Treating Gout with Chinese Medicine

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When you wake up one morning with a very painful, red, and swollen big toe (or other small joint)

Most people have never heard of gout, or if they have, associate it with medieval medical lore right alongside leeching and bloodletting.  Fear not!  Acupuncture and herbal remedies can not only relieve painful symptoms, but also prevent future attacks.

What Causes Gout?

Gout happens when extra uric acid in the blood crystallizes and lodges in small joints. Uric acid is a normal byproduct of healthy metabolism that our bodies use to balance acid levels, with any leftovers processed by the kidneys to be excreted in urine.  There are many factors that cause extra uric acid to build up in the bloodstream, including:

• Genetics
• Certain diseases and the medications used to treat them (hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, kidney disease)
• Consumption of alcohol
• Consumption of foods rich in purines (sardines, anchovies, cod, herring, shellfish, bacon, veal, turkey, organ meats)

Notice anything about those last two factors?  Both are lifestyle changes you can make right away if ever you find yourself suddenly dealing with an excruciatingly swollen big toe or other small joint.  Stop consuming alcohol and rich foods, pop a couple of NSAID's (NOT aspirin) and seek treatment ASAP.  

How Chinese Medicine Can Help

Traditional Chinese Medicine (aka TCM) is an approach based on man’s earliest understanding of the human body, namely, that it is follows the same rules and laws of the natural world. (Cliffs Notes Version: The body has a system of channels that link together everything on the inside—muscles, organs, bones, vessels, blood, etc—with everything on the outside. When the body is in perfect harmony there is health and vitality. When illness or symptoms arise, the body is letting you know you are out of sync.)

Your acupuncturist will prescribe acupuncture treatments and herbal teas to relieve the pain, flush the extra uric acid, and rebalance your system. They will also recommend dietary and lifestyle changes to prevent future attacks.

​Please note! Side effects of regular acupuncture include more energy, restful sleep, lower blood pressure and feelings of euphoria and relaxation.

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