Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints. A joint is an area of the body where two or more different bones meet. A joint functions as a regulator for the movement of the body parts connected with bones and helps organ to function normally. The major complaint of individuals having arthritis generally is joint pain. Initially the Pain starts either in knee joints or waist and thereafter it affects most of the joints in the body and even paralysed the individual. The joint pain in arthritis occurs due to drying up of the synovial fluid of the joint area, which results in friction of the bones in of arthritis include pain and limited function of joints. Inflammation in joints due to arthritis is characterized by joint stiffness, swelling, redness, and warmth. Patients become incapable of normal movement and fail to enjoy real life situation.

In Indigenous Medical Science, Amavata (Rheumatoid arthritis) was mentioned for the first time by Madhavakar (700AD), as a special disease entity and also that Ama (bio toxin) as well as Vata (biophysical force) plays a predominant role in the pathogenesis of this disease [1]. The Amavata may be simulated with Rheumatoid arthritis.

According to modern medicine, Rheumatoid arthritis is not only a chronic disease but also an active inflammatory, progressive auto-immune arthropathy, characterized by bilateral symmetrical involvement of joints with some systemic clinical manifestations [2]. Aeteopathogenesis of this disease is still not known precisely but among the hypothesis, ‘entero-pathy’ do play an important role regarding this disease. This hypothesis is supported by Indian Medicine also. Rheumatoid arthritis has become one of the burning problems of the human population of this modern era. Doctors’ scientists, medical practitioners all are very much concerned about the problem. Debates and discussions are going on to find out a solution on the issue. But right now any suitable or effective treatment of this disease is far from adequate in the modern medicine.

This disease has also an impact on our National economy. As it is not only affecting the older generation but the young generations are also getting highly affected by this disease. It is equally affecting the patients physically as well as mentally and sometimes forcing them to become invalid. As a result, it has drawn major attention of the scholars and has become a major issue of discussion. Yoga promotes a holistic living-a drugless and disease free living uniting the physical, mental and spiritual aspect of our life into one platform. The great news with Yoga is that it is less complicated, hardly expensive, and easily affordable and can be practiced by one and all [3]. It is helpful in the prevention and cure of different chronic disease. As a result, we have included certain yoga practices for the management of the Amavata in this clinical study [4].

Not only yoga but also Naturopathy gives a long term relief but most people are not ready to spend time for treatment and rather go for allopathic medication which gives symptomatic relief and does not treat the root causes. Some simple changes in diet and a few physical exercises (Yoga Practice) can control arthritis to a great extent. Keeping this view in mind the present study was taken into consideration and following objectives were framed for the present study.

a) To ameliorate the clinical features of Rheumatoid arthritis and increase the work ability.

b) To minimize the periodic fluctuation of the disease.

c) To assess the effect of the Yoga management in the Rheumatoid arthritis.

RCT( Randomised clinical trial )

43 patients fulfilled the criteria for the diagnosis of the (Rheumatoidarthritis) and were registered for the present clinical study irrespective of their age, sex, religion, Caste. Among them, 3 patients discontinued before the completion of the therapy. The patients were selected from the OPD of the Population and Social Development for Yoga Naturopathy Education and Research, Durgapur, Bardhaman, West Bengal following under mentioned criteria

Inclusion criteria

a) Patients belonging to the age groups 18 to 60 years (both genders)

b) The patients fulfilled the clinical features of Rheumatoid arthritis.

c) The patients fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (ASIA), 1987-Reversed criteria for Rheumatoid arthritis [5].

Exclusion criteria

a) Osteoarthritis, Rheumatic arthritis, Septic arthritis, Gouty arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, Traumatic arthritis, SLE (Systemic lupus erythematous).

b) Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Tuberculosis, Thyroid disorders, Cardiac problems, renal problems, Liver problems, HIV and any Malignancy.

c) Without application of Pharmacopeia process.

The disease was diagnosed on the basis of signs and symptoms as described in Yoga Science and Modern texts, aided by the revised criteria for Rheumatoid arthritis fixed by the American College of Rheumatology in 1987. R.A. Factor and C Reactive Protein investigations were done in all the patients for diagnosis and severity of the disease (Degree of Dissonancy). Routine Blood, Urine and Stool examinations along with serum uric acid, urea, Creatinine, ASO titer, ANF, Lipid profile, Liver function test, ECG, TSH, and Fasting Blood Sugar were also done to rule out other pathological conditions of the registered patients. This clinical study was done in 2007 and for the duration of approximately one year.

Selected patients were given Yoga therapy every day morning at 6 a.m. for three weeks (i.e. 21 days). The target population practiced Yoga in empty stomach. Consult Table 1 for the details on the yoga therapy practice.

Table 1: Yoga therapy.

Patients were instructed to avoid cold drinks, ice cream, curds, banana, coconut, black gram, fast food, junk food, non-veg food (i.e. egg, fish and meat), tobacco, smoking, alcohol, and other beverages. They were also advised not to sleep in day time and use light warm water for bath [6]

Arthritis is caused by radical cells in the body which can be controlled by anti-oxidants. Hence a diet rich in vitamin C or foodstuff having anti-oxidants like carrot juice, orange juice, Green leafy vegetables (GLV) and salads were advised to take more. It also observed that, controlled fasting with orange juice etc. can work really well in the case of arthritis, so patients were advised accordingly.

