Natural Herbs for Gout

Gout is a condition in which high levels of uric acid in the blood cause an accumulation of crystals in joints and tissues. It is very painful and can occur very rapidly, often affecting the toes and feet, giving rise to the term "gouty big toe." The condition is related to the digestion of certain foods when the body lacks the necessary digestive enzyme uricase.

Cherries

• Cherries are high in antioxidant-rich anthocyanins and enzymes that react to uric acid by neutralizing it. An attack of gout can often be reversed in the early stages by eating 20 to 30 fresh, frozen or canned cherries. This remedy was discovered by Dr. Ludwig W. Blau in 1950.

Devil's Claw

• Devil's claw, from Africa, is a common ingredient in many herbal remedies for gout. It contains a natural cleansing agent that eliminates toxins from the blood. It is taken as a tea or as an extract of 400 mg of the herb up to three times per day.

Uric Acid Neutralizers

• Certain herbs work to neutralize the blood: saffron, nettle and strawberries. Drink a tea made with equal parts of nettles with yarrow to alleviate the symptoms of gout. Consuming a cup of strawberries three times per day with each meal will quickly bring relief.

Isoflavonoids

• Plants high in anthocyanosides or flavonoids are beneficial in relieving gout and flushing uric acid from the body: hawthorn, blueberries, bilberry, quercetin and red clover. Pineapple also contains a substance called bromelain that can be beneficial in relieving gout symptoms.

Other Useful Herbs

• Eat two to three cloves of garlic each day. It can also be minced and added to black cherry juice. Celery seeds can be used to make a drink. Add ground ginger to your bath water and soak in it; this will cause you to sweat and flush out the uric acid.