Cervical Spondylosis
Cervical spondylosis is age-related wear in the discs and joints of the neck. It is very common and often causes no symptoms, but can lead to neck pain, stiffness and headaches, and sometimes pressure on nerves or the spinal cord. Ayurveda calls it Greeva Sandhigata Vata (Greeva means neck, Sandhigata means affecting the joints, and Vata is the Ayurvedic energy linked with movement). Ayurvedic care is complementary to medical care, not a replacement for it. It may suit people with ongoing neck pain or stiffness who have had a medical check and have no warning signs.
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- Neck pain and stiffness
- Pain spreading to the shoulders or between the shoulder blades
- Tingling, numbness or weakness in the arms (nerve involvement)
- Dizziness with neck movement in some people
Assessment & Treatment
- Consultation and neurological examination of the arms and legs; review of X-ray or MRI.
- Greeva Basti (warm medicated oil held on the neck in a ring of dough), Shashtika Shali Pinda Sweda (warm bundles of medicated rice massaged over the body) and Patra Pinda Sweda (warm bundles of herbal leaves pressed on the painful area).
- Nasya (medicated oil, ghee or herbal preparations given through the nose) where suitable.
- Herbal medicines, posture and neck-exercise advice.
Precautions & When to See a Doctor
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department straight away for sudden slurred speech, double vision, dizziness with fainting, a fall without warning, a sudden severe headache, or neck stiffness with fever. Seek urgent care straight away for neck pain after an injury. Also seek urgent care for clumsy or weak hands, difficulty walking or balancing, loss of bladder or bowel control, or worsening numbness or weakness in the arms or legs: these can signal spinal cord compression (myelopathy), which needs a spine specialist. Avoid forceful neck manipulation. Herbal medicines and treatments with heat, oil or nasal drops are not suitable for everyone. Tell us before you start if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have liver or kidney disease, a bleeding disorder, a recent spinal surgery or fracture, a recent head injury, a fever or infection, or take other medicines, so we can check for interactions. Do not stop prescribed medicines, such as painkillers or muscle relaxants, without talking to your doctor.
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What the Evidence Shows
Overall, the evidence is limited. A small before-and-after study of 10 patients reported that Greeva Basti was effective for symptoms of cervical spondylosis over 14 days [1]. Before-and-after studies have no control group, so this cannot show how much of the change was due to the treatment itself. A randomised trial assessed Nasya added to herbal medicine [2], and a small observational study of 22 patients with neck stiffness described symptom changes after seven days of herbal medicine, medicated oil and herbal steam [3]. Observational studies cannot show that the treatment caused the change. A single-patient case report described Ayurvedic treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy, a serious spinal cord condition that needs specialist care, and reported improvement in that patient [4]. A single case cannot show that Ayurveda treats this condition. A 2024 systematic review of 113 studies of Ayush treatments (Ayurveda and other systems recognised by the Indian government) for cervical and lumbar spondylosis found that only one in eight reported any side effect, and that side effects may be under-reported [5]. This does not show that the treatment is free of risk.
Prepared by the AyurSoul Healthcare team from the published research listed below. Medical review by Dr. Hemlata Soni, BAMS is in progress. This page is for education and does not replace individual medical advice. Medical disclaimer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cervical spondylosis be reversed?
The age-related changes do not reverse. A plan of care may help with symptoms, but the evidence for Ayurvedic treatment is limited. Ayurvedic care is complementary to medical care, not a replacement for it.
Should I wear a neck collar?
Ask your doctor before using one, and do not wear one for long periods unless they advise it. Your doctor may also suggest gentle movement and posture changes.
Can pillows make a difference?
They may help some people. We advise on pillow height and sleeping position as part of your plan.
Clinical Research
5 studies: 1 systematic review, 1 randomised trial, 2 clinical studies, 1 narrative article.
Show the 5 studies
Numbers in the text refer to this list. Each study is labelled by type: systematic reviews and randomised trials are stronger evidence than pilot studies or single case reports.
- Pandey YK, Shalini, Sharma AK. Effect of Grīvā Vasti in management of Grīvā Asthi Sandhi Gata Vāta (Cervical Spondylosis). Ancient science of life, 2013. Clinical study PubMed
- Radhika C, Kumar GV, Mihirjan K. A randomized controlled clinical trial to assess the efficacy of Nasya in reducing the signs and symptoms of cervical spondylosis. Ayu, 2012. Randomised controlled trial PubMed
- Bharti, Katyal S, Kumar A, et al.. Clinical observation on Greeva Stambha (cervical spondylosis) Chikitsa. Ayu, 2010. Clinical study PubMed
- Singh SK, Rajoria K. Ayurvedic management in cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine, 2017. Perspective / narrative article PubMed
- Ponnaiah M, Elumalai R, Muthappan S, et al.. Adverse events in India's Ayush interventions for cervical and lumbar spondylosis: a systematic review. European journal of medical research, 2024. Systematic review PubMed