Home Remedies for Gout

Gout is a form of arthritis that happens when too much uric acid is in the bloodstream. Uric acid is naturally produced by the body and is supposed to be excreted out through the kidneys and urine. Gout usually occurs when we either have normal amounts of uric acid and have not excreted it out or have too much uric acid. Either way, uric acid builds up and forms tiny like crystals around the joints, therefore causing extreme pain.

Gout can occur in any joint but the big toe is usually the main point. Gout is also caused by eating too many rich foods and drinking too much. There are ways to prevent gout from recurring and relieving the pain it causes. If you or someone you know has suffered from gout or still is suffering from it, please take a minute to read the ways to prevent gout and ease the pain gout causes.

Let's take a look at a few home remedies that can ease the pain or get rid of gout altogether.

Cherries

Some gout sufferers say that by eating cherries, their pain has completely gone and as long as they keep eating cherries or drinking cherry juice, gout has stayed away for good. It doesn't seem to matter whether it is sweet cherries or sour cherries and the amount differs between people. A good guess at the dose is between 10 to 30 cherries a day until gout is gone or until the pain is gone. Of course you want to get rid of the pain but it is better to get rid of the gout altogether and prevent it from recurring so your best bet would be to keep eating cherries to keep the gout away for good.

Charcoal Poultice

Charcoal has a way of retrieving toxins from the body. It is recommended to mix a half cup of powdered activated charcoal with a few tablespoons of flaxseed and ground together in a blender and add enough warm water to make a paste. Apply the charcoal and flaxseed paste to the infected area and cover with a cloth. You should change this every 4 hours or leave it on overnight but be warned, charcoal stains, so be careful around your clothes and bed linens.

Charcoal Bath

You can also mix charcoal in a warm bath and soak the infected area. Make sure to use a tub basin you won't use again because it will stain it. Mix about a half a cup of charcoal powder to warm water to make a paste and soak for 30 to 60 minutes.

Charcoal by Mouth

Yeah sounds gross, I mean who wants to eat charcoal? Activated charcoal taken by mouth can help reduce uric acid levels in the blood. Take a half to one teaspoon four times a day; as soon as you wake in the morning, midmorning, midafternoon, and before bedtime.

Now that you know some strange but helpful remedies, here are some tips on how to reduce pain from gout.

Keep the joint elevated

Since gout is so painful it will be hard for the sufferer to relax but during an attack you are supposed to elevate the affected joint and rest it. With gout being so painful, some people say it is hard enough keeping a cold sheet on the affected joint.

Take Ibuprofen

Since pain from gout is caused by inflammation around the joint, you will need to take something that will reduce inflammation such as ibuprofen. If you find that taking ibuprofen doesn't help, contact your doctor.

Avoid Aspirin

Aspirin can actually make gout worse by not allowing excretion of the uric acid. Your best bet is to avoid aspirin altogether.

Apply Ice

If the gout affected joint is not too tender to the touch, try applying some ice to the sore area. The ice will numb the area and ease the pain. Try keeping it on for 10 minutes each time and reapply as needed.

Avoid Certain Foods

As I mentioned earlier, gout is caused by eating too much of certain rich foods. These include anchovies, brains, consomme, gravy, heart, herring, kidney, liver, meat extracts, meat-containing mincemeat, mussels, sardines, and sweetbreads. These types of food are high in purine and should not be eaten when gout is involved. There are also foods that have a smaller amount of purine and even though you do not have to cut these entirely from your diet, you should at least limit your intake. These foods include asparagus, dry beans, cauliflower, lentils, mushrooms, oatmeal, dry peas, shellfish, spinach, whole-grain cereals, whole-grain breads, and yeast.

Drink Lots of Water

Drinking plenty of water benefits many things and gout is no different. Water can help flush out the uric acid that is building up around the joints.

Drink Herbal Teas

Another good way to flush out the excess uric acid is to drink plenty of herbal tea. Since herbal tea has no caffeine or calories drinking too much won't cause weight gain or make you jittery. It is recommended to drink sarsaparilla, yarrow, rosehip, and peppermint.

Stay Away from Alcohol

Eating too much food with purine in it is not the only thing that causes gout, alcohol does too. If you have a history of gout, you should avoid alcohol because it has a way of increasing uric acid levels and keeping it from being excreted from the body. Beer and wine are the main culprits but if you drink occasionally make sure to eat crackers, cheese, or fruit along with your drink.

Control Your Blood Pressure

If you have high blood pressure along with gout you are in more trouble. Some medications that lower blood pressure, such as diuretics, actually raise uric acid levels. Taking steps to lowering your blood pressure would be smart but do not quit taking your medications without asking your doctor first. Try decreasing the amount of sodium you intake, lose excess weight, and exercise.

For more information on how to get rid of gout and/or preventing gout, check out this website.