Gout is a form of arthritis resulting from a buildup of uric acid crystals that settle in one joint. Afflicted areas include the big toes, ankles, feet, fingers, wrists, elbows and knees. While gout usually strikes men over 40, it also occurs in older women, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. Heredity and alcohol abuse are the leading causes. Several folk remedies exist that may provide some relief. Always check with your doctor before attempting any home treatments.
Celery and Celery Seed
In “Dr. Duke’s Essential Herbs,” James A. Duke cites celery as critical to helping him deal with his own recurring battles with gout. Duke recommends it as a preventative that helps keep uric acid crystals from building up. After some experimenting, he determined that celery works equally well in supplement form, with two 500 mg of celery seed extract capsules a day; in food form, with four stalks of celery a day; or in tea form, by infusing ½ to 1 tsp. of celery seed in a cup of hot water. Those who should avoid this folk remedy include pregnant women, people with allergies in the birch pollen family and people with kidney disease, warns UMMC.
Nettle Compresses
UMMC recommends plain hot and cold compresses to treat the pain of gout attacks. Apply a hot compress on the afflicted area for three minutes, followed by a cold one for 30 seconds. Continue alternating the compresses. Alternatively, prepare nettle tea by infusing 1 to 2 tsp. dried nettle leaf in 1 cup hot water. Strain the mixture and soak a clean cloth in the nettle tea, then apply to gout. Leave on for several minutes, and repeat as needed. Nettle is a natural diuretic, helping to flush the uric acid away. Never apply fresh nettle to the skin, because it stings severely. Other side effects are rare, but pregnant women should avoid even topical use, notes UMMC.
Berries and Cherries
Compounds called purines, which exist in alcohol, seafood, liver, mushrooms and anchovies, often exacerbate gout symptoms, according to “New Choices in Natural Healing,” by Bill Gottlieb. To remove purines from your system, consider adding cherries and berries such as blueberries, raspberries and strawberries to your daily diet. Gottlieb recommends either eating large amounts of cherries—up to ½ a pound a day—or juicing four handfuls of pitted cherries with ½ cup strawberries. Drink the juice daily as a possible preventative for future gout attacks.
Essential Oil Therapy
Juniper and rosemary essential oils, used topically, may help the body flush itself of the uric acid crystals related to gout, notes aromatherapist Jeanne Rose. For every ounce of olive oil, add 5 drops juniper oil or a combination of juniper and rosemary oils. Massage into the gouty area several times a day. Never put the essential oils directly on the skin; they can cause rashes and other irritations. Always dilute with a carrier oil or other liquid.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Gout
- MotherNature.com: Dr. Duke's Essential Herbs: Celery Seed
- MotherNature.com: New Choices in Natural Healing: Gout
- "The Aromatherapy Book"; Jeanne Rose; 1992
