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Home Remedies for Gout in the Knee

There is no mistaking gout when it hits. This recurring condition, which even King Henry VIII suffered from, brings shooting pain to the joint and comes with a tell-tale shining redness that covers the skin in the affected area. The pain is often excruciating, especially when attempting to bear weight like the knee must. While there are medicinal treatments available for gout, many suffers seek ways to remedy the condition in the comfort of their own homes.

  1. Indulging in Cherries

    • Over 40 years ago, Dr. Ludwig W. Blau found himself confined to his wheel chair due to serious gout. One day, Blau ate and entire bowl of cherries and discovered that his symptoms were gone. Studies by Blau and his colleges in the 1950s, according to Body and Fitness' website, found that consuming six to eight ounces of cherries per day would fight of the uric acids that form in the body and cause gout. Consume this amount of cherries per day to also help prevent another gout attack.

    The Charcoal Solution

    • According to MotherNature.com, Dr. Agatha Thrash suggests making a charcoal poultice to draw the toxins out of the body. