Rheumabi Cream

The bark of the arjuna tree, monographed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. It is kashaya (astringent) and sheeta (cooling). In classical external use Arjuna is applied for its strengthening and firming action on soft tissue, and it is traditionally used where an area is tender and slack after injury or long disuse.

Ashwa means horse and gandha means smell, a name that points to the strength the herb is said to impart. It is one of the most trusted vata-shamaka (vata-calming) dravyas in Ayurveda. Infused into a warm sesame base it is traditionally used to soothe tired, tense muscle and to ease the aching heaviness that follows overuse.

Fennel, a gentle aromatic used here for its softening, rounding effect on the blend. It carries an EMA herbal monograph and is among the mildest dravyas in the formula. It contributes minerals, including calcium and phosphate, and its warm-sweet aroma balances the sharper aromatic oils.

Neem, the classical Ayurvedic dravya for the skin, and one of the best documented Indian medicinal trees. In an external preparation Nimba is tikta (bitter) and sheeta (cooling). It keeps the skin clean under repeated application and is traditionally used to calm local swelling and irritation.

Indian valerian, classified as tridoshahara and especially useful for vata. The rhizome carries a characteristic volatile oil. Applied externally it is traditionally used to relax tense muscle and to ease the cramp and spasm that accompany a stiff back or a guarded joint.

The source document lists Phyllanthus by genus only. The genus is large and its Ayurvedic members differ considerably: Bhumyamalaki (Phyllanthus niruri or Phyllanthus amarus) and Amalaki (Phyllanthus emblica, also placed as Emblica officinalis) are used for quite different purposes. The species used in this cream must be confirmed against the approved manufacturing specification before this document is circulated. No species has been assumed here.

Green cardamom, an aromatic seed used in classical tailas for its warming, spreading quality. It is traditionally used in external application to ease muscle and joint pain, and to settle the contraction and spasm that follow strain.

Clove, whose oil is rich in eugenol. It is one of the oldest local pain remedies in Indian practice. Applied over a tender joint it is traditionally used to ease pain, swelling and discomfort, and it contributes to the warm aroma of the cream.

Dried ginger, ushna (warming) and penetrating. In external use it warms the area, supports surface circulation and is traditionally applied where joints are cold, stiff and slow to loosen.

Liquorice, carrying a WHO monograph on Radix Glycyrrhizae and entries in the Ayurvedic, European and British Pharmacopoeias. It is madhura (sweet) and sheeta (cooling). Its glycyrrhizin content is traditionally associated with a soothing action on inflamed tissue, and in this blend it softens the effect of the many warming ingredients on the skin.

Holy basil, recorded in Charaka Samhita and Bhavaprakasha Nighantu, balancing both kapha and vata. It contains eugenol, rosmarinic acid and ursolic acid. In an external preparation it contributes a warm, clarifying aroma and an antioxidant profile valued for skin resilience under repeated massage.

Indian bay leaf, a warming aromatic of the same genus as cinnamon. Massage with Tejpatra oil is a traditional practice for painful, swollen joints, and the leaf is also used externally on the skin for its cleansing action.

The root of the castor plant. Charaka calls eranda the foremost of the vata-pacifying dravyas, and it is a standard component of vata tailas. It is ushna (warming) and snigdha (unctuous), and is traditionally used where stiffness, heaviness and restricted movement dominate the picture.

Dhatura is a classical pain-easing dravya used in external tailas. It is also one of the upavisha, the sub-poisonous drugs of Ayurveda, and it is a scheduled toxic substance. Datura species contain tropane alkaloids, principally hyoscyamine and scopolamine. Dhatura may be used only after classical shodhana (purification), and only in the proportion laid down in the approved specification. Its presence is the reason this cream carries the handling precautions set out below, and it must be read before the product is dispensed.

Indian barberry, whose stem is rich in berberine. It is bitter and drying. In external use it is traditionally applied to calm swelling and to keep the skin clean under an occlusive oil preparation.

The premier Ayurvedic base oil for vata, and the carrier for both Mahanarayan taila and Ruma oil. Tila taila is ushna (warming), guru (heavy) and deeply penetrating. It carries the herbs into the tissue, lubricates the joint and grounds the cold, restless quality of aggravated vata.

Wintergreen oil is a traditional external wash and rub for aching joints, sore muscle and low back pain. It works as a counter-irritant: it produces a strong warm sensation at the surface which reduces the perception of pain beneath. Wintergreen oil is largely methyl salicylate, which is absorbed through the skin and behaves in the body like a salicylate. This makes it effective and also makes it the ingredient that most needs care. Please read the Precautions in full before recommending this cream.

Distilled from pine oleoresin, and a long-standing external rubefacient in both Indian and European practice. It brings warmth to the surface and supports local circulation. Like the other volatile oils here it is for external use only.

Camphor is cooling on first contact and warming afterwards. It is readily absorbed by the skin and numbs the nerve endings at the surface, which is why it is present in so many traditional pain rubs. Applied over a joint it is traditionally used to ease swelling, support circulation and settle cramp. Camphor is toxic if swallowed, and this is one of the reasons the cream must be kept away from children.

Cinnamon bark oil contains cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid, both antioxidant. As an essential oil it is traditionally applied to ease aches, pain and stiffness in muscle and joint, and it contributes warmth to the blend.

Cajuput oil is rich in cineole. Applied to the skin it produces surface warmth and supports circulation just beneath. It is traditionally used for joint pain and sore muscle, and its antispasmodic quality helps a guarded muscle let go.

Menthol crystals from mint, giving the cool note that patients feel immediately on application. Mint is traditionally used for its cooling, calming action on an irritated area, and it balances the many warming oils in this blend.

Dashmool is a famous ayurvedic combination of medicinal herb. Dash means ten and mool means roots, so the meaning of dashmool is ten roots. Dashmoola is tridoshanasak and balances vata, pitta & kapha, useful for inflammatory conditions or vatavyadhi. Dashmoola includes brihatpanchamula (bilva, agnimantha, gambhari, syonaka, patala) and laghupanchamoola (shalparini, prishnparini, brihati, kantkari, gokshuru).

Named in the eleven-herb composition on the product page.