Pains in the legs could be due to joint pains or due to muscle cramps. Joint pains are generally observed in arthritis, a condition which sets in as the person’s advances in age. In arthritis, the articulation of the bones gradually wears out over time, leading to pains whenever they function. This is called as Aama Vata in Ayurvedic language.

Muscle cramps usually affect the muscles of the leg. It is known as Khalli Vata in Ayurveda. There is a special term for the muscle cramps that affect only the calf muscles, and that is Pindikoveshtana. From an Ayurvedic point of view, almost all pains are caused due to vitiation of the vata dosha. Specifically in leg pains due to muscle cramps, the Vyana vata is vitiated. This is a sub-dosha of the vata which controls the involuntary muscles of the body.

Pains occur when there is an ama buildup in the body. Ama is the name given to the toxic materials caused due to improper digestion that cannot be expelled from the body. Such ama causes several problems, including leg pains. Ama is built up due to high agni, i.e. digestive fire, which is governed by the pitta dosha. Hence there is also a pitta relation with the leg pains.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Leg Pains

1. Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)

Clove oil is applied on the affected leg muscle as a poultice. It provides immediate relief from pains, especially if they are due to muscle cramps.

2. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Ginger has wonderful painkilling properties. It must be included in the daily diet if muscular pains in the legs are a chronic problem.

3. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Licorice is very effective in relieving muscle aches. An infusion of its roots must be prepared in water and kept overnight. This helps in almost all kinds of muscle problems.

4. Madhuca (Madhuca indica)

Madhuca has positive effects on leg pains, especially if they are due to rheumatism. Its oil is applied locally over the affected regions.

5. Pepper (Piper nigrum)

Pepper helps in dilating the superficial blood vessels, thus helping in proper blood circulation. It also has analgesic properties and can be used as a liniment in muscular problems.

(2) Dietary Treatments for Leg Pains

Since improper digestion can cause leg pains, care must be taken not to eat anything that can cause digestive problems. Do not consume constipating foods; keep your diet simple. Consume plenty of green vegetables and leafy vegetables that contain fiber. Vitamin C obtained from amalaki, oranges and tomatoes is also good for digestion. After each meal, make it a habit to eat a plantain instead of some calorie-rich dessert like ice-cream. A plantain is a food that is extremely rich in minerals of potassium, magnesium and calcium. Hence it is extremely beneficial for proper metabolism within the leg region. Avoid coffee and chocolate if you have persistent leg pain problems.

The importance of adequate amount of fluids cannot be stressed enough. Dehydration is a leading cause of leg pains. Keep drinking one glass of water every waking hour to prevent dehydratiom.

(3) Ayurvedic Treatments for Leg Pains

There are good oils in Ayurveda that are used for external application over the affected legs. If the muscle pains have occurred suddenly, then most likely they are cramps. In such cases, Mahanarayana tailam or Praharini tailam are applied to get relief. Warming the oils a bit and then applying has better effects.

For internal administration, Sinhanaada Guggulu is prescribed. This drug is also a mild laxative. So it will also correct whatever digestive problems may be there with the system. Other commonly prescribed medicines are Laxmivilasa rasa and Pratapa Lankeshwara rasa.

(4) Home Remedies for Leg Pains

1 If you have regular complains of pains in the legs, then there are some simple exercises you can do in order to get relief from them. Some of them are described:-

a) Lie on your back on a firm bed. Wear some loose clothing over the legs, such as shorts or pajamas. Raise your legs gradually in the air, as far as they can go. The heels should point skywards. Hold the legs in this stretched position for about ten seconds and then bring them down again. Do this five times per session, and repeat the exercise thrice a day.

b) Alternatively you can stand facing a wall at an arm’s length distance from it. Stretch out your arms and touch the wall with your open palms. Then slowly pull yourself forward (towards the wall). Feel the stretching pressure building up in your legs. Hold yourself in this stretched position for about ten seconds and then let go. Do this five times per session, and repeat the exercise thrice a day.

c) Even Yoga has several leg stretching exercises that can be used with great positive effects. These exercises are Uttanpadasana, Janusandhi and Gomukhasana.

2 If the cramps occur when performing an exercise workout or some physical activity, then have a glass of lemon water with a pinch of salt in it.

3 If you have leg pains in the joints due to arthritis, then crush two to three cloves of garlic and add them to a glass of diluted milk. Boil it to quarter its amount and drink it just before bedtime.

4 Applying a hot pack or fomenting the leg with steam helps to improve circulation in the leg and eases the pain. Even applying cold packs helps. This will reduce the blood flow into the leg region and help the muscle to relax.

5 Put one part of camphor in twenty parts of mustard oil. Keep this in the sun till the time the camphor properly dissolves in the oil. Use this oil to massage the leg on a daily basis.

