Cómo revertir la espondilitis anquilosante de forma natural

En este artículo analizo:

• ¿Qué es la espondilitis anquilosante?
• ¿Qué causa la espondilitis anquilosante?
• Tratamientos típicos para la espondilitis anquilosante
• ¿La espondilitis anquilosante es autoinmune o autoinflamatoria?
• La recuperación de Norman Cousins del síndrome de Asperger mediante la reducción del estrés y la suplementación con vitamina C

Y cómo los siguientes métodos naturales de curación pueden revertir la espondilitis anquilosante:

• Movimiento
• Cambio de dieta
• Ayuno terapéutico
• Dejar de fumar
• Terapia con luz roja y luz infrarroja
• Crioterapia de cuerpo entero
• Toma de tierra

¿Qué es la espondilitis anquilosante?

La espondilitis anquilosante (EA), también conocida como espondiloartritis axial radiográfica, es un tipo de artritis inflamatoria que afecta principalmente a las articulaciones de la columna vertebral. La espondilitis anquilosante tiene características tanto autoinmunes como autoinflamatorias, que se analizan a continuación.

Los primeros síntomas de la EA que suelen experimentar las personas son dolor y rigidez en la zona lumbar y las caderas, especialmente por la mañana y después de estar sedentarios. A medida que el sistema inmunológico ataca las articulaciones de la columna vertebral y las articulaciones sacroilíacas, el cuerpo intenta curarse a sí mismo formando tejido óseo nuevo. El hueso nuevo puede crecer para llenar el espacio entre las vértebras, lo que hace que la columna se fusione. Esto hace que la columna se vuelva rígida e inflexible, y generalmente conduce a una postura redondeada o encorvada.

La espondilitis anquilosante también puede afectar otras articulaciones del cuerpo, como los hombros, las caderas y las rodillas. Cuando se ven afectadas las costillas, resulta difícil respirar profundamente.

Al igual que otras enfermedades autoinmunes, los síntomas de la EA pueden empeorar o mejorar de manera impredecible durante períodos de tiempo.

Los síntomas de la espondilitis anquilosante incluyen:

• Dolor y rigidez en la parte baja de la espalda, especialmente después de períodos de inactividad.
• Dolor en las caderas y los glúteos
• dolor de cuello
• Fatiga
• Síntomas gastrointestinales (GI), que incluyen diarrea y dolor abdominal.
• Falta de aliento
• Erupciones en la piel
• Problemas de la vista
• Pérdida de apetito o pérdida de peso inexplicable

Las complicaciones asociadas con la espondilitis anquilosante incluyen:

• Vértebras fusionadas
• Fracturas de columna
• Cifosis (una curvatura redondeada hacia adelante en la columna vertebral)
• Osteoporosis
• Problemas oculares y de visión, incluida uveítis (inflamación en el ojo) o sensibilidad a la luz.
• Enfermedad cardíaca, incluida aortitis, arritmia y miocardiopatía.
• Compresión de los nervios espinales y síntomas resultantes
• Daño a los nervios periféricos y síntomas resultantes

¿Quién está en riesgo de desarrollar espondilitis anquilosante?

Cualquier persona puede desarrollar espondilitis anquilosante, pero es más común entre ciertos grupos de personas, entre ellos:

• Personas asignadas como varones al nacer: los hombres se ven afectados dos o tres veces más a menudo que las mujeres.
• People under the age of 30: About 80% of patients develop the first symptoms before the age of 30, and less than 5% of patients develop their first symptoms over the age of 45.
• People who have a parent or sibling with AS: This makes you 10 to 20 times more likely to develop AS than the general population.
• Las personas que padecen psoriasis, síndrome del intestino irritable, enfermedad de Crohn o colitis ulcerosa tienen un mayor riesgo de desarrollar EA.
• People with the HLA-B27 gene variant: Between 90% to 95% of AS patients test positive for the HLA-B27 allele, compared to approximately 10% of the general population.

