Dipayal, February 13

The District Aayurved Centre in Doti recently started providing treatment for arthritis, benefiting locals of the far-west region.

According to Chief of the health centre Dr Chet Raj Joshi, the health centre employs ayurvedic body purification therapies such as Sodhan Chikitsha and Saman Chikitsha, which he asserted are very effective in alleviating arthritic pain.

Dr Joshi said that the methods were used to detoxify the body through massages with medicated oils and herbs, steam baths, herbal drinks, and herbal medicines. “The treatment is effective in about 55 per cent of patients,” he said.

Dr Joshi said that more number of female patients with arthritis came to the health centre than male patients. He said that the reason for this disparity was because women did not follow as good a diet as men. “If not cured in time, arthritis can cause paralysis,” he said.

Dr Joshi, however, added that patients must not rely on allopathic treatment alone. “Allopathic treatment is effective in alleviating pain in the short run, but does not offer long-term solution,” he said.