Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can come from the rotator cuff tendons, a stiff “frozen” shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), arthritis or referred pain from the neck. Ayurvedic care may suit people with long-standing shoulder pain or stiffness who have had a medical assessment, alongside their doctor’s care. In Ayurveda, frozen shoulder is described as Avabahuka (pain and loss of movement from Vata, the energy of movement, with Kapha, the energy of lubrication) and wasting conditions as Amsashosha.
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- Pain when lifting the arm, reaching behind the back or lying on the shoulder
- Progressive stiffness and loss of movement (typical of frozen shoulder)
- Weakness in lifting (which may suggest a tendon problem)
Assessment & Treatment
- Consultation and examination of the shoulder and neck, with scans if needed.
- Therapies: Patra Pinda Sweda, Abhyanga and Swedana. Heat, oil and Nasya treatments are not suitable for everyone, for example during pregnancy, with fever or a skin infection, or with some bleeding conditions. We check this at your consultation.
- Nasya, medicated oil, ghee or herbal preparation given through the nose, where suitable.
- Herbal medicines, chosen after we review your pregnancy status, liver health and any other medicines you take, and a gentle, progressive movement programme.
Precautions & When to See a Doctor
Left shoulder or arm pain with chest pain, breathlessness or sweating can be a heart attack: call 112 immediately. Ayurvedic care is complementary to medical care. Do not stop prescribed medicines, such as painkillers or blood thinners, without speaking to your doctor. See a doctor promptly for shoulder pain after a fall, sudden loss of arm strength, a deformed shoulder, a hot, red or swollen shoulder, numbness or tingling in the arm or hand, pain with weight loss or night sweats, or fever.
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What the Evidence Shows
Evidence for Ayurvedic care of shoulder pain is limited. A small study of 15 people had Nasya with medicated oil for seven days. Most reported some improvement, and two were unchanged. The summary describes no comparison group, so the study cannot show that Nasya caused the change [1]. A study of yoga postures, a separate practice from the Ayurvedic treatments on this page, found no added advantage over standard frozen-shoulder treatment after one month [2]. Other evidence consists mainly of individual case reports [3, 4]. In one of them, a 62-year-old man’s pain and stiffness improved within a month of Ayurvedic medicines, oil treatment and herbal steam [3]. A single case cannot show what caused the change. Gentle movement is generally advised as part of recovery.
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
How long does a frozen shoulder last?
Frozen shoulder usually takes many months, and often more than a year, to settle. Treatment aims to reduce pain and keep or restore movement.
Should I keep moving my shoulder?
Generally yes, within comfort. We will advise suitable exercises.
Do I need an injection or surgery?
Some people do, and that decision is made with an orthopaedic doctor. Ayurvedic care can be part of your plan either way.
Clinical Research
4 studies: 2 clinical studies, 2 case reports.
Show the 4 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.
- Das B, Ganesh RM, Mishra PK, et al.. A study on Apabahuka (frozen shoulder) and its management by Laghumasha taila nasya. Ayu, 2010. Clinical study PubMed
- Jain M, Tripathy PR, Manik R, et al.. Short term effect of yoga asana – An adjunct therapy to conventional treatment in frozen shoulder. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine, 2020. Clinical study PubMed
- Pardhekar AD, Pardhekar A, Davkare M, et al.. Successful Management of Avabahuka (Frozen Shoulder) Using Ayurvedic Interventions: A Case Report. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences, 2025. Case report: low evidential weight PubMed
- Benny GA, Benny CS, Parameswaran KK. Complete Functional Recovery in Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tear through Ayurvedic Medicine and Rehabilitative Exercises: A Case Report. Alternative therapies in health and medicine, 2025. Case report: low evidential weight PubMed