Three parameters were adopted for the assessment of present clinical study: -

Parameters for assessment of clinical features

The results of the therapy were assessed on the basis of clinical features of the disease Rheumatoid arthritis mentioned in Indigenous Medical Science in India as well as criteria fixed by American Rheumatology Association in 1988 and implemented those after some modification. Joint pain, Joint swelling, Joint stiffness, Joint tenderness, Body ache, heaviness of the Body, Impaired digestive capacity were selected as an important common clinical features of Rheumatoid arthritis for this study and the scoring pattern was adopted separately for assessment of those clinical features.

Parameters for assessment of functional capacity

Functional capacity was assessed with three parameters Walking time, Grip Strength and Foot pressure. Walking time was measured by asking the patient to walk a distance of 30 feets. Time was recorded by stop watch before and after the treatment. Grip Strength was measured by the ability to compress an inflated ordinary sphygmomanometer cuff under standard conditions (i.e. 20 mmHg) and reading was recorded before and after the treatment. Foot pressure was also measured by pressing a weighing machine with foot before and after the treatment.

Parameters for assessment overall effect of the therapy

To assess the overall effect of the therapy, the standard method from ARA (American Rheumatology Association) (1988) were adopted and was applied in this clinical study after some modification.

Results were classified into four groups:

a) Complete Remission

b) Major Improvement

c) Minor Improvement and

d) No-improvement

In our consideration we have taken 43 object and 03 object are discontinued 40 object have fully cooperated with our study. Among them SC (Schedule caste)-11, ST (Schedule Tribe)-09, OBC (Other Backward Class)-08 and reset 12 object came from general category.

Maximum numbers of patients i.e. 65.24 % belonging to the age group 30 to 50 years. 84.34% of the patients of study population were female. 85.44 % patients were from Hindu community. With regard to marital status it can be state that 96.78 % patients were married.

71.00% of the patients were housewives and majority of the female patients belong to the middle age group (mention age group).

59.89% of the study population were from Middle class, and maximum (74.34%) were from urban habitat.

Literacy status of the study population dictates that most of the (%) patients have completed ----- level. and (%) passed ------ level.

Majority of the patients i.e. 57.88% were having negative family history, 82.34% patients were having Gradual onset, 95.43% patients were having relapsing course and 46.56% were having Chronicity of less than 2 years.

Cold and moist environment were the most aggravating factor for all the patients.

The result shows that maximum i.e. 86.56% patients were vegetarian. 82.40% patients were found suffering from loss of appetite, and 48.78% were from constipation.

The study shows that all the patients suffer from pain maximally in Rainy season and wintry season.

Majority of the patients (95.46%) were found to suffer from wrist joints pain along with Metatarsophalangeal (86.57%), Metacarpophalangeal (83.23%), Ankle (81.04%), Knee (75.46%), Elbow (26.44%), PIP (22.00%), Shoulder (14.33%), Hip (6.57%), Jaw (6.56%), DIP (4.34%), Lumbo-sacral (4.34%) and Cervical (3.21%) joint pain.

22.12% patients were found R.A. positive and 77.88% patients were R.A. negative. C-Reactive-Protein positive was found in 62.12% patients and 37.88% patients were found negative. Rheumatoid nodule was present among 33.44% of patients and deformity was observed among 5.78% patients.

According to Cardinal clinical features all the patients were suffering from Joint-pain, Joint-swelling, Joint-stiffness and Joint-tenderness. According to General clinical features, body ache, heaviness of the body and impaired digestive capacity were observed among 70.56%, 66.67% & 85.66% of patients respectively.

From the above clinical study it is observed that the results were statistically highly significant (P<0.001) on the parameters of clinical features and functional capacity presented in the Tables 2 and 3 respectively [7].

Table 2: Effect of the therapy on the following Clinical features.

Table 3: Effect of the therapy on the criteria of Functional assessment.

It is observed that the therapy had a good impact on the study population. A good number of patients (60%) showed major improvement, 35% showed minor improvement, 5% showed no improvement and complete remission was not recorded. Probable mode of action of Yoga therapy in the clinical study is that Suddhi kriya helped them to eliminate the vitiated Shlesma (vitiated body fluids) from the body. Stretching & rotations exercises improved joint mobility thereby reducing joint stiffness. Asanas improved the muscle tone, muscle strength & also functioning of different organs of the body. Mudra enhanced normal function of the glands. Pranayam improved the functions of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems of body. Relaxation with Dharana decreased the anxiety, tension, mental stress and depression. Omkara & Shanti mantra developed the spiritual aspects of the mind and Prarthana (Prayer) promoted mental & spiritual wellbeing. Important instructions and advices during therapy helped prevent further formation of Ama (biotoxins) into the body. [8,9].

From discussion on the above study and findings from the analysis based on the clinical estimation it can be concluded that Yoga therapy has a direct bearing on the management of Amavata due to combined practice of Prarthana (Prayer), Sudhi kriya [i.e. Sutraneti, Jalaneti, Vaman (kunjal), Kapalbhati], Stretching & Rotations, Healing, Pranayam, Relaxation with Dharana, Omkara & Shanti mantra for continuous 21 days/21 settings and No complication was noticed in the clinical study. Therefore this drugless, easily adoptable, affordable, free from side effects and more natural alternative mode of treatments may be considered in the management of Amavata (Rheumatoid arthritis) for the benefits of the patients as well as the society. Table 4

Figure 1: a-c: Arthritis.

Table 4: Overall Effect of the Therapy.

We are acknowledge to Dr. S.K. Maity and Dr A.B. Mondal for their whole heartedly contribution of research concept regarding this alternative way of treatment and research. We will also acknowledge Dr. Nilkamal Mallik for his guidance of research method and process. We also convey our thanks to Population and Social Development for providing their platform to do this type of research work. Once again we also convey the thanks to all technical and nontechnical person’s foe their unconditional support to carry on this work.