Overview
Gout can develop when there are high levels of uric acid within the body — a condition called hyperuricemia. Gout is an inflammatory arthritis that can be followed by pain if it flares up.
Hyperuricemia and gout sufferers, or as we may say to avoid flare-ups, many people turn to alternative medicine and lifestyle changes to lower uric acid in his body.
They may also be herbal in nature, especially ayurvedic ones. Everyone is believed to have a predominate dosha, or main energy, in the body. What illnesses you tend to get troubled with, depends on your dosha. When you know your dosha, you’ll be able to determine if you need treatments or lifestyle changes to attain balance, according to Ayurveda. There are three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha.
Ayurveda is an already existing alternative medicine system originally originating in India. While Ayurveda is thousands of years old, Western interest has shot up in the past few years.
Gout is referred to as vata rakta in Ayurvedic medicine system. Gout is said to be the result of unbalancing the vata dosha.
Ayurvedic vs. allopathic treatments for gout
In general, Ayurveda is rather holistic in its model for approaching a person’s well-being. Ayurveda also uses herbs but these alongside other ways such as exercising, meditating, and altering one’s diet amongst others.
However, in allopathic medicine which forms the main health-related system in the West, there are a number of treatments for gouty conditions.
- certain eliminations of specific types of food for a period with further adjustments, for example, lower portions of dairy, meat or alcohol or complete exclusion of those categories of foods.
- NSAIDs, corticosteroids and colchicine – all the drugs act as anti-inflammatory and analgesic.
- xanthine oxidase inhibitors that lower the amount of the substance which is produced in the body called uric acid
- probenecid, an agent used in the kidney to eliminate severe level of acid present in the blood.dic treatments can involve herbs as well as lifestyle changes, such as exercise, meditation, and diet.
In allopathic medicine, which controls Western health-related care, there are a number of different treatments for gout. These include:
- dietary changes, such as plummeting dairy, meat, and alcohol intake or cutting those foods out altogether
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and colchicine, all of which reduce pain and irritation
- xanthine oxidase inhibitors, which reduce the level of uric acid shaped in the body
- probenecid, which helps the kidneys remove acid from the blood.
The drugs that are mostly recommended for the treatment of gout as per conventional system of treatment have some or the other side effects. In view of that, most people have turned to other medical systems to seek gout treatment, including Ayurveda.
Ayurvedic treatments for uric acid
Ayurvedic remedies for gout and uric acid build up include. Some of these treatments are herbal, some are lifestyle changes.
1. Triphala
The word triphala is Sanskrit, it means three fruits. Here the name itself tells us what it is all about an herbal treatment, named bibhitaki, amalaki and haritaki. It is thought each works on one of the body’s three doshas.
Because it’s anti inflammatory, triphala is one of the reported benefits of triphala and could help reduce the inflammation from gout.
Triphala has been found to have antiinflammtory properties by some research in animals, however, more research would be needed to show that triphala might help with gout.
Triphala supplements can easily be bought online.
2. Giloy
Ayurveda uses the herb Giloy very frequently.
The 2017 review on medical benefits of giloy says, “Giloy’s stem extract in juice form is effective in treating gout because the juice helps to counter the spike in body’s uric acid levels.”
On top of that, giloy has also shown anti inflammatory and anti pain on rodents, in a 2014 evaluation but further studies are required to prove its benefits in humans.
Buy Patanjali gilou online.
3. Neem
Ayurveda uses neem to fight inflammation and help gout flare ups. The paste form may be applied to the area affected with gout.
According to a 2011 paper, neem has anti-inflammatory properties, but that’s not going to directly treat symptoms of gout and wouldn’t lower uric acid levels in the body.
Neem is available as oil and capsule.
4. Bitter gourd
In Ayurveda, bitter gourd is commonly recommended as remedy for vata disorders. So, it’s commonly prescribed to treat gout.
But there’s no strong scientific evidence that bitter gourd can lower uric acid levels or treat gout.
5. Cherries and dark berries
Cherries and dark berries are recommended by many Ayurvedic practitioners to bring the levels of uric acid down in body.
Cherry Juice is indeed the treatment for Gout. Cherry juice concentrate was looked at in a 2012 pilot study and found to lower uric acid, as did pomegranate concentrate.Trusted Source However, the pomegranate concentrate was less effective than the cherry juice.
A 2012 study of 633 participants found that eating 10 or more cherries a day cut the number of gout flare ups by 35 percent.
6. Turmeric
Turmeric is the spice that comes from a root. Turmeric is considered good for health in Ayurveda. Turmeric has many uses due to curcumin, its active ingredient.
A 2016 study finds that curcumin is an effective treatment for the indications of joint arthritis conditions like gout.
A 2013 study found that purified curcumin extract has highly effective anti-inflammatory properties in gout, but doesn’t lower uric acid.
Turmeric is pretty safe and can be included in curries, soups and so on. Haldi doodh, or golden milk, is often consumed by it.
Turmeric is available in capsules.
7. Ginger
Ginger is one of the most used plants in Ayurveda with several purported health benefits. Even in the West, gout is cured with a popular home remedy.
A 2011 review points out that ginger is an effective treatment of gout, as well as other inflammatory conditions.Trusted Source It’s easy to add ginger to your diet.
8. Dietary changes
They also follow the Ayurvedic treatment of gout, which basically involves a dietary change.
Ayurveda and Western medicine point to reducing or abstaining from alcohol, sugar, meat and seafood. They are known as high purine foods in Western medicine and tend to increase uric acid levels in the body.
Dairy is one big difference between Ayurveda and Western medicine when it comes to gout. Some research indicates that low fat dairy helps reduce uric acid levels in Western medicine.
If you have gout in Ayurveda, you should cut out dairy. According to some Ayurvedic practitioners, eating a vegan diet might help reduce uric acid levels.
9. Exercise
It is an important tenet of Ayurveda that exercise is necessary. Exercise, especially yoga, is believed to promote basic health. Of course, Western medicine agrees that exercise offers a multitude of health benefits.
Gout is also triggered by stress so exercising — as a proven way to reduce stress — is a natural recommendation for those with gout.
A 2013 review of studies found yoga in particular is linked to lower levels of stress.
Exercise itself also might lower uric acid. Profuse sweating, which decreases uric acid levels in the body, was shown by a 2010 study to be due to exercise.Trusted Source That’s because, it is thought, sweating is a way your body purifies itself, getting rid of uric acid.
The Takeaway
For gout, there are a number of Ayurvedic treatments available, of which there is (limited) scientific evidence for some.
Whenever there is a new herb or supplement to use, or a lifestyle change, it is always important to get medical advice first. Ayurvedic treatments for uric acid – As with any treatment or herb, speak to an Ayurvedic practitioner before you try this.
We don’t know the side effects of many of these treatments, however, because there are so many of these treatments and there needs to be further investigation of them. To try any of these treatments, it’s good to first speak with your doctor.
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