Sciatica & Cervical - Ayurvedic / herbal medicines

Usually we come across the terms Spondylosis, Spondylitis, Spondylolisthesis, or Spondylolysis. These are the terms which are related to spine and its abnormalities. Spondylosis is a condition which is referred to degenerative osteoarthritis of the joints of spinal vertebrae resulting pain, paraesthesia or Muscular weakness in limbs. Usually when there is any inflammation of particular point, it is called cervical spondylitis.

Types

If the vertebrae of neck region are involved, it is called as cervical spondylosis and if lower back is involved, it is called Lumbar spondylosis, apart from that, if the patient may suffer from radiating pain and loss of sensation or paraesthesia in hands and legs due to nerve compression and due to lack of sufficient blood flow.

Spondylolysis is another defect of vertebra which occurs in pars interarticularis of vertebral arch and lumbar vertebra and thoracic vertebrae are involved.

Another variety of spondylitis is Ankylosing spondylitis which is an autoimmune disease of spine and sacroiliac joints it is also called as spondylarthritis, and if the disc is involved it is called as spondylodiscitis.

In ayurveda we can say as VATA diseases which include many sets of diseases.

Causes

Usually, those who are having stressful life, who works with computers, individuals who work by standing or seating for long hours and called as Repetitive strain injury resulting in patient suffering from lumbar spondylosis or Cervical spondylosis, or even spondylitis. Other factors such as Injury, or even age related degeneration etc may also cause spondylosis are causative factors.

Diagnosis

There are many methods to get it diagnosed for the spondylosis or spondylitis based on few symptoms and signs depending on pain or radiating pain, and there are some tests like Spurling's test which is done on feeling of pain while coughing in hyperextended position of neck, Straight leg raising test.

Treatment

After proper diagnosis, doctors do prefer conservative treatments, and other alternative therapies to reduce pain and give stability, and therapies like physiotherapy, lifestyle modification, Chiropractic, osteopathy etc, are recommended. Medical treatments like using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs.

Alternative therapies

• There are many alternative therapies such as massage, Ayurveda, siddha, homeopathy, osteopathic manipulative medicine or OMM, trigger-point therapy, osteopathic care, yoga and acupuncture are helpful to control pain, to maintain musculoskeletal function and to enhance proper blood circulation, and to relieve stiffness in muscles.
• If surgery is mandatory, then only it is preferred. Surgeries like cervical radiculopathy, discectomy etc., are the indicated surgeries done.
• Physiotherapy involves restoring range of motions, flexibility, tractions, wax therapy etc. are done as rehabilitative therapies.

Surgery

Basically, Ayurveda do not suggest any surgery, the concept of Ayurveda is to focus on prevention and managing with proper lifestyle and avoids any surgeries. Usually surgery is preferred when there is complete hampering of lifestyle, extreme pain, doctors may choose to operate and remove osteophytes, correcting intervertebral discs to relieve pressure impact on adjacent nerve roots, spinal cord.

Complications

There are many complications due to spondylosis or spondylitis are vertebrobasilar insufficiency, stiff joints, osteophytes, internal fractures, and sometime due to vertebrobasilar insufficiency may lead to stroke.

Alternative therapies

The role of alternative therapies is mainly to maintain lifestyle, rehabilitation after surgeries, to prevent muscular stiffness, to relieve pain, and to enhance movements and blood circulation.

Ayurvedic medicines

As mentioned earlier, ayurvedic treatments like Panchakarma or massage techniques are very helpful. Ayurveda believes that if there no proper formation of tissues and malfunctioning, irregular lifestyle, heavy work, there may be spondylitis, and compared with VATA.

For all types of spondylosis such as cervical spondylosis, Lumbar spondylosis, and inflammatory conditions such as spondylitis, there are many herbal medicines which relieve pain such as Singhnad Guggulu, Divya Trayodashang Guggulu, Divya Ekangveer Ras, Orthovit For Body Pains are the medicines for internal usage which are helpful to reduce pain. There are many more ayurvedic or herbal medicines and siddha medicines or herbo-mineral medicines which are very useful to maintain proper strength in intervertebral discs and to maintain flexibility of the spine, few more medicines such as Divya MahaYograj Guggulu, Divya Lakshadi Guggulu, Divya Pidantak Vati, Divya Brihad Vata-chintamani ras, which are helpful to prevent radiating type of pain and nerve related pain.

For application following medicines are helpful such as Baidyanath Mahavishgarbha Tel, Baidyanath Prasirini Tail particularly beneficial for cervical spondylitis and after applying these oils, one should give local hot water fomentation which is very effective to relieve stiffness and pain.

However, these medicines should consumed with proper advise from registered ayurvedic doctor and these are the choices of medicines which can be used for spine related problems.

Yoga and Meditation for Spondylosis

One should follow instructor for yoga poses as few yoga poses are restricted for particular spine complaints.

One should start gradually by following few mild poses in beginning and gradually increasing the steps to maintain proper flexibility and to relieve from pain and to enhance the quality of lifestyle.

Initially one should follow Bhujangasana, PavanaMuktasan, Uttana Padasana, Shavasana for two weeks. Later one can repeat the above mentioned asanas and add Shalabhasana, Ekapada Uttanasana. Include Pranayama such as Anuloma-Viloma Pranayama and Nadi shodhana pranayama.

These Asanas are helpful to maintain proper stability of joints and one can follow slowly and practice with proper controlled breathing.

Naturopathy

Naturopathy is also very helpful for preventing spine related complaints, by following diet therapy, fasting therapy, Mud therapy, Hydrotherapy, Colon Hydrotherapy which are helpful.

Usually, when there is excess flatulence or gas formation in colon, there may be pressure effects in low back leading to pain and one should adopt bowel care which is very helpful and naturopathy is helpful for the same condition.

Apart from these medicines, there are Homeopathy medicines, siddha medicines which are effective to maintain joint strength and flexibility of the joints.

Homeopathy

Examples: Rhus toxicodendron, Arnica montana 30, Aesculus hip. 30 are the homeopathy medicines which are helpful to control joint pains. However, one should consult doctor for elaborative case history.

One should be careful while practicing exercises and avoid stress and anxiety to prevent further aggravation of the pain.