Cervical spondylosis is a condition that affects the joints located in the neck region. This is generally an age-related condition that develops because the bones and the cartilage of the cervical spine tend to undergo wear and tear with time. However, there may be other factors that contribute to this disorder too such as neck injury, prolonged strain on the neck region or uncomfortable neck positions for an extended period. Here are some home remedies that you could try to alleviate the pain and discomfort of cervical spondylosis.
Cold or hot pack
When you suffer from cervical spondylosis, the muscles surrounding the neck region tend to feel sore, stiff and painful. Using a cold pack or a heating pad can help to reduce the inflammation and relax these muscles, providing some relief from the associated pain.
Cow’s ghee
According to Ayurveda, cow’s ghee is said to have joint lubricating properties. Also, it is believed to pacify the vitiated vata element that is said to be responsible for cervical spondylosis. Constipation is one of the factors that is considered to aggravate this condition and cow’s ghee helps in the regular passage of soft stools. Therefore, consuming cow’s ghee is said to be one of the best home remedies for cervical spondylosis.
Avoid certain foods
Ayurveda says that foods which are salty and sour, deep-fried in oil, pulses, sooji and maida tend to aggravate the vatadosha. These must be avoided by persons with cervical spondylosis. Similarly, it is better to eat wheat and cut down on rice; neem flowers, bitter gourd and drum stick are said to be beneficial and increasing the daily consumption of water and fiber can help in avoiding constipation and provide relief from the painful symptoms of this condition.
Use of herbs
Herbs such as turmeric, ginger, fenugreek, sallaki, ashwagandha and guggul are known to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Thus, they can prove helpful in reducing the pain of cervical spondylosis. While some herbs such as fenugreek, ginger and turmeric can be made a part of one’s daily diet, the others such as guggul, sallaki and ashwagandha must be used under an expert’s guidance.
Yogasanas
Certain yoga postures such as the Lotus Pose (Padmasana), Stick Pose (Yastikasana), Palm Tree Pose (Tadasana) and Neck movements such as in GreevaSanchalasana help to de-stress and remove the pain associated with cervical spondylosis. (Read: Yoga to relieve the symptoms of cervical spondylitis)
Generally, in conditions where there is joint and muscle pain, some form of massage with medicated oils can help to reduce the inflammation and pain. However, it is important to avoid such massage in cervical spondylosis because applying pressure can cause the condition to worsen. Any neck exercise, if undertaken, must be done only as per the guidance of an expert who knows about your cervical spondylosis problem. Maintaining a comfortable posture while sleeping, sitting and reading and using a woolen scarf around the neck to reduce exposure to cold air can also help reduce the discomfort of cervical spondylosis.
