Ankylosing Spondylitis, its possible causes, common Signs & Symptoms, plus holistic remedies.

Ankylosing is taken from Greek word ankylos, which means stiffening of a joints and Spondylos means vertebra.

Spondylitis is the inflammation of one or more vertebrae.

It is a type of progressive arthritis – where discs or vertebrae in the spine fuse or ankylosed, become frozen and lose elasticity – that leads to lack of movements, stiffness, misalignment of the body or articulation of joints.

This fusing makes the spine less flexible and can result in a hunched posture – a condition known as bamboo spine.

Most Common Signs & symptoms may include:

• In most cases, ankylosing spondylitis starts from the sacroiliac joint.
• But in some cases, this disease also begins from other areas, like foot, heel, and knees, especially if the disease sets in at a young age.
• The starting of pain and stiffness is usually gradual, and it worsens over a period of months.
• Neck pain with stiffness in the lower back and hips too after waking or periods of inactivity.
• Early-morning stiffness which becomes better during the day as you get into your daily routine.
• Fatigue
• Weight loss.
• Rigidity in the spine while bending.
• Tenderness at the sacroiliac joint.
• Restricted movement.
• The patient cannot erect spine.
• Sitting, walking with a flexed spine.
• Kyphosis or Scoliosis that are the curve in the spine.

Further Complications

• Aortic incompetence – Stiffness of the rib cage, restricting lung’s and heart’s capacity and function and may cause recurrent chest infections and difficulty in breathing.
• Eye inflammation – rapid-onset eye pain, sensitivity to light and blurred vision.
• Permanent fusion of the sacroiliac joint and vertebra due to chronic inflammation.
• Compression fractures – vertebrae can crumble or shrink in size, putting pressure on the spinal cord.
• Inflammation of the intestines can lead to other diseases like Crohn’s disease and Colitis.
• kidney failure may occur because of the deposition of proteins in the kidneys called amyloids.

An effective holistic approach is to identify and treat the causative factors!

Possible Causes of Ankylosing Spondylitis

This disease is thought to be an autoimmune disorder, which means that the body’s defence cells damage the joints of the spine.

Other causes and contributing factors may include:

• Family history or Genetic
• An Abnormal Immune Response to Infections.
• Digestive Bacterial Imbalance
• Poor diet
• Age – In most cases, the onset is between the age of 20 years – 30 years.
• This condition also affects children and is referred as Juvenile Ankylosing Spondylitis.
• Gender – Males are at a higher risk of developing this condition as compared to females.

Most affected body parts:

• Ankylosing spondylitis is primarily a disease affecting the spine. But it may affect other joints including the shoulder, hips, knees, and ankles.
• It can also be systemic and cause inflammation of other tissues in the body such as the eyes, kidneys, heart and lungs.
• The joint between the base of the spine and the pelvis.
• The cartilage between the breastbone and the ribs.
• and The places where tendons and ligaments attach to bones, mainly in the spine, but sometimes along the back of the heel.

Suggested holistic remedies for ankylosing spondylitis.

Herbal Supplements and Home Remedies for ankylosing spondylitis.

Make sure to avoid any ingredient you are allergic to – discussed in this video!

The anti-inflammatory herbs are extremely helpful in reducing inflammation and its accompanying pain and stiffness.

• Nettles tea will help cleanse the entire body, provide essential nutrients, improve blood flow and give more suppleness and energy.
• Devils claw acts as an anti-inflammatory useful in all arthritic and rheumatic states.
• Celery seeds and dandelion root cleanse the joints of debris and are pain relieving and anti-inflammatory.
• Wild yam is a powerful anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant, improving flexibility of stiff and inflamed joints.
• Meadowsweet helps improve the blood flow to the joints, improves movement, strength and flexibility and acts as a natural painkiller.
• White willow is also high in salicylic acid (the raw ingredient of aspirin) and is an anti-inflammatory.
• Comfrey leaf tea can be made into compresses or poultices and applied to the affected areas to help ease pain and inflammation.

Top Essential oils for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Aromatherapy is the use of plants extracts for healing. Always dilute in a base oil like olive oil etc. and apply externally!

Therapeutic base oils such as cod liver, wheatgerm, evening primrose, hempseed etc. will help keep joints healthy and nourished.

