Ankylosing Spondylitis
Anklyosing spondylitis is a rare rheumatological
condition that causes stiffness and inflammation of
the spine and sacroiliac joints, and is characterized
by a “bent forward” posture. The condition may be linked
to genetic predisposition, and 90 percent of all cases
occur in men between the ages of 20-40.
Early, mild symptoms of anklyosing spondylitis include
recurring low back pain, pain along that sciatic nerve
that runs from the buttocks down to the leg and foot,
and stiffness on rising in the morning. As the condition
progresses, the pain can spreads from the low back up
to middle and/or higher back, and up to the neck. Other
symptoms include pain in arms and legs, fatigue, muscle
rigidity and more stiffness, anemia, and weight loss.
What To Consider
If you suffer
from anklyosing spondylitis, test for identifying gastrointestinal
problems, stool sample and scraping to rule out amoebic,
bacterial, fungal, or other parasitic problems. Also
test for food allergies and assess your need for digestive
enzymes. An effective method for determining causal
factors is electrodermal screening (see Energy Medicine.)
Self-Care Tips
Diet
Follow a whole foods diet, emphasizing a variety of organic
vegetables and ruling out food allergies. Holistic physicians
have treated ankylosing spondylitis successfully by
identifying and eliminating allergy-causing foods. and
recommending avoidance and food allergy nutrients. Researchers
at King’s College Hospital in London have found a link
between ankylosing spondylitis and bowel dysbiosis (incursion
or overgrowth by undesirable bacteria, in this case
Klebsiella). They discovered that the majority
of patients placed on a low-starch diet had a halt in
the progression of their symptoms.
An overgrowth of Candida albicans (a naturally
occurring fungus in the body) can also be involved in
creating the damage to the gastrointestinal tract which
allows the Klebsiella bacteria to enter the bloodstream.
For this reason, and anti-candida, low-fat diet may
be very useful, supplemented with friendly bacteria
such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. bulgaricus
to reestablish a normal bowel flora.
Nutritional Supplementation
Take vitamin C to bowel tolerance (until you have loose
stools and/or an excess of gas; at that point, reduce
your vitamin C intake by 1,000 mg or more, until bowel
symptoms abate and stay on the reduced level).
Herbs
Many
anti-inflammatory and alternative herbs have been used
to alleviate the symptoms of anklyosing spondylitis.
The following mixture is particularly recommended by
herbalists and practitioners of botanical medicine:
Combine the tinctures of meadowsweet, willow bark, black
cohosh, prickly ash, celery seed, and nettle in equal
parts. Take 1/2 teaspoonful of this mixture three times
a day. In cases of anklyosing spondylitis accompanied
by rheumatoid arthritis, add wild yam and valerian to
the mixture and take one teaspoonful of this mixture
three times a day.
Juice Therapy
Combine the juice of equal parts of carrot, beet celery, parsley, potato,
alfalfa.
Caution
If your symptoms persist despite the above measures,
seek the help of a qualified health professional.
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