Herbal Remedies for Ankylosing Spondylitis

What is Ankylosing Spondylits?

Ankylosing spondylitis is one of the rheumatic disease, which is a chronic, inflammatory that causes arthritis of the spine and sacroiliac joint - the joint at the base of the spine where the spinal column joins the pelvis. "Ankylosis" means the fusion of verterae to each other. The vertebrae fuse together because of thechronic inflammation and irritation of the spinal joints. Ankylosis is a debilitating condition that can cause decreased range of movement in the spine and loss of spinal mobility and function, thereby, severely impact a person's quality of life. Ankylosis can spread to other joints as well since Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic rheumatic disease, it can lead to inflammation in other parts of the body such as the joints of the hips, knees, or shoulders.

Ankylosing Spondylitis - According to Ayurveda

The explanation of Ankylosing spondylitis may seem weird to modern world people but Ayurveda is an ancient healing science utilizing herbs for centuries and still in practice. According to Ayurveda, Rheumatic pains are due to formation of toxins in the body called "Ama". According to modern science, these toxins can be corelated with auto-antibodies which are body's own defence system destroying body's own tissues. These toxins are known as "aama" in Ayurvedic terminology. So the concept of treating Ankylosing spondylitis is digesting the " aama" by giving herbs like Curcumin, Aamvatantak Churna, etc. Controlling the vata is also very important, after clearing the "Aama". Vata- the kinetic energy of the body is regulated by regular massage with Ayurvedic oils, internal consumption of medicated Cow's ghee with anti-inflammatory herbal tablets like Sinhnaad Guggul, Swarn Guggul (Guggul with Gold), Kaishore Guggul and any formulation containing Guggul like Joint Aid Plus. Herbal products like Aam vatantak Churna can be used for digestion of "aama" and together with Joint Aid Plus is useful in managing pain and inflammation. Punarnava mandoor tablets are useful in reducing inflammatory edema around the joints and also helps in rebuilding the strength.

Sometimes the pain is quiet acute in ankylosing spondylitis. This pain painful condition in Ankylosing spondylitis and inflammation needs to be tackled quickly. So the herbal combination of various herbs which work instantly for painful joints is given.

There are very common herbs for painful joints which work insantly. The herbs are like Dry Ginger, Guggul, Turmeric (curcumin), Fenugreek, Ashwagandha, Sallaki (Boswellia), and Giloy (Tinospora). The extracts of these herbs are more effective in reducing the pain and inflammation of all types of arthritis and joint pains. Our product Joint aid plus contains herbal extracts of such herbs which are useful in painful joint conditions.

Constipation must be avoided at all costs in Ankylosing spondylitis. Constipation leads to vitiation of Vata, which may increase bouts of increased pain.

Causes of Ankylosing Spondylitis

The exact cause of Ankylosing Spondylitis is not known however, research has demonstrated that this tends to run in families. Although there is evidence for a possible genetic predisposition to this disease is that a specific Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) tissue type called HLA-B27 occurs in about 90% of individuals with Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Ankylsoing spondylitis is more prevalent among men than in women. Most of the patients are generally young men in the age group of 20 to 35 years and 60 to 70 % patients are generally men.

Herbal Remedies for Ankylosing Spondylitis by Planet Ayurveda

Planet Ayurveda offers best combination of effective herbal remedies such as Joint Support Pack for natural treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. These herbal remedies are manufactured from 100% pure and natural herbs; without the use of any chemicals, binders, fillers, colors, yeast, starch, preservatives or additives. These herbal remedies are prepared under the supervision of renowned Ayurveda experts.

Dosage

1. Bone Support - 2 Capsules twice daily with warm water.
2. Curcumin Capsules - 2 Capsules twice daily with warm water.
3. Joint Aid Plus - 2 Capsules twice daily with warm water.
4. Coral Calcium Complex - 1 Capsule twice daily with warm water.

Products Description

1. Bone Support

Bone support capsule has natural calcium extracts obtained from the natural, herbal sources of calcium. Each capsule contains standardized extract of herbs like asthishrinkhala (Cissus quadrangularis), Shudh Laksha (Laccifera lacca), Sahijan (Moringa oleifera), Arjun (Terminalia arjuna) and mineral source, Praval pishti (Corallium rubrum).

These extracts stimulate increased absorption of calcium from the blood into the body. The hormonal control that helps in calcium absorption in the body is also influenced by regular use of this capsule.

In case of osteoarthritis, Capsule bone support can be taken as a great health supplement to support joint mobility and minimize loss of synovial fluid which leads to swelling and inflammation at the site of joint.

2. Curcumin Capsules

Curcumin is the main active chemical present in Turmeirc which is responsible for the remarkable medicinal properties exhibited by turmeric. Curcumin is a very potent anti – inflammatory agent that helps relieve any kind of inflammation in the body.