6 If you get a sudden sprain in the leg, then prepare a paste of turmeric with lime and salt and apply it on the affected part.

By: Tom alter

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Rheumatism or rheumatic arthritis is one of the commonest complaints of old age. As the age advances, there is wear and tear in the joints of the body. This causes the rheumatic pains. Ayurveda calls this condition as Ama Vata. It considers rheumatism to be caused due to the build up of ama in the body, which is caused due to a low digestive fire.

This digestive fire, or agni, is controlled by the pitta dosha. It is believed that rheumatism begins due to vata dosha, establishes itself due to the pitta dosha and then spreads throughout the body due to kapha dosha. Hence, rheumatism is caused due to vitiation of all the three doshas in the body.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Rheumatism

1. Alfalfa (Medicago satina)

People with rheumatic problems are prescribed tea made from the alfalfa leaves. This tea can be safely taken even up to six times a day. It helps to dissolve the food residues left in the body.

2. Castor (Ricinus communis)

The roots and seeds of the castor are effective in reducing joint pains. They are effective both as an external application as well as an oral medicine. For external application, a decoction of its roots is prepared and applied to the rheumatic swelling with potash mixed in it. A poultice of its seeds can also be applied on the swellings with the same effect. For oral administration, a paste of the kernel of castor is boiled in milk and given to the patient.

3. Celery (Apium graveolens)

Celery has a high content of sodium and other alkaline metals; hence it helps in the revival of worn out joints. Salads with celery in them do provide benefits, but for better benefits, the fluid extracted from its seeds is more powerful.

4. Ephedra (Ephedra gerardiana)

Both an infusion of the ephedra or its powder is useful in rheumatism. The treatment should be continued up to a fortnight. Ephedra will help to cur e rheumatic pains that are just beginning; but in case of chronic pains, ephedra is not much useful.

5. Garlic (Allium sativum)

Garlic is a world-renowned remedy for rheumatic pains. Besides rheumatism, it can also be used as a good treatment for sciatica, lumbago and arthritis. The best part about garlic is that it can be taken raw or in the normal cuisine. Its excess does not have any side effects on the body.

6. Indian Aloe (Aloe barbadensis)

The Indian aloe is traditionally taken for the treatment of rheumatism. The pulp of one leaf of the aloe taken once a day is enough to bring about good results.

7. Indian Gooseberry (Emblica officinalis)

A daily consumption of the Indian gooseberry, or the amalaki, helps in speedy recovery from rheumatism. It is generally taken in powder form, in a dosage of one teaspoon mixed with two teaspoons of jaggery.

8. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

The rosemary herb is used in a slightly unconventional manner in the Ayurvedic treatment of rheumatism. The leaves and inflorescence of the rosemary have a strong odor like that of camphor. These parts of the plant are used to produce large amounts of perspiration in the regions where the rheumatic pain exists. These vapor baths are beneficial in reducing, and even eliminating, the pain.

9. Winter Cherry (Withania somniferum)

The winter cherry is none other than the famous ashwagandha. Among its myriad other uses, the ashwagandha is also useful in the treatment of rheumatism. Its roots are taken for this purpose.

(2) Dietary Treatments for Rheumatism

Since rheumatism is caused in a major way due to the buildup of ama in the body, it is necessary to remove this toxin first. Hence, fasting is necessary for a day or two. During this period of fasting, the patient is allowed to have only hot and clear vegetable soups with minimum spices. Warm water should be drunk several times a day as it helps to flush out the toxins.

During the treatment, all sour foods must be avoided. This includes curds and cheese. Fruits that are cold such as bananas and guavas must be strictly avoided.

(3) Ayurvedic Treatments for Rheumatism

Ayurvedic treatment of rheumatism begins with fasting to cleanse the body. Once this is done, castor oil application is done with garlic tea for internal administration. Herbs like guggulu, punarnava and garlic are commonly prescribed. Dashamoolarishta is also given.

(4) Home Remedies for Rheumatism

1. Mix some dry ginger, black pepper and rock salt in the juice of a fresh ginger stem. Make a powder of this. Take this in quantity of three grams with honey.

2. Massaging with the oil extracted from Bishop’s Weed seeds directly on the painful joints helps to relieve the pain. Another way to use Bishop’s Weed is to boil some seeds in water and allow the vapors to pass over the affected joints.

3. The juice of tomatoes is very effective in rheumatic pains that arise in the joints of the hands and legs. Tomatoes can be had either in the form of a juice or raw. About four to five tomatoes must be eaten in a day.

4. A paste of garlic should be made and applied directly on the affected parts. This will reduce the pain day by day till it completely disappears. A similar effect is found by the application of mustard seed paste.

By: Tom alter

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