A literature review of Amavata & its management through Ayurveda

Abstract

In the present era Amavata is the most common disease affecting a large aged population. Amavata term derived from words as “Ama” & “Vata”. The word Ama is the condition in which various ailments in system creates toxic effect. Amavata is a disease caused due to the vitiation or aggravation of Vayu associated with Ama. Vitiated Vayu circulates the Ama all over the body through Dhamanies, takes shelter in the Shleshma Sthana (Amashaya, Sandhi, etc.), producing symptoms such as stiffness, swelling, and tenderness in small and big joints, making a person lame. The symptoms of Amavata are identical to rheumatism, which include rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatic fever. Amavata is one of the challenging disease for the clinicians due to its chronicity, incurability, complications and morbidity. The allopathic treatment provides the symptomatic relief but the underlined pathology remain untreated due to absence of effective therapy and also giving rise to many side effects, toxic symptoms and adverse reactions also more serious complications like organic lesions. The treatment procedure described are Langhan, Swedan, Tikta-Katu Deepan, Virechan, Basti etc. So, the present study deals with systemic review of Amavata from all the classics of Ayurveda and its management.