¿Qué causa la espondilitis anquilosante?

As mentioned in the previous section, testing positive for the HLA-B27 gene variant increases the odds that a person will develop AS, but does not guarantee it. Among sets of identical twins in which one twin has AS, the other twin develops AS only 50% of the time. This means that environmental and lifestyle factors play a strong role in developing the condition as well. There are multiple theories regarding exactly why the HLA-B27 allele contributes to AS and other inflammatory conditions, but none have yet been proven.

There is a strong link between Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria and ankylosing spondylitis. Klebsiella is often present in the gut flora of healthy individuals and is normally kept at bay by the immune system. But if your immune system is compromised and the bacteria population grows and gets into other parts of your body, you can develop a Klebsiella infection.

Microbiological studies show higher than normal levels of Klebsiella in the fecal matter of AS patients, and antibodies against Klebsiella are present in AS patients as well. Scientists believe that Klebsiella infection can lead to AS, especially in HLA-B27-positive individuals.

The HLA-B27 gene variant and Klebsiella infection are the two most commonly linked factors in developing ankylosing spondylitis, but it is possible to develop the disease without either of these factors being present.

¿Cómo se trata la espondilitis anquilosante?

Drugs that reduce inflammation are typically prescribed for managing symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis. These may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen and naproxen.

Corticosteroids like cortisone or methylprednisolone may also be prescribed. These drugs suppress the immune system by imitating our natural stress response. They can be taken orally or through injections into joints, and are best used on a short-term basis.

Biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can relieve symptoms and potentially slow down disease progression for some people with AS. These newer types of DMARDs can reduce the specific type of inflammation that targets and destroys joint tissue. Some biologic DMARDs target tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α, a protein that causes inflammation). Others target cytokines, which are signaling molecules secreted from immune cells that increase inflammation.

When Klebsiella infection or another infection is detected, antibiotics may be prescribed. Research shows that antibiotic treatment can result in significant improvement in disease activity for some people with ankylosing spondylitis. But long-term or excessive use of antibiotics can weaken the immune system and cause imbalances in the gut microbiota, so antibiotics should be used intentionally.

The natural treatments discussed in the rest of this article can be effective for reversing ankylosing spondylitis because they reduce damaging inflammation and strengthen the immune system, allowing the body to heal itself. The human body is expertly designed to heal itself, and it can accomplish true healing and reversal of disease in ways that no manufactured drug can. In all cases of chronic disease, it is up to us to give our body the tools it needs to fight the disease and heal itself.

¿La espondilitis anquilosante es autoinmune o autoinflamatoria?

Our immune system has two different functional parts: the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system. We’re born with our innate immune system, and it’s our first line of defense. It defends us against a wide variety of pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and toxins like pesticides). The innate immune system first does its best to keep these pathogens out of our body, then it attacks and kills the pathogens that make it into our body. This response is inflammation, which involves blood carrying immune cells to the site of the attack.

After several days to weeks of the innate immune system response, the adaptive immune system takes over. Our adaptive immune system learns and adapts, creating specialized antibodies to fight each new pathogen. These antibodies remember each pathogen, so they can attack them more quickly the next time that same pathogen enters our body.

Las enfermedades autoinmunes se conocen desde aproximadamente los años 00, cuando los investigadores médicos pudieron demostrar que el sistema inmunitario es capaz de atacarse a sí mismo. En las enfermedades autoinmunes, el sistema inmunitario produce autoanticuerpos que atacan a las células sanas del cuerpo. Esto es un mal funcionamiento del sistema inmunitario adaptativo.

However, there are some health conditions that have many of the same symptoms as autoimmune diseases but do not show evidence of autoantibodies. This means that the adaptive immune system is not causing the attack. Instead, it seems that the innate immune system is malfunctioning and causing inflammation that results in symptoms like swollen lymph nodes, fever, rashes, chills, and more. These conditions are described as “autoinflammatory,” which is still a new and not well-recognized classification. It’s likely that some conditions involve a combination of autoinflammatory and autoimmune responses.