It suppresses the immune response that is involved in the development of inflammatory symptoms in the body. Planet Ayurveda's Curcumin capsule contains standardized extract of 95% curcuminoids present in Turmeric. These extracts give the best results, therefore it is always good to go for 95% curcuminoid content while purchasing any Turmeric supplement.

Planet Ayurveda's Curcumin capsule is a very versatile herbal supplement that has great rejuvenating properties and is very helpful in managing senile disorders like osteoarthritis.

3. Joint Aid Plus

Capsule Joint aid plus contains standardized extract of Nirgundi (Vitex negundo), Guggul (Commiphora mukul), Shallaki (Boswellia serrate), Ardarak (Zingiber officianale), Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera).

These capsules help in dealing with all kinds of joint conditions that cause any kind of skeletal problem in the body. Regular use of this product helps in the maintenance of joint flexibility and lubrication so as to minimize wear and tear in patients of osteoarthritis.

Besides this, the capsules act as a great source of dietary nutrition for the bones and joints in the body

4. Coral Calcium Complex

Coral calcium capsule from the house of Planet Ayurveda is a combination of natural plant and vegetable extracts that effectively help in sustained and efficient calcium absorption by the body.

the body. These capsules are purely vegetarian and made from the best quality and purified coral and plant extracts which are rich in many minerals such as Phosphorus, Magnesium, Silica, Vitamin D etc.

All these minerals together help to support healthy bones and joint support in the body. In patients of osteoarthritis, these capsules help in maintaining bone density thereby reducing bone fragility. It also helps to diminish chances of bone fractures that occur due to reduced bone mass in old age.

To buy Joint Support Pack, please visit store.planetayurveda.com/products/joint-support-pack

Home Remedies for Ankylosing spondylitis

1. Use Ginger, Black Pepper or any good digestive with your meals. It will help detoxify your body.
2. 1 tablespoonful of Turmeric should be consumed once everyday, after boiling it in milk for half an hour.
3. Constipation must be avoided at all costs. Constipation may increase pain in Ankylosing spondylitis.
4. Herbs have divine healing powers and they have the ability to cure any disease From the root. They were gifted to us by God when he created life. So believe in God if you want to get rid of your problems !
5. Ayurvedic herbs are unique natural remedies for Ankylosing spondylitis. Ayurvedic principles are different in many ways From modern medicine for example - Drinking water From a copper pan after keeping it overnight is also very useful in Rheumatoid arthritis and Ankylosing spondylitis.
6. Consuming castor oil at night with milk or alone is a very useful herbal remedy for arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
7. Improve your nutrition as first step.It plays important role to fight diseases. When nothing works, nutrition works a lot !
8. Use herbal juices like Aloe vera juice (Kumari Saar) and Amla Juice ( Amla Saar) in routine. Amla is the richest source of natural Vitamin C. Vitamin C improves the natural immunity of the body. 100 gm of Amla juice contains 30 times more vitamin C than 100 gm of oranges.

Expanding the Research Horizon in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Understanding the Role of HLA-B27

By Robert A. Colbert, MD, PhD - Most patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) recognize HLA-B27 as a genetic marker that they carry. Indeed, it is found in the vast majority (90-95%) of patients with this disease, compared to less than one of ten healthy people. It is inherited From one parent, and in rare cases both, and is often accompanied by the knowledge that someone else in the extended family has AS or another HLA-B27-associated disease. We also know that HLA-B27 does not work alone. Several additional genes contribute to AS, and major efforts in North America and around the world are dedicated to finding the location of these genes in the human genome. What is often less well appreciated is that HLA-B27 is already a major focus of research, and understanding its role in disease will provide a key piece to this puzzle. Since the discovery of the HLA-B27 - AS connection over 30 years ago, we have learned a great deal about what HLA-B27 does; unfortunately, this has not answered the question of how it causes disease. Recently, new research has uncovered some very unusual features of HLA-B27, and the paradigm has begun to shift toward the idea that an abnormal property of HLA-B27 may be the basis for its connection with disease.

HLA-B27 - a carrier of peptides

What does HLA-B27 do? The product of the HLA-B27 gene is a member of a family of proteins called human leukocyte antigens (HLA) that have an important role in the immune system. T cells are a type of white blood cell that recognize HLA-B27 and decide whether to react to it or ignore it, depending on its shape or surface contour, which in turn depends on the type of peptide it carries. Peptides are small bits of proteins that are produced when the proteins are broken down. The peptides can come either From proteins that our own body makes (self-peptides), or From microbes like viruses or bacteria (foreign peptides). Normally T cells ignore self-peptides and react to foreign peptides, producing chemicals called cytokines that cause an inflammatory reaction. The ability of T cells to recognize and react to foreign peptides carried by HLA proteins is one means that our immune system uses to fight off infections. We know that HLA-B27 works as well as, or perhaps even better than other HLA proteins in helping to fight off viral infections. For example, people with HLA-B27 who have become infected with HIV tend to stay healthy longer than others, and also infection with the hepatitis C virus tends to be cleared more completely. Why this occurs is not known.

