29 Jul, 2025
Dr. Kaustubh Bathe0 commentsJuly 29, 2025Ayurveda, Basti, Panchakarma, Raktamokshana, Vamana, Virechan

Ayurvedic & Panchakarma Treatment of Cervical Spondylitis: An Ayurvedic Approach to Neck Pain Relief

Cervical spondylitis, also known as Cervical Spondylosis or Cervical Osteoarthritis, is a common degenerative condition that affects the neck region of the spine, especially in individuals with poor posture, sedentary lifestyles, and high screen exposure. This condition involves wear and tear of cervical vertebrae and intervertebral discs, leading to chronic pain, stiffness, and sometimes nerve compression.

In Ayurveda, this disorder falls under the category of “Greeva Sandhigata Vaata”, which denotes the vitiation of Vaata dosha in the cervical spine region. With Ayurvedic medicine and Panchakarma therapies, the pain and stiffness can be naturally relieved, and degeneration can be slowed down or even reversed to some extent.

🔍 Causes of Cervical Spondylitis (Ayurvedic & Modern Perspective)
🧬 Ayurvedic Causes for Cervical Spondylosis:

  • Vata Dosha Aggravation due to dry, cold diet or irregular routine

  • Dhatukshaya (Tissue depletion) due to age, malnourishment

  • Agnimandya (weak digestive fire) causing poor tissue formation

  • Ruksha (dry), Vishama (irregular) lifestyle

  • Overuse or strain on the neck muscles and joints

 

⚠️ Modern Lifestyle Causes:

  • Long hours of mobile or computer use (tech neck)

  • Poor posture while working or sleeping

  • Lack of physical activity or exercise

  • Neck injuries or trauma

  • Age-related disc degeneration

  • Stress-related muscle tension

 

❗ Symptoms of Cervical Spondylitis

  • Chronic neck pain and stiffness, especially in the morning

  • Radiating pain to shoulders, arms, or fingers

  • Numbness or tingling in hands or arms

  • Headaches, often originating from the neck

  • Loss of balance or dizziness in severe cases

  • Difficulty in neck movements and muscle weakness

 

🌿 Ayurvedic Treatment for Cervical Spondylitis

The Ayurvedic approach focuses on balancing Vata dosha, nourishing the affected dhatus (tissues), improving digestion (Agni), and eliminating toxins (Ama). The line of treatment includes:

1. Internal Herbal Medicines (Aushadha Chikitsa)

  • Rasna Kashayam – for joint stiffness & inflammation

  • Dashmool Kashayam– anti-inflammatory and Vata pacifying

  • Guggulu  Kalpa – relieves joint and nerve pain, effective in neuromuscular disorders

  • Ashwagandha & Shatavari – rejuvenators and muscle relaxants

  • Shallaki & Guggul – natural pain relievers and anti-inflammatories

Note: Always use herbal medicines under Ayurvedic doctor’s supervision. These herbal medication are just for information. Not to consume without Ayurveda doctor consultation.

🛁 Panchakarma Treatment for Cervical Spondylitis

Panchakarma therapies help in deep detoxification, lubrication, and restoration of joint and nerve health.

🔸 1. Greeva Basti (Neck oil pooling)

  • Warm medicated oil is held on the cervical region using a dough ring

  • Relieves stiffness, improves flexibility, and nourishes the spine

🔸 2. Abhyanga (Ayurvedic Oil Massage)

  • Full-body massage with Vata-pacifying oils like Mahanarayan Taila

  • Reduces muscular stiffness, improves circulation

  • https://wa.me/c/919511953471
🔸 3. Swedana (Herbal Steam Therapy)
🔸 4. Pizhichil or Patra Pinda Sweda

  • Warm herbal oils or bolus of medicated leaves applied over neck

  • Very effective for degeneration and inflammation

🔸 5. Nasya (Nasal medication)

  • Clears toxins from the head region

  • Beneficial in headaches, dizziness, and cervical-associated symptoms

🔸 6. Basti (Medicated Enema)

🍽 Diet & Lifestyle Guidelines:

✅ What to Follow:

  • Include warm, unctuous, easily digestible foods

  • Use ghee, garlic, ginger, and dashamoola decoctions

  • Practice light neck and spine exercises or yoga under supervision

  • Apply warm packs on painful areas

❌ What to Avoid:

  • Cold, dry, and fermented foods

  • Long hours on the phone or laptop without breaks

  • Sudden jerky neck movements

  • Exposure to cold wind or A/C air directly on neck

🧘 Recommended Yoga for Cervical Health

  • Matsyasana (Fish Pose)

  • Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)

  • Neck rotations & shoulder rolls

  • Chin-to-chest stretches (gentle and supervised)

Conclusion

Cervical spondylitis may be a degenerative condition, but Ayurveda offers deep, long-lasting relief through its root-cause approach. Unlike painkillers or temporary neck braces, Ayurvedic & Panchakarma therapies work on balancing the doshas, strengthening the spine, and rejuvenating the nervous system.