Ankylosing spondylitis seems to be one of these conditions, as research shows malfunction of both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Research has found evidence of abnormal activity of innate immune system cells in parts of the body affected by the disease. And the intestine, which plays an important role in innate immune system defense, is involved in AS. But research has also found evidence of autoantibodies in AS, as well as activation and expansion of adaptive immune cell populations.

La recuperación de Norman Cousins de la espondilitis anquilosante mediante la reducción del estrés y la suplementación con vitamina C

A Norman Cousins, un conocido periodista político, autor, profesor y defensor de la paz mundial, le diagnosticaron espondilitis anquilosante en 1964 a la edad de 49. Le dieron una probabilidad de 1 en 500 de recuperarse. Cousins sintió que se había enfermado debido al estrés y al agotamiento suprarrenal, que habían puesto a su sistema inmunológico en un estado en el que no podía luchar contra los patógenos. Sintió que los medicamentos que le estaban recetando en exceso para controlar su enfermedad eran tóxicos. También había leído investigaciones sobre la vitamina C en revistas médicas y sabía sobre su potencial para reducir la inflamación y ayudar al cuerpo a mantener el colágeno.

Afortunadamente, el médico de Cousins se mostró abierto a sus ideas sobre cómo utilizar la reducción del estrés, el pensamiento positivo y la suplementación con vitamina C para fortalecer su sistema inmunológico y ayudar a su cuerpo a curarse a sí mismo. Cousins formuló un plan de tratamiento para sí mismo que consistía en reír (provocado por ver programas de televisión y películas divertidas y leer libros de humor) y administrar ácido ascórbico intravenoso en dosis altas (una forma de vitamina C), lentamente durante tres o cuatro horas.

Cousins descubrió que diez minutos de “auténtica risa de vientre” dieron como resultado al menos dos horas de sueño sin dolor. También descubrió que tanto la risa como el ácido ascórbico redujeron la velocidad de sedimentación de su sangre. La velocidad de sedimentación es un análisis de sangre que mide la rapidez con la que los glóbulos rojos se depositan en el fondo de un tubo de ensayo en una hora. La inflamación hace que los glóbulos rojos se aglomeren, haciéndolos más pesados y haciendo que caigan al fondo del tubo de ensayo más rápido. Una velocidad de sedimentación más alta (deposición más rápida) indica un nivel más alto de inflamación en el cuerpo. Después de cada episodio de risa de vientre, los análisis de sangre de Cousins mostraron una caída de al menos 5 puntos en la velocidad de sedimentación. Después de la primera dosis de ácido ascórbico intravenoso, su velocidad de sedimentación disminuyó en 9 puntos. La velocidad disminuyó de manera constante a medida que continuaba su régimen de risa y suplementación con ácido ascórbico.

While it has been suggested that laughter and Vitamin C may have served as placebos in Cousins’ recovery, research supports both of these methods as being effective for strengthening the immune system. Laughter has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol and epinephrine, which indicates a reversal of the stress response. Laughter also reduces pain and improves natural killer cell activity.

Likewise, research shows that adequate intake of Vitamin C is necessary for immune system function. It is a powerful antioxidant, and supports many functions of both the innate and adaptive immune system. It protects against pathogens and environmental oxidative stress, and Vitamin C deficiency results in a weakened immune system and higher susceptibility to disease.

The human body cannot produce Vitamin C, so we must continually take it in. Multiple studies, such as these published in 2011 and 2021, have found that Vitamin C levels are lower in AS patients than in controls. This may be because the patients are not taking in enough Vitamin C for their immune system to function properly, and/or because their bodies are using up a great deal of Vitamin C in order to try to maintain their collagen.

