Spondylitis

Spondylitis is a condition associated with ageing which all of us undergo to a greater or lesser extent. Changes in spondylitis are due to repeated stress that our spine is subjected to.

The disc between the vertebrae becomes thin and weak and intervertebral space reduces. Sometimes, the disc may even prolapse outwards or inwards, thus pressing on the spinal nerves or even the cord. Bony outgrowths may occur leading to pressure on nerves.

It tends to affect the cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) more than the rest of the spine since these parts are more mobile and hence subjected to more stress. If we neglect it, these changes can progress more rapidly. Now, let us see what happens to our spine in spondylitis.

All these changes lead to various complaints like pain, tingling, numbness, and if the cord is affected, even paralysis. Since spinal cord is an organ of balance, and in case it is affected imbalance and giddiness (vertigo) may be caused, and sometimes when a nerve root is compressed, the patient may be gripped in a vice – like grip of pain around the trunk called root pain.

The ayurvedic mangement of Spondylosis and allied conditions include:

• Ayurvedic therapies
• Herbal treatment

Ayurvedic therapies like snehan and swedan, medicated packs, Khizhi, Kati basti, local dhara etc are highly beneficial treatments which make use of different medicated oils, herbs and massage techniques. They are known to improve mobility and reduce pain and inflammation at the effected site.

Ayurvedic herbal medicine offers conservative and curative treatment as oral & external medication. These herbal medicines can help reverse the disease-process giving decongestion of the spinal canal & nerve-root bony outlets which can relieve spondylosis pain. Suppleness of the spinal joints results by dissolution of osteophytes & arresting the ongoing degenerative changes.