Q: My mother is 79 years old and has trouble walking. Her knees are “bone-on-bone” and cortisone shots don’t help her anymore. She does not want to get the knee replacement surgery – is there anything she can do to help her walk without pain?
A: At this age osteoarthritic changes affect weight-bearing joints like knee joints and the backbone. To control further degeneration, your mother can take one teaspoon of Turmeric powder mixed in milk, daily before going to bed. One capsule of Shilajit and one capsule of Guggul (Commiphora mukul) can be taken daily with water. She should do muscle-strengthening exercises of the knee joint.
Q. Do you recommend getting a vaccine for Shingles? Allopathic doctors recommend the vaccine. I did not have chicken pox as a child. Does Ayurveda have remedies for this?
A: The shingles vaccine is recommended for people 50 and older. In Ayurveda, we recommend enhancing the immune system with herbal food supplements. One capsule each of Guduchi, Amla, and Tulsi taken once daily can help boost immunity. You can also take Turmeric powder, one teaspoon mixed in milk daily before going to bed.