Ayurvedic Management of Ankylosing Spondylitis w.s.r Amavata: A Single Case Study

Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a common type of spondyloarthropathy, is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that mainly affects the spine joints, causing severe, chronic back pain; in more advanced cases, it can also lead to spine fusion. The main clinical manifestations include back pain and progressive spinal rigidity as well as inflammation of the hips, shoulders, peripheral joints and fingers/toes. In Ayurveda, no information about such a disease is given. Clinically, when patient's complaints are observed, they clinically correlate more to Amavata.A 54-year-old male patient came in O.P.D. with complaints of severe lower back pain & stiffness, restricted movements of lumbar spine, bilateral knee joint pain, swelling and redness. The patient was severely affected by this disease. Considering all the signs & symptoms of patients, we decided to treat this diseases as a Amavata. A Significant reduction in the symptoms of patients. Knee joint swelling and pain were reduced, and also the lower back pain and stiffness were very reduced.Though Ankylosing Spondylitis is not mentioned in Ayurvedic texts still this newly derived Autoimmune disease can be effectively treated through Ayurveda.