Avascular-necrosis Ayurvedic Treatment

This is the condition where the bone tissues are damaged/ dead (necrosis) due to reduced/ lack of proper blood supply. Avascular necrosis is also known as Osteonecrosis. When the blood supply is interrupted, the part of the bone breaks or collapses; but it takes months or years. Though thigh bone (femur) is the most affected part, it can develop at any bone. Usually, Avascular necrosis occurs following a fracture/ dislocation of the bone. Other reasons of reduced blood supply to the bones are fat deposition inside the lumen of blood vessels and some diseases.

Avascular-necrosis Signs and Symptoms

In some people, there may not be any signs or symptoms at the early stages of the disease. Later, they often experience pain over the affected part (aggravates during activities) leading to disabilities (like difficulty to walk/ stand on legs).

Avascular-necrosis Ayurvedic Analysis

Srotorodha (blockage of channels) is the reason of reduced/ lack of blood supply to the bones. Due to insufficient blood supply, asthikshaya (loss of bone tissue) and majjakshaya (loss of bone marrow) occurs. Vata invades and increases in the site of reduced or lost dhatu (tissue). Therefore, this is the condition of asthimajjagata vata due to srotorodha. Asthigata vata causes pain in asthi and its destruction. Majjagata vata causes formation of pores in bones.

Avascular-necrosis Causative Factors (Ayurveda)

Srotorodha is caused by presence of ama (dosha in immature state/ waste materials/ unwanted substances). Srotorodha itself is the reason for aggravation of vata. Other factors like trauma, over-activity etc can also increase vata.

Possible Complications of Avascular-necrosis Disease

If left untreated, this condition can lead to destruction of asthi dhatu (bone tissue) or majja dhatu (bone marrow) and finally to disabilities.

Other systemic diseases and precautions to be taken

Consider other diseases like diabetes before planning treatment.

Avascular-necrosis Disease Management with Ayurveda Treatment

Ama should be managed first with suitable drug/ procedure. For Asthimajja gata vata, medicines having bitter taste are effective. Snehapana (therapeutic consumption of heavy dose of ghee) with medicine having tikta rasa/ bitter taste is recommended. External snehana (like abhyanga), swedana (eg: steam bath, kizhi), nasya (nasal instillation of medicine), virechana (purgation), vasthi (enema with suitable decoction or oil), lepana (external application of medicine) or bandaging are done depending on the patient’s condition and severity of the disease. Physiotherapy/ yoga can promote fast recovery.

Diet

Include more whole grains, pulses, milk, nuts, green vegetables (eg: bitter gourd, snake gourd, ash gourd etc), meat soup etc in diet.

Exercise

Mild to moderate exercise can be done in order to improve the blood circulation to the affected part.

Avascular-necrosis Preventive Aspects in Ayurveda

Exercise regularly. Maintain healthy body weight. Take healthy balanced diet. Drink more water. Avoid chances of fracture/ dislocation. Quit smoking and reduce the consumption of alcohol.

Importance of Diet

Follow a healthy diet plan for faster relief. Wrong food will further worsen the condition even with proper treatment.

Lifestyle

Maintain healthy body weight. Exercise regularly. Control diabetes and levels of cholesterol. Quit smoking, limit the intake of alcohol. Consume healthy food.