Ayurvedic Treatment & Medicines for Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)

The death of bone tissues due to decrease in blood supply is called Avascular Necrosis or Osteonecrosis. It can results in tiny breaks in the bones and bone’s collapse.

Ayurvedic Dosha Analysis & Treatment Principle

VATA & PITTA: According to ayurveda, death of any cells can only occur due to VATA aggravation in that part of the body.

However, VATA Humor is always dominant in necrosis, but PITTA Dosha also plays a role in inducing necrosis. Therefore, VATA is dominant factor and PITTA is a secondary responsible factor in Avascular Necrosis.

KAPHA: In some cases with Avascular Necrosis, the fatty deposits in the blood vessels are the main cause, which can reduce the blood supply to the bone tissue through tiny blood vessels.

In this case, KAPHA Dosha is also involved as a root cause. Therefore, it such cases, patient should get treatment main for clearing the blood vessels and reducing lipids (KAPHA) in the blood.

In this case, treatment should be based on TRIDOSHA primary concentrating on KAPHA humor and then VATA and PITTA together.

Ayurvedic Treatment Protocol

In Avascular Necrosis, the following ayurvedic treatment protocol will be effective.

1. Treating the responsible underlying cause
2. Pacifying VATA and reduces its dominance
3. Pacifying PITTA to stop further damage to the bone tissues
4. Reduce KAPHA if lipids (fat) block the blood vessels.
5. Improving blood circulation to bone tissues
6. Rebuilding the lost bone tissue
7. Treating the other associated causes

Treating Root Cause

• Check if there is any fracture causing the lack of blood supply to the bon tissue. If AVN occurs due to fractures, treat fracture first.
• Check for joint dislocation, if this is the cause first treat the joint dislocation.
• Check if patient is taking steroid medications. Advise him gradually lowering the dosage and then stop using steroids. Give ayurvedic remedial support to stop steroid medicines and treat the diseases with ayurvedic remedies for which steroids are prescribed.
• If patient is drinking excessive alcohol, then advise him to stop alcohol use.
• Ask patient if he is taking any kind of Vinegar and recommend him stopping it immediately.
• Check for other cause and treat and advise patients accordingly.

Ayurvedic Treatment & Medicines

You should remember that the treatment of the underlying root cause is very important before starting any kind of treatment for blood vessel and bone repair. Secondly, ayurvedic treatment will be effective only in early cases with Osteonecrosis. In advance stages, ayurvedic treatment can only play a role in stopping the further damage to the bones and blood vessels, but modern or surgical treatment intervention also becomes necessary under certain circumstances. You should rule out all these things before starting ayurvedic treatment.

The principle is explained above in Ayurvedic Dosha Analysis. The following ayurvedic medicines are effective in such case.

For Improving Blood Circulation & Clearing Blood Vessels from Fatty Deposits

* Twice a day with warm water

For Supporting Bones and Preventing Further Damage

* Twice a day with warm milk

Or

* Twice a day with warm milk

Points to be Remembered

1. Ayurvedic Medicines are only effective in initial stages of AVN.
2. Almost all Panchakarma procedures are contraindicated in Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis). However, Matra Vasti (Ayurvedic Oil Based Enema) with medicated ayurvedic oils (especially with Mahanarayan oil, Dhanwantharam oil) may be useful in some cases.
3. A single medicine may not provide a good relief, but the combination of ayurvedic remedies can help well.