One of the most painful procedures that patients dread is a knee replacement surgery. Dr Smarajit Chakrabarty, a renowned orthopaedic surgeon practising in New Delhi answers some frequently asked questions about the procedure:

Who needs a Total Knee Replacement (TKR)?

Osteoarthritis can progress to such a stage when the pain becomes too much to bear and the patient may have difficulty walking or performing everyday activities such as climbing up a flight of stairs. On x-ray examination, the knee joint on x-ray shows sufficient damage to the cartilage lining, it may be time to consider knee replacement surgery. Doctors generally try to delay total knee replacement for as long as possible in favour of less invasive methods of treatment. However for patients with advanced joint disease, the procedure offers the best chance of relief from pain and a return to normal activity.

How is the knee ‘replaced’?

Before reading about the procedure, one needs to understand the structure of the knee joint. The knee joint is one of the largest and most complex joints of the body. It joins the thigh bone to the shin bone, and is a hinge joint. The three bones forming the knee joint are all covered with cartilage. When this cartilage is worn away, it results in arthritis.

The word ‘knee replacement’ is actually a misnomer. The knee is not ‘replaced’ as such. The parts of the bones that rub together are resurfaced with metal implants and a plastic insert is placed in between. This is usually done by a surgeon using precision instruments. First, the surgeon removes the damaged and degenerated surfaces, the cartilage lining of the thigh and shin bones (called the Femur and the Tibia respectively), and if required, also of the knee cap (the Patella). The new, metallic surfaces will then be fixed into place with cement. This creates a new, smooth cushion and a functioning joint that does not pain.

How successful is the Total knee replacement surgery?

Over 90% of people who have had Total Knee Replacement experience an improvement in knee pain and function. The success rate depends largely upon the competence of the surgeon and the quality of other facilities. It has now become a routine operation performed on over 600,000 people worldwide each year.

What are the major risks involved with the surgery?

Most surgeries go well without any complications. However, there is a small risk of infection and blood clots being formed. These can be prevented by preparing the operation theatres better and by administering antibiotics and blood thinners to the patients.

How long does the patient need to stay in the hospital?

The patient is typically admitted to hospital a day before the operation when pre-operative tests are carried out. He/she is asked to consult an anaesthetist, a physician and by a cardiologist (if required) and their clearances are obtained before the patient is operated upon. Post-surgery, the patient is discharged in about five days.  There are several goals that the patient must achieve while in hospital before they can be discharged.

 How long will the patient need to recuperate?

Usually, the patient has to stay in bed on the day of the operation and can get up and sit in a chair by next morning. By evening, they can usually walk with the help of a walker. Knee replacements are being performed through smaller incisions today, through the Minimally Invasive Approach, and this newer approach has drastically reduced the recovery time.

Everyone heals from total knee replacement surgery at a different pace. In most cases, however, the patient is likely to use a walker or crutches for three to four weeks after the operation. They will then advance to walking with a cane and gradually progress to walking with no support.  In general, most patients are close to full recovery after ten to twelve weeks.

How long will I be on pain medication after total knee replacement surgery?

The patient will require a strong pain killer or analgesic – usually a narcotic – immediately after the operation. This is administered by means of a pump so that there is a slow but continuous flow of the medicine through the patient’s vein. Gradually, as the pain lessens, the injectable pain killer is replaced by oral medicines. Over four to six weeks, the requirement for strong pain killers should come down. Patients on blood thinners are advised caution when taking some varieties of pain killers.

What activities are permitted following total knee replacement surgery?

On recovery, one may return to most activities, including walking, climbing a flight of stairs, gardening, and golf. Some of the best activities to help with motion and strengthening are swimming and an exer-cycle.

What activities should I avoid after total knee replacement surgery?

One should avoid impact activities, such as running and jogging, and vigorous racquet sports like squash or tennis.

When can I return to work after total knee replacement surgery?

When you can return to work after total knee replacement surgery depends on your profession. If your work is sedentary, you may return to work as early as two to four weeks after the operation. If your work is more rigorous, you may require more time, sometimes up to twelve weeks before you can return to full duty.

When can I travel after total knee replacement surgery?

The patient is allowed to travel post-op as soon as they feel comfortable. It is recommended that they get up to stretch or walk at least once in an hour, every hour, when taking long trips. This is important to help prevent blood from clotting. Long flights (or long car rides, for that matter) may increase the risk of a blood clot. Often, in some cases, the use of a blood thinner such as aspirin may be indicated after consultation with a physician.

