ROLE OF RASAYANA THERAPY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SANDHIGATA VATA Dr.Nitesh Anand * , Dr.Kimmi Seth ** , Dr. Sanjay Kumar Singh *** *MD Scholar, Dept. of Panchkarma, Rishikul Ayurvedic College, Haridwar **MD Scholar, Dept. of Kaya Chikitsha, Rishikul Ayurvedic College, Haridwar ***Associate Professor, Dept. of Roga nidana, Rishikul Ayurvedic College, Haridwar Email Id: prathamkim@gmail.com Contact No.: 9045647531 ABSTRACT Sandhigata Vata is the disease mentioned in Ayurvedic classics under Vatavyadhi prakarana. As per Ayurveda shula pradhan vedana is the cardinal feature of the disease along with sandhi shotha & vata purna druti sparsha, it comes under madhyam rogamargaja vatika disorder in which vitiated vata doshas gets lodged in sandhi. On the basis of symptomatology it has resemblance with Osteoarthritis in modern medical science. Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that features the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. Cartilage is a protein substance that serves as a "cushion" between the bones of the joints. It is estimated to be the 4 th leading cause of disability worldwide. Its prevalence is more in females and among old age people. The most common symptoms of OA are pain and stiffness, other symptoms may include joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, a grating or grinding sensation (crepitus), locking and sometimes an effusion. It mainly affects weight bearing joints of the body especially hip & knee joint and is mainly associated with ageing, physical occupational activity & Obesity. Regarding the management of this painful disease there are conservative or surgical treatment in allopathic system of medicine, which have its own limitations and troublesome side effects whereas such type of conditions can be better treatable by the management and procedure mentioned in Ayurvedic classics. Hence to treat Sandhigata vata drugs acting on both vata and asthi should be selected, Rasayana chikitsa which has been given separate place in Ayurvedic Samhitas due to its importance in rejuvenating all the cells of the body, holds to serve positive results in the management of this degenerative joint disease( Sandhivata). Keywords: Sandhigata vata, Osteoarthritis, Rasayana INTRODUCTION Sandhigata vata is described under Vatavyadhi in Ayurvedic classics, features of which can be correlated with Osteoarthritis in modern science. Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative arthritis, that results from breakdown of joint cartilages and underlying bone. It is the most common articular disorder begins asymptomatically in the 2nd and 3rd decades and is extremely common by age 70. Almost all persons by age 40 have some pathologic change in weight bearing joint. 25% females and 16% males have symptomatic OA. Arthritis is among most common cause of work disability in the world. It limits everyday activities such as walking, dressing, bathing etc., thus making individual handicapped. It mainly affects weight bearing joints of the body especially hip & knee joint and is mainly associated with ageing, physical occupational activity & Obesity. Osteoarthritis is believed to be caused by mechanical stress on the joint and low grade inflammatory processes. The most common symptoms are joint pain and stiffness; other symptoms may include joint swelling decreased range of motion. No treatment is available which can prevent or reverses or blocks the disease process. In Modern science, mainly analgesics, anti inflammatory drugs or surgery are the options for the treatment of Osteoarthritis. These don’t give satisfactory relief and also causes great adverse effect. AYURVEDIC ASPECT OF SANDHIGATA VATA In Ayurveda, Acharya Charaka has described the disease first separately by the name of ‘Sandhigata Anila’ under the chapter of Vata-Vyadhi. No separate etiological factors are mentioned about Sandhigata vata. Two main causes of Vata prakopa are Dhatukshaya and Margavarodha. Here in case of Sandhigata vata, kshaya is the main cause, Acharya Charaka defined it as, a disease which occurs due to intake of vata prakopa ahara- vihara with the symptoms of Sotha, which is palpable as air filled bag (Vata Purna Driti Sparsha) and Pain on flexion and extension of the joints (Akunchana Prasarane Vedana). Acharya Sushruta has described Pain (Shula), Swelling (Shotha) and Diminution of the movements at the joints involved (Hanti Sandhigatah) as symptoms of Sandhigata vata Acharya Vagbhatta and other Acharya have mentioned the disease Sandhigata vata as per description of Charaka and Sushruta. Acharya Madhavakara has Dr.Nitesh Anand et al./ International Journal of Pharma Sciences and Research (IJPSR) ISSN : 0975-9492 Vol 6 No 12 Dec 2015 1453