Ayurvedic Treatment for Ankylosing Spondylitis in Kerala
Best Ayurvedic Treatment for Ankylosing Spondylitis in Kerala. Book an appointment at our ayurvedic hospital or consult our doctor online.
Ayurvedic Packages For Ankylosing Spondylitis in Kerala
The day you tested positive for HLA-B27 might be a nightmare for you. You will be worried about the unbearable back pain and stiffness.
The unending visits to hospitals and investigations might drain your mind and body.
Ayurveda has the best solution to the above-described disease named Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Package Details
- Internal and External medication
- Panchakarma Treatments
- Therapies
- Diet
- Lifestyle modification
What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic and progressive inflammatory arthritis of unknown origin that primarily affects the spine (axial skeleton). Peripheral joints may also be affected by this disease. It is also known by the name Marie- Strumpell disease or Bechterew’s disease and usually affects people (mainly men) in their third or fourth decade.
This disease is a life- long condition that causes pain and stiffness in the affected region.
Ankylosis means fused bones, and spondylitis means inflammation. In severe cases, the vertebrae or affected joints are fused, making it impossible to move.
The disease’s exact cause is unknown but can be linked to the genes. In persons with ankylosing spondylitis, it strongly relates to histocompatibility antigen HLA-B27.
In most people, the Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C- reactive protein will be elevated.; but Rheumatoid factor and ANA will be negative. Radiographic results will be expected in the early stages. In later stages, the ‘bamboo spine’ can be visualized.
Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis?
The clinical symptoms are first noticed in early adulthood, mostly in their third or fourth decade. The clinical manifestations include
- Back pain and stiffness: Pain is worse in the morning, improves with activity, sudden in onset, the pain is not relieved by lying down, duration > 3 months.
- Arthritis of the hip and shoulders occurs in 25 – 35 %, other peripheral joint involvement occurs in 30% of patients, and is usually asymmetric in origin.
- Chest pain is experienced in persons involving the thoracic skeleton and intercostal muscle insertions.
- Bony tenderness accompanies back pain and stiffness.
- Extra Articular pain is due to inflammation at the insertion of tendons and ligaments into the bones, which usually manifests at the heels, iliac crests, ischial tuberosities, etc.
- Acute anterior uveitis, aortic insufficiency, inflammation of the GI tract, amyloidosis, and bilateral upper lobe pulmonary fibrosis is seen in patients.
- Fever, fatigue, and weight loss are associated with the disease.
- In later stages, spinal fractures can occur from a minor trauma that leads to spinal cord injury.
- Limitations of movement of the spine and affected joints occur.
Diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Modified New York criteria (1984) are widely used for diagnosis. It includes:
- History of inflammatory back pain.
- Limitation of motion of the lumbar spine in sagittal and frontal planes
- Limited chest expansion is relative to average values for age and sex.
- Definite radiographic sacroiliitis.
ESR and CRP will be high in blood during the inflammatory periods. Variation of HLA-B27 genes increases the risk of developing ankylosing spondylitis. The majority of people diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis are HLA-B27 positive.
X-ray and MRI show changes in the bone and structures related to it.
Ankylosing Spondylitis in Ayurveda
In Ayurveda, Ankylosing Spondylitis can be included under the broad spectrum of the disease named Amavata. The vitiated doshas and ama (toxins formed by improper digestion in the body) get lodged in the sacroiliac and lumbosacral joints and lead to the disease. The patient
experiences stiffness (stabdhata) and inflammation associated with pain (saruja sopham) in Ankylosing Spondylitis which suits the symptoms of Amavata.
The symptoms like tiredness and fatigue (daurbalya), inflammatory issues in the GI tract (vid vibaddhatam), and cardiac problems (hridgraha) are seen in Ankylosing Spondylitis, just as in Amavata.
The disease Dandaka explained by Acharya Charaka, can also be correlated to Ankylosing Spondylitis. This vitiated Vata dosha causes stiffness of the joints like the head, neck, spine, and pelvis, making them immovable. This is a symptom seen in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ayurvedic Treatment for Ankylosing spondylitis in Ayurveda
In Ayurveda, Ankylosing Spondylitis is managed by Ayurvedic therapies, internal and external medications, diet modifications, lifestyle changes, pranayama, and meditation. The treatment approach is to prevent further complications and relapses of the disease.
The treatment includes the removal of toxins (ama) along with the correction of the vitiated doshas. The toxins interfere with the normal biological process of the body and lead to problems in the body. For the removal of toxins, Panchakarma procedures must be used. The most
the standard treatment procedure for this condition:
- Abhyanga (Herbal oil massage)
- Different swedana procedures like podi kizhi, ela kizhi, and manual kizhi
- Dhanyamla dhara.
- Lepanam and poultice (upanaham) with rasnadi, kottamchukkadi, and grihadhoomadi choornam
- Virechana (Purgation) uses medicines like trivit lehyam, gandarvahastadi eranda tailam, nimbamritadi eranda tailam, Kalyana Gulam, etc., according to the condition of the patient.
- Vasti (medicated enemas) using erandamuladi kashayam, vaitharana vasti, ksheera vasti, yapana vasti, etc., according to the patient’s condition.
Along with the above therapeutic procedures, the intake of medicines is necessary to treat the disease. The medication commonly advised are:
- Rasnapanchakam kashayam
- Amrutottaram kashayam
- Guggulutiktakam ghritam
- Yogaraja Guggulu
- Kaisora Guggulu
- Rasnaerandadi kashayam.
These medicines and treatments must be followed after consultation with a recognized Ayurvedic physician.
Dietic inclusions and foods to be avoided
Some specific foods and herbs must be included in the diet as well as avoided from the diet.
The food that must be included are:
- Barley, red rice, horse gram.
- Drum stick, bitter gourd, pointed gourd.
- Ginger and garlic in buttermilk.
- Water processed with panchakola choornam. The food that is avoided from the diet are:
- Curds, jaggery, milk.
- Fish.
- Black gram flour.
- Mutually incompatible foods.
- Food that is heavy to digest
Lifestyle Modification
- Take light food and avoid excess oily foods.
- Ensure proper evacuation of bowels.
- Practice pranayamas such as nadi shodana, bhramari.
- Practice yogic exercises like paschimottasana, bhujangasana, pavanamuktasana.
- Avoid sleeping during the day.
- Apply heat on the areas where pain and stiffness are felt.
Do’s and don’ts during treatment.
- Have a well-balanced diet.
- Undergo physical therapy and yoga.
- Improve sleeping positions.
- Avoid smoking.
- Don’t use a very high pillow.
- Don’t sleep with a bad posture.
- Take adequate rest.
- Evacuate the bowel properly.
Ankylosing Spondylitis is a progressive disease that must be treated with utmost care. The earlier the diagnosis can be made, the less chance of developing complications. If you have the above
symptoms, undergo proper investigations and treatment. Otherwise, it can be fatal as destroying your life.