Gout, an excruciatingly painful inflammation caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in and around affected joints, is a form of arthritis. In the West, medical treatments aimed at easing gout pain and heading off future attacks include a wide variety of pharmaceuticals combined with dietary and lifestyle adjustments. In India, ayurvedic physicians have been treating gout for more than 5,000 years using a similarly multifaceted approach in conjunction with plant-based medicines.
About Gout
Gout primarily affects middle-aged men in episodic "flares." Any joint may be involved but most often, attacks are concentrated in the lower legs and feet, the big toe being the classic hot spot. A dietary study published in the March 11, 2004, "New England Journal of Medicine" followed 47,150 men for 12 years, concluding that the risk of contracting gout increased in proportion to consumption of meat and seafood, but eating plenty of dairy products appeared to confer some protection. People with gout are typically advised to avoid vegetables high in the chemical purine, but moderate consumption was not associated with elevated risk of contracting the condition, the study found.
Ayurveda
Ayurvedic medical practices are derived from the Vedas, ancient Hindu religious texts. Ayurveda's fundamental belief is that the five elements of the universe -- ether, air, fire, water and earth -- are contained within every human being, and illness results when natural forces and individual physical, emotional and spiritual energies are out of balance. The goal of treatment is to restore equilibrium with a customized regimen that includes exercise, meditation, diet and preparations made from combinations of about 1,250 different medicinal plants. In the United States, ayurvedic medicine is endorsed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Ayurvedic Gout Treatment
A paper published on the website of the University of Connecticut's School of Medicine describes the ayurvedic theory of what causes gout, called "vat ratka." The condition is the result of unhealthy dietary habits that contaminate the blood and cause impurities to build up in the feet, ayurvedic theory holds, and practitioners recommend that patients avoid meat and seafood, as well as limit consumption of salty, pungent and alkaline foods. Lisa McDowell, author of the ebook "Cure Gout Now," says that ayurvedic gout preparations might contain seven botanicals but emphasizes that ingredients and proportions depend upon individual cases.
Effectiveness
Even though the effectiveness of many ayurvedic remedies remains unproven, "early research suggests certain components may offer potential therapeutic value," says the American Cancer Society. Citing one clinical study commissioned by the National Institutes of Health, the ACS noted that 79 percent of the participants, who suffered from various chronic diseases, "improved measurably" after ayurvedic treatment. At present, many herbs and spices commonly used in ayurvedic practice are being studied and tested in human clinical trials, the ACS says, and "interest in integrating some parts of the system into modern medical practice" has been growing. In recent years, research into the anti-inflammatory properties of one ingredient commonly used in ayurvedic medicine, turmeric, points to a wide range of potential therapeutic uses.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Gout -- Symptoms
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine; "Ayurvedic Approach to Rheumatologic Disorders"; A. Guha and S. Deshpande; Jan. 1, 2007
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Support; "Gout Pain Relief Through Ayurvedic Medicine"; Lisa McDowell; 2010
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Arthritis:Gout
- American Cancer Society: Ayurveda
- "The New England Journal of Medicine"; Purine-Rich Foods, Dairy and Protein Intake...; Hyon K. Choi et al; March 11, 2004
