Gout is a painful, debilitating form of arthritis that has plagued humans for centuries. Affecting primarily the joints of the big toes and ankles, the disease is not easy to cure, but can be controlled with a multi-faceted, holistic approach. The causes of gout are complex. They involve a person's diet and lifestyle, weight, kidney function, and blood chemistry. A variety of treatments are available, both alternative and conventional, to manage gout and reduce pain. Some herbal treatments and all conventional drugs can create side effects, so the supervision of a health practitioner is necessary for safe treatment.
Step 1
Change the diet, recommends the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, by eliminating animal proteins and fats, shellfish and other high protein foods whose by-products are purines, the precursor to uric acid.
Step 2
Consume whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. These foods support the body and provide important nutrients and compounds to prevent gout.
Step 3
Eliminate smoking and drinking alcohol, both of which contribute to the production of uric acid and increase overall acidosis in the body.
Step 4
Loose weight to reduce the frequency of gout attacks. UMMC states that research indicates those who are overweight are more prone to having gout.
Step 5
Take supplements such as turmeric and bromelain to reduce inflammation in the joints and soft tissue. The University of Maryland Medical Center advises that taking these two supplements in combination enhances the efficacy of both. Dr. Andrew Weil adds that including ginger with turmeric and bromelain supplements contributes additional anti-inflammatory activity.
Step 6
Use baking soda, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice to lower the pH of the blood and urine. Each can be mixed with water and taken as a drink twice daily to reduce acidosis and help alkalize the body, according to "The pH Miracle."
Step 7
Drink sour cherry juice, high in potassium and anthocyanins, which helps to lower uric acid levels in the blood. Mix 4 to 6 oz. cherry juice with water in an 8 oz. glass and drink twice a day. The juice may help reduce the frequency of gout attacks and lessen pain, according to the University of Michigan Health System.
Step 8
Make black bean broth by boiling 1 cup black turtle beans with 1 quart of water for 90 minutes. Remove the beans and use elsewhere. Allow the broth to cool and drink a cup of it at the earliest onset of gout symptoms. Store the remainder in the refrigerator and drink 1 cup daily to prevent future attacks, recommends Gout Pal.
Step 9
Make a tea by brewing one ounce of dried burdock root in 2 cups boiling water for 15 minutes. Strain and drink the tea to reduce inflammation around joints and to eliminate edema. Burdock root acts as an anti-inflammatory and a diuretic, according to the Brandeis University website, Medicinal Plants of the Northeast.
Step 10
Use the commonly prescribed, conventional drugs such as cochicine and alopurinol if natural and alternative methods do not resolve the condition. These drugs may cause severe side effects, according to Drugs.com and treatment must be supervised by a doctor.
Tips and Warnings
- Combine 1/2 tsp. baking soda with 8 oz. water to drink to reduce gout symptoms. Consume twice a day to eliminate an acute gout attack. Mix 2 tbsp. lemon juice or apple cider vinegar with 6 to 8 oz. water to relieve gout pain.
- Bromelain, turmeric and ginger all have blood-thinning properties and should not be used by people taking blood-thinning medicine. Consult a health practitioner before using these supplements. Baking soda may raise the blood pressure, so it should only be used under the supervision of a health practitioner.
Things You'll Need
- Turmeric
- Bromelain
- Ginger
- Baking soda
- Lemon juice
- Apple cider vinegar
- Tart cherry juice
- Black beans
- Burdock root
- Fresh water
- Saucepan
- Conventional drugs for gout
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Gout
- Medicinal Plants of the Northeast: Great Burdock
- Dr. Weil.com: Osteoarthritis
- "The pH Miracle"; Dr. Robert O. Young and Shelley Redford Young; 2003
- University of Michigan Health System: Gout
