A gout is a form of arthritis which is caused by the formation of uric acid crystals.It can affect different parts of the body like the small hand joints,ears, wrists, knees or ankles.It is one of the most commonly recorded medical symptoms throughout history.
I have brought together some of the effective home remedies to get rid of gout permanently.
Table of Contents
Home Remedies For Treating Gout
1.Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
ACV is generally used to treat headaches and acid stomach. Itcan alsohelp treat arthritis and gout. The acidity in ACV will help relieve acute pain. You can also add honey to boost the body’s anti-inflammatory response.
How to Consume ACV To Treat Gout?
- Mix teaspoon of raw, unfiltered ACV in a glass of water and drink it 2-3 times daily.
- If you find this helpful, you can increase the dosage of ACV to up to 2 tablespoons.
2.Baking Soda
One significant factor contributing to gout is an increase of uric acid in the body. Baking soda helps lower the quantity of uric acid, thus giving you relief from the pain.
How To Consume Baking Soda To Treat Gout?
- Mix 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1 glass of water and drink this solution 4 times a day but not more than that.
- Continue this up to 2 weeks.
- If you are above 60 years of age, do not consume it more than 3 times in a day. Ignore this remedy if you suffer from hypertension.
3.Ginger Root
Ginger Root has an anti-inflammatory feature that helps to relieve inflammation and pain. There are several ways of using ginger root in the gout treatment.
How to Consume Ginger Root To Treat Gout?
- Mix equal proportions of turmeric powder, fenugreek powder and dried ginger root powder. Consume 1 teaspoon of this mixture with warm water, taking it twice daily.
- You can add ginger root in cooking, or eat some small raw pieces of ginger root daily.
- You can add 1/2 teaspoon of ginger root to one cup of hot water and drink this solution at least once daily.
- It can also be applied externally by applying it in paste form on the affected area. Leave it on for about 30 minutes, once daily.
4.Cherries And Strawberries
Cherries and Strawberries can also be very useful to treat gout due to their antioxidant properties. The anthocyanins contained in cherries can reduce inflammation as well as minimize flare-ups.
How To Consume Cherries And Strawberries To Treat Gout?
- For gout patients, eating 15 to 20 cherries daily is highly recommended.
- Drink 1 glass of black cherry juice daily.
5.Lemon Juice
To gets relief from pain, it is required to neutralize the excess uric acid in the bloodstream and alkalize the body. This can be done simply by consuming lemon juice and baking soda.
Moreover, other fruits rich in vitamin C are also beneficial to strengthen the body tissues.
How To Consume Lemon Juice To Treat Gout?
- Mix the juice of one lemon with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. After the fizzing stops, mix it with a glass of water and drink it immediately.
- Simply squeeze half a fresh lemon in a glass of water and drink it thrice daily.
6.Epsom Salt
It is another useful ingredient for treating gout. The high quantity of magnesium contained in Epsom salt will help lower high blood pressure and improve the condition of your heart.
How To Use Epsom Salt To Treat Gout?
- Soak the body part which is affected by gout in warm Epsom salt mixed water .It will relax aching muscles and relieve pain.
- In case you have severe gout, you can try it 2-3 times a week.
7.Bananas
Bananas are also very efficient in treating The high potassium contained in bananas,help convert uric acid crystals into a liquid form that is excreted out of the body afterward through urination.
It also contains moderate quantities of vitamin C that is very useful in managing pain and swelling.
How To Consume Bananas To Treat Gout?
- Simply eat 1-2 bananas daily and in no time, you will actually notice an improvement in your condition.
- Add 1 ripe banana to 1/2 cup of yogurt. This will also help to keep diarrhea away.
8.Apples
It’s a good, healthy habit to eat at least 1 apple daily, especially for treating The malic acid in apples helps neutralize uric acid in the body and thereby relieve gout inflammation and pain.
How To Consume Apples To Treat Gout?
- You can simply have it as a whole or cut it into slices and consume it.
- If you dislike having an apple, you can make juice out of it and consume.
9.Cold Water
You can simply apply cold water in the affected region to reduce pain as well as swelling. In the case of gout, don’t use ice straight away on the skin; it may damage the skin and worsen your condition.
How To Use Cold Water To Treat Gout?