As Cousins continued his treatment plan, his health continued to improve, and he miraculously regained function and returned to work. You can read his story in his insightful book Anatomy of an Illness, which is an inspirational read for anyone with a chronic illness.

Movimiento

Movement is very important for ankylosing spondylitis patients. AS patients report that their discomfort tends to be worse after they have been sedentary, and that pain and function improves as they move more. Regular movement helps AS patients maintain strength, range of motion, and flexibility. In his book Beating Ankylosing Spondylitis Naturally, Dr. Scott Johnson (who suffered from AS himself) recommends swimming, water aerobics, strength training, yoga, core strength training, and flexibility exercises.

El Dr. Johnson también recomienda encarecidamente la práctica diaria de ejercicios de respiración profunda, que describe en su libro. Escribe que, dado que la EA puede provocar constricción del pecho, es importante practicar la respiración profunda para evitar la rigidez y la fusión de las costillas y mantener la flexibilidad de la pared torácica.

Research consistently shows the benefits of a regular exercise program for ankylosing spondylitis. A 2018 review analyzed studies to assess the effectiveness of varied exercise programs on disease activity and function. The review included studies on home-based exercise programs, swimming, Pilates training, and supervised exercises. The researchers found that a variety of types of exercise programs are effective for reducing disease activity and improving physical function in AS patients.

A 2022 meta-analysis compared the effects of supervised physiotherapy to “usual care” and home-based exercise programs in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The review found that supervised physiotherapy led to significantly greater improvements in disease activity, functional capacity, and pain when compared to usual care. However, there was no significant difference between physiotherapy and home-based exercise.

Water-based exercise programs show promise for ankylosing spondylitis patients. Exercising in water takes pressure off of joints, reducing pain and allowing patients to move through a greater range of motion and practice more challenging exercises than they can on land. The water also gives gentle resistance, allowing patients to build strength. Patients also report that they enjoy the motivation and social aspect of exercising in a group led by an experienced professional.

A 2014 study of 69 AS patients compared the effects of a 4-week aquatic exercise program to 4 weeks of home-based exercise. The water-based exercises produced greater improvements in pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, and general mental health than the home-based exercise program.

A 2015 study of 30 AS patients compared a program consisting of aquatic therapy plus relaxation to no treatment. After two months, the patients who engaged in the aquatic therapy and relaxation reported significant improvements in physical function, fatigue, pain at the neck, back and hips, swelling in joints and waking morning stiffness.

Often, treatments that prove to be effective at reducing symptoms are more cost-effective than standard treatments because they result in less treatment over time. A 2002 study of AS patients found that 4 weeks of hydrotherapy sessions led to significant improvements in well-being, pain, and duration of morning stiffness when compared to physiotherapy and drug management. Since the improvements appeared to last for up to 40 weeks, the researchers concluded that including aquatic exercises in AS treatment is more cost-effective than conventional treatment alone.

Somática Clínica También puede ser una forma ideal para que los pacientes con EA mantengan la flexibilidad y la movilidad. Los movimientos suaves se practican acostados en el suelo, sobre una alfombra, una colchoneta de ejercicios o una manta. Si un paciente no se siente cómodo practicando ejercicios en el suelo, puede practicar versiones de los movimientos sentado en una silla. Los ejercicios permiten a los pacientes liberar la tensión muscular crónica y el dolor asociado, al mismo tiempo que mejoran el control muscular voluntario y la propiocepción (sentido interno de la postura). Cuando se practican con regularidad, Somática Clínica Los ejercicios pueden permitir que los pacientes con EA realicen actividades físicas más extenuantes con comodidad.

Cambio de dieta

Gut health is closely tied to the development of ankylosing spondylitis, and research shows that dietary changes can be very effective at managing the disease and reducing symptoms. Gut inflammation is present in up to 60% of patients with spondyloarthritis. But since everyone’s guts and immune systems are unique, there isn’t one specific diet that has been proven to be the best for everyone with ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease, and we all have different foods that trigger inflammation for us. In general, a diet of simply prepared whole foods can be very effective for reducing inflammation. This means eliminating processed foods and added sugars, and focusing on unprocessed foods that are high in nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants.

