Case Series to Evaluate the Efficacy of Selected Treatment Modality in the Management of Vātarakta (Gouty Arthritis)

Samaranayaka Liyanage Gayani Sewwandi*, Fathima Shazmin Hazari, Mallawa Arachchige Maheshi Sandunika

Temporary demonstrator, Department of Cikitsa, Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, Yakkala, Sri Lanka

*Corresponding Author

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2023.1011026

Received: 24 November 2023; Accepted: 30 November 2023; Published: 10 December 2023

ABSTRACT

Vātarakta is a more common and distressing metabolic condition that exists nowadays. Rakta (blood) is the major Dūshya (vitiated) in Vātapradhāna (predominance of Vāta), Tridōshaja (three body humors), and Vātavyādhi (disease of Vāta). Vātarakta is a condition in which Vāta, a prominent Dōsha, is unduly worsened by vitiated Rakta. Gout and Vātarakta are associated in modern science. Gout is a purine metabolic disorder that results in hyperuricemia and the development of monosodium urate crystals in joints. Gout’s primary symptom is pain, which interferes with sufferers’ daily lives. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of a selected treatment modality in the management of Vātarakta. Three case presentations with a follow-up period of one month were studied. Treatment modality including Sinhasya Panchamūli Phānta, Chadraprabhā Vati, Nawarathna Kalka, Thriphalā Chūrna, Pinda Thaila, and Nadi Swēda was advised for four months along with Pathya Apathya (wholesome and unwholesome). Pre- and post-treatment assessments of subjective criteria were made. According to the results, the symptoms were reduced by 25%, 33.33%, 50%, 66.66%, and 100%. It may be concluded that Pathya Apathya, combined with a selected treatment modality, is a secure and reliable treatment for Vātarakta.

Key words: Gout, Hyperuricemia, Rakta, Vāta, Vātarakta

INTRODUCTION

Urate crystals (monosodium urate monohydrate) form and cause the clinical condition known as gout. The crystals may accumulate in soft tissues, such as cartilage, causing no inflammation, or in joints, generating an abrupt inflammatory response. The abrupt onset of severe acute monarticular arthritis in a peripheral joint of the leg characterizes the majority of gout patients. Complete remission of the arthritis is followed by increasingly frequent recurrences. Some patients experience tophi development in cartilage, tendons, and bursae after around 10 years of recurrent gouty arthritis ^{[1], [2], [3], [4]}.

Gouty arthritis, or Vātarakta, is a chronic condition caused by an abnormal metabolism brought on by unhealthy eating patterns and lifestyle choices. Vāta and Rakta that are vitiated cause Vātarakta. First, vitiated Vāta blocks the way for vitiated Rakta, and subsequently, Rakta itself becomes impeded. The clinical presentation of this condition can be compared to that of gouty arthritis. Since Vātarakta is a Santarpana-Janya Vyādhi, Āma-Dōsha is first dominating. It bears a striking resemblance to “gouty arthritis” in contemporary medicine. This purine metabolism problem, which is due to hyperuricemia, is characterized by discomfort and swelling in the in termetatarsophalangeal joint (IMTP), initially followed by other joints, and interferes with the patient’s daily activities ^{[5], [6], [7], [8], [9]}.

The most common type of inflammatory arthropathy is gout. Its prevalence and incidence appear to have increased in recent decades, according to several studies. There are many known risk factors for developing gout, such as hyperuricemia, genetics, dietary variables, alcohol use, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, obesity, use of diuretics, and chronic renal disease. The most common kind of inflammatory arthritis, gout, is linked to a lower quality of life. Hyperuricaemia, or elevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels, is a necessary condition before gout can occur. In and around joints, monosodium urate (MSU) crystals form as SUA levels rise and the physiological saturation threshold for uric acid in bodily fluids is exceeded. Clinical signs of MSU crystal deposition include tophaceous deposits of MSU crystals in the joints and skin, chronic joint deterioration, and acute bouts of severe pain and inflammation affecting peripheral joints, most frequently the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. The foundational tenet of Ayurveda is that “disorders of basic elements in the body are the root cause for different diseases,” meaning that having control over the various fundamental elements in the body (Sharīra) is a sign of good health and immunity to disease. The body’s basic constituents are discovered to remain in equilibrium, much like in Vātarakta, with the help of Ayurvedic treatments and therapies ^[10].

The Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of the selected treatment modality in the management of Vātarakta.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

A Case Presentations

1 Case 1:

A 48-year-old female patient (housewife) attended the OPD of Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Teaching Hospital (190 A) with complaints of pain in multiple joints like the knee, wrist, shoulder, elbow, metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints, tenderness, burning sensation, itching, and discoloration of the skin for four years. She had no history of diabetes or hypertension but had gastritis and constipation for six months. Her younger daughter had a Vātarakta condition. She consumed little rice and curry; instead, she consumed many spicy foods and flour-containing foods like hoppers, string hoppers, and buns. Sometimes she was fasting without taking food. She had not taken any medicine for this before. There were no abnormalities in Ashtavidha Parikshā (eight-fold examination) except Mala (stool).

2 Case 2:

A 50-year-old female patient (nurse) attended the OPD of Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Teaching Hospital (195 A) with complaints of pain in multiple joints like the knee, wrist, shoulder, elbow, metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints, tenderness, burning sensation, swelling, itching, and discoloration of the skin for more than ten years. As other complains, she has had diabetes, gastritis, constipation, and back pain for the past five months. Within two months, she had a TIA (transient ischemic attack). Her muscles were flaccid, and her nails were damaged and wasted. As she was abroad (in Arabic) for 20 years, she was malnourished and had not taken meals on time. She had not consumed chicken or fish during that period, as she was a vegetarian. As well as she was awakening at night excessively during that period. As well, there was no family history. There were no abnormalities in Ashtavidha Parikshā except Mala.

