Gout is essentially recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis, which often affects the big toe and, more rarely, other joints such as the knees, heels, fingers, and wrists. It is characterized by a tender, red, swollen joint and onset often occurs during the night due to lower body temperatures.
Although there are a number of conventional drugs used in the treatment of growth (e.g. NSAIDs, steroids, prophylaxis, etc.), they often have side effects of their own. For this reason, many individuals may wish to choose home remedies for gout as an effective alternative. Below are a few remedies you might have around home that will help treat gout.
The Best Natural Remedies for Gout
- Water – One of the primary causes of gout is over-consumption of alcohol and fructose-sweetened drinks. A great way to treat gout from home is to cut back on those drinks and increase your intake of water. Water works by washing urate (the underlying cause of gout) out of your system. At least six glasses of water a day will help prevent recurrent attacks of gout and will also prevent against a side effect of untreated gout – kidney stones (something you’ll definitely want to avoid!)
- Herbal medicine – Herbal medicines have long been used by ancient Chinese cultures, and their popularity is increasing once again in today’s world. Indeed, even many of today’s conventional drugs are derived from herbs. Herbs that are effective in treating inflammation (and therefore gout) include: Ginger root, white willow bark, licorice, and Devil’s claw root. If you don’t have these at home, any natural health store will have them on hand. For the most effective treatment, steep the herbs in boiled water and drink, or take them regularly as a tincture.
- Spices – Along with herbs, spices are often used in many cures for a variety of ailments. For the treatment of gout, consider chicory or thyme as a tea. For direct relief of the pain you may want to consider mustard power. For this remedy, mix equal parts of mustard powder and whole wheat flour with just enough water to form a paste. Spread this on the affected area and tape a piece of gauze or cloth over it for the night. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but it will gradually relieve the aching.
- Cherries – Cherries are one of the best fruits for cleaning the kidneys and removing toxins from one’s body. As gout is caused from a buildup of uric acid, the cleansing properties of cherries are a weapon against this. Regardless of how you choose to eat them (in a pie, jam, tea, etc.), you’ll enjoy relief of your gout and help prevent against future attacks.
- Apples – Another great fruit to use in the treatment of gout is apples. Apples have the ability to neutralize the uric acid which causes gout and thus can be highly effective. The best way to prepare them is by making homemade apple sauce or preserves.
What to Avoid
Often the treatment of ailments is as much about what to take as it is about what not to take. Gout is often caused by or worsened by diet. As such, there are a few foods you should avoid in order to effectively treat gout and prevent it from recurring. The primary foods to avoid include: Alcohol, meat (particularly organ meats), and fish. Alcohol prevents the excretion of urate, while meats contain a high level of purines (a precursor to uric acid). As such, by avoiding these items you’ll benefit from some relief of gout.
Conclusion
You don’t have to rely on expensive medicines that may cause side effects to treat gout. As can be seen from the above list, there are a number of home remedies for gout that can be just as effective. From herbs to spices, to good old H20, you’ll surely have some of these items on hand, so try them today.
