Herbal Way of Treating Gout Disease

Gout is caused by uric acid accumulation in joints and neighboring tissues. The red, warm, tender and swollen joints of gout can be immensely bothersome with excruciating pain even with the slightest movement. While there are many prescription and nonprescription drugs that are used to treat gout, you can also try some herbal remedies for relief from the condition.

Devil's Claw and Autumn Crocus

• Beneficial for arthritis and gout, Devil's claw, taken in quantities of 750 g three times daily, will provide you with enough iridoid glycosides that will relieve your joint pain by lowering blood uric acid and serum cholesterol levels. A quarter gram of seeds of the autumn crocus, taken regularly, is beneficial for its colchicine content which helps provide relief from gout.

Gravelroot, Celery Seed and Cherries

• A mixture of water and 2 tsp. of gravelroot or celery seeds taken three times a day can help provide relief from gout by forcing removal of uric acid from the body. A daily dose of 1/4 kg of fresh or canned cherries, rich in flavonoids, can help lower uric acid and prevent collagen destruction.

Bilberry, Hawthorn and Juniper Berry

• Bilberry and hawthorn are both rich in anthocyanidins that help fight gout by reduction of uric acid levels and preventing tissue breakdown. For relief from gout, you can take any herbal bilberry product with 25 percent anthocyanidin three times daily, 80 mg each time, or any hawthorn extract twice daily, no more than 200 mg each time. Taking between 350 and 500 mg of juniper berry herb as capsule or tea is beneficial to the condition because of the plant's efficient diuretic property.

Nettle, Birch and Oat Straw

• Nettle root is a potent gout treatment herb which stimulates the body to heighten removal the kidney's uric acid. Take 1/4 g nettle root three times daily or apply directly on gout-affected areas to obtain relief from gout pain. Keeping the gout-affected area or limb in a bag filled with birch, at least for 2 hours daily, or local application of oat straw packs, can lead to relief from gout.

Other Herbal Remedies

• If used once a week, bathwater infused with extracts of horsetail, oat straw, nettle or cut grass can prevent gout. Because of its natural anti-inflammatory action, 1/2 g of turmeric consumed regularly will also help ease gout pain. As horseradish possesses toxic cleansing properties, it is beneficial in gout relief. One tsp. of grated horseradish in 1 cup of water, boiled and then cooled for 10 minutes can be effective in gout pain if drunk regularly before breakfast for 10 days.