A Comparative Clinical Study on the Efficacy of Panchasneha taila Greeva Basti and Jambeera Pinda Sweda in the Management of Manyastambha (Cervical Spondylosis)

Due toimproper regimens like sitting, sleeping postures, and consumption of food in day-to-day life, this irregular life style gradually leads to early degenerative changes. Constant improper usage of neck may lead to early degeneration followed by neck stiffness and other ailments of the neck.

Manya stambha is one such condition explained under Vataja nanatmaja vyadhi (1) Manya means Gala parshwa shira, which means back of the neck (2). Stambha means Nishchalikarana means stiffness (3). Symptoms of Manya stambha are Stambha (Stiffness), Shoola (Pain) over neck region, which can be corelated with Cervical spondylosis in contemporary science.

Cervical spondylosis is a degenerative condition of cervical spine where pain and restricted movements of neck are the common symptoms. This disease is now becoming serious problem to working individuals due to its progressive nature.

More than 85% of people over the age of 60 years are affected. About 10 million persons per year affected in India alone. Prevalence of Cervical spondylosis is similar in both sexes, although degree of severities greater in males. It has been estimated that 75% of persons over the age of 50 years have narrowing of spinal canal or intervertebral foramina and 50% of these cases have symptomatic spondylotic changes in cervical spine occur at solitary disc space level in 15-40% of patients and multiple level in 60-85% of patients. C4-C7 most commonly affected (4).

In Panchakarma, treatment principles for Vataja vyadhi provides significant results in managing                        musculoskeletal disorders especially in the management of shoola by Snehana, Swedana, Mrudu Samshodana.

Greevabasti is the procedure in which both properties of Snehana and swedana are incorporated. Greevabasti comes in direct contact with affected region. Greevabasti being opposite to Vata Dosha guna that is Snigdha and ushna in nature alleviates the disease. Swedana removes kleda along with the sweat from the body resulting in the reduction of Gourava and Stambha (5).

Jambeera Pindasweda is a modified type of Sankara sweda, Jambeera being Ushna virya, Amla rasa which leads to shamana of Vata & Kapha. Ushna and Snigda guna of Swedana subsided the symptoms of Manya sthamaba.

Panchasneha taila indicated in vataja shoola and stambha as it contains Rasna, Saindava, Devadaru, Bala, Dashamoola, Eranda taila, Tila taila, Varahi taila, Narikelaja taila, Goghrita. It is having Vatahara, Shulahara, and Stambhahara properties.

Hence “a comparative clinical study on the efficacy of Panchasneha taila Greevabasti and Jambeera Pindasweda in the management of Manya stambha, cervical spondylosis is taken.