Chinese Herbal Medicine For Gout

Content

• Browse Treatment Options
• Mind & Body
• The Role Of Medication In Prevention Of Gout
• Strategies For Relief During Gout Attacks

Most gout requires long term treatment from a rheumatologist. Treatment plans vary based on a patient’s stage of gout, the severity of the condition and one’s general medical condition. Along with medical treatment plans, a diet of low purine foods and drinking plenty of water is also recommended to give the kidneys a chance to do their job. If gout is left untreated, kidney damage can occur, making it more and more difficult to process uric acid, thereby making the gout worse. This becomes a vicious cycle that deteriorates into crippling joint damage and deformity, as well as kidney stones and osteoporosis. Drinking too much alcohol, especially beer, which is rich in guanosine , also leads to uric acid buildup and attacks of gout.

If you find this to be helpful, you can increase the amount of apple cider vinegar that you add to water. There may also be selected patients where rilonacept treatment might be a longer-term alternative. If a patient can’t tolerate allopurinol, and meets the criteria for probenecid, that can be tried. A “stub of the toe” can lead to a gout attack if there were already enough uric acid crystals saturating the cartilage. Gout can develop in a person either because they are producing too much uric acid or because they are unable to put enough of it into the urine .

Browse Treatment Options

Try to avoid frequent or daily meals consisting of meat, seafood, and alcohol. As always you should drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Some drugs lower the uric acid level in your blood by increasing the amount of uric acid passed in your urine. They help dissolve tophi and prevent uric acid deposits in joints.

Avoid fried foods and foods with high-fat content, like full-fat dairy. Low-fat foods like fruits and vegetables, legumes, and whole grains will help you manage gout. Use a low-purine diet and avoid foods that are high in purines , including shellfish and red meats.

Mind & Body

The liver, however, metabolizes this drug so anyone with a liver problem or who abuses alcohol may not be able to take this drug. In addition to following your doctor's treatment plan, there are choices you can make to prevent gout attacks and future joint damage. Treatment for gout focuses on relieving pain during acute attacks, preventing future gout attacks, and reducing the risk of developing tophi and permanent joint damage. It is possible to have hyperuricemia and not develop gout.

It is a serious warning that your body is acidic and is prone to other diseases that are even worse than gout. For this reason, I have written this book, to give you a way to move your body into an alkaline condition to eliminate gout. A gout-prevention diet is high in complex carbohydrates , low in protein and low in fat.

During a gout attack, the affected joint becomes swollen, warm to the touch, and appears very red. Even the slightest pressure on the joint can be very painful. The attacks more often occur in the middle of the night; about 50 percent start in the big toe, according to the Alliance for Gout Awareness. The severe pain, swelling, and redness hits hard and fast. The initial attack often strikes your big toe's large joint, but later ones might affect the foot or ankle.

Is Chicken OK for gout?

Meats like fish, chicken, and red meat are fine in moderation (around 4 to 6 ounces per day). Vegetables: You may see veggies like spinach and asparagus on the high-purine list, but studies show they don't raise your risk of gout or gout attacks.

A joint fluid analysisto see if uric acid crystals are present. Therefore, researchers recommend drinking plenty of water to avoid increased serum uric acid levels after activities that cause heavy sweating. In women who drank 1 to 3 cups of coffee daily, the risk of gout was 22% lower, and in those who drank 4 or more cups daily the risk was 57% lower, compared with no coffee consumption. From this review, the researchers concluded that drinking 4 or more cups of coffee per day lowers uric acid levels and decreases the incidence of gout. Nevertheless, a 2019 review of six studies that looked at the effect of cherry juice or cherry extract intake on gout concluded that cherry intake was associated with a reduced risk of gout attacks. Researchers did note that larger, more long-term studies are needed to clarify this association.

Strategies For Relief During Gout Attacks

Chen et al. found that the TCM formulas combined with chemical drugs showed better effect than chemical drugs applied alone. Based on Simiao Powder, Tongfeng Decoction is invented and widely used. The above three TCM formulas with the effect of clearing away heat and draining dampness, and dredging the collaterals to stop pain, are modified from Simiao Powder. The diagnosis must rule out the presence of infection, which can be a hidden problem.

Acute Attack Pain Management

Discontinue allopurinol if you develop a rash or a fever, and call your doctor. There are a number of drug interactions with probenecid, so advise a doctor of other medications. If prescribed a new medication, let a doctor know that you are taking probenecid.

Will uric acid crystals go away?

Conclusions. In gout, reduction of SUA to normal levels results in disappearance of urate crystals from SF, requiring a longer time in those patients with gout of longer duration. This indicates that urate crystal deposition in joints is reversible.

Treatment for flares consists of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, steroids, and the anti-inflammatory drug colchicine. There is no cure for gout, but you can effectively treat and manage the condition with medication and self-management strategies. Recent research also indicates that genetics may play a big role in determining who gets gout. Ask your doctor if you have questions about your risk for developing this condition. One of the main natural sugars in many fruits is fructose.