herbs for spondylosis

Spondylosis

General characteristics

Spondylosis is a degenerative condition affecting the bones of the spine in the neck, trunk or lower back. It differs from spondylitis in that spondylitis is inflammatory whereas spondylosis is more degenerative, more akin to arthritis.

Pain and restriction of movement in the affected part of the spine are the main symptoms with pain radiating to nearby areas such as the shoulders and arms or hips and legs for example. It is common to find some degree of spondylosis as the person ages.

Causes include increasing age, 'slipped' discs, poor diet, poor balance of bowel bacteria, repetitive straining movements (occupational related perhaps) and day to day wear and tear.

Healing objectives are to correct any nutritional deficiencies, take regular supporting exercises and to alleviate any pain or discomfort.

Diet and lifestyle

Eat plenty of foods rich in the anti-oxidant vitamins A, C and E. Vitamin E in particular is found to have a healing effect on the condition.

Avoid processed foods, fried and fatty foods and sugary foods. Eat instead fish, organic poultry, vegetables, grains, fruits and salad leaves/herbs especially parsley and celery, nuts, seeds and dried fruits.

Avoid acid forming foods such as starches and refined carbohydrates, red meat, vinegars (except cider vinegar), salt, tea and coffee. Stay off processed foods and anything containing additives, flavourings etc.

Drink filtered water if the water in your area is hard.

Whilst in the process of healing, limit you intake of tomatoes, spinach, oranges, red and blackcurrants, rhubarb and gooseberries as these contain oxalic acid, cut right down on alcohol also.

Have a small glass of apple, celery and carrot juice every day, add kale leaves for their pain killing properties.

Useful herbs

Herbs which encourage elimination of waste via the kidneys and therefore greatly help in cleansing the joints include celery seed, parsley, birch leaves, nettle, hydrangea root, yarrow, dandelion root and leaves, burdock root, plantain, meadowsweet.

Herbs which have an anti-inflammatory action include wild yam, devils claw, Siberian ginseng, St. Johns wort, liquorice, turmeric, guaiacum, bogbean.

Herbs which increase blood circulation, bringing fresh blood and nutrients, speed up waste removal and alleviate pain include angelica root, rosemary, prickly ash, black cohosh, coriander seeds, ginger, cayenne, mustard, horseradish and frankincense.

Herbs which stimulate digestion and bowel elimination include gentian, oregon grape, peppermint, bogbean, feverfew.

Herbs which have a painkilling action include white willow, meadowsweet, St. Johns wort, solomons seal.

Herbs which are generally healing and nutritive to the whole musculo-skeletal system include solomons seal, boneset, comfrey leaf, butterbur, knotgrass.

Comfrey leaf poultices when applied to the affected are are capable of slowly dissolving calcium deposits that often build up around the bones. Make a strong tea using a tablespoon of comfrey leaf to a mug of boiling water. Apply the cool leaves as a poultice to the area affected and leave on for half an hour or so. Repeat daily.

Natural healing

This webpage has exercises specific for spondylosis in the neck.

Take a teaspoon of cider vinegar in water, sweetened with honey if need be, and increase to twice daily over time.

Drink the fresh juice of 1 lemon each day in some water and gradually increase this over time.

Take up to a tablespoon of blackstrap molasses daily for its incredible nutrient content.