Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis from the Governor’s Vessel

              Modern medical research shows that sacroiliac arthritis is a typical early manifestation of ankylosing spondylitis. Inflammatory low back pain caused by sacroiliac arthritis is insidious and often felt deep in the hips. Initially, the pain is mostly unilateral and intermittent, slowly becoming bilateral and persistent after a few months, gradually progressing to inflammation of the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical joints and peripheral joints such as the shoulder and hip joints. In the late stage of ankylosing spondylitis, spinal fixation and ankylosis are the main manifestations. Individual patients can be severely disabled, bedridden for long periods of time and unable to care for themselves. Pathology of the disease: It is an inflammation of the diseased ligaments or tendons attached to the bone, which eventually leads to ossification. Diagnosis of strong spondylitis: (1) Low back discomfort vaguely present. (2) Age <40 years. (3) Persistence for more than 3 months. (4) Stiffness in the early morning. (5) Symptoms improve with activity. The diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis can be made with the above medical history and the presence of signs of sacroiliac arthritis on x-ray, after excluding other similar diseases. There is no specific treatment for this disease, and the clinical treatment principle is to reduce the pain and stiffness of the diseased joints.      According to Chinese medicine, "pain is pain if it does not pass", and any painful area indicates a blockage of qi and blood, collectively referred to as "paralysis". Depending on the location of the pain, it is named as different paralysis. For example, the pain and discomfort in the internal organs is called "five-vessel paralysis". For example, heart paralysis, liver paralysis, spleen paralysis, lung paralysis, kidney paralysis, etc.; body surface paralysis according to different levels of lesions are: skin paralysis, flesh paralysis, pulse paralysis, tendon paralysis, bone paralysis. The lungs are responsible for the skin, the spleen for the flesh, the heart for the veins, the liver for the tendons, and the kidneys for the bones. Ankylosing spondylitis is a disease of the tendons and bones, so in Chinese medicine it is called tendon paralysis and bone paralysis. According to the five elements of Chinese medicine, and the law of meridian disease transmission, the disease progresses from the surface to the liver and kidney stage, which is the deepest level of the body. Therefore, the occurrence of ankylosing spondylitis indicates that the external evil has overcome the body's internal and external multi-layered defense, the body's overall positive energy has been defeated by the external evil, evil Qi convergence and concentration in the Governor's vein, forming the "real is strong spine" symptoms. In addition to the patient's fatigue, cold and aging of the body, but also because of the toxic side effects of drugs or because of economic affordability problems, so that the treatment process intermittent, the human body and the battle of the disease is like rowing against the current "not to advance is to retreat", resulting in recurring attacks and aggravation of the disease, it is not surprising that today's clinical quite difficult to prolong the persistent chronic diseases.      When a doctor sees a patient whose disease has progressed to the skeletal stage, he knows that he is facing an all-round and difficult war. The patient is not only suffering from superficial symptoms such as pain and stiffness of the diseased joints, but also indicates that the patient's internal vital energy is already insufficient. Treatment must take into account both the symptoms and the root cause, combining local symptom control with support for the overall positive energy. Only when the strength of the body's positive qi counteracts or exceeds the strength of the evil qi, can the disease be completely controlled and cured. The development of the disease to the stage of ankylosing spondylitis is a longer period of time, and it takes even more time to cultivate and support the positive energy to change the body. In addition to the correct strategies, battles and tactics of the doctor according to the patient's condition, it is important for the patient to take care of himself for a long time, avoid strain and cold, and adhere to the treatment.      The upper section of the Governor's Vessel can be dredged to invigorate the patient's heart and lung function. According to Chinese medicine, the heart is the master of blood and the lungs are the master of qi. The harmonization of qi and blood can deliver fresh blood and sufficient oxygen to the whole body. Dredging the middle section of the Governor Vessel can improve the function of internal organs such as the liver, gallbladder, spleen, stomach and kidney. In Chinese medicine, the spleen and stomach are the basis of the latter. When the spleen and stomach are strong, the organs and tissues of the body are well nourished, the metabolism is normal, and vitality is vigorous. The Directing Vessel is connected to the kidneys through its relationship with the Kidney and Bladder meridians, so the unblocking of the Directing Vessel can directly enhance the positive energy of the kidneys. People with paralysis of tendons and bones especially need the strength of the positive energy of the liver and kidneys, and the dredging of the Directing Vessel can invigorate the positive energy of the five internal organs, and the positive energy of the five internal organs is complementary to each other. When the internal organs, especially the liver and kidney, are constantly enriched, they are gradually transmitted through the meridians to the relevant parts of the body, constantly changing the contrast between the forces of good and evil at the lesion site. Therefore, for patients with strong spondylitis, unblocking the channels is not only the treatment of the surface symptoms of the disease, but also the fundamental method of treating the disease. Combined with symptomatic treatment of the diseased local area and systemic herbal tonification of qi and blood, after a period of accumulation of treatment, good and lasting clinical efficacy can be shown.