Brinjal-Castor Oil Recipe For Rheumatoid Arthritis

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay)
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic progressive disease causing inflammation in the joints. In later stages it results in painful deformity and immobility, especially in the fingers, wrists, feet and ankles. Pain and inflammation can also occur in other areas and soft tissues of the body other than joints. Here is a simple, easy-to-prepare brinjal castor oil recipe for people with rheumatoid arthritis. 

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s intelligence of protecting itself has been lost. The body defences would have lost the intelligence of differentiating between self and non-self. The body’s protective system (immunity) identifies its own tissues as non-self and start attacking them causing inflammatory processes leading to painful condition.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is called by the name Amavata in Ayurveda (some others call it Vatarakta).

Signs and Symptoms

• Fatigue
• Pain in the joints, Tenderness in the joints
• Swelling in the joints, Redness of the joints, Warmth in joints
• Stiffness in the joints (especially early in the morning)
• Loss of range of motion in the joints
• Many joints get affected (polyarthritis)
• Limping
• Deformity of joints
• Both sides of the body are affected (symmetric arthritis)

Anti-arthritis recipe

Ayurveda offers many effective medicines and treatments for effective cure of Rheumatoid arthritis. One among them is Eranda Brishta Vrintaka (Brinjal-Castor oil recipe).

Eranda Brishta Vrintaka (Eggplant-Castor oil recipe) –
Treatment or cure of a disease comes with a package of many restrictions especially a stringent control over some foods.
But how would you feel if you are advised to take a delicious recipe which can fulfil the purpose of your diet and also medicine which can ward off your painful symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Already feeling awesome isn’t it?

I would like to explain an easy recipe to ward off the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis in this article. This can also be prepared at home and easily consumed.
The name of the recipe is Eranda Bhrista Vrintaka which means Brinjal or Brinjals (Egg plant or aubergine / Solanum melongena) processed in Castor oil. This is one famous recipe I have been prescribing in my clinical practise for those suffering from Amavata or RA.

Egg plant being a favourite vegetable used often in our kitchens makes it convenient for me to advise it to be taken in the form of curry prepared with castor oil and kitchen spices. Edible castor oil is also easily available at Indian homes. It might not just suit for those who do not like brinjal and also for those who are sensitive towards taking castor oil. I generally advise after enquiring about these things.
Other names of Brinjal – Egg Plant, Aubergine, Melongene, Garden Egg, Guinea squash etc.

How to prepare this anti-arthritis eggplant curry (recipe)?
Well, it is simple. We just need a couple of ingredients to prepare this recipe. We need –

• Brinjal’s (Eggplant fruits) – 8-10 medium sized eggplant fruits
• Castor oil – Different varieties of castor oils are available in the market. We should ask for the edible variety of castor oil (other form is used for external application and massage) and have it available in the kitchen.
• Cumin powder
• Salt
• Pepper powder
• Non-stick cooking pan with lid
• Spoon (big sized) for stirring the ingredients

Method of preparation

The eggplant fruits are sliced into medium sized pieces. The fruits shall be baked in oil without slicing especially if they are small sized. This will be good for those who are less tolerant towards castor oil as there is lesser absorption of oil by the fruits.
The brinjal pieces are put into the non-stick pan

Edible castor oil is added to the pan in a quantity of 40-50ml. Close the lid and oil-bake the fruits for 10-15 minutes on moderate flame. The lid is opened in between to check for the status of eggplant fruits. Care should be taken to see that they are not heated on high flame because by doing so, the fruits get charred. They are repeatedly mixed with big spoons.
When the brinjals get properly steamed in the oil, the pan is removed from the stove.
The ingredients of the curry are seasoned with the addition of a pinch of salt, ¼ spoon’s each of cumin powder and pepper powder. Turmeric powder too can be added in the same proportion. The ingredients are properly mixed.
The eggplant curry is ready to be served
It shall be taken along with rice or with chapati’s (Indian bread) by those suffering from RA.

Hot water or water processed with cumin seeds should be used for drinking. Alternately water processed with Panchakola churna shall be taken while taking the recipe. They will counter the irritant role of castor oil and reduce oil induced nausea (feel to vomit). Cold and refrigerated foods should be avoided.

Note:
Before the recipe is planned to be served to the patient, he or she shall be given some medicaments to serve the purpose of enhancing the gut performance and increasing the agni or digestion capacity (deepana drugs) and medicines to digest ama (toxins) i.e. amapachana drugs or compounds. The laxative role of the recipe will further eliminate these toxins and relieve the symptoms. Some of the preferred deepana-pachana drugs or compounds are – Chitrakadi Vati, Panchakola churna, Trikatu churna, Pachanamritam Kashayam, Amritottaram Kashayam etc.

