ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS – AYURVEDIC APPROACH – A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of axial skeleton with variable involvement of peripheral joints and non articular structures, usually begins in second or third decades of life. This is a condition of Astimajjanugatha vyadhi with involvement of aggravated Vata Dosha which causes Astiparvabheda, Sandishoola, Mamsabalakshaya, etc. associated with Ama. Hence Ankylosing spondylitis is effectively managed in Ayurveda by means of different kinds of therapies like Rookshana followed by Snehana, Virechana, Vasthi, and different kind of Bahya sneha sweda prayogas also with proper Samana Oushadas. In this case study, patient was treated with both Samana and Shodhana therapies. Patient felt symptomatically relieved. This case reveals the potential of Ayurveda in this kind of chronic disease and helps us to explore new dimensions of thesefields