Inflammatory diseases like Ankylosing Spondylitis Iritis represent one of the biggest challenges for medical professionals. Finding the source of chronic inflammation, and delivering treatment which minimises the problem without causing further side-effects requires careful planning.
Ankylosing Spondylitis Iritis is a component of Ankylosing Spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory condition responsible for stiffness, pain, and swelling. Though it’s more common for this condition to affect the hips, and spine, it can also influence all environments where ligaments and tendons intercede with bones.
Advanced Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) can progress to influence spinal development, and can affect sensitive areas of the body, including the eyes. Approximately 40% of patients diagnosed with AS also experience eye inflammation.
The Challenges of Ankylosing Spondylitis Iritis
In most conditions of AS affecting the eyes, chronic uveitis is common, affecting the iris in multiple locations. Patients may experience symptoms one eye at a time, sometimes accompanied by other acute anterior uveitis symptoms, such as back pain, and swelling.
A significant risk of Acute Ankylosing Spondylitis Iritis is how quickly the condition can develop. Patients often notice symptoms appearing rapidly, and developing within a short space of time, usually between a few days or weeks.
Symptoms range from inflammation of the eye, to eye pain, clouded vision, light sensitivity, and decreased vision. Some patients also experience dark spots in their vision. A full fundoscopic exam or ophthalmoscopy can assist in detecting the extent of the inflammation.
Further tests for ocular pressure, or a slit lamp exam may further reveal additional pressure on the eye. Once a thorough diagnosis is established, the first line of treatment is often corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and side-effects. Immunosuppressants may allow for steroid tapering for those dependent on corticosteroids already.
Why Holistic Ankylosing Spondylitis Iritis Treatments?
Corticosteroid treatments are not 100% successful when addressing Ankylosing Spondylitis Iritis. High levels of dependence on steroids has reduced the efficacy of these treatment routes, requiring doctors to use higher doses, and immunosuppressant.
Research into steroids demonstrates numerous adverse side effects, including damage to the GI tract, gastric ulcer formation, and issues with the gut microbiota which may influence overall immunomodulation and response.
Overexposure to corticosteroids can further drive outcomes like impaired healing, hair thinning, and facial erythema. When corticosteroids aren’t successful, procedures may be required to remove vitreous within the eye and reduce pressure. Surgery to implant a device for releasing corticosteroid medication is also a possibility for AS treatment.
Unfortunately, these extreme treatment conditions can come with various side effects that harm the overall wellbeing over the patient.
A holistic treatment to Ankylosing Spondylitis Iritis would provide patients with an opportunity to rectify inflammation problems through positive lifestyle changes before surgery is necessary.
Natural Treatment Options
Physical therapy, hot and cold therapy, as well as lifestyle changes have all been deemed successful treatment methods for Ankylosing Spondylitis Iritis in some cases. Anti-inflammatory diets that remove dangerous substances from the daily routine reduces the risk of flare-ups.
Since no satisfactory pharmaceutical treatment appears to be available for the long-term treatment of AS, holistic approaches are gaining popularity, with a focus on reducing inflammation naturally, before turning to surgical answers.
Mycomedicine, or the use of medicinal mushrooms, offers a powerful solution for inflammation. Mushrooms have been extensively used throughout the years for their therapeutic effects and impact on inflammation. Mushrooms are rich in polysaccharides, indolic and phenolic compounds, which reduce inflammation on a deeper level. The metabolites from mushrooms also contain anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Reishi mushroom supplements, for instance, are proven to improve immune system performance, and promote healing in various parts of the body. Reishi can successfully reduce inflammation and encourage better sleep for healing.
Furthermore, because Reishi mushrooms contain beta glucan adaptogens, they’re capable of adapting rapidly to the unique needs of each patient when given in the correct combination and dose. Combined with its natural anti-inflammatory activity, Reishi’s unique benefits can help to overcome Ankylosing Spondylitis Iritis.
Since cooking mushrooms has the potential to reduce their inflammatory capabilities, extracts are the best treatment route. Mushrooms for inflammation are best given in extract form, where they can be reduced to their most powerful form, without any additional substances or calories.