- Immerse the swollen, inflamed joint in cold water for about 10- 15 minutes and repeat this process a number of times a day.
- You can even use an ice pack for 15 minutes or so, but prior to that, do wrap a towel around the affected area. Do this 2 times a day.
10.Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is known to absorb uric acid and can be used for gout treatment.
How To Use Activated Charcoal To Treat Gout?
- People suffering from gout should practice charcoal bath 2-3 times a week.
- Mix 1/2 cup of charcoal powder with a small amount of water until it forms a paste and then adds more water to this paste after adding this paste to it. Soak the affected body part for at least 30 minutes in it. This remedy is a good remedy for gout in the big toe or ankle joint.
- Simply make an activated charcoal paste and apply it on the skin. Then rinse it off with lukewarm water after leaving it on for 30 minutes.
11.Eliminate Sugar And Soda
Eliminating sugar and soda from your diet (even if it is non-caffeinated)can reduce the risk of Gout.
How Sugar And Soda Affect The Treatment Of Gout?
- Drinking 2 sodas a day can increase the risk of gout by an almost 85%.
12.Beet Juices
Beet juice can help prevent acidosis and stimulate the liver to cleanse bile ducts.
How To Consume Beet Juice To Treat Gout?
- Make juice out of 1 whole beetroot and consume it after adding some lemon juice to it.
- You can even mix beetroot in salad and consume it.
13.Pineapples
An enzyme called bromelain, found in pineapples is effective for treating Gout and also contains anti-cancer properties.
How To Consume Pineapples To Treat Gout?
- You can simply have it as a whole or cut it into slices and consume it.
- If you dislike having pineapple, you can make juice out of it and consume.
14.Exercise
Exercise is not recommended when your joints are in pain or when it may result in further injury .When under control, exercise is needed as a necessity for a healthier life.
In What Way Exercise Is Beneficial?
- Exercise helps prevent further attacks by normalizing your uric acids levels and increasing circulation. This primarily normalizes your insulin levels.
- A proper exercise routine can act as an anti-depressant, reverse anti-diabetic conditions and even strengthen your immune system.
When To Call A Doctor?
Call your doctor whenever you find the pain to be unbearable. No point experimenting then it’s better to seek expert advice. Once you call him/her, he/she will do the needful.
Getting treatment within the first 24 hours of the commence of an attack can reduce its length and severity.
A Diet Plan For People Suffering From Gout
A proper diet for those suffering from gout may help reduce the level of uric acid in the blood. However, this is not a cure; it can only reduce the risk of constant painful gout attacks and arrest the pace of joint damage.
Medication is also required in order to control pain and to lower uric acid levels. Mostly, consumption of foods containing a chemical called Purine should be reduced. But not eliminated as a whole.
The General Goals Of A Gout Diet
1.Weight Loss
If you are overweight (more the weight, greater the pressure on your leg joints), you are more prone to developing gout. So, losing weight will definitely lower the risk of getting gout.
As per research, reducing the calorie consumption (keeping Purine restricted diet aside), will eventually lower uric acid levels, Thus, reducing the chances of developing gout.
2.Complex Carbs
Eating more vegetables, fruits and whole grains, increases the amount of complex carbohydrates in your body. So, it is better to avoid carbohydrate rich food (like candy, white bread, sweets, cakes, etc.) and high-fructose corn syrup for your own benefit. Reducing the consumption of these kinds of food is also good for your teeth.
3.Water
Always try to keep yourself hydrated. Increased water consumption will reduce gout attacks. Try to drink at least 2 liters of water regularly. This will instigate your Metabolism, thus reducing the risk of uric acid deposition.
4.Fats
Try to cut back on fatty poultry, high-fat dairy products and saturated fats from red meats from your diet. More uric acid is produced when these are consumed.
5.Proteins
Try to consume not more than 113 to 170 grams of protein per day. Have more of low-fat / fat-less dairy products, like skim milk or low-fat yogurt which are linked with reduced levels of uric acid.
A Diet Chart
Breakfast
- Whole-grain oats with skim milk/ low-fat milk
- 1 glass of Cherry/strawberry juice
- Coffee
- Water(enough to keep you hydrated)
Lunch
- Roasted chicken breast slices (40-50 grams) with the whole-grain roll.
