Boswellia (Shallaki / Boswellia serrata)

Boswellia, also known as Shallaki, is a traditional Ayurvedic remedy to support the joints. It improves mobility and reduces joint pain. Recent studies suggest that Boswellia contains phytochemicals that modify the cascade of chemical reactions which create inflammatory hormones from diets that contain too much meat, fat, sugar or fast foods.

Ashvagandha (Withania somnifera /Winter cheery/ Indian ginseng)

Ayurvedic medicine has for long included ashvagandha in arthritis formulas to relieve pain. Ashvagandha increases circulation to the joints and is widely used as an energy tonic and mood elevator.

Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi / Amrita / Gulvel/ Gulancha)

Tinospora cordifolia, known in Ayurveda as Guduchi, is a ‘bitter herb’. Like any other bitter herb, Guduchi acts on the central nervous system to stimulate the release of gastric juices that digest fats.

Tribulus terrestris (Gokhru /Gokshoor)

Tribulus terrestris, also known as Gokshoor, is a centuries-old tonic for achy joints. Laboratory experiments with mice have found that extracts of this herb stimulate nerve endings to release nitric oxide, increasing blood flow in the joints.

Ginger (Zingiber officianle/ Shunthi/ Adraka)

Ginger has a warming and analgesic action and is the most widely used herb for immune and digestive support. This versatile herb has many applications in joint supporting products, promoting healthy circulation. Recent studies show that consumption of this herb significantly reduces pain. This herb contains several COX2 inhibitors and is known to balance cox activity, and so does not have any side effects of modern ‘silver bullet’ COX2 inhibitors.

Capsule Composition
Each vege capsule contains:
• Guduchi Ghan (Stem) Tinospora cordifolia 60 mg
• Ashvagandha Ghan (Root) Withania somnifera 50 mg
• Gokshoor Ghan (Fruit) Tribulus terrestris 30 mg
• Shallaki Powder (Niryas) Boswellia serrata 80 mg
• Shunthi (Rhizome) Zingiber officinale 12 mg
• Excipients q.s.
Each pack contains 60 vege capsules.

Most people experience sore joints at some point in their lives … and it can be very bothersome, especially if it prevents you from performing the most routine daily chores. There are many possible reasons as to what causes joint pain. It can be the result of different types of injuries like fractures; children and young adults are at a risk of joint pain due to accidents or injury, wear and tear (generally referred to as osteoarthritis - it is the most common form of joint inflammation or arthritis), infections (septic arthritis), conditions (such as gout) that affect metabolism, autoimmune disorders (rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus), tendonitis (a tendon is a flexible band of fibrous tissue that connects the muscles with the bones. Inflammation of the tendon is described as tendonitis), bone diseases like Paget’s disease, and even as a result of intake of some medications (penicillin or procainamide). People who are overweight or obese are also prone to joint pain in their knees or ankle areas as the excess weight puts a lot of pressure on them.

Symptoms of Joint Pain
Our joints are responsible for ensuring smooth movement of the various parts of our body. As we rely heavily on our joints, they become extra sensitive to injury or excess physical pressure.Experiencing pain, stiffness, swelling or warmth in your joints is a common symptom of impending joint trouble. Persistent pain, in one or more joints, occurring without any injury or accident may be caused by inflammation or infection and would require medical attention.

A swollen or an injured joint can be most trouble some as we rely wholly on our joints for unrestricted mobility. Lots of people continue to suffer through joint pain every day. Some joints heal faster; some heal over a period of time or some not at all, depending upon the severity of the problem. Taking care of one’s health goes a long way in coping with joint pain. A nutritious diet, a healthy exercise regime, application of ice/heat patches all increase flexibility and mobility of joints. But these methods can at best provide minor pain relief. And it is specifically in this context that our formula ‘Nartana’ has been designed, using ayurvedic herbs, so as to support joint health and mobility, as well as to assist the body’s ability to recover after injury. ‘Nartana’ is also useful in all types of arthritis, muscle pain, inflammation, joint pain etc. caused by continuous use of computers.

The efficacy of Boswellia (Shallaki) has been shown in a recent double blind clinical study of 30 people with osteoarthritis of the knee. Volunteers received either Boswellia or placebo (it is a substance or procedure which a patient accepts as a medicine or therapy. It has no specific therapeutic activity for the condition. The effect, if any, is thought to be based on the power of suggestion) for 8 weeks, and were then switched over to the opposite treatment for an additional 8 weeks. The outcomes showed statistically significant improvement in knee pain, knee mobility, and walking distance with Boswellia as compared to placebo. Mainstream medicine in the United States recognizes the value of Ginger as an adjunct to medical treatment of arthritis. In a study conducted by the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Miami, Florida, 261 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and moderate-to-severe pain were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, parallel-group 6-week study. The clinical trial found that taking Ginger significantly reduced knee pain after standing or walking. Ginger may not be quite as effective as Tylenol (Tylenol is a well known drug that relieves pain, reduces fever, and relieves the symptoms of cold, cough, allergies, and flu) in relieving pain, but it is not known to cause deterioration of cartilage, like over-the-counter drugs for pain relief, either.

Ayurveda teaches that if you have creaky, crackling, swollen, painful joints from over activity, the first thing you should do is balance your diet. In Ayurveda, however, balancing your diet refers not to the foods you eat but to the tastes you include in each meal. Including a variety of tastes in your diet increases salivation. Salivation releases a compound known as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). When more cAMP is available to cells throughout the body, they are better able to relieve themselves of accumulated sodium. Their internal fluids become less acidic. In a very basic way, they ‘detoxify’ themselves and increase their electrostatic charge so that they can lock onto and absorb nutrients.

Try to include all six tastes - sweet, sour, salty, bitter, astringent or ‘puckery’, and pungent in your diet. Foods that are sweet or sour should predominate. It may be helpful to avoid grains that contain gluten (wheat, oats, and rye) and to replace them with corn, rice, barley or quinoa. Cooked vegetables, especially calcium-rich asparagus, kale, and spinach, and cooked dairy products are very useful in the diet. Avoid stimulants (caffeine, nicotine, and late-night television). According to the Ayurvedic teachings, daily massage helps prevent these kinds of joint problems, as it helps settle the energies aroused by tension.

 Ayurveda describes the second kind of joint problem in terms of digestive toxins, also known as ama. When poor digestion is a factor in arthritis, the joints have a heavy, stiff feeling. Cold, damp weather can trigger this type of joint pain. When joints are sensitive to cold, Ayurveda recommends a diet of warm, light foods. Hot soup, chicken soup in particular, contains compounds that modify the activity of inflammation-provoking neutrophils (it is a type of white blood cell, specifically a form of granulocyte, filled with neutrally-staining granules, tiny sacs of enzymes that help the cell to kill and digest microorganisms it has engulfed by phagocytosis) in the joint. Cooked vegetables also help, as they contain the B vitamins that allow your body to recharge the SAM-e (S-Adenosyl methionine, a supplement, is a synthetic form of a compound formed naturally in the body. It is formed from the essential amino acid methionine and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy-producing compound found in all cells in the body) it makes in its own tissues. Black pepper, fennel, ginger, turmeric, prunes, and figs are also useful additions to the diet - just not all in the same dish!  To keep your digestion strong, avoid naps during the day, and go to bed early so that you rise ideally around 6:00 a.m. Even if you do physical work for a living, exercise for half an hour every day and choose a type of exercise that you enjoy.