Ayurveda Seminar Tips on SNA's Founder's Day

CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS (C.S)

Definition

It is a degenerative change of the cervical vertebrae and/or disc which spur formation and subsequent impeachment of neural elements in a narrow cervical canal.

Synonyms

Cervical Arthritis
Cervical Myalopathy
Cervical Osteophyts

Signs and Symptoms

Pain on the posterior aspect of the neck,radiating to the arm
Scapular pain
Pain on the lat: aspect of the arm – pain on the medial aspect should be differentiated as coronary heart pain
Radicular pain to the arms or scapular area without pain on the neck
Rarely bladder or bowel incontinence
Weakness of the lower and upper extremities
Black-outs, fall-outs due to vertebral artery compression-Differential diagnosis from TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack) and Minniers disease
Difficulty to neck extension. Pain will be pointing to C.S and without pain will be of MND

Ayurvedic perspective

· It is a Vata predominant disease
· Rarely associated with Kapha
· Useful classical references: Asthigatavatam, Asthi kshaya vikaras
· Rogamargam : Madhyama rogamargam
· Samprapthi: Vata nidanam – Vatakopam – affects Asthi dhatu and joints– leads to Asthi kshayam


Medicines commonly used in CS

Prasaranyaadi Kashayam
Thiktakam Paalkashayam (Ksheerapaka vidhi)
Dhaanwantharam Thailam and Kottamchukkadi thailam for Abhyangam

Snehaswedam is the first line of treatment
Dhaanwanthara and gandha Thailam is taking on the ratio of 10:1 for Pichu
Gandha Thailam is very effective when it using for Pichu
ilakizhi with ‘Thomarayam’ Herb.
Vamana Prayogam is important as Shodhana Chikitsa
Ksheerabala Thailam , Maharajaprasaranee Thailam,Gandha Thailam is also commonly used for Nasyam.
Vasthi with Bhadradarvadi Kashayam with Tiktakam Ghritam.

(Dr. T. Sreekumar on SNA’ s Founder's Day (Unni Mooss Day), 2003).