Will an implant set off a metal detector say, at an airport?

Since knee implants are made of metal, there’s a chance they could set off metal detectors; whether it actually does so depends, of course, on the type of implant that has been put in and the sensitivity of the security checkpoint equipment. It is customary to provide the patient who has undergone a TKR with a special card or certificate to keep with oneself, explaining that they have a knee implant.

When can I start driving after total knee replacement surgery?

Driving is not recommended for at least eight weeks after the operation, especially if one is on a course of strong painkillers like narcotics.

How long will my new knee last and can a second replacement be done?

A joint implant’s longevity will vary from patient to patient. All implants have a limited life expectancy, and how long they last would depend on an individual’s age, weight, activity level and medical condition. By and large, over 90% of knee replacements will be functioning well even 10 to 15 years after the operation. With continued improvements in knee replacement technology, a new knee may soon last well beyond this time period.

Can a knee be ‘partially’ replaced?

Some patients can be suitable candidates for a partial knee replacement – or a ‘Mini Knee’- if the arthritis is limited to only one compartment of the knee with the cartilage in the other half being in good condition. There must also be no instability of the knee. The partial knee replacement is a shorter surgery and therefore has a quicker recovery time.

1. Spice it up

If you want to beat arthritis you need to include more vegetables such as garlic and onions into your diet. Ideally you should combine them with ginger. I would even suggest simply chewing on ginger all day long – that truly helps! In addition, stock up on the chilli family, ranging from the fresh green chilies to the capsicum.  You could also use more spices such as cloves and cinnamon.

2. Try some variety in your rotis

When it comes to your rotis, try those made of jowar, nachani, raagi and bajri. They are great for your arthritis-ridden joints because they contain nutrients that help ease the problem,

3. All fats are not bad

You also need healthy fats to soothe the joints – the kind present in nuts and seeds like walnuts, cashew nuts, pistachios etc. Seeds include sunflower seeds,  sesame seeds and flax seeds. Cook your food in extra virgin olive oil and don’t forget to dab some ghee on your rotis. If you do not like ghee you could  eat a good amount of the coconut flesh. These fats not only help lubricate the joints, they also help absorb certain vitamins which provide nutrition to the

4. Beware of foods that worsen the pain

As far as possible, avoid tomatoes, lemon, amla, imli, dairy products and wheat. These foods could possibly worsen the pain in the joints. However, the worst part about this is the fact that cutting some of these foods could deprive you of Vitamin C. As a result you must ensure that you get enough guava and kokum in your daily diet. This will not only keep your vitamin C levels up, it also helps fight inflammation.

5. Shun the whites

Other foods that you should avoid are white flour, white sugar and table salt. Switch from white sugar to natural sweeteners like jaggery and dates. You could also replace your white salt with rock salt and sea salt. These salts contain additional minerals that are not available in white table salt, and the minerals are known to heal.

6. Keep a tab on your vitamins
In addition to all the healthy changes, you should also keep a regular tab on your vitamin B 12 and vitamin D 3 levels; the latter being slightly more important in the case of arthritis. If they are low, consult a physician and take the supplements as required, since low vitamin B 12 and vitamin D 3 levels are a sure shot sign of arthritis.

And finally remember that these foods do not replace medications and exercise. Consult a good doctor and get on the road to a pain-free life.

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The risk factors, causes, types and symptoms of arthritis have been explained in Arthritis: Understanding the disease. In this part we explain briefly the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis.

How will arthritis affect me?

How arthritis affects you depends on the type and duration of arthritis you are suffering from. You may suffer from discomfort, pain, stiffness and/or fatigue and could find it difficult to carry out everyday tasks.

If you have inflammatory arthritis, you are at a higher risk of getting an infection like flu which could be more severe and more prone to complications and also medications could weaken your immune system thereby increasing your risk to infection.

You will also have to rethink your lifestyle, eat healthy and keep your weight in check because it adds extra pressure on weight-bearing joints. Your diet will have to include Omega-3 essential fatty acids in your diet will help. It’s also important to cut down on red meats, highly sweet food items and alcohol as well.  

How is arthritis diagnosed? Why is early diagnosis important?

