Gout is a painful condition in which uric acid is deposited as crystals in your joints. Genetics may be a significant factor in causing your gout. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, between 20 and 80 percent of people with gout have a family history of this painful health problem. To better understand the role of herbs, such as yucca, in treating your gout, meet with your primary-care provider.
Gout Background Info
Gout is characterized by acute flare-ups of symptoms, such as pain, swelling, warmth and redness in affected joints. One of the most commonly affected joints is the metatarsophalangeal joint of your big toe, or the joint where your toe meets your forefoot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that about 50 percent of people with gout currently experience pain and other symptoms in this joint, and that 80 percent of people who have gout will develop symptoms in this joint at some point during their lives.
Yucca Description
Yucca, or Yucca baccata, is a type of plant indigenous to the southwestern portion of the United States and certain parts of Mexico. Yucca bears a fleshy fruit that is sweet, has long leaves and flowers from April to July. The flowers of the yucca plant are white or cream in color. The root of the plant contains significant amounts of plant chemicals and nutrients, such as tannin, sarsapogenin, beta-carotene, manganese, selenium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus and vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C.
Plant Uses and Actions
Yucca may be a helpful herbal remedy in treating numerous ailments. In her book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," certified nutritional consultant Phyllis A. Balch reports that yucca helps purify the blood and has historically been used in treating arthritis and inflammatory disorders such as gout. Yucca possesses both anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic action. Further clinical research evidence may be required to validate the purported health benefits of this herbal remedy, including its ability to effectively treat gout.
Additional Information
Gout can be extremely painful, and it can impair your ability to participate in your usual daily activities, including occupational tasks and recreational pursuits. Gout should always be managed by a competent health-care professional. To get a better sense of what herbs, including yucca, can do for your condition, schedule an appointment with a health-care practitioner who specializes in botanical medicine. Herbs alone may be unable to resolve your condition and should be used as an adjunct therapy in most cases.
References
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Gout
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Gout
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
