Don’t Let Gout Control Your Life: Try This Ancient Therapy for Fast Relief

When gout attacks, the big toe turns red, swollen, and is painful. mapo_japan/shutterstock

Sudden severe pain and swelling in the big toe may be a symptom of a gout attack. Though modern medicine has no cure for gout, many patients find treatment with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to be effective.

Yuen Oi-lin, a registered TCM practitioner in Hong Kong, said in the program “The 100 Doctors, The 100 Treatments”  that acupuncture and moxibustion (the burning of moxa on the skin) can usually relieve gout in one session. In addition, drinking Sishen (four combinations) Decoction to nourish the spleen and stomach can help you recover.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), gout is caused by excess uric acid in the blood, which crystallizes in the joints, causing inflammation and pain. Pain in a gout attack usually rests with the big toe, but occasionally it can also affect the little toe joint, ankle, and knee.

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In addition to pain, symptoms of gout also include a red, hot, and swollen appearance. Though modern medicine has no cure for gout, it can provide some medicines to reduce the uric acid content in the blood, prevent the formation of uric acid stones, and suppress inflammation and pain through anti-inflamatory drugs.

Gout affects over three million individuals in the United States. The likelihood of developing this condition and its complications is higher in men, postmenopausal women, and those with kidney disease. Several risk factors for gout include obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol and triglycerides), and diabetes. Additionally, genetic factors play a role in the development of gout and may run in some families.

Yuen said that gout is sometimes called the “disease of the rich,” because it occurs by consuming rich foods and drinks such as red meat and wine, as well as overeating. Excess alcohol, in particular, causes damage to the digestive system.

Gout is classified as a metabolic disease. From the perspective of TCM, gout patients usually suffer from spleen deficiency. Therefore, the core treatment adopted by TCM focuses primarily on strengthening the spleen and removing “dampness,” as well as tonifying the kidneys to restore the metabolic function of the body back to normal.

In TCM the spleen is not thought of as merely an organ—but more of a functional framework. In addition to its immune function, the spleen is also responsible for the digestive system, which functions to convert food and water into finer substances, absorb them, and transport them to other organs in the body.

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If the function of the spleen is weak and the body’s water metabolism cannot proceed normally, “dampness” will occur, which, according to TCM, is a pathological product of abnormal water metabolism.

Yuen pointed out that TCM usually applies acupuncture to treat gout, which can regulate the functions of the spleen, stomach, and kidneys together. Most patients feel pain and swelling are relieved after a single acupuncture session, and for some patients, the pain is completely alleviated after five sessions.

In a 2016 meta-analysis published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, synthesized, randomized, controlled clinical trials data of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of gout found that both are safe and effective in treating the disease.

Compared with those taking Western medicine, the acupuncture groups showed a higher uric acid reduction, more obvious pain improvement, and fewer adverse reactions. Acupoints commonly employed in this instance include Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), and the tender point near the lesion—the Ashi points (Ashi points do not have defined positions and are the points where the patient feels pain during the palpatory examination.)

Attention to Avoiding Certain Food, Plus Dietary Therapy

Yuen pointed out that while receiving TCM treatment, patients must abstain from drinking alcohol, otherwise gout is likely to return.

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According to data from the CDC, people with gout should eat fewer foods rich in purines, which are broken down into uric acid. Purine-rich foods include red meat, organ meats, and some types of seafood like tuna, sardines, and scallops.

In addition, refined sugar should be avoided. Studies have found that people who consume more sugary drinks have a higher risk of developing hyperuricemia.

Sishen Decoction Regulates the Spleen and Stomach, Removes Uric Acid

Yuen suggested that gout patients can eat Sishen (Four Combinations) Decoction for dietary therapy. Sishen soup is composed of four ingredients, including Gorgon euryale seeds, lotus seeds, yam, and Poria cocos—all known to be effective in strengthening the spleen and kidneys.

Hu Naiwen, a TCM physician at Taiwan’s Shanghai Tongdetang Chinese Medicine in Taipei, and his wife introduced a way to prepare Sishen Decoction in the online program “Hu Naiwen’s Lecture.”

Ingredients:

• Gorgon euryale seeds 60g (2 ounces)
• Chinese yam 30g (1 ounce)
• Lotus seed 60g (2 ounces)
• Poria cocos 25g (0.9 ounce)
• Barley 30g (1 ounce)
• Water (3.2 pints).

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The main ingredients of Sishen Decoction: Gorgon euryale seeds, Chinese yam, Poria cocos, lotus seeds, barley. Gong Anni/The Epoch Times

Preparation: Add the 3.2 pints water to a cooking pot. Wash remaining ingredients, and add to pot. Bring to a boil on high heat and continue to simmer for another 40 minutes on low heat.

Sishen Decoction can be cooked with meat to enhance the flavor. Gong Anni/The Epoch Times

Hu Naiwen pointed out that you can add meat to the Sishen soup to enhance the flavor. Favorites of the Taiwanese include pork intestines or pork belly and pork ribs, while chicken breast and chicken bones can also be added to provide another mix of tastes.

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Hu once treated a gout patient—a 78-year-old woman who also suffered from high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and other symptoms in addition to high uric acid. According to his suggestion, she ate Sishen soup in addition to other foods during all three meals each day. Two years later, at a follow-up appointment, and reported that her gout was cured, her blood pressure was not high anymore, and her blood sugar had returned to normal.

In addition to Sishen soup, Hu said that one can make porridge with barley and rice because barley has a diuretic effect and can remove uric acid. However, he cautioned that pregnant women should avoid eating barley because it can cause uterine contraction and miscarriage.

*Some herbs mentioned in this article may be unfamiliar, but they are generally available in Asian supermarkets.

Note: Because different people have different physiques, it is recommended to consult your doctor or TCM experts.