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Raynaud’s Disease- Ayurvedic Treatment, Diet, Exercises, Research Papers, Yoga & Pranayama

Raynaud’s Disease is a rare disorder that affects the arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to different parts of body. Raynaud’s sometimes is called a disease, syndrome, or phenomenon. In Raynaud’s disease, smaller arteries that supply blood to the skin become narrow, limiting blood flow to affected areas (vasospasm). Women are more likely than men to have Raynaud’s disease, also known as Raynaud’s phenomenon or syndrome. It appears to be more common in people who live in colder climates. The disorder is marked by brief episodes of vasospasm, or narrowing of small blood vessels or capillaries. Vasospasm of the arteries reduces blood flow to the fingers and toes. Raynaud’s disease causes some areas of the body, such as the fingers and toes — to feel numb and cold in response to cold temperatures or stress.

Signs and symptoms

During a Raynaud’s attack, the arteries become very narrow for a brief period. As a result, little or no blood flows to affected body parts. This may cause these areas to:

  • Turn pale or white and then blue
  • Feel numb, cold, or painful
  • Turn red, throb, tingle, burn, or feel numb as blood flow returns to the affected areas

 

Numb, prickly feeling or stinging pain upon warming or stress relief. Mostly it takes around 15 minutes or more time to restore the normalcy of blood circulation.

 

 

 

 

Causes

 

There are two main types of Raynaud’s—primary and secondary.

In primary Raynaud’s (also called Raynaud’s disease), the cause isn’t known. Primary Raynaud’s is more common and tends to be less severe than secondary Raynaud’s.

Secondary Raynaud’s is caused by an underlying disease, condition, or other factor such as:

  • Diseases and conditions that directly damage the arteries or damage the nerves that control the arteries in the hands and feet.
  • Repetitive actions that damage the nerves that control the arteries in the hands and feet
  • Injuries to the hands and feet
  • Exposure to certain chemicals
  • Medicines that narrow the arteries or affect blood pressure
  • Certain medicines including beta blockers for high blood pressure, migraine medications that contain ergotamine and sumatriptan, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medications, and some chemotherapy agents.

 

Pathophysiology

 

Vascular tone is controlled by complex interactions between endothelial cells, the muscular layer, soluble mediators and neuronal stimulation. The imbalance between strong vasoconstricting and weaker vasodilatory events is central to the pathophysiology. Some of the underlying pathological mechanisms may be intrinsic disturbances of endothelial or vascular smooth muscle cells; some may be extrinsic, encompassing neuro-regulation and soluble mediators.

 

Diagnosis

 

  • Clinical examination
  • Cold simulation test
  • Nailfold capillaroscopy
  • Antinuclear antibodies test
  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

 

Treatments

 

Treatments include lifestyle changes like avoiding cold temperatures.

Dressing for the cold in layers and wearing gloves or heavy socks will help in mild cases.

medicines like calcium channel blockers, alpha blockers, prescription skin creams, and ACE inhibitors, and vasodilators.  In rare cases, surgery to block the nerves in the hands or feet that control the arteries and Botox injection are needed.

 

Prognosis

 

Primary Raynaud’s (Raynaud’s disease) and secondary Raynaud’s (Raynaud’s phenomenon) have no cure. However, treatments can reduce the number and severity of Raynaud’s attacks.

 

 

Complications

If secondary Raynaud’s is severe, in rare cases, reduced blood flow to the fingers or toes can cause tissue damage. It can lead to skin sores or gangrene.

 

 

Disease & Ayurveda

        According to Ayurveda, movement is the function of Vaata dosha. When Vaata vitiates in the bold vessels it is called Siraagata Vaata.

Nidana

Dhaatukshaya (degeneration of body tissues)

Aavarana (obstruction in the channels)

Purvaaroopa

        Not mentioned

Samprapti

        Due to the causative factors, Vaata dosha is vitiated and gets lodged in the blood vessels and cause the disease.

Lakshana

        Aadhmaana and riktata of siras          – alternate distension and emptying of blood vessels

Divisions

Not mensioned

Prognosis

Yaapya

Chikithsa

Treatment of siraagatavaata includes local and whole body treatments. Bringing back the vitiated Vaata into its normal ciurse is the main target. T includes snehana or oleation(when aama is not present) , daahakarma(local cauyerisation with heat) and upanahanam (bandage )

Samana

Snehanam

Upanaaham

Sodhana

Daahakarmam

Then treatment of wound should be done

Commonly used medicines

        Amruthotharam kashayam

Gulguluthiktakam Kashayam

Balaguduchyadi kashayam

Kaisoraguggulu

Guduchisatwa

Patolakaturohinyadi kashayam

Brands available

AVS Kottakal

AVP Coimbatore

SNA oushadhasala

Vaidyaratnam oushadhasala

Home remedies

Preventive measures for episodes of Raynaud’s attacks:

  • Bundle up outdoors.Use a hat, scarf, socks and boots, and two layers of mittens or gloves before going out in the winter.

