Ayurveda’s expert team with the functional extracts of two herbs namely shallaki (Boswellia serrata), and haridra (Curcuma longa). These both are having anti-inflammatory properties that help in reducing pain. The analgesic effect of shallaki aids in relieving pain related symptoms of Juvenile arthritis and the antioxidants of curcumin helps in scavenging the free radicals and endotoxins, that promotes the joints health. The Boswellia Curcumin also plays a key role in lowering the value of the inflammatory markers by treating the underlying cause.
Dosage:- 1 capsule twice daily, with plain water after meals.
4. Yograj Guggul
The ingredients of this tablet include Guggul (Commiphora mukul), Nagarmotha ,(Cyperus rotundus), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) like herbs. These ingredients make the tablet suitable for the management of painful and inflammatory conditions associated with arthritis. It also contains digestive stimulants that help in enhancing the jatharagni (digestive fire) that will in turn digest the ama (endotoxins) and prevent the further progression of the disease. Further, the guggul is the best vata shamak (acts as pain killer)
and sothhar (anti-inflammatory agent).
Dosage:- 2 tablets twice daily, with plain water after meals.
CONCLUSION
The allopathic medicine has no exact treatment methodology available for the treatment of this disease. They usually focus on suppressing the hyperactive immune system which will lead to the suppression of immunity of the children making the child prone for several illnesses and infections. Whereas, these Ayurvedic medicines not only treat the disease but also help in strengthening the immunity. Thus, an integrated approach of dietary and lifestyle modifications along with herbal formulations is the best method for the management of Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.
