Vatarakta Treatment in Ayurveda: Lifestyle Changes Herbal Remedies

Arthritis is a challenging condition that affects half of the population. Similarly, one is gout, which causes intense pain in individuals.

In Ayurveda, this health condition is typically known as vatarakta, a type of arthritis that causes intense joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. However, this can also be treated with Ayurveda through proper counselling and a holistic diet approach.

In this blog, I have shared some of the best vatarakta treatments in Ayurveda.

What is Vatarakata, and explain its causes?

As Per Ayurveda, Vatarakta is a health condition involving an imbalance in the Rakta Dhatu, also known as blood tissue.

Vatarakta is a common metabolic disorder, a deplorable medical condition in your body.

It refers to the vitiation of the vata dosha and rakta dhatu present in society. In this condition, the normal flow of Vata is blocked by the rakta causing leading symptoms starting from hasta and paada, which results in intense pain in those parts.

It is a painful condition that affects joints. In this condition, small crystal-like structures form in and around the joints that cause pain, swelling, and inflammation. The crystals are made up of waste products named uric acid.

Here are a few causes of Vatarakta that you should know.

Excessive consumption of salt and sour foods can cause Vatarakta
Excessive consumption of oily and hot foods can also result in the vatarakta
Improper sleeping habits
Bad food habits
People who have no control over their anger.
Excessive consumption of food and unhealthy foods can also cause Vatarakta's condition.

Henceforth these are a few causes of Vatarakta that you should know.

Mention some common symptoms of Vatarakta.

Here are a few common symptoms of Vatarakta that you may not know;

You may feel tenderness in any specific area
You might feel a typical pain in a specific area
A typical Redness in the area associated with pain
Swelling in any area can also indicate a vatarakta condition

You might witness these symptoms of vatarakta treatment in Ayurveda.

List out some different types of Vatrakta and suitable ayurvedic treatments for them.

Vatarakta can be classified into four types based on the body's predominance of specific doshas or bio-energies. These four types are:

Vataja Vatarakta:

In this type of vatarakta, the predominant dosha is vata which is associated with the air and the movement. Specific symptoms of vataja vatarakta include severe joint pain, cracking sounds, and constipation.

Managing Vataja Vatarakta Chikitsa:

Ayurvedic Treatments for Managing the Vataja Vatrakata Chikitsa: The Vataja Vatarakta treatment should be managed by snehadi kriyas such as,

Snehana- Oleation of external massages with the help of ghee or medicated oils.
Swedana- Swedana or sweating treatment through sudation or steaming.
Virechana- Virechana referred to as therapeutic purgation
Niruha Vasti- Enemas with medicated decoctions
Sneha Vasti- Enemas with ghee or medicated oils or ghee.

Raktaja Vatarakta:

In this type of Vatarakta, the rakta is severely vitiated and accompanied by several symptoms like swelling, severe pain, pricking pain, the copper colour of the skin, itching and moistness predominate etc.

Managing Raktaja Vatarakta Chikitsa:

Ayurvedic Treatments for Managing the Raktaja Vatarakta Chikitsa. The Raktaja Vatarakta treatment should be managed by Rakmokshanadhi kriyas such as,

Virechana- Therapeutic Purgation
Asthapana Vasti- Decoction of specific enemas
Ksheera Vasti- Herbal Milk Deococtions
Anuvasana Vasti- Herbal Oil and Ghee Enemas.

Pittaja Vatarakta:

In this type of Vatarakta, the predominant dosha is pitta, which is associated with fire and metabolism. Specific symptoms of the Pittaja Vatarakta are severe burning pain, fever, and inflammation.

Managing Pittaja Vatarakta Chikitsa:

Ayurvedic Treatments for Managing the Pittaja Vatarakta Chikitsa. The Pittaja Vatarakta treatment should be managed by Virechanadi kriyas such as,

Virechana- It involves a therapeutic condition
RaktaMokshana- It involves a bloodletting procedure
Ksheera Vasti- Ksheera Vasti involves herbal milk enemas etc.
Anuvasana- Anuvasana Involves enemas with medicated oils with the extraction of herbs and ghee.
Niruha Vasti- Niruha Vasti involves enemas with medicated oils.

Kaphaja Vatarakta:

In this type of vatarakta, the predominant dosha is kapha which is associated with water and stability. Some common symptoms of Kaphaja Vatarakta include joint stiffness, swelling, and a feeling of heaviness in the affected areas.

Managing Kaphaja Vatarakta Chikitsa:

Ayurvedic Treatments for Managing the Kaphaja Vatarakta. The Kaphaja Vatarakta treatment should be managed by Vamanadi kriyas such as,

Sneha Vasti- Enemas that include medicated oils and ghee.
Niruha Vasti- Niruha Vasti involves enemas with medicated decoctions.
Vamana- Vamana refers to the process of therapeutic purgation
Swedana- Swedana involves the sudation, steaming, sweating treatment, fomentation etc.
Virechana- Virechana involves the process of therapeutic purgation.

These are the different types of vatarakta treatment and their suitable ayurvedic treatment.

Suggest some best remedies for improving your vata immediately.

Here are a few techniques through which you can naturally reduce your vata.

Avoid Cold:

If you are suffering from vatarakta, try to reduce your intake of cold food and drinks. Try to opt for hot drinks rather than choosing cold ones.

Oily and Dry foods:

Opt for dry and oily foods; that is the best way to imbalance the vata dosha. Try to opt for foods which are pretty oily and dry.

Cooked Meals:

Try to opt for adequately cooked meals and avoid undercooked or raw meals. These remedies help to have a balance in your vata.

These are ways through which you can prevent the Vatarakta treatment.

I hope you find the blog helpful. Stay connected, and see you soon with more blogs like this.

Thank you for Reading.