Gout and Uric Acid: What's the Connection?

acupuncture herbs
Jun 6
4 min read

Written by: Melody, TCM Practitioner

Gout and uric acid are very closely related. Uric acid is the main culprit that triggers Gout.

Gout (痛风) occurs because there's too much uric acid. When there's too much uric acid, it forms crystals in your joints, like sand getting stuck in them. This causes your joints to become red, swollen, and incredibly painful.

What is Uric Acid?

Uric acid is the final product of purine metabolism in the human body. Purines are found in many foods we eat daily, such as organ meats, seafood, and legumes.

Where Does Uric Acid Come From?

🔸 Eating Too Much Meat:

Meat contains a lot of purines. After purines are metabolized in the body, they turn into uric acid.

🔸 Poor Kidney Function:

The kidneys are responsible for eliminating uric acid. If the kidneys aren't working well, uric acid can't be excreted and will accumulate more and more in the body.

How Does Gout Happen?

When blood uric acid levels are too high, uric acid crystals deposit in joints, soft tissues, and other areas, triggering a severe inflammatory response. This is what a gout attack is. During a gout attack, patients often experience red, swollen, hot, and painful joints, severely impacting their quality of life.

What are the Dangers of Gout?

🔹 Joint Deformity:

Long-term recurrent attacks can lead to joint deformity, affecting mobility.

🔹 Kidney Damage:

High uric acid levels can also damage the kidneys.

🔹 Cardiovascular Diseases:

Gout patients also have an increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.

How Does TCM View Gout?

TCM believes that the onset of gout is closely related to Spleen and Kidney dysfunction. The Spleen governs transformation and transportation, and the Kidneys govern water metabolism. When the Spleen and Kidney functions are imbalanced, water metabolism is disrupted, and damp-heat is generated internally. This leads to either excessive uric acid production or impaired excretion, subsequently triggering gout.

To treat gout, TCM primarily uses methods such as clearing heat and resolving dampness, invigorating blood and unblocking collaterals, and strengthening the Spleen and tonifying the Kidneys to alleviate pain, reduce swelling, and prevent recurrence.

Common TCM Treatment Methods:

🌱 Internal Chinese Herbal Medicine:

Heat-clearing and Dampness-resolving Herbs:
Such as Phellodendron bark (黄柏), Anemarrhena rhizome (知母), and Gardenia fruit (栀子), which can clear heat, purge fire, and resolve dampness.
Blood-activating and Stasis-resolving Herbs:
Such as Peach kernel (桃仁), Safflower (红花), and Red Peony root (赤芍), which can activate blood circulation, reduce swelling, and relieve pain.
Spleen-strengthening and Kidney-tonifying Herbs:
Such as Poria mushroom (茯苓), Chinese Yam (山药), and Gorgon fruit (芡实), which can strengthen the Spleen and Kidneys, consolidating the body's foundation.

🌱 Acupuncture:

Through needling and moxibustion, relevant acupoints are stimulated to regulate Qi and Blood, achieving the effects of unblocking meridians, reducing swelling, and relieving pain.

🌱 External Chinese Herbal Application:

Chinese herbs are made into plasters or poultices and applied externally to the affected area, which can help reduce swelling, relieve pain, and activate blood circulation.

Advantages of TCM in Treating Gout:

🌟 Holistic Approach:

TCM emphasizes a holistic approach, not only treating local symptoms but also regulating the entire body and improving overall constitution.

🌟 Treats Both Root and Branch:

TCM treatment can not only alleviate the symptoms of acute attacks but also fundamentally regulate the body to prevent recurrence.

🌟 Fewer Side Effects:

Compared to Western medications, Chinese herbal medicine generally has fewer side effects, making it more suitable for long-term use.

How to Prevent Gout?

✅ Eat Less Meat, especially organ meats and seafood.

✅ Drink Plenty of Water to promote uric acid excretion.

✅ Control your weight.

What Should Gout Patients Pay Attention To?

🔔 Dietary Control:

Dietary management for gout patients is a crucial part of controlling the condition. To lower blood uric acid levels and reduce joint pain, we should minimize high-purine foods.

🔔 Medication:

Follow your doctor's instructions for taking uric acid-lowering medications.

🔔 Drink More Water:

Increase urine output to promote uric acid excretion.

🔔 Weight Management:

Obesity is one of the risk factors for hyperuricemia.

🔔 Avoid Alcohol:

Alcohol can inhibit uric acid excretion and worsen gout.

🔔 Regular Routine:

Ensure sufficient sleep.

Foods Gout Patients Should Avoid:

High-Purine Foods:

❌ Animal Organs:

Liver, kidney, brain, and other animal organs are among the highest purine foods.

❌ Seafood:

Sardines, anchovies, shellfish, shrimp, crab, and other seafood also have very high purine content.

❌ Meats:

Red meats like beef, lamb, and pork have relatively high purine content, especially concentrated meat broths.

❌ Legumes and Soy Products:

Dried beans, soy milk, dried tofu, and other soy products have relatively high purine content.

❌ Certain Vegetables:

Asparagus, spinach, mushrooms, and some other vegetables have relatively higher purine content.

❌ Alcoholic Beverages:

Alcohol inhibits uric acid excretion and worsens gout.

❌ Sweetened Beverages:

Sugary drinks can lead to weight gain, and obesity is a risk factor for gout.

Foods Gout Patients Can Eat:

✅ Low-Purine Foods:

Most vegetables (e.g., cabbage, cucumber, tomatoes), fruits, whole wheat bread, rice, eggs, milk, etc.

✅ Moderate Protein Intake:

Choose low-purine protein sources, such as fish and chicken.

✅ Water:

Drinking plenty of water can promote uric acid excretion.

✅ Diversified Diet:

While limiting high-purine foods, maintain a balanced diet to ensure proper nutrition.

Important Considerations:

⚠️ Individual Differences:

Different people have different purine metabolism capacities and varying tolerance to foods.

⚠️ Regular Check-ups:

Regularly check blood uric acid levels and adjust your diet.

⚠️ Follow Medical Advice:

Conduct dietary therapy under the guidance of a doctor.

⚠️ TCM and Western Medicine Combination:

TCM dietary therapy can assist Western medical treatment but cannot replace it.

In summary, the relationship between gout and uric acid is like that of fire and fuel; uric acid is the fuel that ignites the fire of gout. Only by effectively controlling uric acid levels can gout be effectively prevented and treated.

If you'd like to learn more about TCM wellness, or if you'd like more personalized advice for your specific situation, we recommend booking a consultation.