"Why is my back hurting so much???"

Nobody will be there in this era who haven't had the same concern.

What is spine?

The spine, or vertebral column, is a central support structure that runs from the skull to the tailbone, protecting the spinal cord and allowing for movement. It is made of 33 individual bones called vertebrae, separated by intervertebral discs that act as shock absorbers. The spine has five regions: the cervical (neck), thoracic (chest), lumbar (lower back), sacral (pelvis), and coccygeal (tailbone).

SPINES SILENT STRUGGLES

Common disease:

Degenerative: Conditions that develop over time due to "wear and tear".

Degenerative disc disease

Spinal stenosis

Arthritis

Spondylolisthesis (vertebral slippage)

Deformities: Abnormalities in the shape of the spine.

Scoliosis (sideways curve)

Kyphosis (outward curve, or "hump")

Lordosis (inward curve, or "swayback")

Spina bifida (a congenital defect) 

 Other inflammatory conditions:

Ankylosing spondylitis

Osteoporosis.

Other pain related:

Sciatica

Lower back ache

AYURVEDIC SPINE CARE TREATMENTS:

As spine diseases are caused by vata, treatment is also concentrated in vata management and local area.

Vasthi

Bandana

kati basthi

Dhara

Kati pichu

Abhyanga

etc., which help alleviate the agitated vayu, eventually offering relief from back pain.

TWIST AND TURN: YOGA FOR SPINE

An approach of ayurveda and yoga in parallel gives more result, as yoga gives relief in pain by flexibility strengthening poses and ayurveda gives rejuvenation with strengthening along with elimination of the root cause for pain.

This method of combination is considered more effective which helps in reducing usage of painkillers and other conventional medicines as this gives long term health.

Some of the yoga asanas which helps in spine diseases are:

Eka pada uttasana

Bhujangasana

Ardha shalbasana

Ardha chakrasana

Dr. Nilofar Thasneem  T P ( BAMS)
Medical Officer
Dr. P Alikutty's Ayurveda and Modern Hospital - Kottakal