today’s era has increased the risk of certain disorders like diabetes, hypertension and joint

pathologies. The disorders affecting the locomotory system are increasingly seen in the

present time. Among such disorders Ayurveda classics have described a debilitating

disease called AMAVATA.

It is not only a disorder of the locomotor system, but is also a systemic disease and is named

after its chief pathogenic constituents, which are, Ama and Vata. The disease typically

manifests itself with localized symptoms like Sandhishoola, Shotha and Stabdhata in the

joints of Hasta, Pada-Shira, Gulpha, Janu, Trika and Uru along with symptoms of systemic

manifestation like Angamarda. Aruchi, Trushna, Aalasya, Gourava, Jwara, Apaka and

Angashoonata1

. The disease ‘Amavata’ resembles the aetiopathogenesis and clinical

picture observed in Rheumatoid Arthritis of conventional medicine2

. Rheumatoid Arthritis

which is a systemic chronic inflammatory joint disorder which affects predominantly the

synovial joints. Cardiac involvement, symmetrical involvement of joints along with Pain,

Stiffness and Swelling with number of systemic complication resembles the disease

Amavata . Pathya,which is the Aahar- vihar that calms the mind, is beneficial to the body,

and provides nutrients, and Apathya, which is the opposite of Pathya 3

(Ch . Su 25 / 45 ).

Importance of Pathya :

Acharya Charaka had detailed Pathya as a synonym for treatment4

. He mentioned that

when channels of circulation become hard by aggravated Doshas and Pathya helps to

soften the Srotasas and alleviate vitiated dosha5.