• Castor oil is great for relieving sore muscles and promotes adequate fluid circulation in the body.
• Ginger and cayenne are used to increase blood flow and therefore also relieve congestion and pain.
• Use in a massage oil along with essential oils such as rosemary and frankincense.
• Frankincense essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties effective in reducing the joint inflammation.
• Marjoram is another plant and been used for hundreds of years to relieve spasms, sprains, swelling, and stiffness.
• Helichrysum Essential Oil. Similar to lavender oil has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce swelling and pain.
• Rosemary is another common choice for arthritis pain.

Homeopathic approach for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Homeopathy is one of the safest holistic system of medicines – that offers a unique, personalised treatment and has the potential to reverse a medical disorder.

Consult a qualified homeopath for a proper assessment and take tailor-made remedies as per your causative factors, modalities and peculiar signs and symptoms etc.

Ideally, a homeopathic treatment should go hand-in-hand with conventional treatment and physiotherapy for optimal recovery.

The top grade natural homeopathic remedies for ankylosing spondylitis are:

• Aesculus – Top Medicine for Ankylosing Spondylitis: Where there is pain in the sacrum and the hips with marked stiffness in the lower back. There is a sensation as if the back would break. Back pain worse rising from a seat and on stooping.

• Kalmia with Constant Pain with heat or burning sensation in Spine around the lumbar region. There is also an intense pain in the neck – cervical spine along with stiffness that radiates to the shoulders.

• Rhus Tox – For Morning or sitting posture stiffness and pains in the back. The person requiring this remedy gets relief by putting pressure or walking and worsen upon rest.

• Colocynthis – For Hip Pain that may extend down to the knee, leg or even to the feet in a few cases. The nature of the pain may be cramping, drawing or tearing.

• Bryonia – When Backache is Worse from Motion or walking. Stooping, standing and sitting also worsen the backache and maintaining an upright posture while sitting / walking is difficult.

• Agaricus – When Back is Sensitive to Touch with severe pain severe specially in the morning, with a burning sensation in the spine, and a feeling of tightness in the back muscles.
• Kali Carb another medicine is used to treat ankylosing spondylitis where weakness in the lower back, hips and thighs accompanies the pain. It is helpful when there is difficulty in turning in bed from a backache.

• Natrum Mur – When Lying on the Back brings Relief especially on a hard surface.

• Cimicifuga – For Neck or cervical Pain and Stiffness. A contracted sensation in the neck is present, and the neck is sensitive to touch.

• Calcarea Fluor is helpful to Dissolve Osteophytes that are bony outgrowths appearing in the spine.
• Tellurium – For Sacral Pain Radiating Down the Thigh. The back is sensitive, and the pain gets worse from touch.

• Conium Maculatum is indicated when there is a severe aching in the sacral region from walking even a short distance.

Other important remedies include Calcarea phos, Silica, Colchicum and Guaiacum etc.

Prevention and helpful tips to avoid further deterioration.

• Use cold or hot packs to manage symptoms of pain and inflammation.
• Maintaining a healthy weight is essential since excessive weight can add stress on the joints and bones.
• Regular exercise can help halt the progression of the disease and provide symptomatic relief.
• Movement encourages natural lubrication and increased blood flow in the joints.
• Omega-3 fatty acids are known to have effects on the inflammation of joints. Fatty fish like tuna and salmon, flaxseeds, walnuts, chia seeds are some examples of foods that contain Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
• Fruits and vegetables contain many nutrients, minerals, and vitamins and are generally low in calories and high in fibre. The antioxidants present in the vegetables help fight inflammation in the body.
• Whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, oatmeal, and corn contain nutrients and fiber that help reduce inflammation.
• Calcium keeps the bones healthy, and calcium-rich foods include low-fat dairy products, fortified cereals and tofu, broccoli, almonds, and dark, leafy green medicines like kale.
• The body requires vitamin D for using calcium.
• Adequate levels of vitamin D decrease the risk of developing the disease and also reduce the symptoms. Direct sunlight, Seafood, egg yolks, fortified cereals and plant-based milk, and cod liver oil are food sources of vitamin D.

For your particular health problem(s), or to change your medications it is strongly suggested to avoid self-medication and consult your GP / health provider or Mind & Body Holistic Health Clinic.

You may also book your one-to-one consultation with one of our practitioners for your tailor-made remedies as per your causative factors, peculiar signs & symptoms etc.  

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