Alternatively –
Medicated castor oil is readily available in the market by the name – Gandharvahastadi Eranda Tailam or Nimbamritadi Eranda Tailam
These oils are prescribed at various stages of RA (Amavata)
They can be used in place of edible castor oil for enhanced effect as they are processed with disease modifying drugs

Benefits

Benefits of Eggplant-Castor oil recipe –

• The combination is highly effective in destroying Ama (toxins produced due to ineffective digestion and tissue metabolism which have a tendency to block the channels of nutrition and transportation in the body owing to their sticky nature), mainly due to the presence of Eranda Taila (edible castor oil) in the combo which is known for its antagonistic role against ama and vata.
• The combination also eliminates the morbid vayu / vata from the body. When ama and vata are taken control of, the disease pathology gets dissolved.
• Eases the signs and symptoms of RA, relieves pain and stiffness
• Relieves swelling of joints and soft tissues
• Improves movements in the joints
• Acts as a vatanulomana (reliever of morbid vayu)
• A potent laxative, regulates the bowel movements and throws away the metabolic wastes
• Improves digestion and tissue metabolism
• Improves blood circulation
• Removes inflammation of the joints and soft tissues
• Since it is served as a food, it plays dual role of being a food supplement and a medicine taken at a single shot. Thus it serves a 2-in-1 role.
• The recipe is a cost-effective remedy

Limitations

The recipe is useful in mild to moderate conditions of RA. In severe cases it might not be very fruitful but anyhow it can be served as a diet and can be a part of the treatment protocol.
The recipe is not an ultimate and sole remedy for cure of RA. Amavata or RA needs disease modifying drugs, medicines, immune-modulators, treatments and therapies, dietetic and lifestyle modifications etc to get rid of the disease.

Caution

The medicine shall be strictly taken after getting an advice from an expert Ayurvedic doctor who has examined you thoroughly and has diagnosed your disease in an Ayurvedic way. It should be taken under supervision.

Castor oil sensitivity – Many people are either sensitive or reactive to castor oil. Some might just not like the taste or tolerate it. They tend to throw it out by vomiting. Many are sensitive to the irritant smell of the oil. Few others might not tolerate the purgative effect of the castor oil, especially those having a sensitive gut. Such people should avoid taking this recipe and opt out for other options.

People who do not like, are allergic or have habit of taking eggplant fruits can also avoid trying this recipe

People having sensitive and or reactive gut and stomach, stomach and intestinal diseases, diarrhoea, haemorrhoids (piles), colitis, IBS or any other chronic systemic illness etc should take the advice of the doctor before trying this recipe.

The physical constitution (prakriti), the strength of metabolism (agni), nature of ajirna (indigestion), the quality and quantity of ama involved in the disease pathology etc should be thoroughly analysed by Ayurvedic physician and then decide if the recipe be included or not in the treatment protocol or dietetic advice. The quality and quantity of the brinjal and castor oil also should be decided by the consulting doctor beforehand.

By nature, the Pitta constitution people will have more and easy bowel movements. People with Pitta constitution might have excessive purgation after taking the recipe. These people should take the recipe under supervision.

Qualities of eranda taila

Qualities of Eranda Taila (castor oil):
तैलं एरण्डजं बल्यं गुरु उष्णं मधुरम् सरं।
तिक्त उष्णं पित्तलं विस्रं रक्त एरण्ड् उद्भवं भृशम्॥
एरण्ड तैलं क्रिमिनाशनं च सर्वत्र शूलघ्नम् मरुत् प्रणाशम्।
कुष्ठापहं च अपि रसायनं च पित्त प्रकोप अनिल शोधनं च॥
वर्ध्म गुल्म अनिल कफान् उदरं विषम ज्वरम्।
वात शूल गजेन्द्राणाम् एरण्ड स्नेह केशरि॥{यो.र.}

Rasa (Taste) – Madhura (Sweet), Tikta (Bitter)
Guna (qualities) – Guru (heavy), Ushna (hot), Sara (flowing), Visram (foul smelling), Balyam (strength promoter),
Doshic action – Alleviates morbid vata and kapha, tends to increase Pitta
It is highly beneficial in the below said conditions:

• Krimighnam (anti-helminthic, removes worms and parasites)
• Shulaghnam – relieves pain (analgesic) and colic
• Anila shodhanam – flushes out the morbid vata
• Kushtapaha – cures skin diseases
• Rasayana – Anti-ageing, immune modulator, rejuvenator, disease modifying
• Vardhma hara – cures hernia
• Gulma hara – Best in destroying abdominal tumours
• Anila-kaphan – Destroys morbid Vata and Kapha and diseases caused by them
• Udara – abdominal diseases
• Vishama jwara – intermittent fevers etc
• Read more about castor oil benefits and side effects  

Read related:
Ayurvedic Home Remedy For Sciatica, Rheumatoid Arthritis With Haritaki
causes and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

Qualities of vrintaka

Qualities of Vrintaka / Vartuka (Brinjal, egg plant fruit) –
वृन्ताकम् स्वादु तीक्ष्णम् उष्णम् कटु पाकम् पित्तलम्।
ज्वर वात बलासघ्नं दीपनं शुक्रलं लघु॥ {भ.प्र.नि.शाकवर्ग.७९ / Ref-Bhava Prakasha Nighantu Shakavarga, verse 79}

