RHEUMATISM:

Causes: Air is disordered in the system due to diabetes, semenal discharges, or other reasons, and rheumatism results. In women the air becomes irritated due to puerperal diseases and excessive menstrual flow. Fasting, staying awake at night, and hard labor may also cause rheumatism in weak bodies.

Symptoms: Pain in the joints, muscular pain, smarting pain, headache, constipation, disorders in heart and bronchiae, inertia in a single part or in the whole of the body, sloth, frequent yawning, inability to close mouth, inability to talk, delirium, inability to turn the neck, burning in the limbs, tingling sensation on the feet, no sensation on touching, pinching sides, etc. There are 80 kinds of rheumatism. The main ones and their treatments are given below.

Rheumatism of the whole body: In this ailment there is pain in the joints, the patient cannot do any work and breaks down. If no other severe ailments are present, give Brihat Batgajankus and Ambatari Batika with the juice of the roots of the castor oil plant and rocksalt. To relieve the pain, massage the body with Brihat Saindhabadi Taila or Swalpa Prasarani Taila, after which give fomentation with salt bag on painful parts. Brihat Batchintamani is also a fine medicine; it is to be accompanied by cardamon (big size) and honey. In chronic cases, Saribadi Salsa, Trailokya Chintamani, with juice of the roots of the castor oil plant and honey, and Brihat Bit Chintamani with the same accompanying agents are prescribed. And Kubja Prasarani Taila is to be massaged on the painful parts of the body. If the patient has or has had diabetes or gonorrhoea, give Brihat Somenath Ras with honey and fig juice, or Mahasomeswar Ras with honey and powder of eugenia jambolana. For the chronic patient Brihat Chhagaladya Ghrita is good. It works wonderfully well for the rheumatic having had excessive semenal discharge and consequent gas irritation. Guard against constipation.

Paralysis: Irritated air in the stomach can bring on a sudden paralysis. If there is delirium or senselessness, give Brihat Batchintamani, Jogendra Ras, Rasaraj Ras, and Batgajankus. Any one or two of these medicines should be taken every three hours with Swarna Kasturi. After sense is restored, give Brihat Batgajankus with the extract of the roots of the castor oil plant and honey, and Ambatari Batika with ginger extract, extract of vitex negundo, and honey. If there is constipation, give Brihat Singhanad Guggulu once or twice in a week. This The will clear the bowels and cure the paralysis.The medicine should be given with warm water only. Massage the body daily with Brihat Saindhabadi Taila or Kubja Prasarani Taila, and clean it off with hot water. If the paralysis is more than six months old, massage with Masbaladi Taila or Mahamas Taila. Medicines to be swallowed are, Brihat Chbagaldya Ghrita or Brihat Aswagandha Ghrita, Chaturmukh Ras, and Jogendra Ras. Saribadi Salsa and Saribadi Bati are excellent remedies for rheumatisms and blood poisonings.

Lockjaw: This disease comes unexpectantly when chewing something, laughing, or coughing. The closed mouth cannot be opened, or the opend mouth cannot be closed. Give the patient Naradiya Mahalakshmibilas with ginger juice and honey, and Trilokya Chintamani with the juice of the roots of the castor oil plant and honey. The jaw should be massaged with Kubja Prasarani Taila or Trisati Prasarani Taila. Where the lockjaw is chronic, Pusparaj Prasarani Taila is good. In both acute and chronic conditions Brihat Chhagaladya Ghrita is helpful. The bowels should be kept clear. Kosthasuddhi Batika evacuates all stools from the bowels. To keep the bowels then clear, use Abipattikar Churna regularly.

Nervous debility: Symptoms are inability to talk, talking in a nasal tounge, stammering, useless talking, Mahalakshmibilas or Naradiya restless mind, etc. Mahalakshmibilas should be taken with ginger extract and honey, and Trisati Prasarani Taila or Madhyam Narayan Taila should be massaged on the head. Pusparaj Prasarani Taila should be rubbed on the body before bath, the water of which should be first heated and then cooled. Any of the following Ghritas are good for the patient: Saraswata Ghrita, Brihat Chhagaladya Ghrita, and Brahmi Ghrita. Guard against constipation.

Sciatica: This rheumatism usually attacks the waist and extends itself to thighs, knees, and feet. Give Batgajankus or Brihat Bat Gajankus with castor oil root juice and honey. For pain and loss of sensation on the backside, give Maha Rasunpinda or Ambatari Batika with ginger juice and honey. Where there is constipation, give Batari Guggulu or Singhanad Guggulu twice or thrice in a week. Massage the painful parts with Brihat Saindhabadi Taila, Swalpa Prasarani Taila, Kubja Prasarani Taila or Nakuladya Taila.

Burning Feet: A burning sensation is felt on the soles of the feet. Guruchyadi Lauha with castor oil root juice and honey should be taken, and Brihat Guruchyadi Taila should be massaged on the soles of the feet (or on the palms if the burning is felt there).

Tickling Feet: Tickling sensation on the feet, less sensitiveness and exciting sensitiveness are the symptoms. Medicines are: Bat Gajankus, Maha Rasunpinda, Batari Guggulu. Either Kubja Prasarani Taila or Hangsadi Ghrita is to be massaged on the feet. If there are other ailments such as gonorrhoea or weakness, give Brihat Chhagaladya Ghrita. Saribadi Salsa and Saribadi Bati are good for rheumatism with blood poisoning.

Wry Neck: Immobile, stiff neck is the one symptom. Rub on old ghee, and then give fomentation of colotropis gigenta. Bat Gajankus or Brihat Bat Gajankus is to be taken. If there is temperature, Bat Gajankus will end both temperature and rheumatism. Where there is constipation, give Ambatari Batika or Jograj Guggulu. Massage the neck with Barihat Saindhabadi Taila and Kubja Prasarani Taila.

Facial Paralysis: One part of face, neck, nose, and jaw becomes twisted, and the eyeballs may be either expanded or contracted. Give Naradiya Mahalakshmibilas with ginger juice and honey, plus either Brihat Chhagaladya Ghrita or Dasamuladya Ghrita. In constipation give Jogaraj Guggulu. The head should be massaged with Pusparaj Prasarani Taila. Trailoky a Chintamani or Jogendra Ras will also be found helpful. For the phlegmatic patient prescribe Sarbindu Taila as a snuff. Butter is good for the patient.

Lumbago: The muscles of the waist are attacked, and the patient can’t stand erect. Treatment is like that for sciatica.

Gout: The smaller joints, such as toes and fingers are attacked. Give Bat Gajankus or Brihat Bat Gajankus with castor oil root juice and honey, and Brihat Bat chintamani with powdered cardamon (big size) and honey, and Saribadi Salsa and Saribadi Bati. Brihat Saindhabadi Taila should be rubbed on the affected parts, which after fomentation of hot salt bag should be applied. Bowels must be kept clear. For constipation use Jogaraj Guggulu or Singhanad Guggulu.

Diets: Food should be nutritious and stimulant. Give rice (old stock ), lentils (mugh, mushuri, gram, and maskalai ), fish soup (kai, magur, shingi, and khalisha), the brain of the rohit fish, meat soup, butter, curd, pomegranate, pears, and custard apple. At night luchi or wheat bread, roshagollas and milk, ghee, flour, sooji, and sugar preparations may be given. Sesamum oil should be rubbed on the body, and bathing should preferably be done in the river and open air. If there is temperature and cough, bathing is not allowed. Avoid putting him in damp places, and keep him from excessive thinking, fear, sorrow, anger, agony, staying awake at night, intoxicants, and suppression of excretions.