The Mediterranean diet, which is based on whole, fiber-rich foods, is often used in nutritional studies. A 2021 study of 161 axial spondyloarthritis patients tested the effects of the Mediterranean diet on disease symptoms. The study found that the Mediterranean diet had a beneficial effect on disease activity, with greater adherence to the diet leading to more significant reduction in symptoms.

Likewise, the Paleo diet has been found to be associated with lower levels of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. The Paleo diet is a whole-food diet that includes meat, poultry, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. It eliminates all grains and dairy, as well as all processed foods and added sugar, all of which are known to cause inflammation.

A study of 25 patients with spondyloarthropathy examined the effects of eliminating dairy from the diet. Seventy-two percent of participants followed the diet. Fifty-two percent of the participants reported good improvement of symptoms after six weeks, and 62% of these participants were able to discontinue taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).

Some research has shown that a reduction in starchy foods, including bread, potatoes, pasta, and baked goods, can reduce inflammation and disease symptoms in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. This is because starch feeds gut microbes, including a group of gut microbes called Klebsiella. Overgrowth of Klebsiella has been found to occur in AS patients, and AS patients also have elevated levels of antibodies against Klebsiella bacteria. It has been suggested that Klebsiella bacteria may be a trigger factor for developing ankylosing spondylitis. When AS patients go on a low starch diet, they experience a reduction in antibodies and a decrease in inflammation and disease symptoms. In one study, a majority of the participants reported that the severity of symptoms declined, and in some cases, disappeared.

El Dr. Scott Johnson, que utilizó métodos naturales para recuperarse de la espondilitis anquilosante, informa que muchos pacientes experimentan alivio simplemente eliminando de su dieta los alimentos inflamatorios más comunes: azúcar, lácteos y gluten. También recomienda evitar o eliminar las grasas saturadas y trans, los ácidos grasos omega-6, los carbohidratos refinados y la carne altamente procesada o de mala calidad. Además, el Dr. Johnson sugiere consumir alimentos antiinflamatorios como chocolate negro, pescado azul, jengibre, cúrcuma, canela, ajo, verduras de hoja verde oscura, nueces, aceite de oliva, bayas y cerezas ácidas.

The best way to figure out which foods are causing inflammation for you is to do an elimination diet in which you completely eliminate potentially inflammatory foods from your diet for a period of time, ideally at least one month. If you want guidance, a great place to start is with the Whole30 diet. After eliminating all possible triggers of inflammation, you’ll go through a process of reintroducing foods one at a time. This allows you to isolate the effects of individual foods, which can be very difficult to discern when consuming a typical, varied diet.

Ayuno terapéutico

El ayuno terapéutico se refiere a una reducción significativa de la ingesta calórica o a la abstinencia total de alimentos durante un período de tiempo con la intención de mejorar la salud. El ayuno intermitente se refiere al ayuno terapéutico que dura menos de 24 horas. El ayuno prolongado se refiere típicamente al ayuno que dura más de 24 horas.

While fasting has been a part of many cultures and religions throughout history, it has become mainstream recently as a result of research showing its vast health benefits. One of these important benefits is a reduction in inflammation. When we give our digestive system a break by not eating, levels of inflammatory cells fall, and the body can focus on healing itself rather than on digesting food.

Ankylosing spondylitis patients report that fasting reduces their pain, stiffness, and swelling, and improves their gut health. Research shows that fasting for just 12-16 hours reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, and it can be used to reduce chronic pain in many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases including ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, and type 1 diabetes.

Fasting should be practiced only after receiving approval from your doctor. And it should not be practiced by people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a history of disordered eating, or have a health condition that contraindicates caloric restriction. If you want to learn more about fasting, I highly recommend Dr. Jason Fung’s book The Complete Guide to Fasting.

