Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus and Lyme Disease
Ayurvedic Similarities and Differences
The gut is the seat of all feeling. Polluting the gut not only cripples your immune system, but also destroys your sense of empathy, the ability to identify with other humans. Bad bacteria in the gut creates neurological issues. Autism can be cured by detoxifying the bellies of young children. People who think that feelings come from the heart are wrong. The gut is where you feel the loss of a loved one first. It’s where you feel pain and a heavy bulk of your emotions. It’s the central base of your entire immune system. If your gut is loaded with negative bacteria, it affects your mind. Your heart is the seat of your conscience. If your mind is corrupted, it affects your conscience. The heart is the Sun. The gut is the Moon. The pineal gland is Neptune, and your brain and nervous system (5 senses) are Mercury. What affects the moon or sun affects the entire universe within. So, if you poison the gut, it affects your entire nervous system, your sense of reasoning, and your senses.
– Suzy Kassem
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus and Lyme disease are all similar, involving the articular system, or the gap/space. Since Vata is the primary source, common treatments include ama pachana and abhyanga, focusing on restoring balance to Vata, eliminating ama and increasing ojas. In RA and lupus specifically, leaky gut is common, and they’re immune mediated disorders (Maharishi International University, 2025). Lyme is similar because the body attacks itself – a mistake of the intellect – since the tick that bites the host contains an immunosuppressive substance (Maharishi International University, 2025). Symptoms will be similar among these three, ranging from joint pain to fever to stiffness to fatigue. There can also sometimes be inflammation, general body aches, or swollen lymph nodes. As these diseases progress, the three can also be accompanied by chest pain or heart problems (Maharishi International University, 2025). In all three, it is best if caught early.
Though quite similar, RA, lupus and Lyme are very different from one another. In RA, bone erosions can present themselves within eight weeks of onset (Maharishi International University, 2025). RA can include anorexia, indigestion, and pain that mimics a scorpion sting (Maharishi International University, 2025). RA also tends to have localization in smaller joints first. In RA, Vata and ama are both increased, giving rise to inflammation when Pitta tries digesting ama. In lupus, no two cases will be exactly alike. The sun can exacerbate skin lesions, and there might be shortness of breath or dry eyes (Maharishi International University, 2025). Lupus is a Vata Pitta or Pitta predominant imbalance and can be gradual or sudden, temporary or permanent. In Lyme disease, an infected person may experience flu-like symptoms, chills, numbness in the arms and legs or even in the muscles of the face (Maharishi International University, 2025). Lyme disease can be associated with poor memory, lack of concentration or mood problems (Maharishi International University, 2025). Lyme is different from RA and lupus because it is caused by a blacklegged tick, spreading Borrelia burgdorferi in the host’s blood – Vata vitiating rakta (Maharishi International University, 2025). This means antibiotics can help Lyme in early stages.
Disorders affecting the joints can be difficult to properly diagnose. It took years for my dad to be diagnosed with PMR after misdiagnoses of RA, gout and arthritis. To determine which disorder a client has, I would look deeper into the symptoms following a pulse reading. For example, I would ask if the joint pain is symmetrical or if the client has ever had bumps under the skin on the arms if I’m seeing Vata-ama, indicating RA (Maharishi International University, 2025). For lupus possibilities in VP or PV imbalances, I would ask about a butterfly rash or Raynaud’s phenomenon under stress or in cold (Maharishi International University, 2025). If feeling Vata and rakta, I might ask about erythema migrans or pink eye, indicating Lyme disease (Maharishi International University, 2025). Similar by nature, these three disorders are different and thus must be treated differently.
References
Maharishi International University. (2025). Lyme Disease Protocol Summary. [Word Document]. Maharishi International University.
Maharishi International University. (2025). Rheumatoid Arthritis (Amavata) Protocol. [Word Document]. Maharishi International University.
Maharishi International University. (2025). Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Protocol. [Word Document]. Maharishi International University.
