Gout is an inflammatory form of arthritis that mostly affects the body’s smaller joints. The condition is brought on by an increase in serum uric acid, which eventually causes monosodium urate crystals to accumulate in the joints. The disease most frequently affects men in their middle to late years and postmenopausal women.

How does gout occur?

Hyperuricemia is the biochemical sign of gout (increased amount of serum uric acid). The by-product of purine breakdown is uric acid. The uric acid typically dissolves and is eliminated through the urine. However, if the uric acid is not effectively expelled or if the body is making too much uric acid, it begins to build up in the body.

Monosodium urate crystals are created when the serum uric acid levels reach more than 7 mg/dl as a result of the reaction between uric acid and sodium ions. These crystals accumulate in places with poor blood flow, causing pain, swelling, and inflammation.

Causes and risk factors for gout

Gout occurs due to an increase in the production of serum uric acid or due to its poor elimination through the urine.

Causes

1. Excess intake of seafood, red meat, organ meat, and high fructose corn syrup beverages.
2. Hereditary- gout run in the families.
3. Lack of physical activity.
4. Metabolic disorders such as hypertension and Diabetic Mellitus, dehydration, etc result in the production of excess uric acid.
5. Kidney diseases.
6. Intake of medications such as diuretics, aspirin, and blood pressure-lowering agents for a long time.

Risk factors

1. Men are more affected than women.
2. Intake of seafood, alcohol, red meat, organ meat, and anchovies
3. Sedentary lifestyle.
4. Post-menopausal women and men in their third and fourth decades.

Signs and Symptoms

The disease typically appears suddenly and lasts for three to ten days. Although some individuals may only experience a single episode, the majority of patients experience recurrent attacks with varied lengths of symptomless intervals between them.

The foot’s metatarsophalangeal joint is the first joint the disease initially affects (the joint of the big toe). Later, the condition may start to affect smaller finger, wrist, and elbow joints, as well as lesser toe, ankle, and knee joints.

The disease manifests with symptoms such as:

1. Sudden, intense pain that starts in the middle of the night and wakes the affected person.
2. Swelling, tenderness, redness, inflammation, and warmth on the affected joints.
3. The range of motion is restricted.
4. There will be joint discomfort that lasts for days after the initial symptoms go away.
5. The development of tophi happens if the illness is not treated.

Investigations

The disease is diagnosed with the help of a detailed history, physical examination of the affected region, and investigations such as:

1. Serum uric acid.
2. Urinalysis.
3. Joint fluid analysis.
4. X-ray of the affected joints.
5. Musculoskeletal ultrasound.

What is Gout in Ayurveda?

Vatarakta or Aadhyavata is the traditional reference for gout. The disease develops as a result of the rakta dhatu and vata dosha becoming vitiated. The disease first appears in the body’s smaller joints, such as those in the foot and hand, before subsequently spreading to other joints.

Vatarakta is classified into two types according to site and duration of manifestation.

1. Uttana vatarakta – The disease affects the twak(skin) and mamsa(muscle) dhatu and presents with clinical symptoms such as itching and burning sensation, aching and pricking type of pain, and red, blackish, or brownish discoloration of the affected region.
2. Gambhira vatarakta – The disease affects the deeper dhatus of the body and is more severe in nature. Tophi formation occurs in this stage.

Ayurvedic Management of Gout

Ayurveda Treatment for Gout aims to restore vitiated vata dosha and rakta dhatu to normalcy.

The treatment procedures include:

1. Raktamosha (bloodletting therapy) –Blood-letting is considered as the first and foremost treatment for vatarakta. The blood-letting can be done using leeches, siravyadha, etc. Frequent blood-letting in smaller amounts can be done.
2. Snehana (oleation therapy) – Medicated ghee or oil is given internally.
3. Virechana (purgation therapy) – After the body is properly oelated, virechana can be administered using castor oil, avipathi choornam, etc.
4. Vasti (medicated enema) – vasti is the ideal treatment for bringing the vata dosha to normalcy. Ksheera vasthi is indicated in the treatment for vatarakta.
5. Swedana (fomentation therapy) such as:

• Dhanyamla Dhara.
• Choorna Pinda Sweda.
• Patra Pinda Sweda
• Kashaya Dhara.
• Lepanam application of certain ayurvedic medicinal powders

6. Yoga Therapies and Pranayama

• Surya namaskar
• Naukasana (Boat pose)
• Ustrasana (Camel pose)
• Sarvangasana
• Halasana

Pranayama:

• Naadi shuddhi
• Kapalbhati etc.

Lifestyle Modifications

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Exercise daily.
3. Avoid food items such as seafood, red meat, organ meat, and high fructose corn syrup beverages.
4. Include cherries, strawberries, blueberries, apples, pears, papaya, rice, etc in the diet.
5. Reduce body weight.
6. Control lifestyle diseases such as diabetics, blood pressure, obesity etc.

CONCLUSION

At Ayurclinic Melbourne, we offer effective and holistic management of gout arthritis based upon the traditional ayurvedic combinations and with a wide range of Ayurveda therapies that are administered by our team of experienced Ayurvedic doctor and trained therapists. So we advise patients who have just started developing mild problems to take care of their diet. For those who have more severe symptoms, we prescribe them to undergo a full course of detox and strengthening Ayurveda therapies so as to prevent further attacks and to keep joints strong. Along with this, we also administer some of our medical formulations for prevention of further episodes and Physiotherapy & Yoga as part of our therapeutic approach.

If you need more advice on Gout treatments, you are advised to book a consultation with our Ayurveda doctor.