Gout is an arthritic condition caused when uric acid crystals deposit in your joints, especially those of the feet, causing excruciating pain. It is characterized by swelling, inflammation and stiffness; and usually affects one joint at a time. Certain herbs, foods and natural remedies may be helpful in reducing your pain, allowing you to return to your full activities. Some herbs may produce side effects, so talk to your health practitioner before starting new treatments.
Homeopathic Colchicum
You may benefit from the homeopathic remedy Colchicum if your gout appears primarily in your big toe or your feet, says the University of Michigan Health System. Colochicum is derived from the herb meadow saffron, as is the pharmaceutical drug Colchicine; however, the homeopathic remedy is much less likely to produce side effects when used according to directions from a homeopath.
Those needing Colchicum usually describe their pain as excruciating and unbearable, extremely sensitive to touch -- even the lightest touch of the bed sheet. Your toe may be bright red, swollen, stiff, feel hot and the pain may increase at night in bed. Contact a homeopath for dosing guidelines.
Black Bean Broth
Black bean broth provides nutrients, antioxidants and anthocyanins derived from the beans from which it is made; and has been shown to bring relief to some people suffering from gout, according to Gout Pal. These substances have anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce pain and swelling in gouty joints. Gout pal recommends making the broth by boiling eight ounces of black beans in two quarts of water for 90 minutes. Allow it to cool and remove the beans, setting them aside for use in another dish. Drink a cup of the broth at the earliest onset of a gout attack, and continue to drink a cup a day to prevent future attacks. The remainder can be stored in your refrigerator and consumed either warm or cold.
Parsley
Parsley is a culinary herb that is very alkaline, and eating it on a regular basis may help reduce gout symptoms, according to Dr. Theodore Baroody in "Alkalize or Die." Alkaline foods help keep uric acid suspended in the blood and urine, assisting the kidneys in its excretion. Deposits of crystallized uric acid in the joints are the cause of gout; however, maintaining a slightly alkaline state in the body prevents these deposits from forming.
Burdock Root
Whether dried or fresh, burdock root may help ease your gout pain and reduce swelling and inflammation in your joints, according to Georgetown University. Burdock root has been in use for centuries by the Chinese and Indians for a variety of conditions, and is known to act as a diuretic, removing excess fluids from tissues and joints of the body.
You can buy fresh burdock root and prepare as a cooked vegetable or for use in salads, with a light dressing. Make tea with dried burdock root for drinking or for use as a foot-soak to relieve pain. Boil two tablespoons of dried root in four cups water for 15 minutes. Allow it to cool and strain. Drink a cup or two daily to help relieve edema in the legs and feet. Pour some of the warm tea into a footbath and soak your feet for 20 minutes or dip a cloth in the tea and place on your sore joints as a compress.
Burdock root may cause a skin rash. If this occurs, stop using it. If you take diuretics, contact your health practitioner before taking burdock root internally.
References
- University of Michigan Health System: Gout -- Homeopathic Remedies
- Gout Pal: Natural Remedy for Gout-Black Bean Broth
- "Alkalize or Die"; Dr. Theodore A. Baroody; 1991
