Gout attacks bring excruciating pain, redness, and swelling to the joints – often described as feeling like a tiger's bite, where even a breeze can cause piercing agony. Known historically as the "Disease of Kings" or "Rich Man's Disease," gout is particularly common in Singapore, fueled by a diet rich in seafood and beer, and the pervasive air-conditioned environment.
Gong Fang Tang TCM physicians explain that gout falls under the category of "Bi Syndrome" (Painful Obstruction Syndrome) in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Its core pathology lies in "Dysfunction of the Spleen and Kidneys, leading to the retention of turbid dampness and blood stasis." Metabolic disturbances cause dampness, turbid phlegm, and blood stasis to accumulate in the joints. When triggered by factors like dietary indiscretion (overindulgence, high-purine foods) or exposure to cold, these pathogenic factors flare up, causing sudden, severe attacks.
Gong Fang Tang TCM's Unique Approach to Gout:
Acute Stage: Expel Turbidity, Resolve Stasis, Unblock Collaterals, Relieve Pain
When joints are red, swollen, burning hot, and too painful to touch, TCM treatment goes beyond simple pain suppression. Physician Qiu Baorun commonly employs methods to "Clear Heat, Drain Dampness, Activate Blood, and Unblock Collaterals." Modified classic formulas like Si Miao San (Four Marvels Powder) combined with Xuan Bi Tang (Painful Obstruction Diffusing Decoction) are used to rapidly expel turbid toxins, dredge the meridians, and alleviate intense pain. This is often combined with external application of heat-clearing and swelling-reducing herbal pastes for a dual-pronged attack.
Remission Stage: Fortify the Spleen, Tonify the Kidneys, Address the Root Cause
Pain relief ≠ Cure! Gong Fang Tang physicians emphasize: "Stopping the pain is easy; preventing relapse is hard." This crucial stage focuses on:
Fortify Spleen & Resolve Dampness: Cut off the source of turbid dampness production. Modified Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder) is frequently used.
Tonify Kidneys & Unblock Collaterals: Enhance metabolic vitality. Modified Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang (Pubescent Angelica and Mistletoe Decoction) is a key choice.
Activate Blood & Dissolve Turbidity: Continue clearing residual stasis and congealed pathogens. This may involve the strategic use (under strict pattern differentiation) of insect-derived herbs like Shui Zhi (Leech) or Tu Bie Chong (Ground Beetle), known for their potent stasis-breaking properties.
Gong Fang Tang TCM Gout Management Program:
Precise Pattern Differentiation (e.g., Damp-Heat, Phlegm-Stasis, Spleen-Kidney Deficiency)
Integrated Internal Herbs + External Therapies for rapid relief of severe pain
Rebuild Spleen & Kidney Transport-Transformation Functions to regulate metabolic health at the source
Personalized Dietary & Lifestyle Guidance to strictly control triggers
Regular Monitoring of Uric Acid levels and constitutional changes, with dynamic formula adjustments
Gong Fang Tang TCM Singapore Reminds You:
Gout cannot be solved by 'painkillers + dietary restrictions' alone. Especially within Singapore's hot, humid climate and its high-purine food culture, it's essential to focus on rebuilding Spleen and Kidney function and regulating the body's internal micro-environment. TCM offers a holistic strategy targeting both the acute symptoms and the root imbalances to break the cycle of recurrence.
