Doctor’s Corner:
Gout (Vata Rakta)
Details
Gout is a kind of arthritis, characterized by sudden, severe attacks of burning pain, redness and tenderness in joints, often the joint at the base of the big toe.
These attacks can happen over and over unless gout is treated. Over time, they can harm your joints, tendons, and other tissues. It is caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. The uric acid crystallizes, and the crystals deposit in joints, tendons, and surrounding tissues.
It is more common in men.
According to Ayurveda it is described as Vata Rakta or Aadya Vata .
Vata dosha, Pitta dosha and Rakta Dhatu are specially vitiated to cause Vatarakta.
Several causes are listed in Ayurveda, which causes Vatarakta are excessive intake of Lavana (salty), Amla (Sour), Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter), Kshara (alkaline), Snigdha (Too oily), and Ushna (Too hot) foods, eating dried & preserved or spoiled fish/meat, Ulavalu (Horsegram), Blackgram, Nishpava (anumulu, a bean variety), sour curd or buttermilk, incompatible foods like fish with milk products, drinking alcohol, daytime sleep, staying awake in the night, anger etc.
SYMPTOMS OF GOUT CAN BE:-
Itiching,pulsation in the vessels,pricking pain,redness ,heaviness and even numbness over the affected joint.
Often the patient complaints of fever,malaise,on and off burning sensation
Conventional treatment uses various drugs to reduce both inflammation and uric acid production.
Fortunately gout can be treated very successfully with diet and life style changes supported by herbal therapy.
TREATMENT:
Guduchi
Shuddha guggulu
panchakarma like virechana can be advised depending on the condition of the patient.
Treatment Case Study
Patient’s Age: 40 yrs; Sex: M
Presenting Complaint :- Excruciating pain and swelling in his left foot for past 16 yrs. Condition was worsening in the past 6 months prior to consulting Dr Anjali at Om Vedic. Patient had high levels of Uric acid and was on strong pain killers for the past few years. Patient used to get Gout attacks every week which could make him bedridden. Attacks at night involved left big toe, ankle & the knee.
Observation – swelling, tenderness and redness was present. Tongue coated, sleep disturbed, appetite normal, bowels-soft &irregular. It was clear on examination that patient had accumulated lots of toxins (AMA) in the body over the years.
Ayurevdic Approach – Patient was put on a strict diet for the 1st month. Then he was put through intense and a series of external therapies along with internal ayurvedic herbal medicines. After 4 weeks, the gout attacks lessened. After 7 weeks of treatment, uric acid levels reduced drastically from 10.5 to 6.5 units. Weight dropped from 67 kgs to 62 kgs. Frequency of gout attacked had significantly reduced. Patient was feeling physically more active and got back to normal working life. Medicines were then reduced and patient was put on last stage of therapy to prevent relapse of condition. He was still advised to be strict with his diet (as per Doctor’s advice) and after 3 months patient is still feeling much better.