Gout

WHAT IS IT AND WHAT CAUSES IT?

Gout is joint inflammation caused by heightened uric acid levels in the blood. It deposits on the joints, and causes inflammation. The symptoms are sudden pain in a joint (often the big toe) with redness, swelling, and fever. Eating too much food with high purines, having kidney problems, and taking certain medications can elevate blood levels of uric acid. It can also be genetic.

WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE A DOCTOR?

If you have sudden swelling and pain in a joint, see a doctor.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IN DAILY LIFE?

• When you have an attack, rest and raise the painful limb. Apply a cold pack for 20 minutes three times a day. It reduces the swelling and pain.
• Drink at least 8 cups of water and juice a day to flush out excess uric acid.
• Eat less acidic foods. Eat more alkaline foods such as kelp, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, celery, eggplant, daikon radish, tomatoes, onion, apples, bananas, peaches, and pears. Eat more fresh or canned cherries, cherry juice, or strawberries. These basic foods will neutralize the uric acid.
• If you are overweight, controlling your weight is key. Heavier people have a tendency to have a high level of uric acid.

WHAT SHOULDN'T YOU DO?

• Avoid purine-rich foods such as animal organs, fatty meats, mussels, sardines, caviar, crab, and anchovies. Limit the intake of spinach, dry beans, mushroom, cauliflower, and asparagus in your diet.
• Don't eat too much at a time. Reduce salt intake. Avoid spicy food, strong condiments, or MSG.
• Avoid alcohol and beer—alcohol will increase uric acid levels.

Folk Remedies

• Take aloe vera juice orally, or apply the gel to painful spots.
• If gout chronically occurs in the foot, soak your feet in hot water with charcoal:

  Ingredients: 8 oz. charcoal.

  Procedure: Boil the charcoal in hot water for 10 minutes. Remove the charcoal and wait for it to dry. Put charcoal in a cotton fabric bag and place the bag in a container. Gradually pour warm water into this container and soak your feet for 30 minutes, once a day for one month. Be careful, as the charcoal stains. You can dry the charcoal and reuse.

Food Therapy

• Drink pearl barley and rice soup with mung beans:

  Ingredients: 1 oz. Chinese pearl barley, 1/2 oz. mung beans, 2 oz. rice.

  Procedure: Soak beans in water overnight. Add beans and 4 cups of water to a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until beans are soft. Drink twice a day.

• Eat 1 Tbs. of blackberry juice and 1 Tbs. of strawberry juice, three times a day.

Chinese Massage

• Use the thumb to push the joint that is in pain and its surrounding area for two minutes.
• Use the thumb to press and knead the spot that is in pain and its surrounding area for two minutes.

Chinese Herbs

• Take the patent herb Du Huo Ji Sheng Wan. Follow the instructions.

Groin Strain (Groin Pull)

WHAT IS IT AND WHAT CAUSES IT?

Groin strain is adductor muscle injuries caused by overexertion. The symptoms are a sharp pain or tenderness in the upper inner thigh, that gets worse with activities.

WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE A DOCTOR?

If the pain bothers your daily activities, or if you have no sign of improvement two days after self-treatment, see a doctor.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IN DAILY LIFE?

• In acute cases stop your activity right away. Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes on the injured thigh several times a day. Loosely wrap the injured thigh with an elastic bandage.

WHAT SHOULDN'T YOU DO?

• Don't use any heat at the very beginning because it is very hard to tell if there is inside bleeding.

Folk Remedies

• Apply tofu with vinegar:

  Ingredients: Tofu, rice vinegar.

  Procedure: Cut a 1/4-inch slice of tofu and use a fork to punch a lot of holes. In acute cases freeze the tofu in a refrigerator for five minutes. Soak it in a bowl with vinegar. Apply the tofu to the painful area for 20 minutes. In chronic cases, use a microwave to warm the tofu and apply to the painful area for 20 minutes. Reheat the tofu if necessary. If you have an allergic skin reaction, discontinue use.

• In a chronic case, cook 1 oz. of green tea leaves: Apply the warm tea leaves to the painful spots. In an acute case, wait until the leaves cool, then apply to the painful spots.
• In chronic cases, massage with a low-power vacuum cleaner: Take the head or brush away. Use the opening of the pipe to suck at your thigh. Lightly lift the pipe, but don't lose contact with the skin. Hold for 10 seconds, then move to another spot.

Chinese Massage

Do not massage in acute cases.

• Use the heel of your palm to gently press and knead the inner thigh from the top of your leg to your knee for two minutes.
• Gently press and knead the painful point in the top of your injured thigh for two minutes.
• Use the thumb and other fingers to grasp the muscles of your inner thigh from the top of your injured leg down to the knee joint for two minutes.
• Use your thumb to gently press and knead the following points for one minute:

  

• The point right in the depression inside of the calf under the knee, behind the leg bone (Sp9).
• The point on the top of inside edge of the knee. Flex your knee and place your hand on the kneecap. The point is where your thumb touches (Sp10).

Chinese Herbs

• Take the patent herb Yu Nan Bai Yao. Follow the instructions.
• Apply the patent herb tincture Zheng Gu Shui to the painful spot. Follow the instructions. If you have an allergic reaction, discontinue use.
• Apply the herb patch Shang Shi Zhi Tong Gao. If you have an allergic reaction, discontinue use.