Degenerative Disc Disease Ayurvedic Natural Treatment

Degenerative disc diseases refer to the group of symptoms caused due to the wear-and-tear of the interverbal discs in the neck and back. In some patients, degenerative disc disease can cause numbness, and radiating or shooting pain in the hands and legs. The compression of the nerves due to the degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc can also cause loss of sensations and weakness in the extremities.  Ayurveda can offers degenerative disc disease cure that can help to relieve these symptoms by slowing down the degenerative processes. [1]

Patients with degenerative disc disease experience chronic pain of low to moderate intensity along with intermittent episodes of severe pain. The disc degeneration occurs commonly in the cervical spine causing pain in the neck or the lumbar spine causing pain in the lower back. These regions of the spine are prone to stress and undergo most movements. These factors make these discs susceptible to degeneration. The use of ayurvedic herbs and different ayurveda massages  can provide degenerative disc pain relief and also prevent the symptoms from worsening.

The symptoms of degenerative disc disease tend to get worse with advancing age. As the disc begins to degenerate, they lose their firmness and tend to collapse on each other. As a result, the nerve that emerges from the space between the 2 vertebrae is compressed leading to a radiating pain along the course of the nerve.

There can also be the bulging of the disc due to the pressure caused by the collapse and compression of the 2 vertebrae over each other. The bulging disc protrudes backward and causes pressure on the spinal cord passing through the spinal column lying on the posterior side of the vertebrae. As a result, the patients may experience severe pain and even weakness or paralysis in the parts of the body that receive the nerve supply from the affected region of the spinal cord. Ayurvedic treatment for disc bulge can help to prevent degenerative changes and thus, provide relief from the pain, weakness, numbness, and other symptoms of this disease. 

Complication of Degenerative Disc

The degenerative disc disease can hasten or cause the onset of other spinal conditions, such as spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis and osteoarthritis. Spinal stenosis occurs due to the degeneration of the discs that leads to the pinching or compression of the nerve root or spinal cord. Osteoarthritis of the spine causes damage in the facet joint in the spine. Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebral body protrudes over or slips forward on another vertebral body due to the degeneration of the facet joint. A regular slip disc [2] treatment in Ayurveda can be beneficial for preventing the development of these complications.

The pain caused due to the degenerative disc diseases is linked to 2 factors, inflammation, and abnormal micro-motion instability. The inflammatory proteins present in the disc spaces can leak out due to the degeneration of the disc causing swelling in the spinal structures. The inflammation, thus produced, can cause severe muscle tension, tenderness, and muscle spasms in the neck and back. The inflammation spreads to affect a nerve root, which becomes inflamed resulting in pain and numbness along the course of the nerve. This can cause cervical radiculopathy in the case of cervical disc degeneration, or lumbar radiculopathy, in the case of lumbar disc degeneration.

An abnormal micro-motion instability occurs when the cushioning effect and support a disc provides reduces due to the degeneration of the outer layer of the disc. This results in small, unnatural movements between vertebrae. These abnormal micro-motions can cause irritation and tension in the surrounding nerve roots, muscles, and joints resulting in intermittent episodes of intense pain. Ayurveda offers supplements for degenerative disc disease that can prevent inflammation and slow down the degenerative changes thus reducing the intensity and frequency of intermittent episodes.

Alternative Natural Treatment For Degenerative Disc Disease 

Patients can opt for the natural treatment for degenerative disc disease to control or slow down the progress of the symptoms this condition.

The goal of ayurvedic treatment is to reduce pain and prevent the flare-ups. The herbs  can protect the discs and nerves against degeneration and inflammation. 

Herbal Supplements For Disc degeneration

Patients diagnosed with degenerative disc disease are advised to use the ayurvedic herbal  supplements for disc degeneration to manage the age-related changes. These herbal supplements  possess natural medicinal properties that can prevent the degenerative changes and control the progress of this disease.

Rasana (Alpinia galanga): Patients can use Rasana for the osteophytes and other disc related natural  treatment. This herb can act as an anti-inflammatory agent, and protect the disc, spinal cord, and the nerve roots from the pro-inflammatory substances. [3]

A research presented by Vaidya Vasant Patil mentions about the benefits of rasna in the treatment of degenerative disc disease. A decoction of rasna along with guduchi, gokshura, amalaki, nirgundi, all in equal quantities. Take 30 ml of lukewarm decoction with 10 ml ghee and it can be helpful for this condition.

