Ayurvedic Treatment of Gout
(Reference: Charak Samhita (Chikitsa Sthan) Chapter- 29 and shloka-16 to 18)
According to this shloka, prodromal symptoms of gout are
- Excess or absence of perspiration
- loss of senses of the skin
- Blackish spots on the skin
- Severe pain on an injury
- Laxity in joints
- Lassitude
- Fatigue
- Pricking pain in knee, thighs, waist, shoulders, hands, feet and other joints
- Discoloration of skin
- Patches over the skin
Gout is a type of arthritis which is caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. The main sign is the presence of tophi. The tophus is a hard nodule of uric acid crystals that deposits under the skin. Uric acid is the breakdown product of compounds called as purines and crystallization of these compounds in joints can cause attacks of painful arthritis, renal stones and blockage of kidney tubules with these crystals leads to kidney failure. Gout attacks can come quickly and can reoccur. It is also related to an increase in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and is extremely painful.
This disease is more common in men and in women, it becomes more susceptible after the menopause.
What are the Causes of Gout?
Gout is caused by the build-up of uric acid crystals in the blood. Production of too much of uric acid which results in the alteration of filter process and can cause the formation of tiny sharp crystals in and around the joints. These tiny crystals can cause the joint to become inflamed and painful.
Generally, it occurs in people above 50 years of age, but presently it is also affecting the children and teenagers.
According to Ayurveda causes of gout are
Ahara (Food)
- Improper diet causes the vitiation of Vata dosha
- Intake of Lavan (salty), Amala (Sour) and spicy foods in excess
- Shushka Ahara (wafers)
Vihara (Lifestyle)
- Prolonged standing
- Ratri Jagran (Sleeplessness at night)
- Manasik Nidan: Stress, anxiety
Things That Increase the Chances of Getting Gout
- Obesity
- Diabetes and high blood pressure
- Genetic
- Consumption of too much alcohol
- Foods like seafood, red meat, and offal
What are the Symptoms of Gout?
- Joint pain (especially in small joints)
- Redness and swelling
- Heat in the affected area
- The patient is unable to walk
- Restricted motion
These symptoms usually affect a single joint and the pain is severe which reflects the severity of inflammation in the affected joint. Some patients with gout may experience pain from something as simple as pulling the bed sheets over the affected joint. The medical term used for excessive fluid in a joint is “Joint effusion”.
Ayurveda and Arthritis
- The main cause of gout is genetic. In Ayurveda, gout is correlated to Raktgat Vata. According to the Ayurveda system of medicine, gout has been considered as a result of poor digestion, bad eating habits, and an inactive lifestyle.
- In Ayurveda, it is treated in a planned manner. Consumption of milk with castor oil during treatment is beneficial.
- Gout does not happen suddenly but it spreads slowly, so proper treatment of this arthritis is important. Through Ayurveda, all types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, juvenile arthritis, and ankylosing spondylosis can be easily treated. In this article, you will get to know how to treat arthritis through Ayurveda.
- During the treatment, more attention is given to in finding the root cause of arthritis and then treating it. If a person is suffering from gout and defective digestion, then Ayurveda is focused on restoring the patient’s unbalanced physical energies and improving the digestive capacity.
Ayurvedic Treatment
Special types of exercises are advised for the patient and they can consume 25 ml of Arand oil with milk twice a day. Apart from this, treatment is done on the basis of symptoms and the severity of the disease. During treatment, anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory medicines are given to the patient to reduce the pain, as well as rest, is recommended.
Diet and Food Habits
According to Ayurveda, patients should pay special attention to their diet and food habits. Avoid excess oily and spicy diet and do not take excessive protein in the diet. Take fenugreek, mustard greens, spinach, green vegetables, mustard, lentils, paraval, brownies, gourd, grapes, pomegranate, papaya etc. Apart from this, regular consumption of garlic and ginger is also beneficial in its treatment.
It is necessary that the immune system should be strong and there should be a proper digestive process. Don’t go for knee replacement. This post is updated for those who are taking or took proper treatment but never got cured.
- Does your knee joint have swelling?
- Is there any crackling sound in your knee joints?
- Does your knee joint pain?
- Are you being advised of knee replacement?
Herbal Remedies
- Dry Ginger (Sonth)-50 gm
- Black pepper (Mirch)- 50gm
- Pappali- 50 gm
- Harad- 50 gm
- Seeds of sehjan- 50 gm
- Babul- 200 gm
After taking collecting all these things, grind them and make a powder of it and filter the dough in a glass container. Take one teaspoon of it every morning half an hour after meals with lukewarm water. It will provide relief in pain and swelling.
- Avoid pulses, rice, citrus fruits, oily foods, and other processed foods.
- Take Ghee, gourd, beans, cucumber, round gourd, Paraval (soybean + gram + mung gourd)
- Take vegetables in more quantity and two to four walnuts or a piece of raw coconut kernel daily
- Breakfast timings: Between 8 to 9 am
- Lunch timings: between 12 to 1 pm
- Evening timings: 5 to 6 pm
In the morning, eat as much as you can. Intake of half of it in the afternoon is good and half of it should be eaten in the dinner.
Do exercise regularly, walk barefooted on the ground, rise early in the morning and take sunshine, do yoga and stay