The diagnosis will be based on your symptoms, the inflamed joints affected and through blood and X-ray findings, MRI scan, CT scan, synovial fluid analysis and/or a urine test. You may have to visit your doctor several times before he can rule out other causes and confirm the diagnosis.

Mostly arthritis is more a source of irritation than a chronic ailment because it affects your everyday life. An early and accurate diagnosis prevents irreversible damage and disability.

What are the treatments for arthritis?

The type of arthritis decides your treatment options. Treatment may include medications, physiotherapy, exercise, weight control and orthopaedic bracing. Eroding forms of arthritis may require joint replacement surgery. Medications are given to reduce inflammation in the joint which decreases pain. There is no permanent cure for either rheumatoid or osteoarthritis.

MEDICATIONS

• Drugs that treat the symptoms of arthritis like pain killers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids
• Drugs that suppress the underlying inflammatory disease like disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Biologic drugs are used in treating rheumatoid arthritis or when DMARDs are ineffective.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

• Hydrotherapy - involves special exercises that you do in a warm-water pool.
• Physiotherapy – Because of the pain, you will often avoid moving the affected joint. A physical therapist can help you work out the joint stiffness without damaging it.
• Occupational therapy – Occupational therapy promotes health and well-being by teaching you how to reduce the strain on your joints during your daily activities. Your home and workplace may be modified by your occupational therapist so that you can move about without worsening your arthritis.

SURGERY

Surgery is usually recommended when other treatments prove ineffective the damage to your joints is severe enough to cause difficulties in everyday life. It can either be pain-relieving or reconstructive like replacing a badly damaged joint with an artificial joint, removing the inflamed lining of the joint cavity, releasing trapped nerves or fusing a joint to make it more stable. The most common form of surgery for arthritis is joint replacement.

Can arthritis be prevented?

For the inherited forms of arthritis, there is no real way to avoid the disease. Arthritis due to joint injury can be prevented by adhering to safety regulations. Arthritis related to infection could be prevented by not getting infected with the organism causing it.

Living with arthritis

The different types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases taken collectively are the most common chronic health conditions which afflicts older people. With recent developments including new drugs, exercise programs, surgeries and self-management you can now lead full and productive lives.

Although there is no cure for arthritis, you should seek medical health and treatment to minimize it’s the effects of its symptoms. Irreversible damage and disability can be prevented with earlier and accurate diagnosis.

Also read: Understanding Arthritis: Part 1

In 2008, an estimated 25 million Indians were affected by osteoporosis, mainly because of vitamin D deficiency caused by low exposure to sunlight and low dietary vitamin D. Last year, Dr S Rajasekaran (President, Association of Spine Surgeons of India, ASSI) predicted that 36+ million Indians will have osteoporosis by 2013. Nearly 20% women and 10%-15% men aged > 50 years have osteoporosis, which is the cause of 83% (or 500,000) of all spinal fractures, 300,000 hip fractures, 200,000 broken wrists, and 300,000 fractures of other bones.

The bone mass density (BMD) varies such that men have a higher BMD than women and African Americans have a higher BMD than Caucasian or Asians. Plus, BMD naturally decreases after the age of 30-35 years at the rate of 0.3%-0.5% every year. Estrogen is important for BMD maintenance in women and decrease in its levels (post-menopause) leads to accelerated BMD loss (2%-4% per year). The risk factors that increase the probability of developing osteoporosis are:

• Gender and Race (women, Asian descent > risk)
• Age and Genetics (50+, family history of osteoporosis > risk)
• Physical inactivity
• Calcium deficiency
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Smoking (5%-10% extra BMD loss)
• Excess alcohol
• Low weight
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Medications (e.g. heparin, prednisone)

Osteoporosis is often asymptomatic until a bone fractures, then an X-ray and bone density measurement confirms the diagnosis. 

The normal bone is made up of protein, collagen, and calcium. When the bones begin to lose their density, and become more-than-normal porous, they are more easily compressed – making them more likely to crack (e.g. hip fracture) or collapse (spinal fracture). The loss of BMD occurs on a scale such that the first-level of BMD loss is known as osteopenia which, if undetected and untreated, proceeds to osteoporosis. Other common areas at high risk for fractures are ribs and wrists.

