Gout is a form of arthritis caused by an increased amount of uric acid (a breakdown product of protein) that becomes deposited as crystals in joints (commonly the big toe), tendons, kidneys, and other tissues. The increase in uric acid is either brought on by too much uric acid in your system or not enough excretion of uric acid through the kidneys. Chronic gout can lead to joint and tendon destruction, damage to the bones and cartilage, kidney stones, and even kidney failure, and it can shorten your life.

Common Symptoms: Acute Gout Attack

• Sudden, intense joint pain, most commonly in the big toe, less frequently in the knee, ankle, or wrist.
• Swelling of the joint

Common Symptoms: Chronic Gout

• Joint swelling
• Joint inflammation
• Hot feeling in the joint
• Tiny, hard lumps (called tophi) accumulating in the soft tissues of the hands, feet, or ear lobes

What You Need To Know

Men who are overweight, have high blood pressure, or take thiazide diuretics (such as diuril and HCTZ) are more prone to gout. A gout attack can be precipitated by alcohol, a high-protein meal, trauma, or certain drugs (chemotherapy, diuretics, and niacin), so you should avoid these factors if you have gout.

General Recommendations

Diet: Avoid foods with high purine content (which breaks down into uric acid in the body). These include red meats in particular, as well as shellfish, yeast, herring, sardines, mackerel, and anchovies. Alcohol can precipitate attacks of gout, so avoid it also. Complex carbohydrates (fruits and vegetables) can reduce the symptoms of gout, and increasing your intake of clear fluids can help flush out uric acid from the kidneys. Eating fresh or canned cherries, up to eight ounces per day, lowers uric acid and can prevent acute attacks. Blueberries are also helpful but are not as potent as cherries.

Home Remedies - Your Balanced Healing Action Plan for Gout

Step 1: Take Colchicine or Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

For an acute attack, your doctor may prescribe colchicine (1mg to 1.2mg at first sign of attack, then 0.5mg to 0.6mg every hour until the symptoms stop). Usually, this medication resolves your symptoms within 8 to 24 hours. As an alternative, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)-Naprosyn, Daypro, Orudis, Relafen, Mobic, and others-can also help relieve the pain of acute attacks quickly.

Step 2: Take Folic Acid and Flaxseed Oil After the Acute Attack

Once the acute attack is over, first take folic acid (10mg to 40mg daily) to inhibit the enzyme responsible for producing uric acid. Also take flaxseed oil (1 tablespoon daily) to prevent tissue damage from uric acid. Check your uric acid level every few weeks, and if it has returned to normal, continue these supplements to keep the uric acid normal. If your uric acid remains elevated, go to the next step.

Step 3: Take Allopurinol or Probenicid

If the previous supplements do not lower your uric acid levels to normal, then get a prescription from your doctor for allopurinol (100mg daily). Have your uric acid levels tested until they are normal. Probenicid (500mg twice daily) is another medication to lower uric acid.

Tagged under:acute attacks acute gout anchovies chronic gout complex carbohydrates General Ailments gout joint inflammation kidney stones niacin protein uric acid

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Filed under: General Ailments