
Ligaments are tough, inelastic fibers that are made of collagen. A ligament connects two or more bones together to form a joint. They are important for joint stability.
Tendons connect muscle to bone.
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...
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...
Sweet blood congests the liver, which weakens tendons (Shleshaka Kapha).
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...
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 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...
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.
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,...
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...
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...
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.
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.
Overuse of a tendon, as well as Pitta type toxins can irritate the tendons. In Chinese medicine, the tendons are controlled by the liver.
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,...
DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.
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?’