Spine fractures result in long-lasting lower back pain, loss of height and a curved spine (vertebrae collapse). Hip fractures generally occur after a fall, require surgery and are slow to heal. Bone fractures lead to continuous pain, low quality of life, loss of ability to do routine tasks and hence, decreased productivity.  Often, hip fracture patients need long-term care.

A brief review of bone metabolism will help understand factors affecting BMD. During childhood, the skeleton uses and stores calcium such that bone density continually increases until age 25 and remains constant until 30-35 years. The level of calcium in the bone depends on balanced availability of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and Vitamin D. Vitamin D is critical for proper dietary calcium absorption from the intestine, while phosphorus and magnesium regulate the amount of calcium absorbed by the bones. In addition, excessive protein and fluorine can hinder calcium absorption. The nutrition guidelines for good bone health are:

Osteoporosis prevention and treatment choices include lifestyle changes such as no smoking, minimizing alcohol intake, regular (weight-bearing) exercise, maintaining healthy weight, low-salt and calcium plus vitamin D-rich diet. Available medications aim to stop bone loss and increase bone strength or bone formation. The use of hormone (estrogen) replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause was popular until recent times when its benefits have been questioned. There are 2 surgical options that can reduce pain caused by spinal compression – vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. These surgeries use “bone cement” that is injected into the damaged spinal bones (vertebrae) to make them denser and stronger.

Until recently, obesity (and excess fat) was considered to protect against developing osteoporosis because of higher BMD. However, current research shows that excess fat (or adipose tissue) negatively influences the skeletal system through hormonal signals that disrupt remodeling of bone cells. Bone remodeling, a continuous cycle of replacing mature bone with new bone tissue, is critical in maintaining bone health during normal activities and repairing bone damage caused by injury (fractures).

A Canadian research study, published in Renal Physiology, indicates that sodium and calcium metabolism is interlinked. Hence, excess sodium (from dietary salt) may cause urinary excretion of, not only higher levels of sodium, but higher-than-normal calcium as well. Removal of more-than-usual calcium leads to decreased calcium levels in the body and potentially higher risk of low BMD, osteoporosis and fractures.

Often people, in particular women, take calcium and vitamin D supplements to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and fractures – but this course of preventive action is now discouraged. For one, the prevention of osteoporosis and fractures with calcium supplementation is not well-established. On the other hand, excess calcium raises the risk for kidney stones and heart attack. A German study found that people, aged 35-64, taking regular calcium supplements were at 86% higher risk for heart attack. While, people whose entire daily calcium requirements was dependent on supplements had a 139% higher risk for heart attack.  

A word of caution: over-exercising (e.g. marathon running), especially in young women, increases osteoporosis risk because of excessive weight loss and early termination of menstruation. In general, Indians have a low BMD which can be improved by low-cost measures such as increasing dietary calcium, vitamin D, exercise and time spent outdoors.

Learn more about Osteoporosis at:

• Osteoporosis in Indians
• Osteoporosis: Thin Bones
• Osteoporosis
• Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Vitamin D Fortification of Complementary Foods
• NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases
• Association of Spine Surgeons of India, ASSI

Arthritis is not a single disease – there are over 100 different forms of arthritis. It is a collective term for different individual illnesses, with different features, treatments, complications, and prognoses. The similarity is that they have a tendency to affect the joints and many have the possibility to affect other internal parts of the body.

It is mostly related to wear and tear of cartilage (osteoarthritis) or associated with an overactive immune system causing inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis). The most common form of arthritis is Osteoarthritis (OA), which generally affects elderly patients. Other forms of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, septic arthritis, etc.

One common myth is to associate arthritis with old age. It becomes more common as people age, but it may begin at any age, even childhood. They may affect the body’s internal organs as well.

Am I at the risk of developing Arthritis?

Arthritis can affect anyone regardless of their age, sex, or race, although many people who are affected won’t have persistent or severe symptoms. But women are affected more than men. They usually develop osteoarthritis after the age of 40.

You are at higher risk for osteoarthritis if you have a family history or habits like smoking and drinking. Injury from specific activities is a risk factor for trauma-related arthritis.

What causes Arthritis?

Different forms of arthritis have different causes. Some of the causes of arthritis are hereditary factors, infections (bacterial and viral), lack of joint fluid, autoimmunity, etc.

What are the types of Arthritis?

Arthritis can be broadly categorised into inflammatory type or non-inflammatory type.

