Managing cervical pain with Ayurveda

Introduction–

If you feel pain, stiffness, numbness, and restricted movements of the neck, it can be due to cervical spondylosis.

Most common reason for cervical spondylosis is ageing. Underlying health conditions that hinder in absorption of nutrients like calcium in our body also can lead to this condition. Other factors also play their role in causing cervical spondylosis. These conditions include excessive strain on your neck which can be caused by heavy workout, long work hours on computers or phones, lack of exercise, sleeping in wrong posture.

Why does it happen?

The cushion like material between our vertebrae is called intervertebral disc. It degenerates due to many reasons mainly ageing and this leads to cervical spondylosis. Ageing is the most common reason for this degeneration but there are many other factors at play.

• Drying and shrinkage of cervical disc- due to age related changes, intervertebral disc degenerates leading into bone to bone contact resulting in extreme pain and stiffness.
• Problems in spinal ligaments- Two bones are linked to each other by sturdy yet flexible cords called ligaments. With age, these cords lose in neck region lose their flexibility and strength leading to stiffness in neck.
• Dics herniation- ageing or injury may lead to cracks in spinal discs or they might start to bulge out of intervertebral space. This may lead to irritation of surrounding nerves causing extreme pain and discomfort.
• Osteophytes- there may appear unwanted bony projections in your spine. These can further lead to disc degeneration. These bone spurs harm spinal cord by pressing on your spinal cord and cause pain.

Causes of such conditions–

Age– As ageing is a natural process, cervical spondylosis is also natural, although, it can be prevented and delayed with some lifestyle adjustments.

Occupational factors– Some jobs may involve recurrent neck movements or awkward sitting positions that strain your neck. This increases chances of developing cervical spondylosis.

Injuries– If you are recovering from a neck injury, it is highly recommended to seek Ayurvedic treatment including exercises and massages so that this injury may not lead to cervical spondylosis in long run.

Genetic– Degeneration of disc may run in families leading to higher chances of cervical spondylosis in some families. Such individuals should seek advice of an Ayurvedic doctor routinely and should take benefits from Ayurvedic medicines and therapies even before problem starts so that disc degeneration can be delayed.

Signs and symptoms-

It is very important to identify signs timely and take corrective measures to curb the damage. It’s very easy to mistake cervical spondylosis for neck sprain or fatigue. This may lead to delay in treatment and further worsens the situation.

We should watch for these signs and symptoms-

• Sharp pain in neck region that may spread to other areas such as shoulder, arms and neck. There may be numbness and tingling sensation in hands and arms.
• Frequent headaches.
• Grinding like feeling in neck region during movement.
• Cervical spondylosis may lead to progressive weakening of arms and legs, making it difficult to maintain a balanced gait.

Role of Ayurveda-

In Ayurveda, symptoms of cervical spondylosis are those of vitiated Vata dosha.

In Ayurveda, medicines, Panchkarma, exercises and lifestyle modifications are used to give relief in this condition. Panchkarma therapies like medicated enema or Basti helps improve symptoms and slows down degenerative process in body. These procedures heal the body and hence give relief in cervical spondylosis. Depending on your body’s response to the therapy, these procedures may be continued for various durations.

Ayurvedic Treatment-

In Ayurveda, there is no one size fits all solution for conditions like cervical spondylosis. Therapies may differ according to age, condition of individual and response of individual to the therapy.

Certified Ayurvedic practitioners may recommend a few treatments to you.

Abhyanga swedan- It is an Ayurvedic massage therapy followed by fomentation that usually lasts 60 to 90 minutes.

A certified practitioner provides gentle strokes and deep kneading cautiously using medicated massage oils specifically selected according to the condition of the person.

Fomentation along with Abhyanga helps the medicated oil reach deeper into the tissue and by nourishing the body locally.

 

Patra pind swed/ Elakizhi- boluses of medicated leaves are applied locally to flush out local toxins through sweating.

Sarvang Dhara- Comfortably warm medicated oil is dripped over affected area. It helps in various musculoskeletal diseases.

Greeva vasti/ kati vasti- This therapy helps in conditions of neck, shoulder and back. A puddle of warm medicated oil is kept over the affected area followed by gentle massage.

Shashti shaali pind swed/ Navara kizhi- This therapy focuses mainly on joints and muscle pain. It is done in two stages. In first stage, affected area is massaged using warm medicated oil. In second stage, mixture of cooked medicated Navara rice, cow’s milk and various herbal decoctions is applied on body.

Pizhichil- It is a full body massage but according to need, can be performed focusing on pain in specific areas. Special linen cloth is dipped in warm, medicated oil and is squeezed all over the body including head followed by a gentle massage delivered in various positions.

Ayurvedic medicines- 

Kottamchukkadi thailam- It penetrates deep and relieves stiffness of affected area and improves mobility.

Yograj guggulu- It reduces joint pain and stiffness and pacifies vata and kapha doshas while supporting healthy joints.

Mahanarayan tail- This oil relaxes muscles post workout by penetrating deep into the muscles.

There are various other medicines and therapies that can help in cervical spondylosis. One should consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner and get appropriate treatment to avoid advancing and worsening of condition.

Exercises- Consult your Ayurvedic doctor to learn about specific yoga and mobility exercises that should be performed for at least 10 minutes daily.