Dr. Abhaya Kumar Mishra

Manyastambha is one of the Nanatmaja Vata vyadhi. It can be correlated with cervical spondylosis in modern medicine. Cervical spondylosis is a very common condition. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 adults will have some degree of cervical spondylosis. It usually occurs in people of age 50 or older. With the emergence of computer technology in recent years, many computer engineers also developed cervical spondylosis. It is a degenerative condition of cervical spine that most likely to be caused by age related changes in inter vertebral discs. It may cause pressure on nerve roots with subsequent pain or paraesthesia in upper limbs.
Compression of nerve roots occur when a disc prolapses laterally. The main symptoms of cervical spondylosis are pain in the neck radiating to shoulder, upper arms, hands and back of the head. Any movement may cause aggravation of pain, so patient try to hold the neck rigidly. There may be muscle wasting, numbness and loss of sensation in arms, hands and fingers. Greevabasti is a variety of external snehana. It is a procedure of applying heat to cervical region by retaining warm medicated oil within a specially formed frame on this area. It is a localized form of basti, which is indicated in painful conditions of cervical region like cervical spondylosis, Spondylolysthesis, Cervical IVDP etc. Commonly used medicated oils are Mahanarayana taila, Mahamasha taila, Karpasastyadi taila etc. Greevabasti is found to be an effective treatment in many cases of cervical spondylosis.