Y recuerda, es muy importante que te concentres en comer alimentos integrales, nutritivos y antiinflamatorios durante tu ventana de alimentación. Abstenerse de comer permite que el cuerpo se concentre en curarse, pero también debes darle a tu cuerpo los nutrientes que necesita para curarse a sí mismo.

Dejar de fumar

Research consistently shows a link between cigarette smoking and disease severity in ankylosing spondylitis patients. Smoking is associated with faster-moving spinal damage, more anxiety and depression, worse sleep, and poorer quality of life. In fact, a study of 900 people found that any history of smoking is associated with worse symptoms and disease progression when compared with people who have never smoked.

Aunque los científicos no están seguros de por qué el tabaquismo contribuye a empeorar los síntomas de la espondilitis anquilosante, muchos creen que la inflamación causada por el tabaquismo desempeña un papel. Los investigadores señalan que, dado que los fumadores tienden a tener otros hábitos de vida que también empeoran sus síntomas, puede resultar difícil discernir qué hábitos afectan directamente a qué síntomas de la enfermedad.

Luckily, some of the negative effects of smoking can be reversed by quitting. A 2019 study of AS patients found that those who quit smoking experienced significant improvements in disease activity, physical mobility, and quality of life.

Terapia con luz roja y luz infrarroja

La terapia con luz roja, también conocida como terapia con láser de baja intensidad (LLLT) y fotobiomodulación, utiliza luz roja e infrarroja cercana para estimular cambios bioquímicos en las células de nuestro cuerpo. La luz roja y la luz infrarroja cercana mejoran nuestra producción de ATP, que es la principal fuente de energía de nuestras células. La absorción de luz roja y la luz infrarroja cercana también mejora la señalización celular, la síntesis de factores de crecimiento y reduce el estrés oxidativo.

Los humanos evolucionaron estando expuestos de forma natural a la luz roja y al infrarrojo cercano. Estas longitudes de onda de luz están presentes en mayores cantidades durante los primeros 45 minutos después del amanecer y los últimos 45 minutos antes del atardecer. Dado que la mayoría de nosotros estamos en interiores durante estas horas del día, o si estamos al aire libre, probablemente no tengamos gran parte de nuestra piel expuesta, nos estamos perdiendo los beneficios naturales y muy necesarios para la salud del rojo y el infrarrojo cercano. luz. Entonces, la terapia con luz roja simplemente reemplaza un tipo de luz al que deberíamos estar expuestos a diario pero que ya no lo estamos debido a nuestro estilo de vida moderno.

Miles de estudios sobre la terapia con luz roja han demostrado sus beneficios para una amplia gama de problemas de salud, desde afecciones cutáneas hasta trastornos autoinmunes y enfermedades neurodegenerativas. La terapia con luz roja mejora la energía celular, alivia el dolor, reduce la inflamación e incluso se ha demostrado que mejora la salud del microbioma intestinal.

A 2016 study tested the effects of LLLT combined with passive stretching for AS patients. After 12 sessions of LLLT over eight weeks, the group that received red light therapy experienced a significant improvement in all pain and function scales. Eight weeks after the conclusion of the treatments, the patients still reported pain relief, but improvements in other function measurements had diminished. This suggests that red light therapy should be continued on a regular basis in order for improvements to be maintained.

Infrared light also comes from the sun, and has a longer wavelength than red light. It is invisible to the naked eye, and we feel it as heat. Since it has a long wavelength, it can reach deeper into our skin, muscles, and nerves than red light. Infrared light treatment leads to a decrease in oxidative stress and inflammation, improvement in circulation, stimulation of growth factors, and improved tissue repair. Like red light therapy, infrared light can improve a wide variety of health conditions, and its benefits are being studied extensively.