Some of the inflammatory types are

• Rheumatoid arthritis – the most common type of inflammatory arthritis. It is an autoimmune disease which mainly affects the joints. It has more severe symptoms causing pain, stiffness, fatigue and loss of appetite.
• Gout – most common in men. It is caused by increased uric acid in the blood, though not everybody with high levels in their blood get gout. But when uric acid levels in the blood are too high, it may form hard crystals in your joints. Being overweight, excessive alcohol drinking or eating too much meat and fish that are high in chemicals called purines increases your chances of getting gout. Some medicines, like diuretics, can also be one of the causes. Arthritis due to gout is usually characterized by a sudden attack of burning pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints.
• Psoriatic arthritis - It is associated with inflammation of the skin (psoriasis).

 Some of the non-inflammatory types (injury) are

• Osteoarthritis – also called degenerative arthritis is usually caused by overuse of joints. This can be due to obesity, various sports disciplines or age. It is most common in the knees, hips, feet, and spine joints which bear weight. Cartilage covering the ends of bones serves as the body’s shock absorber. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage gradually breaks down resulting in pain when the joint is moved.
• Fibromyalgia – a syndrome characterized by long-lasting extensive pain and tenderness in muscles, ligaments and tendons. It damages the joints and/or soft tissues and causes chronic pain. It does not get worse with time and is never fatal. 
• Backache - one of the most common health problems which can occur in both men and women at any age. It can present itself as anywhere between a mild to unbearable. It can start slowly over a period of time as a result of poor posture. It may also have a suddenly onset due to injury. Back pain can either last for few days or can remain for weeks, months and even years.

What are the symptoms?

Regardless of the type, arthritis causes pain and limits the function of your joints. If your arthritis is due to inflammation of the joints then you may experience joint swelling, redness, warmth and stiffness.

With inflammatory arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis, your various organs of the body may be affected. You may have fever, lymph nodes swelling, weight loss, tiredness, inability to use your hand, difficulty in walking and poor sleep.

It’s common to have pains in your muscles and joints, particularly if you give them too much strain. So how do you distinguish regular pain from early signs of arthritis because it’s imperative to diagnose the disease as soon as possible.

If you see any of these symptoms you shouldn’t put off a visit to the doctor.

• If the pains last for more than a week
• If you experience unexplained joint pain usually accompanied with fever
• You experience difficulty in carrying out daily chores due to joint pain
• Your joint pain isn’t cured by pain killers
• There is swelling and stiffness in the joints

Also read:  Diagnosis and Treatment of Arthritis 

1. Rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disorder that causes stiffness and pain),

2. Osteoarthritis (growth of bone spurs and degeneration of cartilage or a joint),

3. Gout (a condition where uric acid fills up in the joints causing pain).

Joint pain may also be caused due to Bursitis (inflammation of the bursa)

Whether the joint pain is due to a condition or due to a recent injury, here are a few tips to manage the pain at home:

• If the pain is due to an injury you have sustained, then both mild exercise and rest is recommended. Warm baths and stretching exercises can be done as frequently as possible.
•  Anti-inflammatory medications may help relieve pain and swelling.

Most importantly, a trained physician is always the best choice. You should visit a physician if you notice the following:

• You have fever that is not associated with flu like symptoms
• You have lost 4-5 kg or more without trying (unintended weight loss)
• Your joint pain lasts for more than 3 days
• You have severe, unexplained joint pain, particularly if you have other unexplained symptoms.

Just 56 percent of the people between 60-65 and 37 among the above 66 age group could manage to walk down to the ground floor thrice a day.

Further, almost 60 percent were not able to manage personal cleanliness while 84 percent are not fit enough to travel alone.

“However, the good news is that 81 percent of the senior citizens have consulted specialised orthopaedic doctors and physician specialists, which indicates a high level of awareness,” said AFI chairman Sushil Sharma.

“We reiterate the demand for a national programme on bone and joint diseases as the economic burden is estimated to be about Rs.8,000-10,000 crore per year which makes it very difficult for a developing country like India,” he added.

Sharma further said that the programme should be on the lines of the national programme for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes but should not be an appendage to any other programme.

