Can Gold Treat Arthritis?

Introduction

Gold has been used for centuries for adornment and health benefits, particularly in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Known as gold therapy, this practice involves using gold compounds, such as sodium aurothiomalate, to help reduce inflammation and pain associated with severe RA. This type of treatment usually comes in injectable gold and requires several months of treatment to see improvements. Despite its therapeutic efficacy in mitigating some symptoms of inflammatory conditions, there are concerns about the severity of side effects, including issues related to renal toxicity and bone marrow.

Research continues to explore the full range of benefits and risks associated with using gold in medicine. Studies, such as those referenced in the Journal of Rheumatology (J Rheumatol) and reports by the Empire Rheumatism Council in the United States, have examined various aspects of gold therapy. These studies aim to understand better how gold impacts the immune system and overall health. Ongoing research aims to find a balance where pain relief and immune system benefits can outweigh potential side effects. This careful consideration is crucial in ensuring that patients with RA can enjoy a higher quality of life with minimal complications from their treatment.

Historical Uses of Gold in Medicine

You might think gold is only suitable for making jewelry and keeping it as treasure, but did you know it's also been used as a healing tool for thousands of years? Yep, that shiny, expensive metal has some pretty cool uses for our health!

Ancient Indian Medicine

In Ayurveda, a super old Indian healthcare facility, gold is turned into a fine powder and is believed to make you stronger, help you fight off sickness better, keep you feeling full of energy, and make your life longer. People even thought it could make your brain work better and help with sore joints and heart problems.

Chinese Medicine

In China, people added gold to special drinks and thought these would make them live forever, stay healthy, and be young again. They believed gold helped keep the body’s energy balanced and emotions steady.

Ancient Egypt

The Egyptians thought gold was magical and used it for spiritual and body healing. They ate gold, believing it cleaned their body, mind, and soul, strengthened their life force, and helped with various sicknesses.

Medieval Europe

A long time ago in Europe, gold was mixed into medicines to fight a bunch of illnesses, like heart trouble, epilepsy, and skin issues. People were trying to make a special gold drink that they believed could cure every disease and even make you live forever.

Old-School Dentistry

For a long time, dentists have used gold for teeth that need fixing because it doesn’t rust and doesn't bother the body. Gold was made into fillings, crowns, and bridges for teeth, and dentists still use it today.

Modern Natural Medicine

There’s something called colloidal gold, which is tiny gold bits mixed in liquid. Some folks think it helps with stiff joints feeling sad or worried, making your brain sharper and giving you more energy.

So, gold isn’t just a pretty metal; people worldwide and across time have found ways it can keep us healthy too!

Arthritis: Overview and Gold’s Role in Treatment

Recent studies are showing that gold might help treat arthritis. But first, let's talk about what arthritis is!

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis isn't just one illness; it's a group of conditions that cause swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joints. It can happen in just one joint or several, and it's more common as people get older, though anyone can get it at any age.

Different Types of Arthritis:

Osteoarthritis (OA):

• What is it? The most common type. It happens when the cartilage (the cushion) on the ends of bones wears down over time.
• Symptoms: Pain in the joints, stiffness (often after sleeping or resting), less flexibility, and swelling.
• Where does it hurt? Usually in the knees, hips, hands, and spine.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):

• What is it? This type is an autoimmune disease, which means the body's defense system attacks healthy body parts. In RA, it attacks the joints.
• Symptoms: Swollen and stiff joints, feeling very tired, and over time, joints might start to change shape.
• Where does it hurt? Familiar places are hands, wrists, knees, and feet. It often affects the same joint on both sides of the body.

Psoriatic Arthritis:

• What is it? This type can occur in people with psoriasis, a skin condition that speeds up the life cycle of skin cells.
• Symptoms: Joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and sometimes skin issues.
• Where does it hurt? Often in fingers, toes, the lower back, and the spine.

Gout:

• What is it? This happens when uric acid builds up and forms crystal-like bits in the joints, causing sudden and severe pain.
• Symptoms: Very sharp pain, redness, and swelling, usually in one joint.
• Where does it hurt? Often in the big toe but also the ankles, knees, and other joints.

Ankylosing Spondylitis:

• What is it? It mainly affects the spine and can cause the spinal joints to swell. Over time, it can make the bones of the spine fuse together.
• Symptoms: Long-term back pain, stiffness, and, in severe cases, a bent-over posture.
• Where does it hurt? Mainly in the spine.

With all these types of arthritis causing trouble, it's interesting to see research that suggests gold might help ease some of these symptoms. Isn't it fascinating how something as shiny as gold could make a difference in health?

Symptoms of Arthritis

If you or someone you know has arthritis, you might notice some of these signs:

• Pain: This could be a constant ache or come and go. It often feels worse when moving around a lot or after not moving for a while.
• Swelling: The joints might get puffy, look red, and feel warm when you touch them.
• Stiffness: You might find it hard to move your joints as usual, especially first thing in the morning or after sitting still for a long time.
• Trouble Doing Everyday Things: It could get tricky to walk, climb stairs, or hold onto things, like a pencil or cup.
• Feeling Tired: This kind of deep tiredness is common with arthritis, especially types that cause a lot of swelling, like RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis).

These signs tell us that arthritis is not just about sore joints. It can affect how you do day-to-day things and how you feel overall.

Gold in Arthritis Treatment

Did you know gold can help people with arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? It might sound like something from a pirate story, but it's true! Let's look at how gold helps.

Gold Salts

Shots: Doctors have used gold as shots to help with arthritis. These shots have a special kind of gold in them and have been around for a long time to help with the swelling and pain that comes with RA.

How it Works: The gold in these shots can make the swelling in the joints go down, helping with the soreness, stiffness, and puffiness. It calms down the body's defense system, which causes all that swelling.

Does it Work?: Yes, it can slow RA down, which means less damage to the joints. But it's not a magic cure and is usually tried when other medicines don't work.

Gold Nanoparticles

New Research: Scientists are now investigating super-tiny gold particles as a new way to treat arthritis. These tiny bits of gold can go straight to the sore joints and might help without causing many side effects.

Benefits: Scientists hope that these tiny gold particles can help reduce swelling better and more safely. However, they are still trying to figure all of this out with more research.

Alternative Medicine

Colloidal Gold: Gold mixed in water that some people use for sore joints. Some say it helps, but there's not much science to back this up.

Gold in Ayurveda

Swarnabhasma: This is a fine gold powder used in Ayurveda, an old way of healing. People who follow Ayurveda say it can cut down on joint swelling and soreness, and they mix it with other plants and minerals to help balance the body's energy.

So, gold has been around for a long time in the world of arthritis treatment, in both modern medicine and traditional healing ways. But, always talk to a doctor before trying new treatments, even if they're as cool as gold!

Conclusion

Gold isn't just for treasure hunts or creating fabulous jewelry but has significant implications in the medical field, particularly in treating arthritis with gold therapy. Since the 1920s, treatments like gold injections, examples being solganal and aurothioglucose, have been used in managing joint pain and swelling in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Gold therapy typically involves managing the dosage and frequency of injections as prescribed by medical doctors (MDs). Gold treatment influences the immune system, particularly cytokines and white blood cells, which are crucial in the body's response to inflammation. 

Gold remains a component of historical and ongoing medical exploration, demonstrating that its value in medicine is more than just historical curiosity but a continuing contributor to medical science.