A 2019 study explored how infrared light could help ankylosing spondylitis patients. Test subjects received infrared light treatment twice daily for five consecutive days. The patients who received the treatment experienced reduced pain and stiffness, as well as a reduction in levels of C-reactive protein.

If you have never tried red light or infrared light therapy, you can likely find a local spa that offers one or both of these treatments. People who want to use these therapies on a regular basis can purchase a red light panel and/or an infrared sauna for their home. While these devices can be expensive, they are less expensive in the long run than visiting a spa regularly, and far more convenient. If you want to learn more about red light therapy, I highly recommend Ari Whitten’s book Red Light Therapy.

Crioterapia de cuerpo entero

La crioterapia consiste en enfriar una parte del cuerpo o todo el cuerpo con fines terapéuticos. Tradicionalmente, la crioterapia se practicaba con compresas de hielo y baños de inmersión en agua fría. Actualmente, la crioterapia de cuerpo entero (WBC) se está investigando ampliamente como terapia natural para una amplia variedad de afecciones de salud, incluida la espondilitis anquilosante. La crioterapia de cuerpo entero se lleva a cabo normalmente en una cámara en la que el usuario permanece de pie durante dos o tres minutos. En la cámara circula aire frío muy seco, lo que reduce la temperatura de la piel de forma agradable.

Se ha demostrado que la crioterapia de cuerpo entero es un tratamiento seguro y eficaz para afecciones inflamatorias dolorosas como la espondilitis anquilosante. Entre las razones de ello se incluye el hecho de que el WBC reduce la inflamación, tiene efectos positivos sobre las citocinas y las hormonas, regula el sistema nervioso autónomo y libera neurotransmisores que modulan la sensación de dolor y el estado de ánimo.

A number of studies have compared the effects of exercise therapy alone to exercise therapy practiced concurrently with WBC. One such study of 92 ankylosing spondylitis patients found that those who underwent cryotherapy at -110∘C experienced significantly reduced disease activity compared to the patients who did not. Another such study found that ankylosing patients who received WBC in addition to kinesitherapy experienced a greater increase in lumbar and thoracic spinal mobility than the control group, who received only kinesitherapy. Yet another similar study found that ankylosing spondylitis patients who received WBC experienced a significant decrease in markers of oxidative stress, along with a significant increase in total antioxidant status, as compared to controls.

Research consistently shows that WBC reduces inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis patients. A 2008 study tested the effect of WBC on pain reduction, disease activity and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-[TNF-]alpha and interleukin-[IL-]1), and improvement in functional scores, in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis/spondylitis). After undergoing nine sessions of WBC in five days, pain and disease activity scores decreased significantly, while functional scores significantly improved. There was also a significant reduction in TNF-alpha and IL-1.

Another study tested the effects of WBC on inflammation of the endothelium in ankylosing spondylitis. One group of patients received a three-minute session of WBC followed by a one-hour exercise session, while the other group received only the exercise session. Researchers measured levels of a variety of inflammatory biomarkers one day before and one day after the treatment period. The patients who received WBC treatment experienced a significant decrease in inflammatory biomarkers as compared to the control group. They also experienced an increase in albumin, a beneficial protein found in the blood.

WBC has also been shown to improve muscle function in ankylosing spondylitis patients. A 2015 study explored the effects of WBC on muscular disorders in AS patients using functional muscular testing. The researchers found that WBC led to improved results on functional muscle tests, including muscle strength and extensibility.

Pain relief is typically the most immediate concern for people who suffer from inflammatory conditions. A 2000 study of 120 patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic low back pain, osteoarthritis, and other autoimmune diseases) tested the effect of WBC on pain levels. After WBC, the patients’ pain decreased significantly for about 90 minutes. The temporary pain relief facilitates physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy. The patients reported that WBC was an essential part of their rehabilitation program.

Researchers have also examined the effect of WBC on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. They found that WBC decreased markers of oxidative stress, as well as levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, sCD40L, PAPP-A, and PLGF. The researchers concluded that WBC is a useful method of atherosclerosis prevention in ankylosing spondylitis patients.

