Arthritis of the Neckrefers to the degeneration of the inter-vertebral disks that advance with age. It is a specific form of arthritis, which attacks vertebrae and the connecting bone and ligament structures. This degeneration will affect the adjacent vertebrae also. The elasticity of the inter-vertebral disks is lost as the years pass by and this will bring in its wake injury and tear to the disks. Soon there will be inflammatory changes which in turn will bring in additional deposit of calcium. This will soon lead to extra bone formations called osteophytes in the adjoining structures.
For the majority of people above 50 there will be a certain degree of osteo arthritic changes in their spines. This does not cause any problems and no external symptoms will be visible. However, certain factors like trauma, incorrect posture of the body, pressure while sleeping and excessive intake of sour food will bring about Arthritis of the Neckin some persons. In Ayurveda this condition is known as griva sandhigata vata or Arthritis of the Neck.
It is even seen nowadays that it affects people of the younger generation too and is not merely confined to the elder people alone. An increase in travel among the younger generation along the poorly maintained roads and also spending long hours in front of the computer in an incorrect posture will also lead to the incidence of Arthritis of the Neck.
The major symptoms of Arthritis of the Neckvisible are : pain or numbness in the neck, shoulder, elbow, fore arms and hands, difficulty in turning the head, headache at the back of the head, loss of memory, insomnia, giddiness etc. In some rare cases an attack of paraplegia may also result. It should be realized that Arthritis of the Neckis basically the result of compression of the nerve roots at the cervical region as a result of spondylotic changes and muscular spasm.
All treatments in Ayurveda are prescribed only after a careful diagnosis of the patient’s body constitution, family history, sex, age, stage of the disease etc. This will enable the patient to receive treatments that are specifically suited to his very needs. Ayurveda treatments will therefore vary from patient to patient.
The first consultation with an Ayurveda doctor, including the diagnosis will last for more than an hour. The basic step in the diagnosis will be to find the person’s body humour (dosha) – Vata, Pita or Kapha because it is the imbalance of these body humours that create every disease.
The dominance of dosha in a person is found by asking several questions on his behaviour, food habits, sleeping patterns, personal details like age, height, weight, place of life, profession, health problems and medical reports etc. Ayurveda diagnosis comprises of clinical and laboratory tests also. The doctor can decide if an Ayurveda treatment is helpful on providing these details.
Pulse, tongue, nail, and eye examinations are important diagnosis methods used to reveal a person’s body humor and its imbalance. This will help the doctor in treating the disease.
Pulse diagnosis in Ayurveda is not just counting the beats. It also reveals the health status of the entire body constitution, including the dosha imbalance and the health of the various body organs.
In tongue diagnosis, the doctor checks the general appearance, colour and coating of the tongue. In Ayurveda, as different areas of the tongue correspond to different organs of the body, the Ayurvedic practitioner can determine which organs of the body are out of balance by having a detailed tongue examination.
Nail examination is done to check the type, colour and shape of the person’s nail. Imbalances of doshas are easily detected on close examination.
In the eye diagnosis, the colour, size and even the shape of the eyes are important in determining the dosha dominance of a person. His mental status – nervousness, anxiety, confidence level etc – can also be learned through eye diagnosis.
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After the diagnosis, the doctor sets out to treat the patient in a very systematic manner. This would include a set of appropriate Panchakarmatreatments and Rasayana therapies. These treatments are meant to flush out the toxins, to nourish the body, to bring the doshas back to balance and to regenerate the body.
They are, however, classified as pre-purification, main purification and post purification phases and include various types of therapies like oil massages, fermented liquid massages, medicinal enemas, herbal purification methods, diet regulations, daily regimens, intake of oral medicines etc.
The treatments suggested here are for general guidance only. It may vary according to the decision of the doctor for each person.
Pre-purification therapies are the first ones applied to loosen the toxins, open up the circulation channels and get the body ready for discarding these wastes. These methods are highly relaxing for the body and mind.
The following pre-purification methods are usually adopted in the treatment of Arthritis of the Neck.
Snehapanam is an important pre purification therapy for Arthritis of the Neckwhich consists of oral intake of medicated ghee and sesame oil for a specified number of days. This unique snehapanam treatment helps to flush out the toxins from the body. Amaltas, guggul, ginger, neem, onion, chopchini, tribhala etc. are some of the ingredients used for its preparation. Apart from being a purva karma treatment for Arthritis of the Neck, snehapanam also improves the delicacy of the skin, enhances memory and the grasping power of an individual
Lepam is spreading of thick herbal paste on any afflicted part of the body. The paste is a blend of many powerful herbs, spices, juice of leaves and buttermilk. This localized form of treatment relieves various inflammatory diseases of the body such as rheumatoid arthritis, back aches, headaches and Arthritis of the Neck
Warm herbal paste is gently applied on the affected area to a thickness of half a centimeter. For active penetration, the applied paste is let to dry on the affected part for about 45 minutes. This creates a mild heat on the skin and as a result, its medicinal properties perforate faster in to the cells and absorb the unwanted components that cause inflammation and pain.
