My experience with gout has been painful. I’ve experimented with different ‘natural’ methods of treatment and I think that I’ve found one that works for me – so I thought I’d share it with others.
I am convinced that not all natural methods of treatment work for everyone, one particular treatment may work for you and not for others. So you will need to find one that works for you. I’m going to list some of the things I’ve tried. You’ll be glad to know that the following won’t break your budget.
Also, I’m not a doctor or a certified practitioner, I’ve just had gout for a number of years now and am just sharing my experience and providing links that I found useful and not providing advice.
Firstly, what is Gout.
Gout (also known as podagra when it involves the big toe) is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint.
Gout can present in a number of ways, although the most usual is a recurrent attack of acute inflammatory arthritis (a red, tender, hot, swollen joint). The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is affected most often, accounting for half of cases. Other joints, such as the heels, knees, wrists and fingers, may also be affected. Joint pain usually begins over 2–4 hours and during the night. The reason for onset at night is due to the lower body temperature then. Other symptoms may rarely occur along with the joint pain, including fatigue and a high fever.
Hyperuricemia is the underlying cause of gout. This can occur for a number of reasons, including diet, genetic predisposition, or underexcretion of urate, the salts of uric acid. Renal underexcretion of uric acid is the primary cause of hyperuricemia in about 90% of cases, while overproduction is the cause in less than 10%.
Foods that bring on gout
If you look hard enough, you’ll find almost everything brings on gout...well almost. The main foods that bring on gout and that are widely accepted are:
- Red meat
- Beer/alcohol
- Shellfish (oysters, prawns etc)
- Lack of water
- Too much salt
Things that I’ve tried
Water – you must have a load of water when you have gout. When you don’t have gout, keep hydrated. I remember reading somewhere that you should have enough water so that you urinate about 2L/day.
AppleCider Vinegar – Apple Cider Vinegar contributes to the breaking down of food in the body, it prevents harmful bacteria from multiplying, aids respiratory infections, sore throats, nasal discharges, it aids blood purification and circulation.
When having ACV, you should try to get organic with the ‘mother’ – do some research, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
Vegetable/fruit Juice – Mainly celery and beetroot. Beetroot and parsley have been said to have qualities that clean blood. I’ve also tried cherry juice – don’t get the reconstituted ones.
Herbal Tablets – My favourite, and one that I think works for me is Celery Seed tablets. I regularly (whenever I remember) take Celery Seed tablets (2500mg) and I find that it does relieve the pain when I feel gout coming along. Ever since I’ve been taking it, I haven’t had a blow out. I have also been taking Milk Thistle tablets (35000g) – it’s a liver tonic, a health liver helps keeps the blood clean and toxins out.
Spirulina Tablets - is a high alkaline seaweed food. It can change the weak acidic body condition to a healthy alkaline condition. It is also a natural health food with rich nutrients can be taken for a long time, for its non-toxic and has no side effect.
Blood donation/blood letting/wet cupping – by donating blood regularly (6 monthly) or performing wet cupping, removes blood from your body and encourages your body to produce new clean blood. You can perform wet cupping monthly if needed.
In Short
- When I got hit with gout
- I’d skip the foods that causes gout (listed above)
- Increase my veges
- Increase my water intake
- Decrease salt
- Have heaps of vege/fruit juice
- All that in addition to my regular celery, milk thistle and spirulina tables
I hope it works out for you.
