Ankylosing+Spondylitis

IBIS:

Definition:
A chronic and generally progressive inflammatory arthritic disease affecting the spinal joints and adjacent connective tissues. Also called "Marie Strumpell disease"

Etiology:
This appears to be a disease mainly of young men aged 10-30 years old. It seems to have a genetic component, as it is seen in male relatives and especially in patients with histocompatibility complex HLA-B27 (who have a 300 times greater risk of developing AS, particularly in white men). The etiology is unknown. It is seen throughout the world.

Somatic Therapies:
• qigong • tai qi chuan

before complete fusion: • breathing exercises (begin with) • see spondylitis exercises

Nutrition:
therapeutic foods: • celery, foods rich in organic Sodium, sesame seeds, tahini, kale, millet, barley, okra, almonds, collards, turnip greens, raw goat milk (Jensen, p. 61)

fresh juices: • carrot (Shefi) • celery (Shefi) • sour apple and celery (Shefi) • carrot and spinach (Shefi) • Black Mission fig and raw goat milk (Jensen, p 61) • black cherry (Jensen, p. 61) • green kale (Jensen, p. 61) • celery and parsley (Jensen, p. 61)

Botanicals
s• Bryonia alba (toxic): symptoms worse with movement; swollen, stiff joints (Felter and Lloyd, p. 369) • Cimicifuga racemosa: rheumatism, neuralgia (Felter and Lloyd, p. 531) • Linum usitatissimum: use oil, one tbsp. per day (Bastyr College Black Book)

consider: anti-inflammatories • Gaultheria procumbens • Matricaria chamomilla • Salix spp. • Tanacetum vulgare: oil, externally

consider: remedies used in other arthritides

Chinese Formulae
See also "low back pain", "sciatica". • Kang Gu Zeng Sheng Pian (patent) (Zhu, p. 301) • Liquidambar 15 (patent) (Dharmananda, 1990, p. 50)

Acupuncture
after assessing the person and palpating, consider these patterns: Kidney Xu (Deficiency); Qi Stagnation in the Du Mai (Governing Vessel); Heat in the Du Mai (Governing Vessel)

» therapeutic option: • do akabani testing on Bladder channel; needle strong side UB-28 and apply seven cones of direct moxa to UB-28 of weak side (Eisen)

» illustrative combinations: • GV-14, UB-17, UB-20, UB-23, CV-6, St-36 and Sp-6 for ankylosing spondylosis due to Kidney and Spleen Qi Xu (Deficiency) leading to invasion of Wind-Cold Dampness and Qi Stagnation and Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) (Jirui and Wang, p. 172) • SI-3 and UB-62: open and activate Du Mai (Governing Vessel); regulate and strengthen the spine; dispel Internal Heat; relax the sinews and tendons; benefit the joints; invigorate the channels; Master and Couple point of the Du Mai (Governing Vessel)

Homeopathy
• Aesculus hippocastanum: full feeling in sacral area; < attempting to rise from a seat, walking slowly; constant dull backache • Apis mellifica: stiffness, weakness; pain, bruised, burning, pressing on palpation; prevents sitting on sacrum; violent and rapid • Agaricus muscarius: bruised feeling; numbness, tingling; formication; spine sensitive to touch; < mornings; pain in lumbar region and sacrum especially during exertion, in daytime and while sitting • Arnica montana: sore, bruised feeling; legs weak, sore; < exertion • Berberis: sacroiliac pain in one spot radiating down back of legs; sharp shooting pain from sacroiliac to rectum or vice versa; violent pain in small of back; < when sitting and lying in morning, when awakening • Causticum: back painful and stiff, especially when rising from sitting; pain begins in sacrum and goes to left hip; tensive, as if muscle were too short • Hypericum perforatum: sharp, shooting pain which radiates; pain from injury; pressure over sacrum • Rhus toxicodendron: stiffness, tightness with sharp, tearing pains down legs; < damp weather; pain in small of back; > lying on hard surface; > motion; < when sitting still or lying; stiffness and lameness in sacrum, < resting after exercise • Ruta graveolens: sacroiliac problems from overuse; achy or sharp or combination; bruised pain in back and in lumbar region; pain in lumbar and coccyx as if after having been struck; stitches in lumbar region when sitting, but when pressed upon when lying on back there is no pain • Tellurium: shooting pains up from sacrum and down to thighs, (esp. right thigh); < pressing at stool, coughing and laughing

Subtle Support
musculoskeletal: • Sousa's marches • The Anvil Chorus • William Tell Overture • Brahm's Hungarian Dances • By the Waters of the Minnetonka (Heline, p. 18)

Mind/Body
• Created as a result of the frustration and anger that accompany the belief that life circumstances are somehow assigned to a person without choice. This illness thrives on self-pity, and that attitude is central to the development of the disease. The life force that runs along the spinal column gradually diminishes in strength, and the spine responds by developing an illness that reflects the belief that one is powerless. (Shealy, p. 240-2) • Spine represents the flexible support of life. (Hay, 1984, p. 183) • Inflammation: fear; inflamed thinking; seeing red; anger and frustration about conditions in one's life. (Hay, 1984, p. 170-1)

• Kidney ~ Shen stores Jing (Essence) and governs birth, growth, reproduction, development, and aging; houses the Zhi (Will); expresses ambition and focus; controls the bones (especially the spine); and displays the effects of aging, chronic degenerative processes, and extreme stress. » Healthy expressions are gentleness, groundedness, and endurance. » Kidney Xu (Deficiency) signs include indecisiveness; confused speech; dreams of trees submerged under water; cold feet and legs; abundant sweating (Seem, p. 28); hearing loss; fearfulness; apathy; chronic fatigue; discouragement; scatteredness; lack of will; negativity; impatience; difficult inhalation; low sex drive; lumbago; sciatica; and musculoskeletal irritation and inflammation, especially when worse from touch. » Intense or prolonged fear depletes the Kidney. Often chronic anxiety may induce Xu (Deficiency) and then Fire within the Kidney. (Maciocia, p. 250) Overwork, parenting, simple aging, and a sedentary or excessively indulgent lifestyle all contribute significantly to Kidney Xu (Deficiency).
 * Chinese psychophysiology:**