For a long time it was thought that people with HLA-B27 developed AS because their T cells were fooled into thinking that the self-peptides carried by HLA-B27 were really foreign peptides. This idea was called 'molecular mimicry', based on the notion that HLA-B27 self-peptides mimicked foreign peptides more often than for other HLA-B proteins. Despite the attractiveness of this idea, is it has been very difficult to find T cells that react against HLA-B27 and its self-peptides (autoreactive T cells). Furthermore, in animal models where HLA-B27 causes an inflammatory disease like AS, there is solid evidence that this idea is not correct.

HLA-B27 - a protein that misfolds - If the peptides carried by HLA-B27 do not cause AS, what does? Several years ago scientists began to look for another explanation. Examining HLA-B27 From a different perspective, they discovered that in addition to its normal activity of carrying peptides, it also has at least two abnormal properties. One is a tendency for the protein to 'misfold' and the second is that it can form an unusual structure called a 'dimer' where two HLA-B27 proteins are attached to one another. Both of these findings suggested alternatives to the notion that the peptides were the key to understanding the role of HLA-B27 in AS.

What is protein misfolding?

One of the most striking examples of protein misfolding is what happens when you boil an egg. Proteins in the egg 'white' and yolk become irreversibly denatured or misfolded, to the point where the process can never be reversed. (Ever try to unboil an egg?) Over the last several years there has been increasing recognition that a number of genetic diseases result From protein misfolding. However, the symptoms of the disease, and the abnormal processes that cause these symptoms, can be quite varied and depend on many factors. For example, proteins that misfold just after being made are often broken down very quickly, and as a result the protein is missing and not available to do its job. This is known to occur in certain types of hemophilia (bleeding disorder). When misfolded proteins are not eliminated quickly and build up in tissues outside the cell, they can also wreak havoc by preventing other cells From carrying out their function or even to die. This is important in certain neurological diseases including Alzheimer's.

HLA-B27 misfolding and the unfolded protein response

We are just beginning to learn more about the implications of HLA-B27 misfolding. First, since protein misfolding can be a little complicated, it's worth a more complete explanation. The story begins inside the cell, in a compartment known as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). HLA-B27 is made here, and stops long enough to pick up its peptide cargo before delivering it to the cell surface. In order to carry this cargo, it needs to fold into a certain shape that allows the peptide to fit. It seems that this is where the problem is - HLA-B27 doesn't get into shape very well. There are a lot of other proteins that try to help, but if there aren't enough or they aren't working well, HLA-B27 tends to accumulate. This is a particular problem when the cell is trying to make a lot of HLA-B27 such as during an infection or an immune response. These incompletely folded (and/or misfolded) HLA-B27 proteins can cause ER 'stress'. This in turn activates a series of complex events that result in an 'unfolded protein response' (UPR). The UPR increases the assembly line machinery responsible for folding and secreting proteins, and also the capacity to break down proteins that have misfolded, and is one way that the cell adapts to ER stress.

A surprising finding has been that the UPR seems to have additional effects in immune cells. When the UPR is activated, certain immune cells 'over-respond' to products that come From bacteria and viruses. Some of the overproduced cytokines not only promote inflammation, but are also linked to increased bone formation. This could be important in AS, since another aspect of this disease that is not understood is the tendency to form too much bone in certain places and too little bone in others. There are many studies underway to better define how HLA-B27 misfolding may be important in the development of AS.

Abnormal forms of HLA-B27 - In addition to misfolding, the formation of HLA-B27 dimers on the cell surface also has possible implications. We have learned that 'natural killer' or NK cells, in addition to T cells, can recognize HLA proteins. NK cells use a different type of 'receptor' that may be able to selectively recognize HLA-B27 dimers in addition to the traditional forms on the cell surface. NK cells are one of the first lines of defense used by the immune system, and if recognition of the abnormal HLA-B27 dimers changes their function, this could contribute to a chronic inflammatory disease.

Summary

As we gained a more complete knowledge of what HLA-B27 does during the 1980s and 1990s, there was a strong sense that we were only a few years From understanding its role in AS. This was bolstered by the development of animal models where HLA-B27 and the immune system could be manipulated to test various ideas and perhaps even be used to discover better treatments. Although these goals have not yet been realized, there is a renewed optimism that this puzzle can be solved. The discovery of additional genes that contribute to AS will be important as the function of their gene products should inform us on the role of HLA-B27, and may identify additional approaches to treat the disease.