|  | Conditions Treatments | Gout

Home Cure for Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis that develops when uric acid crystals build up in the joints instead of being flushed from the body by the kidneys. A gout attack causes inflammation and severe pain in the affected joints. Gout can affect any joint, but it is most common in the big toe. Other commonly affected joints are the knees, hands, wrist, elbows and feet. Gout often attacks at night, making sleep uncomfortable. Anyone can develop gout, but it is more common in men than women and in people who drink alcohol excessively.

  1. Gout Diet

    • People who are susceptible to gout attacks may be advised to follow a diet that can help prevent the condition. Foods high in purines, chemical compounds that naturally occur in the body as well as in some food sources, can contribute to a gout attack. Avoiding high-purine foods, such as meat, organ meats and seafood, is advisable for those with gout. Beer is also high in purines and should be avoided. Eating low-fat dairy products is also advised for people who have gout. Finally, it's important for gout sufferers to drink plenty of water--at least eight to 10 glasses a day--to help flush the uric acid from the body.

    Cherries

    • Eating cherries is considered an especially effective home remedy for gout because they are very high in vitamin C, and the vitamin can help eliminate the uric acid deposits that can cause a gout attack. For cherries to be beneficial in treating or preventing gout, eat at least 12 to 15 a day. Drinking a glass of cherry juice daily is also an effective treatment.

    Ginger Bath

    • Another effective home remedy for gout is to soak in the affected joint in a hot ginger bath. Simply add one-third of a cup to a hot bath and soak for about 30 minutes. Doing this will cause you to sweat, which will in turn help eliminate the uric acid from the body. When the uric acid is eliminated, the gout symptoms will disappear. Because ginger can be a skin irritant, be sure to shower to thoroughly remove the ginger from your skin.

    Apple Cider Vinegar

    • For generations, people have used apple cider vinegar as a home remedy for a variety of conditions, including gout. To use it to treat a gout attack, drink two teaspoons of organic apple cider vinegar with two teaspoons of honey. The pain from a gout attack should dissipate in an hour or two.

Gout - Related Articles