3 Case 3:

A 56-year-old female patient (fashion designer) attended the OPD of Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Teaching Hospital (198 A) with complaints of pain in multiple joints like the knee, wrist, shoulder, elbow, metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints, tenderness, burning sensation, swelling, itching, and discoloration of the skin for more than five years. He had no history of diabetes or hypercholesterolemia but had gastritis for five months and constipation for six months. He had been suffering from Vātakantaka (plantar fasciitis) for several months, and he had taken Panadol as a painkiller. Also, he was excessively awake at night and prolonged standing due to his job. As well, he consumed excessively flour-containing foods like Roti, Pittu, and hoppers. According to his family history, his younger sister had a Vāta Rakta condition.

B Treatment Modality

Treatment was planned for 4 months with Pathya Apathya

Sinhasya Panchamūli Phānta– One table spoon of Phānta added to 4 cups of water and boiled it until reduced to 1 cup and consumed twice daily.

Chandraprabhā Vati– 2 Guli twice daily with luke warm water

Thriphala Chūrna– 30 g mixed with 240 ml boiled water and consumed twice daily.

Navarathna Kalka– 1 g twice a day with luke warm water

Pinda oil- Apply twice a day

Nadi Swēda– Apply twice a day

Pathyapathya (Do’s & Dont’s)

Dietary guidelines were advised to follow throughout the lifetime.

Pathya (Do’s)- Light diet, Vyāyāma (exercises), Yōgabhyāsa (yoga exercise).

Apathya (Dont’s)- Spicy, food, junk food, alcohol, smoking, vegetables like Capsicum, potato, cabbage, spinach, tomato. Stop consuming pickle, curd, dry food items, non-vegetarian food. Avoid awaking last

night, Vēgavarōdha (suppressing of urges), swimming, exposure to excessive cold ^[14].

C Criteria for Assessment of Symptoms

Assessment was done on improvements in signs and symptoms with the help of a suitable scoring method. Here, cases of Vātarakta were assessed by comparing the symptoms before and after treatment. Then the data were analyzed by Microsoft Excel. The patients were monitored for one month following treatment. Even after one month of follow-up, no indications or symptoms of gout were noted.

Table I: Assessment Criteria ^[15]. 

D Limitations

Patients with traditional Vātarakta indications and symptoms as defined by both contemporary science and Ayurveda were chosen.  Additionally, men and women between the ages of 40 and 60 were chosen. Excluded from the study were expectant mothers, nursing mothers, patients with life-threatening conditions such as HIV, Hepatitis B, psychiatric disorders, bleeding disorders, and COVID-19-positive patients.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table II: Before and After Treatment Results

Ayurveda describes Vātarakta as a disease involving an imbalance of the Vāta Dōsha that affects the Rakta Dhātu. Vāyu is aggravated by long rides on horses, camels, or elephants, while Rakta, or blood, is tainted by the consumption of Lavana (salt), Amla (sour), Katu (pungent), and Kshāra, among other foods. By obstructing the Vāta’s passageways, Rakta further vitiates and contaminates the Rakta, or blood. Later, the blood that Vāyu vitiated burns the entire blood supply of the body before gravitating towards the foot. Vātarakta is the name for this toxic mixture of vitiated Vāta and Rakta. Vātarakta and gout may potentially be connected etiopathologically ^[16].

Sparshasahishnuta was 100% healed in cases 2 and 3, while it was reduced up to 66.66% in case 1. Toda was also 100% healed in cases 2 and 3, while it was reduced to 66.66% in case 1. Dāha was completely healed in case 3, and it was reduced up to 50% in case 2, and in case 1, it was reduced up to 33.33%.  Shōtha was absent in case 1, and it was reduced up to 50% and 25% in cases 2 and 3. Both Kandu and Vaivarnya were 100% reduced in case 3, while they were reduced up to 50% and 33.33% in cases 2 and 1.

Sinhasya Panchamūla Phānta is best for Vāta Rakta because it pacifies both Vāta and Rakta Dōshas. Both Nawarathna Kalka and Thriphala Chūrna increase digestive power through Āma Pāchana (digestive action) and Virēchana (purgative) action. It is needed to digest Āma (undigested food) because all diseases occur due to Āma formation. As well as Thriphala Chūrna Pacify all three Dōshas. Chandraprabhā Vati reduces serum uric acid in gouty arthritis and gives significant relief in pain, itching and swelling ^[17].

Contrarily, Pinda Taila is mentioned in most Ayurvedic classics and most commonly advocated for external use in the management of Vātarakta ^[18]. With the application of Pinda Taila, the roughness in soles and palms greatly reduced due to Snigdha (unctuous) Guna (action) of oil ^[19]. The patient should receive Svēdana (sudation) treatment once he has recovered from Snēhana (oletion) therapy. The patient may undergo the appropriate sort of Svēda after Abhyanga (massage), such as Nādi Svēda, Prastara Svēda, Samkara Svēda (types of sudation), etc. It reduces the body’s rigidity, heaviness, and coldness and liquefies the Snigdha-vitiated Dōshas (caused by Snēhana Karma), which are dispersed throughout the body. This makes it possible to easily eliminate the vitiated Dōshas by the inducement of perspiration.  Swēdana therapy is the most effective treatment for vitiated Vāta and Kapha dominating disorders, according to Āchārya (teacher) Charaka (Charaka, 200 BC). In order to prevent the Vāta problems from remaining in the Kōstha (gut) after being softened by Snēhana, the Svēdana procedures should be repeated ^[20].

CONCLUSION

From this case series, it can be concluded that Vātarakta can be effectively managed with a selected treatment modality. However, further clinical research with a larger sample size may be needed to further authenticate the efficacy.

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