What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Ankylosing spondylitis is typical inflammatory arthritis that involves the spine and the larger joints. AS is otherwise known as Bechterew’s disease. The ratio of AS in Male to female is reported to be 3:1.
What causes AS?
The exact cause of AS is unknown but is believed to be more of the genetic disorder as 90% of the affected individuals show the HLA-B27 genotype. AS can be diagnosed with symptoms, radiological imaging and few blood tests such as ESR, CRP, HLA-B gene testing, etc.
What are the symptoms of AS?
The characteristic symptoms include back pain along with stiffness radiating to the buttock and neck region. Progression of the condition results in ossification which in turn affects the spinal mobility leading to stooped posture due to fusion of the spinal bones along with other systemic features such as fatigue, weight loss, fever, inflammation. Severe AS also known to affect the lungs, heart, kidneys, and eyes in later stages.
How AS is treated?
There is no complete cure for AS in Morden medicine but the symptomatic improvement can be done using anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-rheumatic drugs, immunosuppressants, steroids which preferably reduce pain, stiffness, and inflammation but does not give satisfactory results.
Surgery(Artificial joint replacement) is advised in very advanced stages of AS.
Management in Ayurveda
Ayurveda is believed to play a great role in improving the condition of Ankylosing Spondylitis by alleviating symptoms and reducing the severity to great extent.
AS can be considered as a vata vyadhi where vata dosha gets vitiated affecting asthi majja dhatu. Therefore, AS can be treated with asthi-majja gata vata vyadhi line of treatment which includes a combination of internal medications and external therapeutic procedures which detoxifies by eliminating out the toxins from the body
The therapeutic procedures include Snehana (Oleation) and Svedana (Sudation) followed by Basti (Medicated Enema) and few other procedures like Patra Pinda Sveda, Shastika Shali Pinda Sveda, Dhanyamla Dhara etc.
The commonly used medicines to manage Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Amruthotharam Qwath
- Dasamulakaduthryadi Qwath
- Maharasnadi Qwath
- Rasnadi Qwath
- Dasamulam Qwath
- Kokilaksham Qwath
- Sahacharadi Qwath
- Gulguluthiktakam Qwath
- Punarnavadi Qwath
- Rasnasaptakam Qwath
- Rasnapanchakam Qwath
- Vidaryadi Qwath
- Vettumaran Gulika
- Kaisore Guggulu
- Yogaraja Guggulu
- Sooryaprabha Gulika
- Lakshmivilas Ras
- Rasraja Ras
- Yogendra Ras
- Vrihatvata Chintamani Ras
- Balarishtam
- Dhanwantharishtam
- Aswagandharishtam
- Punarnavasavam
- Dhanwantharam Tailam
- Ksheerabala Tailam
- Narayana Tailam
- Rasnadi Tailam
- Karpooradi Tailam
- Saindhavadi Tailam
Strict diet restrictions along with lifestyle changes are also essential along with the treatment
Physical exercises and postural changes are also known to improve the condition to a great extent.
AS may also be improved with certain therapeutic yoga postures along with physiotherapies which helps in mobilizing and aligning the spine and improving other related symptoms. Postures like Balasana, Bhujangasana, Tadasana, Dandasana, Shavasana. The mentioned postures help in stretching the spine which relieves pain. They also claim to improve mental strength.
Early diagnosis and treatment of As gives better results.
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