Use chemical hand warmers.

  • Warm the car.Run the car heater for a few minutes before driving in cold weather.

Set the air conditioner to a warmer temperature. Use insulated drinking glasses.

Diet

  • To be avoided

Heavy meals and difficult to digest foods – cause indigestion.

Junk foods- cause disturbance in digestion and reduces the bioavailability of the medicine

Carbonated drinks – makes the stomach more acidic and disturbed digestion

Refrigerated and frozen foods – causes weak and sluggish digestion by weakening Agni (digestive fire)

Milk and milk products – increase kapha, cause obstruction in channels and obesity

Curd – causes vidaaha and thereby many other diseases

  • To be added

Light meals and easily digestible foods

Green gram, soups, sesame oil

Freshly cooked and warm food processed with cumin seeds, ginger, black pepper, ajwain etc

Behaviour:

Protect yourself from cold climate.

Better to avoid exposure to excessive sunlight wind rain or dust.

Maintain a regular food and sleep schedule.

Avoid holding or forcing the urges like urine, faeces, cough, sneeze etc.

Avoid sedentary lifestyle. Be active

Yoga

Regular stretching and mild cardio exercises are advised. Also, specific yogacharya including naadisuddhi pranayama, bhujangaasana, pavanamuktasana is recommended.

Regular exercise helps improve bioavailability of the medicine and food ingested and leads to positive health.

Yoga can maintain harmony within the body and with the surrounding system.

Pavanamuktasana

Nadisudhi pranayama

Bhujangasana

Simple exercises for lungs and heart health

All the exercises and physical exertions must be decided and done under the supervision of a medical expert only.

Research articles

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27311222/#:~:text=Raynaud’s%20phenomenon%20is%20a%20relatively,other%20physical%20or%20medication%20exposures.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6139949/

doi: 10.1191/1358863x02vm455oa.

A clinical study was done to investigate the clinical efficacy of a standardized Ginkgo biloba extract (Seredrin) in the treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon in patients with no apparent, associated condition such as systemic sclerosis. There was a significant effect in the number of attacks per day in treatment group over placebo.

 

https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.104.523324

To investigate the effects of sildenafil on symptoms and capillary perfusion in patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon, a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose, crossover study was done in 16 patients with symptomatic secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon resistant to vasodilatory therapy. Patients were treated with 50 mg sildenafil or placebo twice daily for 4 weeks.

Sildenafil is an effective and well-tolerated treatment in patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, United States. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please consult your GP before the intake.

Writer:
Dr. Rajesh Nair, the co-founder and chief consultant of Ayurvedaforall.Com, is a graduate of prestigious Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College (affiliated with the University of Calicut), Kerala, India. Additionally, he holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy from Annamalai University.

Dr. Nair offers consultation at two busy clinics in and around Haripad, Alleppey, Kerala, the southern state famous worldwide for authentic ayurvedic treatment and physicians. While offering consultation on all aspects of ayurvedic treatments Dr. Nair has a special interest in Panchkarma, Yoga, and Massage.

Through Ayurvedaforall Dr. Nair offers online consultation to patients worldwide and has served hundreds of patients over the last 20 years. In addition to his Ayurvedic practice, he is the chief editor of ayurveda-amai.org, the online portal of Ayurveda Medical Association of India, and the state committee member of Ayurveda Medical Association of India.

Dr. Nair is a regular speaker at Ayurveda-related conferences and has visited Germany to propagate Ayurveda. You can write directly to him-
rajesh@ayurvedaforall.com

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Dr. Rajesh Nair
Licensed Ayurvedic doctor focused on providing individual Ayurvedic consultation services. Specialized in work related stress, Womens’ issues, diabetes, Pecos, arthritis, male and female sexual problems and infertility. Interested in academic work as well. Now working with www.ayurvedaforall.com as senior consultant, Ayurveda.

Dr. Rajesh Nair

Licensed Ayurvedic doctor focused on providing individual Ayurvedic consultation services. Specialized in work related stress, Womens’ issues, diabetes, Pecos, arthritis, male and female sexual problems and infertility. Interested in academic work as well. Now working with www.ayurvedaforall.com as senior consultant, Ayurveda.

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