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But bones also heal, regenerate and continue carrying out their essential functions. They aren't solid like stones. They are always changing, even in adulthood, as they adapt to the daily strain they are put under. Bones are alive, growing and always changing. Sometimes they change for the worse, as cells called osteoclasts break down bone tissue. Sometimes the change for the better, as cells called osteoblasts build up bone tissue.
Bones are hidden from view. They seem sturdy at first glance. So, the news that your have osteopenia or osteoarthirtis can come as a great surprise. You may wonder, what can you do to help your bones, and get relief from these conditions naturally? Fortunately, Ayurveda contains a wealth of information to help you rebuild and strengthen your bones and joints.
Bone health is incredibly important to longevity and healthy aging. The first step to natural bone health is self assessment. Although the bones are hidden beneath the surface of your body, with Ayurveda you can learn how to assess the strength of your bones, so you can monitor progress between doctor's visits. Ayurveda does this by examining secondary tissues (upadhatus) and waste products (malas). If your hair, teeth and nails are strong, this indicates strong bones. However, scant hair, weak teeth and brittle nails can indicate weak or deficient bone tissue (asthi dhatu). If you have white spots on your nails, that could mean mineral malabsorption - that your bones are getting depleted.
Analysis of the tongue can also reveal the health of the bones, in particular, the level of mineral absorption. Chronic malabsorption displays as scalloped teeth marks along each side of the tongue. Through a comprehensive review, the health of a person's bones, and the root cause of any disorder, can be understood and amended at its source.
Physical trauma, such as that experienced in contact sports like football or rugby, can break or wound the bones. Trauma like this can create a weak spot (khavaigunya) where digestive toxins are more likely to lodge. However, light exercise and moderate stress on the bones actually strengthens them. Improper exercise, like consistent running on pavements, or no exercise at all, will decrease bone density. If a person is overweight, this will also add excess pressure on the joints and the bones.
The climate can fuel an aggravation, particularly in the joints. Cold weather can increase cracking and pain in the joints, while hot, humid weather is more likely to aggravate rheumatoid arthritis. Women going through menopause are also more likely to experience weaker bones, as their bones lose density as a result of decreased estrogen, a hormone that protects and maintains bone health.
Ayurveda classifies pain into several types - inflammatory, tension related, and ama related (toxins), although the underlying cause of pain could be virtually any injury, disease or sickness. General aches & pains are often a sign of ama or toxic...
According to Ayurveda, arthritic conditions are related to toxicity in the colon. Joint pain in the fingers can also indicate dryness and poor circulation to the extremities.
Any infectious process, including candida overgrowth, can acidify the blood and cause leaching of minerals from bone tissue. Chronic gas & bloating, a sign of proliferation of bacteria in the gut, can deplete bone tissue for the same reason. An...
Vertical lines on nails indicate digestive disturbance in the colon, possibly constipation, gas, and bloating. Ayurveda recommends restoring electrolytes, minerals, and digestion.
The causes of joint pain can be multi-factorial. Poor posture or alignment of bones places stress on surrounding joints and muscles. The following procedure may help to correct alignment issues: Schedule an appointment with a chiropractor,...
Arthritis (osteoarthritis) is considered to be a Vata disorder. Generally, circulation is poor in the joints. Toxins (mostly from poor digestion) tend to buildup in these areas of poor circulation, causing local inflammation and degeneration....
Detoxification of the colon is the first line of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in Ayurveda, together with herbs to stimulate circulation in the joint space. Since there is an auto-immune component to rheumatism, the liver should be detoxified as...
The lower back is a fascinating and intricate part of the body that is home to the colon, intestines, uterus, urinary tract, prostate, kidney and spine. Pain in any one of these areas can masquerade as a back ache. Back Pain from...
Overuse of a tendon, as well as Pitta type toxins can irritate the tendons. In Chinese medicine, the tendons are controlled by the liver.
The tendons linking the fingers to the muscles of the forearm travel through the 'carpal tunnel' in the wrist. Sometimes, the tunnel becomes inflamed, especially in circumstances where the fingers are moving while the hand is bent (such as typing on a...
Past injury, gravitational stress, auto-immune disorders, and candida or other infections lodged in the joints can cause joint pain. Hip pain is a sign of high vata dosha. Generally, Ayurveda treats joint pain with cleansing. Yoga teachers...
Proper alignment from studying yoga can help protect your knees from arthritis and pain. A significant cause of knee pain is carrying heavy objects, or gaining too much weight. Age can also cause arthritis in the knees.
All tension originates from the pelvic floor. To help release neck pain, learn proper hip alignment and release tension in the lower abdomen. The neck is sensitive to the cold. For most cases, keep your neck warm to reduce neck...
