Can patients with gout take Pueraria lobata tablets?
Disease description:
I suffer from gout, and the joint pain during an attack is unbearable. I have been controlling my diet recently. I recently heard that Pueraria lobata tablets are beneficial for health. I wonder if patients with gout like myself can take Pueraria lobata tablets?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Tiesheng
Gout patients can take Kudzu root tablets.
Gout is a metabolic disorder caused by hyperuricemia, primarily manifested as joint inflammation and pain. Kudzu root, a traditional Chinese herb, contains no purines and has effects of promoting salivation to relieve thirst, clearing heat and detoxifying, relieving pain, and dispelling wind. Additionally, it can help lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Therefore, kudzu root or kudzu root products do not negatively affect gout patients' conditions and may even help improve them.
Moreover, kudzu root has a mild diuretic effect that may help promote uric acid excretion, thus theoretically assisting in controlling uric acid levels. However, this effect is relatively weak and cannot replace standard medications for gout treatment.
Therefore, gout patients should follow a low-purine diet. Generally, moderate consumption of kudzu root tablets will not cause adverse effects, but patients should not overly rely on them for lowering uric acid levels. If gout patients intend to use kudzu root tablets as an adjunctive treatment, it is advisable to consult a physician first to avoid potential adverse outcomes due to individual differences in constitution or specific disease conditions.