La crioterapia tradicional es fácil de empezar en casa, y más adelante puede decidir gastar dinero en una versión más cara. En casa, puede colocar bolsas de hielo o mangas de hielo en áreas doloridas específicas. También puede tomar duchas frías, darse un baño frío o agregar hielo a un baño frío. Si desea probar las opciones más caras, puede buscar un spa local que ofrezca crioterapia de cuerpo entero (como se usa en los estudios de investigación a los que se hace referencia) o una bañera de inmersión fría. Puede decidir continuar con las sesiones regulares de WBC en un spa, comprar una bañera de inmersión fría o comprar un enfriador para su bañera.

Toma de tierra

La activación de las células inmunitarias y la inflamación generan radicales libres, que son moléculas o átomos que tienen electrones desapareados. Los radicales libres son altamente reactivos e inestables y pueden reaccionar con otras moléculas y causar daños a las células de nuestro cuerpo.

When our body does not have enough antioxidants to neutralize all of the free radicals being produced, the buildup of excess free radicals results in the state of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress plays a major role in chronic, degenerative illness such as cancer, autoimmune and autoinflammatory conditions, and neurodegenerative diseases.

One of the easiest and most natural ways to neutralize free radicals is by grounding. The surface of the earth has an unlimited supply of free electrons due to solar wind, ionospheric wind, and meteorological activities. When we touch our bare skin to the earth, these free electrons flow from the surface of the earth into our body, where they pair with free radicals and neutralize them.

Unfortunately, wearing shoes with rubber soles prevents the free electrons from flowing into our body. The only way to effectively ground ourselves is by walking on the surface of the earth barefoot, wearing conductive footwear, or grounding indoors using a device such as a grounding mat or patch.

Thermography case studies illustrate how patients with chronic joint pain experience dramatic improvement from grounding, often within just a few days. Studies demonstrate how grounding reduces inflammation, relieves pain and stiffness, reduces arthritis symptoms, improves heart rate variability, has a favorable effect on blood viscosity, decreases red blood cell aggregation, improves blood pressure, regulates thyroid hormone production, regulates blood sugar levels, reduces anxiety, improves sleep, speeds wound healing, and shortens recovery time from viral infection. As the earth’s free electrons neutralize damaging free radicals, oxidative stress is reduced. Then the body is able to focus on healing itself, rather than constantly trying to reduce the buildup of free radicals.

If you want to learn more about grounding, I highly recommend reading Clint Ober’s book Earthing. It is also advisable to take it slow when you first being grounding yourself, since for most people it is a significant change in the internal state of their body. Start by grounding outdoors with bare feet for 30-60 continuous minutes per day. As a next step, try using a grounding mat indoors while you’re sitting down for periods of time. When you’ve worked up to grounding for 3-4 hours per day, then you’ll likely be ready to have a great night’s sleep on a grounding sleep mat, which is the easiest way to get a long stretch of grounding in each day.

Avanzando

Cuando se practica más de una práctica de sanación natural, resulta muy útil llevar un diario para poder hacer un seguimiento de cómo le afecta cada práctica. Es posible que desee comenzar con una sola práctica a la vez y comenzar a practicar cada una de ellas gradualmente para permitir que su cuerpo se adapte. Por ejemplo, no comience a hacer ejercicio con sesiones largas; comience con sesiones de ejercicio cortas y suaves y alargue las sesiones solo cuando le resulte agradable a su cuerpo.

Como escribe el Dr. Johnson en su libro:

“No se rinda si no ve resultados inmediatos. Los resultados variarán según la progresión de la enfermedad, el tiempo que lleva con EA y su estado de salud actual. Algunos remedios pueden tardar semanas en dar resultados. Siga intentándolo y mantenga una actitud positiva. Puede vencer la EA porque todo es posible”.