- Mixed green salad with ACV and olive oil dressing
- Water(enough to keep you hydrated)
Afternoon Snack
- A cup fresh cherries/banana/strawberry/pineapple
- Water(enough to keep you hydrated)
Dinner
- Roasted salmon (10-20 grams)
- Steamed or Roasted green beans
- 1/2 a cup of whole-grain pasta with olive oil and lemon pepper
- Water(enough to keep you hydrated)
- Low-fat yogurt
- 1 cup fresh melon
Pass time-Caffeine-free beverage like herbal tea or green tea.(Don’t consume alcohol)
Along with a proper and controlled diet, regular exercise is also necessary. The more active you are, the less prone to diseases (even Gout) you will be.
Who Gets Gout?
Usually, men are more affected by Gout than women, and it is most often felt in the feet (specifically, the big toe).
What Causes Gout?
The exact cause is not known, but a high quantity of uric acid in the body is said to be one of the reasons. Uric acid contained in the bloodstream causes crystals to develop on the cartilage of joints, tendons and other tissue.
Inflammation of these tissues often causes sudden and serious pain. Other joints like the knees, ankles, fingers, wrists, and elbows can also be affected.
Some other possible causes are excessive consumption of alcohol, genetics, excessive protein intake, lack of physical exercise and too much stress.
What Are The Symptoms Of Gout?
The primary symptom of gouty arthritis is sudden onset of a hot, swollen, red, painful andstiff joint. Generally, the foot at the base of the big toe (known as podagra) is the most affected region. In some people, the pain is so acute and intense that even a bed sheet on the toe causes unbearable pain.
The first attacks stop spontaneously, (even without treatment) typically within one to two weeks. The pain and swelling may completely go away, but gouty arthritis generally returns in the same or the other joint.
How Is Gout Diagnosed?
The diagnosis procedure includes:
1.Joint Aspiration
It is the most important diagnostic test and the ultimate method of being certain of the existence of gouty arthritis, as opposed to other causes like an infection in the joint.
In this case, the sample fluid is extracted for testing with the help of a needle. The extracted fluid is then examined under a microscope to see whether there are gout crystals or signs of a bacterial infection present.
Sometimes other crystals can also be found in the sample fluid, like calcium pyrophosphate, which is caused by an entirely different condition called pseudogout (“like gout”).
2.Blood Tests
A blood sample is also taken to check for cell counts, kidney function, uric acid levels, etc.
Unfortunately, the uric acid level in the blood cannot be reliably used to make a diagnosis of gout. It is normal in say approximately 10% of people during an acute attack of gouty arthritis (podagra).Moreover;levels of uric acid are elevated in 5%-8% of the general population, so the existence of an elevated level does not necessarily imply that gout is the reason of an inflamed joint.
Interestingly, the uric acid level is typically lowered during an inflammatory gouty arthritis flare. Therefore, the optimal time to measure uric acid is after a flare has resolved and when acute inflammation is not present.
3.Radiographs
X-rays are normally used to assess underlying joint damage, especially in those having had multiple gouty arthritis episodes.
Note
- Abnormality in handling uric acid crystallization in joints can cause attacks of kidney stones, painful arthritis, and blockage of the kidney filtering tubules with crystals of uric acid that leads to kidney failure.
- Gout can also lead to other types of health hazards, such as diabetes, hypertension, and uric acid kidney stones. So it is important to get proper medical treatment.
- With time, attacks of gouty arthritis can occur more frequently and may last longer. While the primary attacks usually involve only 1 or 2 joints, multiple joints can also be involved over time. It is important to note that unrecognizable (subclinical), potentially damaging inflammation in joints can occur between attacks of obvious flares of gouty arthritis.
- Avoid excessive use of ice packs because it assists the formation of crystals of uric acid.
- Though gout is commonly blamed on eating too many high-purine foods like herring, organ meats, asparagus, anchovies and mushrooms, high-fructose corn syrup is equally responsible.
- Gout is often associated with excessive alcohol consumption, hypertension and coronary artery disease. So alcohol should be avoided in this disease.
- Try avoiding Drug Solutions (like- Colchicines, NSAIDs, Corticotrophin corticosteroids, Aloprim, Zyloprim, and Febuxostat) for the treatment of Gout unless it becomes absolutely necessary.
