Arthritis
The term 'Arthritis' refers to at least 25 different diseases, the most common being rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gouty arthritis. All these are characterised by inflammation in one or more joints.
Causes
Mostly unknown. In some cases, it follows the stress of sprains, infections and joint injuries. Some researchers suggest the patient's inability to produce endorphins or naturally produced pain-killers, as a cause.
Signs & Symptoms
Inflammation of the joint, swelling, pain and loss of function. Usually if the left knee is affected, the right knee is also affected, though in a different degree.
Sometimes associated with fever.
Usually reappears at exposure to cold.
Herbal Medicines
10 gm of dry ginger powder (sonth) well mixed with 15ml castor oil may be taken internally for relief from painful joints for 40 days continuously.
A confection of garlic and til oil (2 cloves + 30ml oil) may be taken internally and the oil boiled with garlic may be applied over the painful joints for relief.
Heated papaya or nirgundi or castor leaves may be applied over the painful areas. Also onion juice with mustard oil may be applied on the affected joints.
Facial Paralysis
The muscles of the face are supplied with nerves which control their actions. These nerves start from the brain and via the skull enter the different parts of the face. Sometimes the facial nerve may be compressed due to inflammation giving rise to paralysis of the facial muscles.
Causes
The cause is not known. It is often caused by exposure to cold wind and improper diet.
Signs & Symptoms
Initially the patient feels the face to be stiff and experiences difficulty in moving it. Taste on the affected side is sometimes affected. The patient cannot close his eyes completely and tears come out. There may be difficulty in eating food and drinking water.
Herbal Medicines
Garlic is good for paralysis.
Cow's ghee and butter milk are also taken daily as much as possible.
Ayurvedic Remedies
The patient should avoid cold things like ice-cream, coca-cola, iced beer and alcoholic liquids.
He/she should not be exposed to rain or cold winds.
Proper care of eyes should be taken.
Goitre
This refers to enlargement of the thyroid gland resulting in swelling in the front part of the neck.
Causes
Deficiency or increase in iodine content of food items.
Thyroid tumours.
Due to medicines.
Pregnancy.
Signs & Symptoms
These depend on the cause and the type of goitre. The thyroid gland in such cases may be functioning less than normal or more than normal. The goit in many cases due to its large size, may produce problems in speech, respiration and swallowing of food.
Herbal Medicines
Old rice should be used once a day in food.
Barley is another home remedy. Barley water can be taken daily twice a day.
Cucumber is also good for goitre patients 100gm of it can be consumed daily as salad.
Do's & Don'ts
Exercise of neck is useful in this condition.
Sour and heavy foods are contraindicated..
