Grīvā Sandhigata Vāta is an Asthi-Sandhi-gata Vāta vyādhi described under Vāta-vyādhi in Ayurveda. It correlates with cervical spondylitis/spondylosis in modern medicine. It occurs due to vitiated Vāta lodging in the neck joints (cervical vertebrae, intervertebral discs), causing stiffness, pain, reduced mobility, and sometimes neurological complications due to nerve compression.

"वातात् संधिषु शोषश्च शूलं स्थम्भोऽथवा भवेत् ।"
(सुश्रुत संहिता, निदानस्थान १/२९)

Classical: Grīvā Sandhigata Vāta is Vāta-dominant sandhigata vikāra. Vitiated Vāta causes ruk (pain), śotha (swelling), stabdha (stiffness), and sandhi-śūla (joint pain) in the cervical region.
Modern: Cervical spondylitis is degenerative osteoarthritis of cervical spine, involving intervertebral disc degeneration, osteophyte formation, reduced disc height, and neural compression leading to radiculopathy.

• Ati-rukṣa, śīta, laghu āhāra (excess dry, cold, light foods) → aggravates Vāta.

  "रूक्षशीतललघ्वन्नं वातं कुर्वन्ति तात्कालम्"
  (चरक सूत्रस्थान २५/४०)

• Alpa ahara / Upavāsa — undernutrition leads to dhātu-kṣaya, sandhi-kṣaya.
• Ati-kaṣāya, tikta, kaṭu rasa sevana — causes vāta prakopa, asthi dhātu kṣaya.

• Ati-vyāyāma (overexertion) and Ati-bhāra vahana (lifting heavy weights).
• Asana-doṣa (poor posture, prolonged desk work).
• Ratrijāgaraṇa — vitiates Vāta.
• Śītoṣṇa vyatyaya (excess cold exposure).
• Vega-dhāraṇa (suppression of urges).

Due to nidāna sevana, Vāta gets aggravated and lodges in cervical sandhi. This leads to kṣaya of asthi dhātu, śoṣa of sandhi snāyu, and degeneration of disc and vertebral joints. Compression of nāḍī (nerves) leads to radiating pain, numbness, tingling in arms.

"वातात् संधिषु शूलं च स्थम्भोऽथ क्लम एव च ।"
(माधवनिदान, वातव्याधि)

Ayurveda: Clinical diagnosis based on rūpa, sandhigata lakṣaṇa in grīvā pradeśa, vāta prakopa.
Modern: X-ray, MRI of cervical spine showing disc degeneration, osteophytes, reduced disc height, nerve compression signs.

• Stiffness of neck after exertion
• Heaviness in neck
• Fatigue on prolonged sitting
• Mild pain radiating to shoulders

• Hair grey
• Associated hair fall or thinning in some cases
• Dry, rough, brittle hair strands
• Scalp burning or itching (in Pitta-dominant type)
• Early greying with familial/genetic predisposition
• Psychological distress, anxiety, low confidence

• Neck pain with stiffness
• Restricted neck movements
• Pain radiating to arms/shoulders
• Numbness, tingling in hands
• Giddiness/vertigo in chronic cases

"रुक् स्थम्भः संधिषु जायते"
(सुश्रुत)

• Vāta-pradhāna Grīvā Sandhigata Vāta — pain, stiffness, cracking sounds.
• Vāta-Kapha anubandha — stiffness with swelling, heaviness.
• Chronic degenerative type — disc collapse, neurological involvement.

• Cervical radiculopathy
• Vertigo
• Muscle spasm
• Loss of grip strength

Early stage with mild degeneration is sadhya. Chronic degenerative with nerve compression and osteophytes is yapya/krichrasadhya.

• Principles: Vāta shamana, snehana, swedana, basti, rasāyana.
• Panchakarma:
  • Abhyanga with Mahanārāyaṇa taila, Bala taila.
  • Swedana — Nadi sweda, Patra pinda sweda.
  • Basti — Anuvāsana with Dhanvantaram taila; Niruha with Dashamoola kwatha.
  • Nasya — Ksheerabala taila, Anu taila (local head–neck application).
• Herbal Medicines:
  • Dashamoola kwatha
  • Rasnadi kwatha
  • Yogaraj guggulu, Trayodashang guggulu
  • Ashwagandha, Bala, Shatavari
• Rasoushadhi:
  • Mahāyogarāj guggulu
  • Swarna bhasma (under supervision)
  • Abhraka bhasma (rasayana)
• Pathya: Warm, light, unctuous food; regular gentle exercise; hot fomentation.
• Apathya: Cold exposure, heavy lifting, sleeping on hard pillow, excessive ruksha, kaṭu ahara.
• Yoga/Pranayama: Bhujangasana, Makarasana, Setubandhasana, gentle neck rotations; Anuloma-viloma, Bhramari.
• Mudra: Vayu mudra, Prana mudra.
• Mantra: ॐ नमः शिवाय — for calming Vāta and mind.

• Warm light meals with ghee
• Garlic, ginger, Dashamoola decoction
• Regular mild exercise, hot fomentation

• Cold drinks and cold exposure
• Heavy lifting, jerky neck movements
• Excess tikta/kaṣāya foods

Cervical spondylitis = degenerative condition of cervical spine. Ayurveda correlates with Grīvā Sandhigata Vāta due to vāta prakopa and asthi dhātu kṣaya. Management focuses on vāta shamana, rasayana, panchakarma, lifestyle correction, physiotherapy, and yoga.

• X-ray cervical spine (degeneration, osteophytes)
• MRI (disc prolapse, nerve compression)
• Neurological exam