Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a seronegative spondyloarthropathy closely associated with the HLA-B27 gene. Due to immune dysregulation, chronic inflammation occurs centered around the sacroiliac joints and spine, leading to the long-term progression of new bone formation and joint stiffness. Research is accumulating indicating that inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-17 are key mediators, and that increased intestinal mucosal permeability and an imbalance in the gut microbiome trigger immune malfunction. In Korean medicine, ankylosing spondylitis is viewed as a representative form of chronic joint pain resulting from a deficiency in kidney energy, where wind, cold, and dampness invade the pathways along the spine, blocking the flow of Qi and blood. When the functions of the kidneys, which govern bones and ligaments, and the liver, which governs muscles, weaken, the resistance of bones and ligaments decreases, allowing harmful external energies to easily take root. The most common pattern involves a deficiency in the warm Yang energy of the kidneys and joint stiffness caused by cold, which coincides with the pattern of severe morning stiffness caused by the blockage of Yang energy in the spine. At Dongjedang, we approach this condition by first understanding its structure, then using acupuncture along the spinal lines to release blockages, and finally using herbal medicine tailored to the constitution to replenish the warm energy of the kidneys and regulate the root cause of the overreaction.