Gout(Vata Raktha)
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.
Gout can affect anyone. Men are more likely to get gout, but women become increasingly susceptible to gout after menopause.
SYMPTOMS
The signs and symptoms of gout are almost always acute, occurring suddenly often at night -and without warning. They include:
Intense joint pain Gout usually affects the large joint of your big toe, but it can occur in your feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists. The pain is likely to be most severe within the first 12 to 24 hours after it begins. After the most severe pain subsides, some joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks. Later attacks are likely to last longer and affect more joints.
Inflammation and redness -The affected joint or joints become swollen, tender and red.
Most patients with gout will experience repeated attacks of arthritis over the years.
DIAGNOSIS
The most reliable test for gout is finding uric acid crystals in a sample of the joint fluid obtained by joint aspiration.
Blood uria is the commonest blood test to estimate the level of Uric acid. Other blood tests commonly performed are white blood cell count, electrolytes, renal function, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
X-rays can sometimes be helpful and may show tophi-crystal deposits and bone damage as a result of repeated bouts of inflammation.
AYURVEDA MANAGEMENT
Vata Rakta or Aadya Vata is a classical description of Gout in Ayurveda. 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),
At SRI AAYUSH, our treatment includes Ayurveda Panchakarma therapy along with internal medicines, diet & lifestyle modihcations. Therapies like Snehapanam, Virechanam, Abhyanga swedam, Elakkizhi, Pizhichil, Vasti, Navarakizhi etc are very useful in treating or even curing Vatarakta.
In very severe cases, even Rakthamokshana therapy is also practiced for quicker and long lasting relief.