Herbal or Natural Treatment for Gout
Aside from medication, gout sufferers are also encouraged to use the following natural home remedies to help treat gout.
Water
Drinking plenty of water helps dilute uric acid in the body. Make sure you stay well-hydrated to prevent gout attacks.
Celery
Celery seeds are known to help decrease uric acid levels in the body. It contains antioxidants such as phenolic acids and flavonols which help treat conditions associated with inflammation.
Celery seed can also help with kidney and liver infections which are both essential organs that process uric acid. Celery can be consumed naturally or in supplement form.
Cherries
One study found that half a cup serving of cherries help decrease the risk of gout in participants by 35 percent. Furthermore, those who consumed up to three servings up their reduced risk to 50 percent.
To fully get the benefits of cherries, go for cherry juice concentrate minus the sugar or dried cherries. You can also take it in supplement form.
Bromelain
Bromelain is an enzyme whose only natural source is pineapple. It helps relieve pain from gout by decomposing the uric acid crystals and promoting blood circulation. It also accelerates healing by decreasing bruising, swelling, redness, and tenderness in the affected area.
The pineapple fruit itself does not have enough bromelain in it to provide medicinal effects, so the best way to take it is in supplement form. You can take it as treatment and prevention for gout.
Take 500mg of bromelain supplement during a gout attack every three hours until the pain subsides and take it twice a day between meals for prevention. You can take bromelain together with quercetin supplement which is a flavonoid that helps reduce uric acid levels.
Fish oil
Oily fish is not recommended for gout sufferers but highly purified, molecularly distilled fish oil, however, can be good for you. This is because fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids which are known to reduce disease-causing inflammation in the body. Aim to take at least 2,000mg of fish oil a day to keep gout attacks at bay.
Vitamin C
Studies show that vitamin C can help reduce uric acid. Vitamin C can be found in many natural sources such as citrus fruits, pineapple, tomatoes, green and red peppers, kiwifruit, leafy veggies, and potatoes. You can also take vitamin C in supplement form.
Magnesium
People with magnesium deficiency are more likely to develop gout. It’s important to take enough magnesium because it helps improve blood circulation, making it easier to remove excess uric acid in the body.
If you have acute gout, magnesium should be a priority. It can be found in foods like romaine lettuce, spinach, nuts, and whole grains. It’s also available in supplement form and should be taken based on your age and gender.
Alternative Treatment for Gout
Alternative treatments have the same goal as medicinal and natural treatment, and that is to lessen the pain during gout attacks and prevent flares from happening by lowering uric acid levels.
Although minimal research backs these treatments, they have been used by several gout sufferers who found little relief in traditional treatments. It’s best to do your own research and dig a little deeper into these treatments before trying them out yourself.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a technique where tiny needles are placed in specific points of the body to treat chronic pain. Though there aren’t that many studies backing up its efficacy for gout, it’s worth a try for its pain-relieving effects.
Eat Alkalizing Foods
There is a viewpoint on gout on its cause relating to an imbalance of pH in the body.
The condition causes acidosis which means the pH in your body is out of balance and is trying to get back to normal pH levels anyway it can. These efforts are what causes arthritis, high uric acid, muscle spasms, and other problems.
One solution recommended by JB Bardot from Natural News is to eat alkalizing foods to help restore the body’s natural pH balance.
Foods that are rich in alkaline include apple cider vinegar, baking soda, citrus juices, brussel sprouts, broccoli, spinach, asparagus, bananas, and celery.
Foods for Kidney Health
Kidney health is strongly associated with gout. The kidney is responsible for secreting uric acid from the body and without it, you’d be overloaded with uric acid and experience more gout attacks.
Foods that are good for your kidney include cabbage, onions, garlic, apples, cranberries, cherries, red grapes, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cauliflower, wild-caught salmon, olive oil, and eggs.
Essential Oils
You can take essential oils along with other gout treatments mentioned above. Some essential oils that are helpful for gout include:
- Ginger extract is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory which helps reduce uric acid and prevent gout attacks
- Biota orientalis extract helps reduce uric acid
- Lemongrass oil possesses antimicrobial and antibacterial properties and can reduce pain and inflammation
- Chinese cinnamon helps with inflammatory disease and significantly decreases uric acid
- Celery seed oil enhances the effects of gout medications and reduces swelling
- Yarrow oil extract helps treat arthritis and reduce inflammation in the joints
Be careful when using essential oils for gout. Dilute it with a carrier oil before applying topically and never take it orally. It can be diffused as part of aromatherapy. Just be careful not to overdo it as it can have side effects like headaches.
You know your body best so listen to what it has to say. Observe its response to the treatment. If you find that your gout symptoms are getting worse, stop the treatment and try other methods.
