What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Ankylosing Spondylitis (also called AS) is an inflammatory, autoimmune arthritis. It usually starts with an achy low back that may be worse in the mornings or after periods of rest and improves with movement.

It’s most common in males and typically diagnosed in young adults, maybe with a family or personal history of other autoimmune or inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Psoriasis or eye inflammation (uveitis).

Natural solutions for AS

Laser for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Laser can help AS by:

• Reducing pain

• Reducing inflammation

• Improving mobility - less morning stiffness

• Better sleep and more energy

• Start to feel like your self again!

What does Laser Feel Like?

We have the latest cold laser which, as the name suggests, feels cold. Many people don't feel anything with the laser on but report changes to their pain, movement and function afterwards.

How does laser work?

The laser targets the energy factory of the cells called the mitochondria. When the cells of the body are functioning better, we feel better.

You can find out more here.

Reducing Inflammation from the Inside Out: Anti-Inflammatory Diet

What you eat can have a powerful effect on how your body manages inflammation. For people with Ankylosing Spondylitis, diet can help calm the immune system, support gut health, and reduce flare-ups of pain and stiffness.

Our naturopaths and dietitians can help tailor an eating plan to your needs, food preferences and schedule.

• The Mediterranean diet focuses on fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, olive oil, nuts, fish and herbs. It’s rich in antioxidants and healthy fats that support an anti-inflammatory environment in the body.

• The low food chemical diet is more targeted and helps people who experience gut concerns, skin irritation, headaches, fatigue or brain fog related to food sensitivities. It involves identifying and calming reactions to natural or additive food chemicals that can overstimulate the immune or nervous system.

By supporting the gut and calming inflammation, dietetic & naturopathic care can make a real difference in how your body feels day to day — especially when combined with laser therapy, chiropractic adjustments, gentle movement and acupuncture.

Acupuncture for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Acupuncture provide relief with AS by:

• Reducing inflammation

• Stress management

• Improve pain

• Improving circulation around the joints

Acupuncture is one tool of traditional Chinese medicine doctors. It may be coupled with gua sha (scraping massage) to relieve muscle tension, cupping to help detoxify the body and home advice to support your energy.

Health Psychology

With any lifelong diagnosis, there can come a mental battle. The swirling thoughts about the future. The unknowns. Getting bogged down during flare ups.

Stress is known to impact inflammation and so

Health psychology can help:

• Pain perception and coping strategies

• Emotional and mental wellbeing support

• Reducing stress to reduce inflammation

• Relationship support to help set boundaries based on physical limitations and address social isolation

• Build resilience and a sense of control of the illness

• Build healthy habits such as exercise, motivation and sleep hygiene

A natural and holistic approach to ankylosing spondylitis

At Body & Brain Centre, we offer a team approach to naturally support you. We meet you where you are at: needing some help in some areas more than others and fitting in with your exisiting supports like your rheumatologist. There’s no one size fits all approach.