Arthritis - Role Of Unani Medicines In Treating It!

Arthritis refers to the condition where your joints become inflamed. It can affect a particular joint in your body like that in the knee or the hip or can occur in multiple joints simultaneously. Arthritis comes in several forms.

The most common two types of arthritis are-

1. Rheumatoid arthritis- This is an autoimmune disease causing pain in the joints. This condition affects both sides of the body. This means, if the joint of any of your legs or arms is affected, the same joint on the other side of your body will also be affected.
2. Osteoarthritis- This type of joint inflammation is caused due to cartilage degeneration. Arthritis is usually observed in people over 65 years of age. But in rare cases, the condition can also occur in teens and young adults. Women and people who are overweight are prone to this condition.

Early signs of arthritis-

Arthritis symptoms develop gradually over time. Nevertheless, you must watch out for the early signs such as-

1. Joint pain and tenderness
2. Fatigue
3. Joint stiffness
4. Limitation of motion
5. Swelling and redness in the joints

If you encounter these symptoms, consult a doctor right away.

Role of Unani in managing arthritis pain-

Unani medicines are natural herbal drugs used for treating joint inflammation. This treatment method has been in use from the ancient times. Here are a few herbs used in the procedure-

1. Suranjan sheirein (Colchicum autumnale)- This is one of the most commonly used Unani medicines. Packed with analgesics and anti-inflammatory properties, this herb alleviates inflammation and pain associated with arthritis.
2. Kulanjan (Alpinia galanga)- Kulanjan consists of anti-inflammatory properties. This helps treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and relieves you from severe joint pain.
3. Nar kachur (Zingiber zerumbet)- Nar kachur oil extracted from rhizomes of the plant Zedoary, is an effectual anti-inflammatory agent. It helps cure inflammation, swelling and severe joint pain in case of arthritic problems.
4. Cannabidiol oil- This essential oil (also known as hemp oil) is extracted from the cannabis plant. Cannabidiol oil helps reduce chronic inflammatory pain and joint stiffness. Thus, it effectively reduces severity of rheumatoid arthritis. These essential oils can also be used in the form of powder or gel.

There are very few side effects of Unani medications. So if you’re reluctant to go for orthopedic treatment, try these herbal drugs and medicines to treat arthritis.