Aug 11
17
Gout is a painful affliction characterized by recurrent attacks of sharp intense pain, usually in the foot. It is a form of inflammatory arthritis which manifests itself in joints, particularly the joint of the big toe and other joints of the foot.
Sufferers will be aware of the intense pain caused by gout but I would like to assure patients that remedies, both from the medical profession, and home remedies, are available. In this article, I will explain the nature and causes of the disease and then deal with the gout home remedies available.
What is gout?
Gout is a medical condition, essentially a form of arthritis, characterized by frequent recurring attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis, which results in reddened swollen joints. It is usually men who are affected but can also be found in post menopausal women or those women who take a little too much alcohol!
It is caused by a build up in the bloodstream of a substance known as uric acid, which is harmless in small amounts but toxic at high levels.
Several factors can cause excessive uric acid including hereditary tendencies, kidney failure, excessive weight loss and bad diet. But by far the most common cause of excessive uric acid and consequent gout attacks is a bad diet, especially excessive alcohol.
Due to the high correlation between what we think of as a rich diet and gout, the condition used to be regarded as an affliction of the prosperous class. It was known as the disease of kings or the disease of the rich. Now with social reform and economic advancement, we all have access to rich food and alcohol and therefore gout is rather commonplace. Fortunately, gout home remedies are within reach of us all.
What causes gout?
It is not easy to pinpoint the exact cause of gout but we do know that excessive uric acid is caused by ‘good living’. This basically means excessive consumption of certain foods such as alcohol, sweetened colas and drinks, red meat, shellfish and any sugary product.
One particular foodstuff that is a trigger for gout is alcohol. Statistics show that gout sufferers are usually prone to excess consumption. It follows that healthy living and physical fitness together with a good diet should stave off gout (as well as many other debilitating diseases). As always, home remedies are easy to apply, and that’s just as true for home remedies for gout as well as many other conditions.
Conventional Treatment & Remedies For Gout
An acute attack of gout will usually disappear without treatment within a week. However, most sufferers will have a second or subsequent attack within a year. Sufferers of gout are at increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, and renal and cardiovascular disease.
Without treatment, gout attacks may develop into chronic gout with the ensuing destruction of joint surfaces and joint deformity.
The conventional treatments recommended by most doctors are a variety of drugs and possibly physiotherapy. These are some of the drugs conventionally used. Steroids, particularly Glucocorticoids, are considered to be effective when injected into the joint.
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are a common first-line treatment for gout, but are not recommended for those with certain other health problems such as heart problems or gastrointestinal bleeding. Colchicine is an alternative for patients unable to tolerate NSAIDs.
The problem with all these treatments, as well as all pharmaceuticals, is that they tend to treat the symptoms rather than the cause and they produce side effects which are often worse than the original disease. I think it is therefore most advisable that sufferers look for natural home remedies for gout using products that can be found in your local market or health food store. The following are just some of the products available:
Natural Home Remedies For Gout
Cherries
The common cherry, a delicate yet commonplace comestible, is one of the best home remedies for gout. Cherries contain anthocyanins, an antioxidant which helps to relieve inflammation as well as reduce the possibility of a gout attack. Eat about twenty cherries a day, throughout the day, starting as soon as you wake up. After a week, you can reduce the number of cherries you consume. It is best to eat fresh cherries. (A delightful gout remedy, don’t you think?)
Apples
Apples are as an excellent source of malic acid which neutralises the uric acid and affords relief from gout. Just take one apple after each meal.
Ginger
If the gout occurs in the toes, a good gout home remedy is to soak the feet in a mixture of ginger and water. This causes mild sweating which helps to eradicate the uric acid. Just mix 1/3 cup of ground ginger into the bathing water and soak for half an hour. Be sure to clean the feet with clean water afterwards as ginger can cause skin irritation once the skin dries.
Mustard
Make a paste of equal parts of wheat flour and mustard powder with a little water. This paste should be applied on the distressed area and left overnight for effective pain relief.
Vegetable Juices
Raw vegetable juices are an excellent remedy, particularly carrot, beetroot and cucumber. Use a liquidizer to make the juice and make a cocktail of your favourites. Try to drink a pint a day, not all at once but with regular doses throughout the day. This is a powerful home remedy for good health in all ways, not just gout.
Lime
Lime is a good source of Vitamin C which is known to prevent inflammation and cure sore joints. Also, the citric acid in limes counteracts the effects of uric acid. Take the juice of half a lime squeezed into a glass of water twice a day.
Charcoal
Make a paste of water and half a cup of charcoal powder and soak the infected foot completely for half an hour to obtain pain relief.
French Beans
French beans or string beans liquidised into a juicer have proved effective in treatment of gout. Take a cupful daily.
Herbal remedies
Some of the herbs that are effective remedies at home against gout are ginger root, cayenne, feverfew, boswellia, devil’s claw root, meadowsweet flower tops and leaves, white willow bark, and liquorice. All these herbs contain powerful anti-inflammatory properties which will relieve pain.
Conclusion
Basically the cause of gout is a bad diet and unhealthy living. The simplest - or at least the easiest – remedies for gout, in a way, are those prescribed by your doctor; however, the most holistic home remedies are made from natural products. And please don’t forget that gout can be prevented by a good diet with not too much alcohol consumption. As I observed above, the best gout home remedy is the simplest – diet and lifestyle changes.
