The Kolkata-based OPTM Healthcare has come out with an innovative treatment method with phytomedicines for treating patients with osteoarthritis. Team of professional physicians at OPTM have come up with a new natural alternative treatment which involves topical applications of phytoconstituents from the medicinal plants, manually applied with a wooden roller and pulse-therapy technique for a period of 42 days.

Phytomedicines are natural medicines prepared from plant extracts and these herbal extracts are applied externally on the skin for treating osteoarthritis in patients. According to sources at OPTM Healthcare, though there are various treatment methods available for osteoarthritis, most of them have proved their effectiveness only temporarily and moreover excess and regular use of medicines also causes various side effects.

“The extracts from herbs are called as phytomedicines. Our team of researchers has scientifically developed plant-originated Indian herbal medicines for curing osteoarthritis disease. The extracts are administered externally on areas of pain and we have observed almost 98 per cent success,” said Prateek, a spokesperson at OPTM.

Osteoarthritis is a type of joint disease that results from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone. The most common symptoms are joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include joint swelling, decreased range of motion, and when the back is affected weakness or numbness of the arms and legs. The most commonly involved joints are those near the ends of the fingers, at the base of the thumb, neck, lower back, knees and hips.

In most cases of osteoarthritis, several physicians offer the old school ways like physio, anti-depressant therapies and weight control as well as medicinal drugs like paracetamol, topical, opiod or the steroids etc., which is not only hazardous, if practiced repeatedly but may not even suffice at times. And thereafter, in circumstances of an acute/chronic pain, both physicians as well as patients, in their desperate attempt to get rid of the prolonged pain, generally resort to the surgical treatment. Surgery may sooth the severe condition at present but it adversely affects the body, both physically and mentally, for a long duration with some after-effects, which will stay for life.

Dr. Apurba Ganguly, the founder director of OPTM Healthcare is key source of encouragement for research into phytomedicines. Continuing his vision for devising new treatment methodologies, Dr. Ganguly is blending modern science and with traditional medical legacy and building a new scenario in the field of health and medicine.