Ayurvedic View, Management and Treatment for Cervical Spondylosis

Cervical Spondylosis (Ayurvedic Name- ‘Griva Sandhigat Vata’)

Cervical Spondylosis is the most common disorder of Cervical Spine. nowadays, Cervical spondylosis is a medical term which denote the age-related Tear and Wear, which usually affected the Bone (Vertebrae) Joints and Disc of the Neck (Cervical Spine). Men and Women who are above 40 years are prone to this disorder. Here the Term means

Spondo means - The Vertebrae (33 individual)

Lysis Means - Disintegration (Splits into parts or just ceases to exist)

- Spondylosis is considered as degenerative condition in Spine such as bone spurs(Bony the projection that develops along the bone edge) and degenerative intervertebral discs, can occur in the Cervical Spine( Also called Cervical Spine), Thoracic Spine (Upper and mid-back) or Lumber Spine(Low Back) where Spondylosis is the medical used for Degeneration and Spondylitis is used for inflammation of one or more vertebrae, such as Ankylosing Spondylitis.

-In General, Cervical Spondylosis is a specific type of Arthritis, which occur in the vertebral column at neck region including with connective tissue and Ligament structure and that leads to change in the cushion (Intervertebral Disc) between the joint of the neck and the neck-bone. Due to this movement of the neck get restricted and the edge of vertebrae get damaged.

- When vertebrae get affected, this change increase pressure on nerve originating from Cervical Vertebrae. This condition is co-related to ‘Snadhigata Greeva’(Also called Osteoarthritis of Neck).

-Etiological Factor of Cervical Spondylosis…….

-Prime the cause is age-related (90 percent of people older than age 65 have evidence of Cervical spondylosis like ‘Wear and Tear’)

-Neck Injury i.e. Trauma in neck region and poor or irregular posture

-Genetic Factor (Hereditary tendency is yet be confirmed in above 50 years of age)

-Heavy load on the neck and shoulder in daily routine, pressure on the neck can cause cervical spondylosis

-Herniated Disc (Bulging of cervical disc)

-Loss of Elasticity in cervical and spinal disc.

-Stiffness in the ligaments connecting neck bones and muscles.

-Chronic degeneration of Cervical spine

-Dehydrated disc (Disc begins drying out and shrinking)

Symptoms of Cervical Spondylosis……….

In In some case, there may be no symptoms initially but when symptoms start manifest, they typically affected only the Neck region.

- Tingling and Numbness in arm region, weakness in hands, legs and feet due to narrowing the space between the spinal cord and nerve root.

- Difficulty in walking

- Lack of Coordination

- Stiffness in neck with restricted movements of neck

-Headache associated with Pain in back of neck & Shoulder (‘Paraplegia’ maybe occurred due to this condition)

- Loss of Bowel control

-Muscle Spasm with general fatigue

-Loss of Balance with anxiety.

Diagnosis……

Imaging test included

-Neck X-Ray

-CT Scan (Computerized Tomography)

-MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

-Myelogram (X-Ray or CT Scan after dye injected in Spinal Cord)

-Nerve Function test included with

-Electromyogram (EMG)

-Nerve Conduction Study (Electrode is attached to the skin above the nerve is studied in this test)

Ayurvedic Concept with Management

In Ayurveda Scripture, Cervical Spondylosis can be co-related with ‘Griva Stambha’, which literally means Stiffness in the Neck Region, or ‘Griva Sandhigata Vata’, means ‘Vata Dosha’ get vitiated and got lodged in the neck region and causes Pain and Stiffness cervical region which lead to restricted movement of neck.

[Note- ‘Vata Dosha’ is the Bio-humour associated with Air and Ether]

- According to Ayurveda, the main function of ‘Vata Dosha’ is control the Skeleto-Muscular function and The nervous system in Human Body, so problem-related to this these Systems are caused by the aggravated ‘Vata Dosha’. The vitiation of ‘Vata Dosha’ is mainly depending on the 2 condition-

- Obstruction of ‘Vata’ due to malfunctioning of ‘Pitta’ and ‘Kapha dosha’

- ‘Vata’ aggravation due to some degenerative problem which is called as ‘Vata’ increase in-dependently.

- Ayurveda explained Cervical Spondylosis affected the both Lumber Spine and Sacral Spine, and Sacrum is situated in ‘Vata’ area of the body and as we know, here ‘Vata’ vitiation caused by Aam(Toxin, Ayurveda strongly believes every ‘Dosha’ vitiation done through the toxin formation) which causes the stiffness and reduce the mobility in this area along with the depletion of the body’s tissue. Due to all these degenerative activities, disc degeneration occur which bring Cervical Spondylosis.

-In Ayur Healthcare - Ayurvedic Treatment in Sydney, the first line of treatment is the balance of ‘Vata Dosha’, treatment including detoxification therapy and elimination of ‘Ama’ with ‘Vata’ pacifying Diet, Lifestyle and Herbal preparation.

-RejuvenationTherapy Sydney and treatment with mild Herbal Enema aiming at removing the toxins and opening circulation to loosen impurities embedded in tissue

-Treatment like ‘Panchakarma Therapy in Sydney’ used in the severe cases and for a mild case, we use internal Herbal Medicine and external application which aimed at restoring the equilibrium through the correction of the underlying functional in-equilibrium.

- As per Ayurveda, ‘Sweden Therapy’ (Hot Fomentation) is highly useful in ‘Vata-Vyadhi’ (Disorder of ‘Vata Dosha’). Here ‘Greeva Stambh’ is caused by ‘Vata Dosha’, So this therapy is highly recommended.

-Useful Herbal like ‘Nirgundi’ (Vitex Negundo), ‘Shallaki’ (Boswellia Serrata), ‘Guggul’ (Commiphora Mukul), ‘Sonth’ (Dry Ginger Powder), ‘Giloy’(Tinospora Cordifolia) and ‘Ashwagandha’ (Withania Somnifera).

Diet and Lifestyle Advice by ‘Ayur Healthcare’

- Sour Diet is strictly prohibited, particularly Curd.

- Fried food, Pulses and various preparation of Pulse is contraindicated.

- Wheat diet is better than Rice, consumption of bitter vegetable like bitter variety of Drumstick and bitter gourd are very useful.

- Use comfortable posture while writing and reading.

- Morning walk and walk over green grass is also helpful in this condition, but if it is cold outside the patient should always a woolen scarf around the neck region.

- Take a hot, long duration of the shower every day if possible.