Rasa (Taste) – Madhura (sweet)
Guna (qualities) – Teekshnam (intense and deep penetrating), Ushnam (hot), Laghu (light)
Vipaka (post-digestion effect) – Katu (pungent)
Effect on Tridosha – Pittalam (increases Pitta), Vata-Kapha hara (Destroys morbid Vata and Kapha)
It is useful in fever, kindles digestion, increases production of semen

Amavata – Ayurvedic perspectives

About Amavata (Ayurvedic perspective of rheumatoid arthritis) –
Amavata is formed by the pathological combination of Ama (toxins or intermediate products of digestion having a sticky nature and capacity to occlude the channels and transport systems of the body) and morbid Vata / Vayu (one of the 3 dosha’s or humoral factors controlling the body) and their subsequent lodgement in the tissues, especially bones, joints and other soft tissues leading to swelling and pain. Ama and morbid Vata independently have a tendency to produce painful conditions wherever they are concentrated. In Amavata we have a deadly combination of both these factors.

Amavata is caused by continuous consumption or exposure to –

• Viruddha ahara – mutually incompatible foods
• Viruddha chesta – incompatible physical activities
• Mandagni – sluggish digestion (at both gut and cellular level)
• Nishchala – lack of activities
• Snigdham bhuktavato annam vyayamam kurvatastatha – getting indulged into physical activities or exercises immediately after taking food, especially food which consists of or prepared / processed in fats (oil, ghee)

Amavata manifests in 2 forms or stages –
Samanya Amavata Lakshana’s (Gut level manifestation and symptoms): The symptoms of Amavata are initially manifested at the level of gut when the basic core metabolism has been disturbed. Though they are mentioned as generalized symptoms of Amavata, they appear moreover like premonitory symptoms or warning symptoms of the impending harmful and agonizing disease. if treatment is properly done at this stage, the disease doesn’t progress to complicated or full blown stage because at this stage only correction of metabolism (agni) and improving immunity (bala) is the mainstay of the treatment. The symptoms of this stage are –

• Angamarda – body aches
• Aruchi – tastelessness
• Trishna – thirst
• Alasya – weakness or lethargy
• Gauravam – heaviness of the body
• Jwaram – fever
• Apaka – indigestion
• Angaanam shoonata – swelling of body parts

Pravruddha Amavata Lakshana (symptoms of progressive or chronic disease – symptoms of systemic manifestation of the disease): This is a condition in which the disease is progressive and afflicts bones, joints and soft tissues. Multiple organs are also involved in a later stage. These are also considered as upadravas (complications) of Amavata. Symptoms of progressive Amavata are –

• Saruja shotha – Painful swelling (pain resembling scorpion sting) in the joints of hands, feet, head, ankle, low back, sacral, knee, hip etc
• Agni daurbalya – low metabolism
• Praseka – excessive salivation
• Aruchi – tastelessness
• Gauravam – heaviness of the body
• Utsaha hani – lack of enthusiasm
• Vairasyam – manifestation of weird tastes
• Daham – burning sensation
• Bahu mutrata – frequency of urination
• Kukshi shula – colic
• Nidra viparyayam – sleep disturbances
• Trit – thirst
• Chardi – vomiting
• Bhrama – giddiness
• Murcha – fainting
• Hrid graham – stiffness or catches in the heart region
• Vibandha – constipation
• Jadhya – stiffness of the body
• Antra kujana – sounds in abdomen (tummy) etc

Apart from these, the signs and symptoms of vitiation of predominant morbid Dosha’s will be found.
Read related:
Foods to avoid in Rheumatoid arthritis
Diet for RA – recommended foods

To sum up –
Eranda Tailam or Castor oil – best option in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis vis-à-vis Amavata –
According to Ayurveda – Eranda Tailam or Castor oil is said to be the best medicine in tackling Amavata (Rheumatoid Arthritis) and its symptoms

आमवात गजेन्द्रस्य शरीर वन चारिणः।
एक एव अग्रण्णीर् हन्ति एरण्ड स्नेह केसरि॥ {यो.र.आमवत चिकित्स ६५ / Ref-Yoga Ratnakara, Amavata Chikitsa verse 65}

Meaning – ‘For an intoxicated elephant called Amavata (Rheumatoid Arthritis) dwelling and destroying the garden called body at will, there is only one controller and that is a Lion named Eranda Sneha (Castor oil)’
That means to say that for a severe arthritis tending to destroy and cripple the whole body, castor oil is the only remedy.

The recipe is not only a cure but also can be used for prevention of Amavata or Rheumatoid arthritis. Those who have a tendency to develop RA or those who have family history of the same can also take the recipe as a preventive measure. It can be taken once in a week, preferably at weekends since the recipe tends to cause a few more bowel movements than you naturally have.

Now you have a strong reason for growing eggplants in your garden. You will not only have a vegetable for your kitchen ready at your disposal but also will serve the purpose of being a handy home-made remedy for RA, if anyone is suffering from it at home or neighbourhood.
So friends, enjoy the curry and as a bonus get rid of your pain and inflammation
Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu)