Ankylosing Spondylitis

Morning stiffness duration is a key component of the BASDAI score, and it lengthens as active inflammation increases. This is a mechanism in which inflammatory exudate accumulates in the synovial membrane surrounding the joints overnight and is gradually absorbed as movement begins. Heat therapy, exercise, and anti-inflammatory treatments all contribute to shortening morning stiffness; if accompanied by nocturnal pain, active inflammation must be managed more aggressively. A pattern of severe morning stiffness is typical of a condition in Korean medicine where cold and dampness penetrate deeper into the muscles surrounding the spine, taking advantage of the weakened warm energy of the spine and the calm, settling energy of the night. To resolve this, warm acupuncture stimulation is applied to the areas where the spine flows to disperse the cold energy, and adhered muscle nodules are resolved through acupuncture treatment. At Dongjedang, we address the root cause of morning stiffness by combining constitution-tailored internal herbal medicine that replenishes the warm energy of the kidneys and eliminates cold dampness, thereby strengthening the foundation for generating heat during the night.