Gout is a very well known form of arthritis that is known to cause excruciating pain and discomfort. Gout is attacks joints such as in the big toe, ankles, feet, elbows, hands, knees, and wrists. Usually gout is treated with pain medicines and drugs that lower uric acid levels in the blood, however these conventional forms of treatment are often not effective or cause uncomfortable side effects. That is why so many people look for natural remedies for gout.
Gout’s symptoms are characterized by intense bouts of inflammation of certain joints that suddenly shoots excruciating spells of pain over a period of time. Sometimes the symptoms disappear after the first onset but may reoccur without preventive measures. The recurrence of gout may be worse than the initial attack, causing great discomfort and even immobility. When left untreated gout may start happening more frequently and thus immediate action is important.
Known Natural Remedies for Gout
A very popular and effective natural remedy for gout is eating cherry or drinking cherry juice.
Cherries contain compounds called anthocyanins, which are effective for alleviating inflammation and reducing uric acid levels in the blood. These substances are present in all kinds of cherries, whether fresh, canned or juiced. It is recommended for gout patients to consume about ten cherries a day, or two tablespoons of concentrated cherry juice to help manage gout symptoms and prevent gout from recurring.
A healthy diet is yet another essential component of natural gout remedy.
Gout patients are urged to reduce their intake of foods that are rich in purines, the building blocks of gout-causing uric acid crystals. Among the purine rich foods that a gout patient should avoid are organ meats, brain, meat gravies, scallops, mackerel, anchovies, sweetbreads, kidney, meat extracts, wild game, herring, and sardines. It is recommended to eat more low purine foods such as dried beans, asparagus, spinach, poultry, peas, cauliflower, mushrooms, fresh water fish, and white meat.
Another important element of natural gout remedy is increasing fluid intake, especially water, as it helps to get rid of uric acid from the kidneys.
The time-tested advice of 8 glasses of water a day still holds true for gout suffers. Some doctors even recommend drinking more. It is also important to reduce the intake of alcohol because it can induce the production of uric acid.
To prevent gout from happening, it is also recommended to maintain a normal weight as obesity is linked to a higher risk of gout.
It is however discouraged to undergo fad diets which cause drastic weight loss because the sudden drop of weight may cause cells to weaken and release more uric acid.
For immediate relief of gout pain and inflammation, a charcoal poultice is recommended.
This natural remedy consists of half a cup of powdered activated charcoal, blended with flaxseed to form a meal and then mixed with warm water to make a paste. The charcoal poultice is then applied to the affected area and covered with plastic or cloth. This helps alleviate pain caused by gout. One has to be careful when using a charcoal poultice, however, as it may stain clothes and bed sheets.
Another soothing natural remedy for gout is a charcoal bath.
Find an old basin that can be stained, and fill it with half a cup of charcoal plus enough water to form a paste. Soak the affected joint in the mixture, adding more water if needed. The recommended soaking time is 30 minutes to an hour.
Gout can be a very painful condition, and the medical treatment it requires may be even more painful on the budget. For added comfort and relief from pain, it is recommended to use natural remedies to treat gout in conjunction with conventional medicine. Not only are natural remedies cheaper, they can be even safer than drugs.
One does not have to endure the pains caused by gout for long periods. With a natural remedy it can be easy to fight gout and get a patient well quickly. Lee Dobbins writes for http://gout.topicgiant.com where you can learn more about finding a natural remedy for gout.
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“A healthy diet is yet another essential component of natural gout remedy” – Very true indeed. After pain relief, that is the first thing to get in place. Great post.
But how can gout patients take a well balanced diet when they are striking off so many proteins their “can-have” list?