What is Costochondritis and its Herbal Treatment ?

Abstract

Costochondritis is an inflammatory condition of the cartilage joining ribs and breastbone. Here we will be discussing all about the facts one should be aware of including symptoms, causes, diagnosis and herbal treatment.

Introduction

Breastbone is joined to upper ribs by a cartilage and inflammation of this area where this connection occurs is known as Costochondritis. Costochondrial junction is the name given to these areas. The main complaint emerged due to this is a chest pain that can go away after sometime on its own, however any type of chest pain should not be ignored and tested timely to know the reason. This is because this condition might be not so dangerous and temporary but sometimes pain can be so severe just like a cardiac arrest. Costochondritis is also termed as costosternal chondrodynia or costosternal syndrome. Many of the times reason of this ailment is not obvious and remains idiopathic. In costochondritis the pain is usually on the left side of the ribs but also can affect the other side as well. Costochondritis is confused with Tietze syndrome is some cases. However there are some differentiating points that can help to evaluate the diagnosis like in Tietze syndrome there is also swelling of the affected area along with the pain but in costochondritis there is nothing like that and pain is more severe and widespread in Tietze syndrome as compared to the former one.

Causes

As already said that in some cases it might be idiopathic and cause might not be known. However some of the commonly found causes related to this ailment are:

• Trauma to the chest wall repeatedly
• History of a respiratory disease that have caused chronic and lot of cough
• Using arms too much like heavy weight lifting activities or other strenuous exercises
• Various ailments involving the chest cartilage like history of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis
• Carrying heavy backpacks or other heavy objects on either side
• Tumors which have moved from other parts of body to chest
• Chronic viral infections of respiratory tract
• IV drugs usage or surgery of upper chest causing bacterial infections
• History of cardiac bypass
• In rare cases fungal infections

Signs and Symptoms

• Discomfort in chest
• Pain in chest which may be burning, stabbing or aching in character
• Usually the second to fifth ribs are affected
• Sharp pain near breast bone spreading to belly or back
• Pain while coughing and taking deep breath
• Pain gets ameliorated when the person is lying down quietly and breathing is calm and normal
• Ribs joints are tender to touch and it is so characteristic that if it is not present then it is most probably not the case of costochondritis
• Signs of inflammation at the affected area
• If the costochondritis is caused after surgery there is swelling, redness and sometimes pus discharge at the site of the operation

There are certain factors that triggers the pain or aggravate it like strenuous or heavy exercise, lifting a heavy weight, long continued use of upper extremities and chronic cough.

Certain factors are to be kept in mind and immediate medical intervention is required if the patient is having any of the complaints like high grade fever, difficulty in breathing, pus discharge, redness or swelling at the affected area, continuous severe pain even after medications being taken, dizziness, sweating and nausea.

 Diagnosis

Costochondritis can be diagnosed by ruling out the other major causes of chest pain and certain symptoms present. No specific test is present there for diagnostic purpose of costochondritis. However as first stated to rule out the major causes that can be related to the complaints present there are certain tests like chest x rays, echocardiogram and blood tests. These tests will help in assessing the exact cause of the chest pain.

Treatment

In minor cases no specific treatment is required and case can be managed by home remedies themselves. These home measures include over the counter pain killers, ice packs or heat packs, avoiding indulgence in heavy and strenuous exercises and weight lifting and doing some stretching exercises. But in more severe cases you must have to go for proper treatment in order to prevent any further damage and treat the existing one. In this condition usually people want to opt for natural methods which do not have any long term side effects and treat the condition effectively.

Ayurveda is the answer to this natural method of treatment where the ailments are treated with natural herbal remedies and natural methods. This is the ancient medicines system of India in which herbs and natural therapies are used to treat the diseases naturally.

Treatment by Planet Ayurveda

Planet Ayurveda is the well known name in the field of Ayurveda. It is the herbal company which offers treatment of various chronic and complex conditions with the help of herbal medicines that are prepared from pure and best quality herbs under the supervision of qualified and experienced MD Ayurveda doctors. For costochondritis also Planet Ayurveda offers a combination of the herbal medicines that help in managing and treating the condition naturally.

1. Boswellia Curcumin

These polyherbal capsules are prepared from two herbs that are Sallaki and Curcumin (active compound of turmeric). Both these herbs helps in relieving the pain and inflammation and treat the condition naturally.

Dosage- Take 2 capsules twice daily after meals with plain water

2. Osteoplan Capsule

These amazing herbal capsules are specifically prepared for bones, joints and cartilages ailments from the herbs like Hadjod, Ashwagandha, Shatavari and Arjuna. It helps in relieving the pain, swelling, tenderness and redness of the affected part and also make bones stronger.

Dosage- Take 1 capsule twice daily after meals with plain water

3. Sinhanad Guggul

These herbal tablet formulations are from the classics of Ayurveda and prepared from best quality of herbs. The herbs used in it are Triphala, Shuddh gandhak, and Shuddh guggulu. These wonderful tablets work synergistically to treat pain and swelling of the affected area and provides strength to bones and cartilages.

Dosage- Take 2 tablets twice daily after meals with plain water

4. Hakam Churna

Chandershoor, Kalonji, Methi and Ajwain are used to prepared this Ayurvedic formulation that works effectively to treat inflammation especially cases of joints, bones and cartilages. It balances all the three doshas in the body and helps in treating various ailments like rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, osteoarthritis, stiff back etc.

Dosage- Take 1 teaspoonful twice daily after meals with plain water

Conclusion

Costochondritis is an inflammatory condition which can be treated naturally very well with herbal remedies and also these remedies provides extra strength to joints, bones and cartilages so that any future damage is prevented.