|  | Alternative Medicine | Homeopathy

Homeopathic Remedy for Gout

Gout is arthritis of the joints that affects primarily men, although women are susceptible to gout after menopause. It typically affects the extremities, particularly the large joint of the big toe. But gout can affect all the joints of the feet, ankles, hands and wrists. If left untreated, a bout of gout can last up to 10 days. Some sufferers of gout have turned to homeopathic remedies for a solution.

  1. Background

    • Homeopathic medicine can seem to fly in the face of traditional medical wisdom. That's because homeopathic doctors look at the body as a system in balance. If the body system is out of balance in any one area, the symptoms may show up elsewhere in the body. In the minds of homeopathic physicians, an illness or chronic disorder may be a sign of an outside stressor such as a childhood trauma acting on the body.

    Like Cures Like

    • Another tenant of homeopathic medicine is that treatments are often in the forms of poisons. That is to say that a medicine that would be harmful in large doses is given in an extremely diluted form to patients in order to trigger the body's healing systems to fix the underlying cause of a problem. This idea is based on observations of Greek philosophers, and was first put into practice 200 years ago as a departure from conventional medical wisdom.

    Homeopathic Remedies

    • In general, the following herbs are prescribed for homeopathic remedies to ease the pain and symptoms of gout. Depending on the style of onset, as well as a patient's neurosis, a homeopathic physician may narrow down the treatment to one specific herb. Arnica for discomfort and fear of being approached or touched, Belladonna for sudden onset of symptoms and feelings of restlessness, Berberis vulgaris for patients whose pain develops from frequent walking, and who are also prone to kidney stones, Bryonia for tearing pain in patients who are irritable or self-protective, Berberis vulgaris for stabbing pain in finger joints or knees. This may be prescribed if gout is worse during changing weather patterns. Colchicum may be used for gout pain in the big toe or heel when the patient feels internal coldness and is tired. Rhododendron may be used for pain that comes from staying still for too long, and if the pain lessens after application of heat. Ledum palustre helps to ease shooting pains that move from the foot to the knee. Rhus toxicodendron (Poison ivy) can help joints that are stiff and swollen. Sulphur helps joints that are stiff, painful and itchy where heat seems to worsen the problem.

Homeopathy - Related Articles