Treatment of Costochondritis in Ayurveda with Herbal Remedies

Musculoskeletal system of our body is responsible for various kinds of movements. Today we are going to discuss about a disease related to it i.e. Costochondritis. This is a disease where inflammation of costochondral joints or junctions takes place which is troublesome for the patient to respire because of severe chest pain. Let us try to understand the disease in depth, its causes and effects and its proper herbal treatment.

INTRODUCTION

Costochondritis is observed as an inflammatory disorder where the inflammation or swelling of cartilage that connects the rib bones to the sternum and makes the costosternal junction. This condition is presented with pain in the chest which may vary from person to person like it may be severe in one and mild in another. Sometimes this disease is misleaded as Tietze syndrome but both diseases are different from one another in some way.

AYURVEDIC ASPECT OF THIS DISEASE

As per Ayurveda this disease is described as a ‘Sandhi Shotha’ where Sandhi denotes Joint and Shotha denotes swelling. So this swelling will act on the junction of cartilage, muscles, and rib bones. In Shotha particularly it is considered as Ekanga shotha as the inflammation present in particularly one area. The cause of swelling is production of Ama (endotoxins) due to mandagni. Then Ama vitiates the Tridoshas and gets circulated in our body. They get settled down in Asthi (Bones) and Majja dhatu (Bone marrow) and develop swelling.

WHAT CAUSES COSTOCHONDRITIS?

The various common causes which may develop this disease are as follow:

• Aaharaj karna (Dietary factors) – Excess intake of salt, sweet, spicy foods, abhishandyndi aahar (the foods that block the channels), etc.
• Vihaar (Lifestyle factors) – Excessive indulgence in physical activities beyond one’s capacity.
• Abhigata (Trauma) – Any history of physical trauma may lead to inflammation.
• History of diseases – Any respiratory infection, chest infection, cardio pulmonary disease, tuberculosis, any associated disease of joints, etc.
• Long term use of steroids.

TRIGGERING FACTORS

Following are the triggering factors for costochondritis -

• Consumption of alcohol
• Use of tobacco
• Coughing
• Some types of bacteria and viruses may trigger this condition.
• Climate changes like cold weather and rainy season.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

The common symptoms observed in patients suffering from costochondritis are -

• Tenderness over the chest region
• Sharp shooting pain while respiration
• Discomfort
• Shallow breathing due to intense pain
• Feeling heaviness of chest
• Fever
• Tightness or stiffness in the chest
• Disturbance in sleep
• Difficulty in swallowing   

DIAGNOSIS

This disease needs a thorough evaluation along with the patient's history. For that we need the help of diagnostic methods for confirmation of this disease. Various diagnostic criteria are helpful in this disease, they are –

• Blood investigations like – CBC (Complete blood count), ESR (Erythrocyte sedimentation rate), etc.
• Chest X- ray
• Ct scan
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

HERBAL TREATMENT FOR COSTOCHONDRITIS BY PLANET AYURVEDA

Planet Ayurveda is a renowned Ayurveda brand that offers the medicines for various diseases. The medicines are result oriented and used worldwide. Many people benefit from the medicines and a number of people are still using these. The products manufactured under the brand are 100 % pure and always contain standardized herbal extracts and powders. This herbal combination of medicines directly works on the root cause and eradicates the disease. Here is the list of medicines prescribed for costochondritis -

1. Boswellia-Curcumin
2. Osteo-Plan
3. Sinhnaad Guggul
4. Hakam Churna

Herbal Remedies for Costochondritis

PRODUCTS DESCRIPTION

Let’s a have look in detail on the description of each ingredient -

1. Boswellia-Curcumin

This capsule is formed from the combination of two herbs Shallaki (Boswellia serrata) and Curcumin (Curcuma longa) in equal proportion. The anti- inflammatory properties of both herbs makes them a suitable combination to use in the inflammatory conditions of the body. Along with this it helps to subside the pain. Any kind of bacterial or viral infection which causes the costochondritis can be managed with the help of this medicine.

Dosage: 2 Capsules twice daily, after meals with normal water.

2. Osteo Plan

These herbal capsules are prepared from the standardized and pure extract of herbs Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Hadjod (Cissus quadrangularis) and Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna). The Rasayan aushadhi’s present in the formulation helps to provide strength to the bones and maintains the mobility and proper functions of the joint. It reduces the inflammation and tenderness.

Dosage: 2 Capsules twice daily, after meals with normal water.

3. Sinhnaad Guggul

This is a classical herbal formulation which is used widely for many years in treating disorders related to the musculoskeletal system. It contains the main ingredients such as Shudha Guggul (Commiphora mukul), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Bhibhitaki (Terminalia bellerica), etc. This medicine helps to nourish the joints and maintains its normal strength and functions. Basically it helps to manage Kapha and Vataj disorders in our body.

Dosage: 2 tablets twice daily, after meals with normal water.

4. Hakam Churna

This herbal blend is composed of Chandershoor (Lepidium sativum), Kalonji (Nigella sativaa), Methi (Trigonella foenum graecum) and Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi). This powder helps in elimination of the toxins from the body especially if localized in the joints. This powder has good actions on the inflammatory conditions of the bones, muscles and joints. It helps to reduce stiffness, tightness, and congestion of the rib cage. It helps to bring balance in all the Tridoshas.

Dosage: 1 teaspoonful twice daily, after meals with normal water.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

• Never ignore the pain of the chest region whether it is mild.
• Avoid exposure to cold weather as it may increase the pain.
• Avoid using milk products and sour food as the condition may become worse.
• Avoid lifting heavy weights.

CONCLUSION

Costochondritis is a disorder of the rib cage which produces swelling and pain of different intensity. It’s better to take herbal medicines instead of using Steroids and Analgesics which are temporary depressants. This is not the permanent solution of the problem, even you will end up with various complications if used for a longer time. Better diet intake some precautionary measures and using these herbal formulations will keep the problem at a bay.