The same research also mentions about rasnadi kshaya (an ayurvedic formulation that contains rasna besides many other herbs). 20ml of this formulation if taken twice with lukewarm water can prove beneficial.

Erand (Ricinus communis): Erand can offers useful L4 L5 disc bulge ayurvedic treatment. This herb can produces a regenerative effect and can slows down the compression of the discs and nerves. This can help to reduce pain in the lower back caused due to lumbar spondylosis. [4]

Guggulu (Commiphora wightii): Guggulu acts as an antioxidant and anti-aging agent. It can prevent the age-related wear and tear in the discs and the spinal cord. It can also protect these structures against oxidative damage thus controlling the symptoms of degenerative disc disease. [5]

A case study presented by Raman et al highlights the uses of guggulu in the form of Trayodashanga guggulu, it is a special ayurvedic formulation for vatavyadhi. It contains herbs like guggulu, rasna, ashwagandha etc which are having vata and kapha, shothara properties. Its significant effect has been evaluated in the condition of sandhivata in different studies. Dashmoola kwatha is a well-known ayurvedic medicine having anti-inflammatory, analgesic effect. This study further emphasises that Trayodashanga guggulu and Dashmoola kwatha if administered together have vata-kapha alleviating, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

Shilajit (Mineral Pitch): patients with spondylitis neck can use Shilajit to avoid weakness and numbness in the hands. This herb can acts as a rejuvenator and prevents these symptoms. It can also improves the functions of the nerves and reduces the risk of numbness. [6]

Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia): Giloy can acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. It can reduce swelling and pain in the nerve roots. It can also slow down the degenerative changes and prevent frequent episodes of severe pain. [7]

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): Patients who are worried about how to heal a bulging disc naturally can use Ashwagandha to obtain relief from the symptoms. This herb supports the body’s natural healing processes and prevents the symptoms of a bulging disc. [8]

Ayurvedic Treatment For Disc Prolapse

The ayurvedic treatment for disc prolapse includes the use of herbs that act as natural antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory agents. The use of ayurvedic medicine for cervical pain along with a diet rich in nutrients can help to slow down the degeneration of the intervertebral discs and prevent the worsening of the symptoms.

Ayurvedic Treatment For Neck And Shoulder Pain

Patients can follow an ayurvedic treatment for neck and shoulder pain at Pure Herbal Ayurved Clinic, located in Melbourne, Australia. The ayurvedic treatment for herniated disc is aimed at relieving the symptoms and enhancing the general health of patients. The ayurvedic practitioners in Melbourne believes in treating degenerative disc disease in a holistic manner. The treatment also includes Panchakarma Detox, a therapy aimed at detoxifying the body. The regular lumbar spine treatment in Ayurveda can improve the quality of patient’s life. It is the an ayurvedic clinic in Melbourne where the patients can discuss their symptoms and obtain advice regarding the herbs, diet, and other factors that could hasten their recovery.

If you wish to enquire more information on how ayurveda can offer support with disc degeneration or prolapse, you may contact us at Pure Herbal Ayurved Clinic.

Dr Gurnam Saini (Ayurvedic Doctor)

Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine from India

MD in Alternative Medicine from India 

Certificate in Ayurveda Panchkarma Detox from India

Certificate in Ayurveda Pulse & Tongue diagnosis from India

Post Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing from Melbourne

Member of AAA (Australasian Association of Ayurveda) 

Organising Secretary of AYUSH MELBOURNE CONFERENCE, 2018

www.PureHerbalAyurved.com.au

PH- 0061 430 799 515 

Email- PureHerbalClinic@gmail.com

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References:

1. Vaidya Vasant Patil, ‘Management of Degenerative Disc Disease in Ayurveda’, Research Gate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275154231_Management_of_Degenerative_disc_disease_in_Ayurveda
2. Raman Kaushik, Pragya Sharma, Om Prakash, ‘Management Of Cervical Spondylosis Through Ayurveda: A Case Study’, International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy, https://www.ijrap.net/admin/php/uploads/1797_pdf.pdf