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[T1300]Treatment For Cervical Spondylosis

by Dr. Rajesh Nair, Dr.

Ayurveda is the Vedic system of health care that developed in India over 5000 years ago, which is a natural therapy, hence it has no side effect or any complications. Computer professionals whose work demands lot of work sitting on a chair in a bent down posture causing undue strain on the vertebral column tend to be more affected by Cervical Spondylosis, which is a special type of arthritis which affects the vertebrae of the neck region.

Ayurveda offers conservative treatment as oral & external medication in which herbal medicine helps you reverse the disease-process giving decongestion of the spinal canal & nerve-root bony outlets which can relieve it.

The signs and symptoms of cervical spondylosis include:

• Pain in the back of the neck spreading at times to the base of skull, shoulder, down your arms to hands and fingers, chest and forehead. The movement of the spine generally aggravates the pain of the neck.

• Stiffness of the neck and even paraplegia may occur due to this condition.

• An increased risk of other injuries to your neck.

• Crunching sounds with movement of the neck or shoulder muscles.

• Numbness and tingling in the arms, hands and fingers, some loss of feeling in the hands and impairment of reflexes.

• In an aggravated state it may present with nausea, blurred vision, and may also be associated with induced tendency of vomiting.

• Dizziness and Blackouts ( if there is pressure on the vertebral artery ) fatigue and irritability.

• With advanced disease, loss of bladder control and leg weakness.

• May feel irritable and fatigue, disturb sleep and impair the ability to work.

• Headaches, which often start at the back of the head, just above the neck, before moving over the top to the forehead.

• Difficulty in swallowing.

• It is often associated with loss of memory.

• A loss of balance, fear of falling.

• Muscle weakness and deterioration, diminished reflexes.

• General tiredness and anxiety - can be present.

Cervical Spondolysis, a wear and tear of the vertebrae and discs in the neck can be a professional hazard with computer operators, clerks, officer workers and it is very important to manage the same at the earliest.

In Ayurveda, a traditional holistic Indian health care system, Panchakarma treatments are the best option to reduce this neck pain and disc compression. Its treatment include :

Basti (Enema) is considered as the mother of all Panchakarma treatments since it cleanses the accumulated toxins from all the 3 doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, through the colon. Medicated oil or ghee and an herbal decoction is given as enema to clean the colon and increase the muscle tone.

Shiro dhara : Pouring continuous stream of medicated oil, buttermilk etc on the fore head and doing a gentle & soothing head massage which creates profound relaxation of the mind and body and revitalizes the central nervous system.

Abhyangam: A whole body massage with specific herbal oils, achieves deepest healing effects by naturally harmonizing body, mind, soul and the senses.

Patra Pinda Sweda (Medicated bundle fomentation) : Medicated oil massage and fomentation with bundle of herbs, which reduces pain and swelling of the joints and also checks degenerative process inside of the body.

Bashpa Sweda (Medicated Steam bath) : Fomentation with medicated steam for Stiffness due to neurological disorders and gives instant relief from pain, spasm of the muscles, inflammation of the joints.

Nasyam (administration of medicated oil through the nose): Cleanses accumulated Kapha toxins from the head and neck region.

Elakizhi (herbal leaf bundle massage): Entire body is massaged with herbal poultices, prepared with various herbs and medicated powder after they are warmed in medicated oils.

Shastika Sali Pinda Swedam/ Navarakizhi : A highly effective rejuvenation technique using a special type of rice that is cooked, tied into boluses and dipped into an herbal decoction and warm milk, then skillfully massaged all over the body.

Pizhichil (medicated oil bath): Fresh linen dipped in lukewarm medicated oil is squeezed over your body while masseurs slowly and gently rub the oil all over.

Greeva vasthi: A treatment done on the neck to decrease cervical spinal compression.

Certain safety measures, especially for people in sedentary occupations, are necessary to relieve and prevent spondylosis. The most important of these is exercise which improves the supply of nutrients to spinal discs, thereby delaying the process of deterioration that comes with age and eventually affects everybody. Safe exercises include walking, swimming and bicycling. The latter should be done keeping the back upright.

Other exercises found beneficial in the treatment of cervical spondylosis are joint movements like folding and unfolding of fingers, moving the wrists up and down, rotating them in both clockwise and anti-clockwise direction, folding and unfolding of the forearms and rotating the shoulder clockwise and anti-clockwise;. head and neck exercises like moving the neck up and down, moving to the sides, rotating the neck clockwise and anti?clockwise and nodding the neck from one shoulder to another; and shoulder exercises like lifting the shoulders up and down, moving the shoulder in clockwise and in anti?clockwise directions. All these exercises should be undertaken three times daily.

Those with sedentary occupations should take a break to stand up every hour. Soft-cushioned seats should be avoided and position should be changed as often as possible. Elderly persons with spondylosis should sleep on a firm mattress on their sides with knees bent at right angles to the torso. They should use thin pillows or avoid it altogether, if possible. They should take care never to bend from the waist down to lift any object, but instead should squat close to the object, bending the knees but keeping the back straight and then stand up slowly.

The diet of elderly persons suffering from spondylosis should consist of salad of raw vegetables such as tomato, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, radish, lettuce and at least two steamed or lightly-cooked vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, spinach and plenty of fruits. The patients should have four meals daily.

The patient should avoid fatty, spicy and fried foods, sour curd, sweets, sugar, condiments as well as tea and coffee.

Those who smoke and take tobacco in any form should give up completely.

Proteins and Vitamin C are necessary for the development of a healthy bone metrix. Vitamin D, calcium, phosphorous and the essential trace minerals are essential for healthy bones. Foods that have been processed for storage to avoid spoiling have few nutrients and should be eliminated from the diet.

Certain food remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment of spondylosis. The most important of these is the use of garlic. Two or three capsules of this vegetable should be taken daily in the morning. It will give good results. An oil prepared from garlic and rubbed on the affected part will give great relief. This oil is prepared by frying 10 cloves of garlic in 60 grams of oil in a frying pan. They should be fried slowly till they are brown. After it is cooled, it should be applied vigorously on the affected part and allowed to remain there for three hours. The patient may thereafter have a warm bath. This treatment should be continued for at least 15 days.

Relief from pain can be obtained by taking lemon juice mixed with common salt twice or thrice daily. A piece of the chebulic myrobalan taken after principal meals also gives quick relief.

Other measures found valuable in cervical spondylosis are mild oil massage to the neck, shoulders and hands, hot fomentation for five to 10 minutes twice a day or five to 10 minutes of exposure to the Infra red rays.

Article Source : Pg. 2

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Both Dr. Rajesh Nair & Krishan Bakhru are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Dr. Rajesh Nair has sinced written about articles on various topics from Arthritis Signs, Diabetes Treatment and Ayurveda Treatment. Dr Rajesh Nair is the consultant of world's largest online ayurvedic store Please check his favourite. Dr. Rajesh Nair's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.

Krishan Bakhru has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acid Reflux, Menopause and Fitness. Author's Sites: , and. Krishan Bakhru's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.