If you’re struggling with chronic neck pain or related symptoms, consult a qualified Ayurvedic physician to begin a natural, drug-free, and holistic healing journey.

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16 Apr, 2024
Dr. Kaustubh BatheApril 16, 2024Ayurveda, Panchakarma, Shirodhara

Shirodhara: An ultimate weapon for stress in todays era

Introduction:

In today’s fast-paced world, stress has become an inevitable part of daily life for many. From work pressures to personal responsibilities, the demands of modern living can take a toll on our mental and physical well-being. Chronic stress not only affects our mood and productivity but also undermines our overall health, contributing to various ailments like anxiety, depression, insomnia, and even cardiovascular diseases.

In such a scenario, it’s crucial to explore a holistic approach to combat stress and restore balance to our body and mind to be in peace;  in which Ayurveda is sure an effective way. Shirodhara is one of the effective and non-side-effective treatments in Ayurveda to combat stress.

Understanding the Shirodhara procedure:

Before diving into Shirodhara benefits lets understand it first. Shirodhara is a combination of two Sanskrit words Shira means head & Dhara means flow. Hence Shirodhara is a procedure in which medicated oil is poured with steady and continuous stream on the forehead. This process is continued for 30 to 45 minutes. This soothing therapy is renowned for its profound relaxation and rejuvenating effects on the body and mind.

 

Benefits of doing Shirodhara:

  1. Calming effects: The continuous flow of oil on the forehead helps to create a smoothening effect on the brain which ultimately calms down the nervous system & promotes a deep sense of tranquillity.
  2. Improves sleep quality: The induction of relaxation helps to alleviate insomnia & promotes good sleep quality.
  3. Balances stress hormone: The continuous pouring of oil on the forehead helps to (stimulate the third eye which ultimately) regulates the brain centres to regulate the production of hormones by reducing stress.
  4. Relieves mental tension: The rhythmic flow of oil on the forehead helps to relieve the tension by controlling the hormone regulation, inducing good quality sleep etc.
  5. Enhances good mood: All the corrections done in the physiology of the body mentioned above ultimately result in good behaviour and mood elevation of a person.

Other associated benefits of doing Shirodhara:

  1. Nourishes & rejuvenates scalp health
  2. Helps restore, and promote hair growth & health
  3. Beneficial in scalp psoriasis (Takra Dhara)
  4. Beneficial for patients suffering from hair loss

Who is eligible to go for Shirodhara?

  1. Person who going through stress
  2. Students to improve concentration
  3. Women’s to control the hormonal imbalance
  4. People who have anger issues
  5. A healthy person who wants to distress himself
  6. Patients having a seizure or epilepsy history
  7. Patient gone through severe brain injury in past
  8. The patient had a previous history of paralysis
  9. People who work on computers for a longer duration
  10. People who want to improve their work productivity
  11. People who have work of intellect

When Shirodhara can be done?

It can be carried out throughout the year as per one Ayurvedic physician. As there is no season described for Shirodhara in Ayurvedic text.

Who to avoid Shirodhara?

  1. A person who is suffering from cough congestion
  2. A person who sleeps more
  3. A person who has undergone recent surgery related to the head region
  4. A person having a headache due to Kapha dosha

For how many days Shirodhara is to perform?

It is advised to do at least 5 days to continue the Shirodhara therapy. One therapy can be scheduled for a minimum of 7 days to 21 days as per Doshas constitution and requirement as a therapeutic procedure.

 

Conclusion:

Today our fast-paced world is occupied by everyone with stress and tension; which affects their normal life now or later on. This is a major cause of heart disease in today’s era. To combat stress and release tension Shirodhara is found effective in controlling all the problems arising from it. Shirodhara helps to restore the balance of doshas and incorporate the peace within leading towards a healthy life.

At Dr Bathe’s Ayurvidhi Clinic – Ayurvedic Clinic & Panchakarma Centre we traditionally perform Shirodhara to get optimum benefits to our patients.

Address:  Dr. Bathe’s Ayurvidhi Clinic- Ayurvedic Clinic & Panchakarma Centre, office no. 309, Park Plaza Business Centre, Porwal Road, Lohegaon, Pune – 411047.

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