Gout is a disease in which the joints are swollen and become stiff. It is one of the types of arthritis. It causes immense pain in the joints especially the big toe. Other affected parts include fingers, heels, elbows, ankles and wrists. The cause of gout is the formation of crystals from excessive amount of uric acid.
These crystals cause inflammation in the body. Dissolved uric acid in the blood passes to the kidney and leads to either the production of too much uric acid or secretion of too little uric acid. Too much uric acid makes it difficult to get passed off the kidney and gets collected leading to the condition of crystal formation. It is more common in women than men.
The excessive amount of uric acid in the blood is due to the breakdown of metabolic processes. Though the symptoms of gout are removed within three to ten days, recurrent attacks can lead to permanent damage of joints. The next attack may not occur for months or for years. Increase in the frequency of these attacks result in severe cases that last longer.
Treat gout as soon as possible to avoid serious problems. Natural cures can effectively treat gout. Change in diet, change in lifestyle and genetic reasons. Reducing the intake of sugar sweetened beverages in childhood can lessen the risk of gout in adulthood.
Top Natural Cures for Gout
Avoid juice
Patients suffering from gout should avoid drinking fruit juices, sweet beverages and soda.
Drink Water
Drinking plenty of water is beneficial for the patients of gout. Water helps in removing uric acid from the body. Drinking six to eight glasses of water per day is effective.
Ginger
Adding ginger in bath water is useful for the treatment of gout. Add one third cup of grounded ginger in bath water and soak foot for thirty minutes. It causes sweating and eliminates uric acid. Though it is one of the effective remedies for the treatment of gout, it may cause skin irritation.
Avoid alcohol
Alcohol can increase uric acid in the blood. Limiting the consumption of alcohol is beneficial for the patients of gout. Taking alcohol can be one of the strong risk factors for gout disease as it can increase the uric acid level in the blood.
Safflower
It can be taken in the form of capsule. It is helpful in healing the symptoms of gout and is one of the effective home remedies.
Tart Cherries
Tart cherries or the concentrated juice prepared from these cherries are helpful in preventing gout and arthritis as well. Anthocyanins and bioflavonoids are contained in the tart cherries that help in slowing down the enzymes that are useful in providing relief from gout.
Cherries can be consumed along with strawberries that are rich in antioxidants which are helpful in preventing the damage caused to body cells. These cherries are useful in preventing inflammation and remove toxic substances from kidney. Cherries are safe and effective in reducing the pain associated with the disease. Eat cherries on a daily basis to prevent further attacks and regulate the uric acid levels.
Medicinal Herbs
Herbs like gingerroot, flowertops, meadowsweet leaves, capsicum, licorice, boswellia, feverfew and devil’s claw root have medicinal values. These herbs reduce inflammation and prevent pain. Take half teaspoon of devil’s claw root in powdered form in one cup of boiling water in a pan. Cover it and soak the herb for ten minutes.
Drinking one cup of this herbal tea is beneficial for the treatment of gout. Chicory is another herb that is useful for treating gout. Mix one ounce of root of chicory in one pint of boiling water. Apply this over the affected area to get relief from gout. Consuming thyme is also beneficial. Prepare thyme tea by adding one to two teaspoons of the herb in one cup of boiling water. The tea can be sweetened and then drunk to get relief.
Paste prepared from mustard is also an effective remedy. Make paste by mixing one part of mustard powder in one part of whole wheat flour and add sufficient water. Spread this paste over a piece of cloth and apply over the affected area. Keep as such for several hours or for overnight to get relief.
Exercise
Doing exercise at the time when there is pain in the joints can cause further injury. It also helps in preventing further attacks by normalizing the levels of insulin. It is beneficial in improving insulin resistance and the reverse pre-diabetic conditions. Do regular exercise to maintain a healthy body weight. Exercise improves health and reduces the condition of overweight that may lead to increased risk of gout.
Lemon
Add juice prepared from half piece of lemon in one glass of water. Drinking this juice for three times in a day is effective in treating gout. It contains vitamin C that is beneficial for gout treatment.
Fish Oil
Taking supplements of fish oil help in reducing inflammation associated with gout.
Avoid Meat
Meat contains a rich amount of purines that are metabolized to uric acid. Thus one should avoid eating meat.
Maintain Healthy Body Weight
Overweight or obesity is one of the risk factors of gout. It can lead to worst condition like any arthritis type. Losing weight can help with the problem. It reduces inflammation and chances of further attacks. Avoid over eating especially the purine-rich foods.
Baking Soda
Mix half teaspoon of baking soda in eight ounces of water and drink the mixture. Taking more than four teaspoons of this mixture is not recommended. Use a solution of apple cider vinegar by mixing one to two teaspoons of it in eight ounces of water.
Drinking this helps in providing relief from pain and inflammation. It can be sweetened by adding honey. Lemon juice can also be combined with baking soda. Combine two ounces of lemon juice and half teaspoon of baking soda. Add eight ounces of water in the mixture when the bubbles are reduced and drink it immediately.
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