Article: THERAPEUTIC USE OF ASHWAGANDHA ON SANDHIVATA: A LITERARY REVIEW

Article Category: Review articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.130365

Pages: 86-89

Author: Dharmendra Mondal *, Ajay Kumar, Alok Ranjan, Ganesh Prasad Gupta

Abstract: Today’s fastest, struggling, vigorous hard-working, and stressful lifestyle makes us more susceptible to geriatric diseases and is now a day common in the young generation. One of the most common diseases associated with age is osteoarthritis, with symptoms of joints pain and loss of natural joint form due to degeneration of cartilage, decrease in synovial fluid and abnormal remodelling of bones. In Ayurveda, osteoarthritis is correlated with sandhivata.  With age, all Dhatus undergo Kshaya, thus leading to Vataprakopa and making individuals prone to many diseases in old age. Among them, Sandhivata is the most common. Etiopathology of osteoarthritis is not well known yet, but many studies give an idea about osteoblast, osteoclast, osteocyte, synovial inflammation and macrophages in cartilage degeneration and bone remodelling. Ashwagandha is an essential plant discussed in Ayurveda as an immunomodulator, anti-inflammatory and Rasayana property. Rasayana is described in Ayurveda as ojovardhak, which means boosting Ojas or enhancing the body’s immune system and imparting Vyadhikshamatva.

Keyword: Ashwagandha, Rasayana, sandhivata, osteoarthritis, osteoblast cell, osteoclast cell.