Analytical study of Rheumatoid Arthritis w.s.r to Ojo-Visramsa as Autoimmunity

Abstract

Ayurveda, although an ancient science, incorporates all those aspects and facts which have been emerging from various researches in the modern medical science since ages. In recent times, various autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, myositis, muscular dystrophies etc. are getting public attention more than ever. These autoimmune disorders are actually the consequences of the misalignment of immune system towards its own body tissues. Autoimmunity comes under the concept of immunology and in Ayurveda, immunology is described as Vyadhikshamtva and Oja Bala. Oja, the quintessence of the seven Dhatus is responsible for providing immunity to the body. Any fluctuations in Oja tends to generate disease causing elements in the body. In Ayurveda it has been mentioned that Oja gets deformed in three ways: Ojo-Kshaya, Ojo-Vyapad and Ojo-Visramsa. Out of these, Ojo-Visramsa may be considered as most relevant with the concept of Autoimmunity. Ojo-Visramsa can be defined as the dislocation or the diversion of Oja from its normality, whether it may its normal location, structure or function. Comparably, autoimmunity is also the misalignment of the immune system such that the system which should ideally defend the body against the diseases, starts attacking its own body and creates various autoimmune disorders. Hence this article is an attempt to create a novel concept about Ojo-visramsa and its relatability with autoimmunity through a pathogenic analysis of rheumatoid arthritis so that it can be more helpful for the physicians to treat these disorders to benefit the society in an efficient way.