Gout Research
Alternative
& Complementary Therapies
Hypnotherapy/Psychotherapy
& Gout
There has been at
least one study involving hypnotherapy and arthritic conditions. In this instance (1),
reported levels of pain, anxiety, and depression, and plasma levels of beta-endorphin,
epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin were measured in 19 arthritic pain
patients before and after hypnosis. Correlations were found between levels of pain,
anxiety, and depression and following hypnotherapy, there were clinically and
statistically significant decreases in pain, anxiety, and depression and increases in
beta-endorphin-like immunoreactive material. The study reveals that hypnotherapy may well
play an important role in conquering rheumatic conditions including gout.
(1) Biochemical correlates of hypnoanalgesia in arthritic
pain patients. Domangue BB; Margolis CG; Lieberman D; Kaji H - J Clin Psychiatry Jun 1985,
46 (6) p235-8,
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Acupuncture
& Gout
Acupuncture has traditionally been successfully employed in China to treat most illnesses.
There is little doubt that acupuncture is an excellent therapy for people suffering with
this condition as it works through the nervous system and energy channels in the body.
Treatment has been shown to cause the brain to release endorphines and encephalins
(natural pain killers), boost the immune system and calm the nervous system.
There are several studies suggesting that acupuncture can
be very helpful in the treatment of arthritic conditions. For instance, in one study, 54
arthritic sufferers were given acupuncture (warm needling) with Zhuifengsu
(Chinese herb)
The success rate was found to be 100%. (1)
A study of auriculo-electropuncture
(AEP) - treatment of
points on the ear - by a double blind method was conducted in Russia with 16 arthritic
patients. Not only did they all feel better as a result of the treatment but they all
showed "statistically significant" improvement in blood samples. (2)
Traditional acupuncturists treat the whole person rather
than a disease and therefore attempt to get to the root cause of the problem rather than
treating the symptoms and, like other holistic practitioners, will consider all lifestyle
and environmental factors before commencing treatment. Apart from the numerous clinical
studies on acupuncture and gout patients, there are many emperical accounts of gout
sufferers being helped with acupuncture and it would therefore appear to be an appropriate
therapy to adopt in holistic treatment of gout.
(1) Effect of acupuncture and point-injection treatment on
immunologic function in rheumatoid arthritis. Liu X; Sun L; Xiao J; Yin S; Liu C; Li Q; Li
H; Jin B General Hospital of PLA, Beijing. J Tradit Chin Med (CHINA) Sep 1993, 13 (3)
p174-8
(2) [Auriculo-electropuncture in rheumatoid arthritis (a double-blind study)]
Aurikuloelektropunktura pri revmatoidnom artrite (dvoinoe slepoe ispytanie). Ruchkin IN;
Burdeinyi AP Ter Arkh 1987, 59 (12) p26-30
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Yoga &
Meditation &
Gout
Dr Segal author of the best-selling 'Love, Medicine and
Miracles' cites the research of Dr Herbert Benson showing that meditation tends to
normalise blood pressure, pulse rate, and level of stress hormones in the blood. It
produces changes in brain wave patterns, showing less excitability and improves the white
blood cell (immune) response as well as hormone response. It therefore must be considered
as an important and easily accessible aid to stimulate and augment recovery for patients
suffering with gout.
Dr Segal emphasises the importance of
meditation saying :
" I know of no other single activity that can by itself produce such a great
improvement in the quality of life" (1)
(1) Love, Medicine & Miracles p149.
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