Sirovasthi is an effective treatment for many diseases of the head, face and central nervous system. It is an ideal treatment for Arthritis of the Neckas also for facial paralysis, mental stress, headache, memory loss, insomnia etc. Sirovasthi is the retention of warm medicated oil over the head for a certain amount of time. This oil is a prepared mixture of gingelly oil, staff tree, castor oil, ghee, common milk, and medicated herbs like bala, winter cherry, black gram, castor plant, bacopa etc. There are special ways and methods in which the herbs and oils are boiled in order to extract their full medicinal properties.
Thalam Retention of medicated paste or oil right on the vertex of a person for over 30 minutes is termed thalam. The therapeutic effects of herbs and oils pass on to the central and autonomous nervous system through the brain. Indian pennywort, staff tree, sida plant etc are some of the medicinal herbs used in preparing the herbal paste. Thalam is highly recommended for the treatment of Arthritis of the Neck.
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Main purification therapies for Arthritis of the Neck
This is the phase of elimination of toxins that were loosened at the pre purification treatment stage. These therapies are highly potential methods and are usually overseen by doctors. The main purification therapy adopted for Arthritis of the Neckis Nasyam.
Nasyam is the pouring of herbal oil in drops in to the nostrils and inhaling the contents. This opens up the head channels and enables the herb extracts to act directly on the central nervous system. Nasyam treatment lasts for twenty to thirty minutes. The herbal oil is a blend of sesame oil mixed with herbs such as Sida plants, Bel and Vitex etc.
These are body nourishing therapies to rejuvenate the body and mind after the Panchakarma treatments. They keep the enzymes in the tissue cells in their normal functioning condition, restore and balance the body functions and maintain the overall health and well being of an individual for much longer periods after the Panchakarma course. Rasayana treatments for Arthritis of the Neckconsist of oral medicines and diet regulation.
Herbal medicines form an important part of any Ayurvedic treatment. Oral medicines for Arthritis of the Neckwill be extracts of pure medicinal herbs, leaves, spices etc. These are prepared specifically to restore the lost balance and to provide the needed inputs to cure Arthritis of the Neck.(Kashayam and Arishtam ) herbal decoctions and fermentations ( Lehyams) – semi solid formulation are commonly prescribed.
Guggulu, Triphala powder, Liquorices, Asparagus etc are some of the medicinal herbs used in the preparation of kashayams, lehyams and aristams meant for Arthritis of the Neckpatients.
The type and quantity of the medicines to be taken are decided by the doctor after a detailed consultation and examination. The patient’s body type, age etc are also important factors to be considered.
Diet regulation will be suggested for patients suffering from Arthritis of the Neck. Proper diet is a brilliant means of controlling and curing this disease. Ayurveda diet provides adequate nutrition as well as rest for the needed organs.
Arthritis of the Neckpatients are advised to consume a well balanced high fiber content diet. They should consume large quantities of leafy vegetables, carrot juice, fruits, bitter vegetables such as bitter drum stick, neem flowers, bitter gourd etc. Consumption of organic foods is to be encouraged at all times. They should consume wheat instead of rice; however, refined wheat known as maida (wheat flower) and suji (semolina) are best avoided as these may cause constipation in the patient. . They are also advised to avoid consuming sour things especially curd and also hot, spicy and fried foods. It is also better to refrain from consuming pulses.
You can find out your type of Prakruthi and decide a diet for yourself.
Home Remedies for Arthritis of the Neck
Some home remedies suggested below are found to be effective in Arthritis of the Neck is patients. One can take a handkerchief containing 500 grams of salt and heat it by keeping it in a frying pan and then applying this boluses containing heated handkerchief containing salt on the vertebrae of the neck. One should continue with this fermentation for half an hour every day. The affected part should then be covered with a woolen cloth. It is also to be kept in mind that Arthritis of the Neckpatients should not expose themselves to extreme colds. The ideal time suggested for undergoing fermentation process would be at bed time as the patient does not run the risk of exposure.
Yoga and meditation are always beneficial and have always played a vital part in curing every type of disease. Yoga exercises done every day replenish and rebalance the physical and emotional systems that are depleted by the everyday stresses that lie so heavy on our lives. Yoga makes it possible to rest on a strong base of confidence and strength within oneself.
For Arthritis of the Neckpatients, there is an element of mental stress involved and also matters that affect the nerves. Yoga and meditation are highly beneficial for relaxing the mind. These methods reduce or remove stress and thereby contribute towards the recuperation of Arthritis of the Neckpatients.
Life Style for Arthritis of the Neck
Arthritis of the Neckpatients should as far as possible refrain from exposing themselves to extreme cold conditions. They are also advised not to undertake violent exercises of the neck muscles that may exert pressure on the neck. They should also make sure to maintain a comfortable posture while reading or writing. A morning walk is advisable; but one should not venture out if it is extreme cold outside.
