EFFICACY OF JALAUKAVACHARNA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE GOUTY ARTHRITIS

Lalita Sharma, Alok Kumar Srivastava, Poonam and Diksha Upreti

ABSTRACT

Gout is an ancient disease dating back to the time of Babylon. It’s name came from the latin word Gutta(drop), points to the belief that a poison falling into the joint drop by drop causing the disease. More recently it become more prevalent and has increasing complexity in the past 20 years. Which could be related to the development of metabolic syndrome and longevity. It is still on the increase and it’s prevalence has not plateaued yet .It is a most common inflammatory arthritis in men affecting 1-2% adults with male to female ratio of 3.6:1 but rare in pre menopausal women and it’s incidence, prevalence increases with age. Clinically gout is a syndrome caused by an inflammatory response to Monosodium urate monohydrate crystals formed in human with elevated serum urate concentration (hyperuricaemia). It could present with either acute relapsing attack/it can come in chronic form. The acute attack usually cause very severe inflammatory arthritis which is usually self limiting and could take weeks before it completely setteles. The management of acute gouty arthritis include use of colchicine and NSAIDs but they have many adverse effects. Accordind to ayurveda it can be correlated with Vatarakta. It is a variety of vata roga which is caused by excessively aggaravated vata and vitiated blood (rakta). The modern drugs only provides symptomatically relief to the patient but does not change the course of disease. In Ayrveda leech therapy is more effective and has immediate effect on pain, inflammation and lasting effect on stiffness and dysfunction. High degree of safety suggest that this therapy has great potential in the management of acute gouty arthritis.

Keywords: hyperuricaemia, aggaravated vata and vitiated blood (rakta).