The pathological factors of this disease are chiefly dampness, phlegm and blood stasis, and therefore removing dampness, resolving phlegm and eliminating blood stasis are the basic treatment principles. However, dampness is classified into cold dampness and damp heat and different treatments should be adopted according to syndrome differentiation. At the later stage, spleen yang and kidney yang are usually impaired. Thus it is advisable to eliminate pathogenic factors and support healthy qi as well.

Essentials for TCM Diagnosis 
(1) At the initial stage, it is symptomless with only the increase of uric acid in blood. At the acute stage, its typical manifestation is sudden onset of arthralgia and most of the cases would suddenly be woken up by sharp arthralgia when sleeping. The affected parts are mostly the first metatarsophalangeal joint or other metatarsophalangeal joints with localized redness, swelling, a burning sensation, pain and limited flexibility. When the greater joint is involved, there may be some exudate. In addition, such symptoms as chills, fatigue, poor appetite and headache may appear. However, the above-mentioned symptoms would be relieved in 1-2 weeks.

(2) At the chronic stage, there may be gouty tophus, deformity and rigidity of joints, and renal lesions.

(3) Laboratory examination shows uric acid in blood increasing to over 420umol/L. In roentgenogram, a round or irregular transparent defective area can be found in the bone substance of the joint adjacent to osteochondral edge, which is characteristic of gout in X-ray examination.