Ayurvedic approach for management of ankylosing spondylitis: A case report

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rheumatic disease with various skeletal and extra skeletal manifestations. No satisfactory treatment is available in modern medicine for this disorder. Various Panchakarma procedures and Ayurvedic drugs have been proved useful for these manifestations. We present a case of AS, which was treated for two months with a combination of Panchakarma procedures and Ayurvedic drugs. Ayurvedic treatments, in this case, were directed toward alleviating symptoms and to reduce severe disability. The patient was considered suffering from Asthimajja gata vata (∼Vata disorder involving bone and bone marrow) and was treated with Shalishastika Pinda Svedana (sudation with medicated cooked bolus of rice) for one month and Mustadi Yapana Basti (enema with medicated milk) with Anuvasana (enema with Asvagandha oil) in 30 days schedule along with oral Ayurvedic drugs for two months. Pratimarsha nasya (nasal drops) with Anu Taila (oil) for one month was given after completion of Basti procedure. Patient's condition was assessed for symptoms of Asthimajja gata vata and core sets of Assessment of Spondylo Arthritis International Society showed substantial improvement. This study shows the cases of AS may be successfully managed with Ayurvedic treatment.