Joint pain after eating could imply an overgrowth of candida or other bacteria that become active whenever blood sugar levels increase. The bacteria may infest the joint space itself, or other tissues of the body. These pathogens release toxins into...
Swollen joints may be a sign of toxicity, an auto-immune disorder, or arthritic degeneration in the joint.
Sweet blood congests the liver, which weakens tendons (Shleshaka Kapha).
The middle back is home to the solar plexus, liver, gall bladder, stomach, kidneys, and heart. Pain in any one of these areas can masquerade as a middle back ache. For example, gallstones or ulcers can mimic a back ache. Abnormal posture, such as...
The upper back supports the neck, rib cage, sternum, lungs, and heart. Pain in any one of these areas can masquerade as an upper back ache. Abnormal posture, such as hunching the shoulders, a sunken sternum, as well as scoliosis, can create...
A sprain is a torn ligament that occurs when the sudden movement forces a joint to exceed its range of motion. Ligaments are tough, inelastic fibers that are made of collagen. A ligament connects two or more bones together to form a joint. They are...
A strain is also known as a pulled muscle or pulled tendon. It occurs when the muscle is overstretched. Strains commonly occur in the hamstring and lower back. Mild strains are healed with simple at home treatment summarized by RICE: rest, ice,...
Cramping generally comes from poor circulation, toxicity, or imbalance in electrolytes, such as magnesium or amino acids such as taurine. Cholesterol medication can cause cramping as well.
Tight muscles can be a sign of cold, poor circulation,
Pitta individuals have adequate heat and high metabolism which prevents the buildup of bulk. They also have strong digestion, which nourishes their tissues, preventing the wasting one sees with Vata. The result is a finely-chiseled physique. Strong...
Nerves and muscles, which function similarly, are highly sensitivity to changes in blood chemistry. These tissues are irritated by toxins, often arising from fermentation in the digestive tract, or other pathogenic factors including...
Leg cramps generally comes from poor circulation, toxicity, or imbalance in electrolytes. Cholesterol medication can cause a cramp as well. There is a colon marma or acupressure point where the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscle meet. This point may...
Poor muscle tone and weak ligaments may result from sweet thick, Kapha blood, lack of exercise, hypothyroid, lymphatic congestion, and liver or gall bladder congestion
Good hip alignment is the foundation of good posture and emotional equanimity. Hips should be back with the tail-bone downward, and devoid of tension.
Your lower abdomen stores the most primal emotions: shame and fear. A healthy abdomen feels warm, comfortable, and predisposes you to nurturing behaviors. Tension, digestive disorders, and stress can cause anxiety and tension to replace these feelings...
Muscle cramps are sometimes a sign of poor circulation, poor electrolyte balance, or use of anti-cholesterol pharmaceuticals.
Causes may include: Exhaustion from physical labor Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, calcium, potassium, sodium, or magnesium deficiencies Stress Anemia and other blood deficiencies, lack of food Low metabolism,...
Tight muscles can be a sign of cold, poor circulation, toxicity, or tension.
Muscles may be weak due to over-exertion, exposure to heat, under-use, or electrolyte imbalance. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium are essential for proper muscle function. Heat prostration may develop after a long period of sweating.
Eye twitching generally comes from toxicity or imbalance in electrolytes such as magnesium, potassium, or taurine.
Kapha individuals have full, luxurious, smooth lips due to the richness of rasa dhatu (blood plasma).
The eyes of some individuals looks relaxed and soft. Others have unconscious tension around the eyes, by slightly squinting the eyes, scrunching the eyebrows, or generally having a piercing or penetrating gaze. Tension in the eyes is related to...
Ear wax helps protect against bacteria and has antifungal properties. However, too much of it can cause problems. Ear wax can affect balance. It can become impacted in the ear. Ear wax is called karna mala in Ayurveda. A diet high in meats...
A broad, expansive chest is a classic sign of Kapha dosha. When balanced, Kapha men often exhibit a strong, muscular chest reminiscent of Superman, while women naturally display full, curvy contours. The chest muscles embody the stability and strength...
The width of the hips bones do not change over a person life, making the hips and bones in general excellent indicators of one prakruti, or constitution. Slender, thin hips are one of the root indicators of Vata constitution.
On Joyful Belly, we've created an extensive categorization of food so you can easily match food to your imbalanced biocharacteristics. By eating an optimal diet that balances your biocharacteristics, your whole body is strengthened and the conditions that created the disorder are removed. Once the root causes of the disease are removed, the disease lessens in strength or disappears altogether. Additional remedies - such as herbs and lifestyle practices - focused on the specific disorder, can greatly enhance your healing.
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’