Source: IANS

Bone mineral density is the most widely used measurement to diagnose osteoporosis and assess the risk of fracture, with higher density tied to with lower risk of fracture, according to a university statement. In the largest ever genetic study of osteoporosis of its kind, researchers from Holland’s Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, studied more than 80,000 individuals across Europe, North America, East Asia and Australia. Richard Prince, professor and study co-author from UWA, said osteoporosis was strongly related to gene variation. ”We have found new genes strongly related to bone structure. This latest research has helped pinpoint many factors in critical molecular pathways that may lead to therapeutic treatments,” said Prince. Researchers also found that women with an excess of bone mineral density-decreasing genetic variants had up to 56 percent higher risk osteoporosis and a 60 percent higher risk of all types of fractures.

Source: IANS

Sushil Vats, senior Homeopathic consultant said, “Homeopathic medicines, sourced from plants can cure cancer in the initial stages and can cure certain kinds of cancer completely, like breast cancer,”  at an international homeopathy event in the capital. In fact, at the 66th World Homeopathic Congress of Limhi (Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis), a case study of a double side breast cancer patient who was treated successfully with homeopathy was presented. According to Vats, the patient was a stage five case.

“Homeopathy can effectively support ongoing allopathic treatment in all types of cancers, improve the quality of life of the patient and also the life span,” Vats told IANS on the sidelines of the Dec 1-4 conference. He said that homeopathy can effectively treat diabetes, thyroid, hypertension, AIDS, asthma, but the results vary from case to case. Sometimes a patient may take longer to show results, he said. “In cases treated for many years with allopathy, it becomes difficult to treat with homeopathy as the patients develop homeopathy drug dependency,” he said. Homeopathy is in fact the number two preferred mode of treatment, after allopathy, in India, as per the government of India survey, and it costs just a fraction, he said. Besides, homeopathy has no side effects or adverse effects, he added.

According to R.K. Manchanda, deputy director (homeopathy) in the Directorate of Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy, government of NCT and Delhi, the Delhi government “is regularly opening homeopathic dispensaries”. At present there are 92 homeopathic dispensaries in the capital, mostly in poor areas, which together see around 1.8 million patients a year.

“Mostly, the patients come to these dispensaries with difficult problems like arthritis, skin allergies and chronic gastric problem and with renal stone complaints,” Manchanda told IANS.

The conference, attended by 2,500 delegates from 35 countries, was aimed to project India as a “hub of homeopathy in the world”, he said.

If homeopathy is so effective in treating so many difficult diseases, then why was it described as a placebo in a study by Lancet?

According to Vats, the study by Lancet was “biased”. He said in the UK, the National Health Service runs many homeopathy clinics and they get a “huge budget”. During the recession, the allopathic companies were hit and they floated the theory of homeopathy being a placebo in order to get the government withdraw the budget, he said.

Eswar Das, consultant advisor to the government on homeopathy, said the Lancet study was “not based on homeopathy concepts and philosophy”. Explaining, he said, homeopathy does not give one standard dose of a medicine to all patients suffering from a disease. Homeopathy studies the patient in terms of the symptoms, body type, nature, likes, dislikes, etc., and then prescribes the dose of medicine accordingly.

“In India, homeopathy has proper recognition. There is a believability and it is an effective form of treatment,” said Manchanda.

Stressing on purity of homeopathic medicine, the government has made manufacturers, who initially numbered around 200, comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for quality assurance. With this coming into force, there are now only around 30 firms that manufacture homeopathic medicines in India, said Vats. The market in India is worth around Rs.1,000 crore. The homeopathic medicine market has grown manifold in last 4-5 years, he informed.

Eswar Das said though homeopathy was “born in Germany it has flourished in India”. The system of healing was founded by German doctor Samuel Christian Hahnemann (1755).

Source: IANS

Main symptoms of arthritis include pain, stiffness and restricted movement in the joints, and in the UK it affects more than nine million people alone, the journal Science reports. Researchers at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation in San Diego and Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, US, said: “This may ultimately lead to a stem-cell based therapy for osteoarthritis,” according to the Daily Mail. During the study, 22,000 drug-like molecules were tested using a robotic screen, applying each one to bone marrow stem cells. When kartogenin was administered to mice with osteoarthritis-like symptoms, it prompted stem cells to change into cartilage cells. A patent has already been filed, however more work is needed to understand exactly how the molecule works. Judith Brodie, chief executive of Arthritis Care, said: “We are delighted with any potential breakthrough for people with arthritis.” 

Source: IANS