Sometimes, patients ask me, “Doctor, why is my own body attacking itself?” It’s a genuine and painful question. This is what we call an autoimmune disease—when the body’s own defense system starts attacking healthy tissues by mistake. Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, thyroid problems, and even certain skin issues come under this category.
Modern Medicine vs. Ayurveda on Autoimmune Diseases In modern medicine (Allopathy), the focus is on suppressing the overactive immune system. Doctors usually prescribe steroids or immune-suppressing medicines. These help control the symptoms, reduce pain, and prevent further damage. But many people feel tired, dull, or dependent on long-term medicines, often without a permanent solution. The root cause is still not fully known.
How Ayurveda Explains Autoimmune Diseases Now let me explain how Ayurveda looks at it. We see autoimmune diseases a little differently. In Ayurveda, we believe such problems start when digestion becomes weak. When your digestion (what we call Agni) is not working well, the food you eat doesn’t get fully digested. This leftover waste turns into something called Ama—a sticky, toxic substance. Ama blocks the body’s natural channels and confuses your immune system. Your body no longer knows what’s good and what’s harmful. So, it starts fighting against itself. So in Ayurveda, we don’t blame the immune system. We try to correct the digestion, remove Ama, and strengthen the body’s balance.
A Simple Analogy: Your Body as a Kitchen Think of your body as a kitchen. If the stove (Agni) is not hot enough, your food stays half-cooked (Ama). If you keep eating and never clean the kitchen, that half-cooked food piles up, goes bad, and attracts trouble. That’s exactly what Ama does in your body. So how do we treat it?
We usually start with:
- Simple, light food
- Warm water
- Herbs that improve digestion
- Temporary fasting or easily digestible food like rice gruel or boiled vegetables
This helps rekindle the digestive fire. If the problem is deep-rooted, we conduct detox treatments—like herbal purgation or other supervised cleansing methods. This removes the accumulated toxins and supports immune system balance.
Four Stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis Understanding the stages of rheumatoid arthritis helps in both early detection and planning long-term care:
- Stage 1: Early Stage – Inflammation of the joint lining (synovium) begins, causing stiffness and mild pain.
- Stage 2: Moderate Stage – Inflammation worsens, leading to cartilage damage and joint mobility issues.
- Stage 3: Severe Stage – Inflammation destroys cartilage and bone. Visible deformities and loss of joint function occur.
- Stage 4: End Stage – Total joint damage, with the possibility of complete loss of mobility or joint fusion.
Combining Ayurveda & Modern Medicine for Better Results This doesn’t mean Allopathy is wrong. In fact, both systems have their strengths. Allopathy is fast and effective for emergencies and inflammation control. Ayurveda treatment for rheumatoid arthritis takes a deeper, slower approach, working on lifestyle, digestion, and long-term balance. When used wisely together, they can complement each other beautifully.
Natural Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis From an Ayurvedic viewpoint, strengthening digestion, removing toxins, and balancing doshas form the basis of therapy. The following are common Ayurvedic remedies:
- Turmeric (Curcumin) – Reduces inflammation and supports immunity
- Ashwagandha – Acts as a natural immunomodulator
- Guggulu – Supports joint health and detox
- Castor Oil Packs – Helps ease joint stiffness
These natural interventions, when applied alongside modern diagnostics, provide effective and long-term relief.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Self-Care in Daily Life In addition to treatments, personal self-care plays a key role in managing rheumatoid arthritis. Patients are encouraged to:
- Maintain a dosha-specific diet
- Avoid processed and incompatible foods
- Practice gentle yoga and breathing exercises
- Reduce stress through meditation
- Keep a regular sleep routine
How to Cure Rheumatoid Arthritis Permanently While modern science considers rheumatoid arthritis incurable, Ayurvedic science suggests that when the root cause is addressed—especially digestion and toxin build-up—long-term remission is possible. It requires a holistic plan that includes:
- Long-term lifestyle correction
- Personalized Ayurvedic medication
- Panchakarma therapies for detoxification
- Stress and sleep management
Though the term “permanently” must be used with care, patients who follow these measures consistently have shown remarkable improvements.
Ayurvedic Treatment for Arthritis In Ayurvedic treatment for arthritis, we follow a process-driven approach to restore systemic harmony. The line of treatment includes:
- Deepana-Pachana – Enhancing digestion and metabolic processes
- Snehana and Swedana – Internal and external oleation, followed by sweating therapy
- Virechana and Basti – Herbal purgation and medicated enemas to eliminate toxins
- Rasayana Therapy – Rejuvenation to restore tissues and boost immunity
At UWAY, we personalize each of these steps to suit the individual constitution and stage of disease progression.
Take the First Step Toward Healing At UWAY, we try to offer this kind of care—rooted in Ayurveda, supported by science, and tailored to your life. If you’re struggling with an autoimmune condition or arthritis and want to explore a more natural, body-friendly approach, we’re here to help.
About Author: Dr. P.T. Keshavan Nambisan is a renowned Ayurvedic expert and the fifth-generation representative of his family, which has been practising traditional Vaidyas of the Old Malabar region of Kerala for generations. He graduated with a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Keshavan is known for his expertise in addressing complex, chronic, and progressive illnesses such as autoimmune diseases, cancer, chronic kidney disease, and autism spectrum disorders. Before co-founding UWAY, he served as Deputy Chief Medical Officer at The Arya Vaidya Chikitsalayam (AVP), Coimbatore.