Joint pain or arthralgia is caused by inflammation or degeneration of tissues in one or more joints. It can be a manifestation of acute febrile illnesses, trauma, excessive mechanical stress, a variety of medical conditions elsewhere in the body or a more serious form of disabling arthritis.
There are many drugs documented in Ayurvedic text for arthritis. Ajamoda powder is one of them and is very effective remedy and used internally and externally in form of poultice on affected joints.
What is Ajamoda
Ajamoda consists of dried, aromatic fruits of Apium leptophyllum, an annual herb cultivated in the central and southern states of India. Ajamoda is a well-known drug for rheumatism and gout. Ajamoda is one of the chief ingredients in many formulations. Poultice of crushed fruits can also be applied to painful joints along with oral use.
General Information
English name: Slender celery, Wild celery
Latin name: Apium leptophyllum (Pers.) F.V.M. ex Benth.
Family: Apiaceae/Umbelliferae
Parts used: Fruit
How to prepare Ajamoda powder
- Clean the dried fruits of Ajamoda by removing the stalks, dust and other foreign matters.
- Grind in a pulverizer or in a mortar and pestle to make a fine powder.
- Filter through a fine sieve of mesh size 85.
- Store in an air-tight container and consume within one year.
How to use Ajamoda powder
- The dose of the formulation for adults is 1 to 3 grams and for children 125 to 500 mg, two or three times a day, with warm water.
- For local application as poultice, make a paste of the powdered seeds in warm water and apply on the affected joint.
Indications and uses
- For relief from joint pain in arthritis such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, and non-specific arthritis.
- It is useful in dyspepsia and colic with or without joint pain, when taken with salt and warm water.
- Local application of the paste or poultice of Ajamoda seeds is recommended in painful joint condition.
Precautions and safety aspects
- Ajamoda powder should not be used during pregnancy and nursing mothers are advised to take it under medical supervision.
- The diuretic action of Ajamoda works by irritating the kidneys and therefore should be used with caution in cases of renal disorder.
- Where joints are without swelling or inflammation but pain is dominantly present, massage with warm sesame oil can also be done following fomentation with Ajamoda seed powder.
- Persons having arthritis should avoid eating sour and cold items.