Ayurveda Treatment for Reactive Arthritis

Reactive Arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that occurs as a reaction to an infection in another part of the body, typically in the urinary tract, gastrointestinal system, or respiratory tract. It is sometimes referred to as Reiter’s syndrome, though this term is less commonly used today.

Types of Reactive arthritis:

1. Post-Infectious Reactive Arthritis

Occurs after bacterial infections, commonly affecting the gastrointestinal or genitourinary systems.

Common triggers: Chlamydia trachomatis, Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, and Campylobacter. 

2. Sexually Transmitted Reactive Arthritis (formerly Reiter’s Syndrome)

Triggered by sexually transmitted infections, most commonly Chlamydia trachomatis.

Often part of a triad involving arthritis, urethritis (urinary tract inflammation), and conjunctivitis (eye inflammation).

3. Enteric Reactive Arthritis

 Triggered by gastrointestinal infections caused by bacteria like Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, or Campylobacter.

Associated with foodborne illnesses and contaminated water.

  1. Viral Reactive Arthritis

Caused by viral infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and parvovirus B19.

Symptoms are similar but may be milder than bacterial reactive arthritis.

  1. Chronic Reactive Arthritis

 A prolonged form where symptoms persist for more than six months.

May require long-term treatment with immunosuppressive medications.

Symptoms :

  1. Eye Symptoms:
  • Conjunctivitis: Red, painful, and irritated eyes.
  • Uveitis: Inflammation inside the eye, causing pain, redness, and blurred vision.

 2. Urinary and Genital Symptoms:

  • Painful Urination: Burning sensation during urination.
  • Frequent Urination: An urgent need to urinate often.
  • Genital Sores: In some cases, sores may appear on the genitals.

 3. Skin and Mucous Membranes:

  • Skin Rash: Small, painless sores, often on the soles of the feet, palms, or mouth.
  • Nail Changes: Thickened or ridged nails in some individuals.

 4. General Symptoms:

  • Fatigue: Feeling tired and low on energy.
  • Fever: Mild fever may occur.
  • Pain and Swelling: Usually affects large joints like the knees, ankles, and feet.
  • Stiffness: Especially in the morning or after rest.
  • Warmth and Redness: In the affected joints.
Ayurvedic treatment for Reactive Arthritis

Causes:

  1. Infections:

 Reactive arthritis typically follows infections, particularly,

  1. Bacterial Infections: Common bacteria include:Chlamydia trachomatis (a sexually transmitted infection)

Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and Yersinia (which can cause food poisoning or gastrointestinal infections)

  1. Genetic Factors:

 HLA-B27 Gene: People with this gene have a higher risk of developing reactive arthritis after an infection. However, not everyone with the gene will get the condition.

  1. Weakened Immune Response:

 A compromised immune system can increase susceptibility to infections, leading to a higher risk of reactive arthritis.

Risk factors:

  • Age: Reactive arthritis occurs most frequently in adults between the ages of 20 and 40.
  • Sex: Women and men are equally likely to develop reactive arthritis in response to foodborne infections. However, men are more likely than are women to develop reactive arthritis in response to sexually transmitted bacteria.
  • Hereditary factors: A specific genetic marker has been linked to reactive arthritis. But most people who have this marker never develop the condition.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Reactive Arthritis at UWAY:

Ayurvedic treatment for Reactive Arthritis

The above-mentioned overview highlights Ayurvedic approaches for managing reactive arthritis. The duration and therapies may vary depending on the individual’s condition. Reactive arthritis involves joint inflammation triggered by an underlying infection. Ayurveda focuses on balancing doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), detoxifying the body, reducing inflammation, and boosting immunity to alleviate symptoms.

At UWAY, our Ayurvedic treatment protocol for reactive arthritis includes the following key components:

1. Dietary Modifications

Treatment begins with dietary adjustments to address dosha imbalances and reduce inflammation.
Key recommendations include:

  • Avoid: Processed foods, fried items, sugary snacks, and excessive salt.

  • Include: Freshly cooked meals, leafy greens, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and whole grains.

  • Hydration: Drink warm water and herbal teas like tulsi or ginger tea.

2. Lifestyle Changes

Our UWAY doctors recommend specific lifestyle practices to support healing and improve mobility.
Key practices include:

  • Gentle yoga poses like Tree Pose (Vrikshasana) and Triangle Pose (Trikonasana) for flexibility and reduced joint stiffness.

  • Stress management techniques such as meditation and pranayama to lower inflammation.

  • Following a consistent sleep schedule for optimal recovery.

3. Classical Ayurvedic Medicines and Therapies

UWAY prescribes tailored Ayurvedic medicines and therapies to manage inflammation, detoxify the body, and enhance immunity.
Key treatments include:

  • Herbal medicines: Ashwagandha, Guduchi, Shallaki, and Guggulu for pain relief and inflammation reduction.

  • Therapies:

    • Abhyanga (Oil Massage): Relieves stiffness and improves circulation.

    • Swedana (Herbal Steam): Reduces swelling and detoxifies.

    • Basti (Medicated Enema): Balances Vata dosha and alleviates joint symptoms.

4. Home Remedies

For long-term support, UWAY recommends:

  • Drinking warm water with turmeric and ginger to ease inflammation.

  • Applying neem or aloe vera paste to soothe any associated skin irritation.

Reactive arthritis requires a comprehensive Ayurvedic approach that combines diet, lifestyle changes, and classical medicines for sustained relief. At UWAY, treatments are personalized to suit the patient’s Prakriti (body constitution) and severity of symptoms.

FAQ's:

Reactive arthritis usually has a self-limited course, and the symptoms resolve within 3 to 5 months. Symptoms lasting beyond 6 months indicate a chronic element of the disease. Sacroiliitis is the most common chronic joint involvement. Patients who are HLA-B27 positive have a higher risk of recurrence of reactive arthritis.

The main symptoms of reactive arthritis will often go away in a few months. Some people may have mild arthritis symptoms for up to a year. Others may develop mild, long-term arthritis. Up to half of people will have a flare-up of reactive arthritis in the future.

For people of any age with arthritis, walking is especially good medicine. It strengthens muscles, which helps shift pressure from joints and reduce pain.

Reactive arthritis isn’t contagious. However, the bacteria that cause it can be transmitted sexually or in contaminated food. Only a few of the people who are exposed to these bacteria develop reactive arthritis.

HLA-B27. This blood test looks for the presence of HLA-B27, a genetic risk factor for reactive arthritis. Having this marker is consistent with having reactive arthritis, but it is not definitive—people who test negative can still have reactive arthritis, and not everyone who tests positive has the condition.

Consultations at UWAY can last anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes.

We require most of the medical records related to the current problem, the medicines you are on currently and for pre-existing conditions for diabetes, hypertension, thyroid, cardiac issues etc.

UWAY, follows traditional Kerala ayurveda medical protocol with modern diagnostic techniques for better patient outcomes.

Please feel free to contact us at care@uwayhealth.com

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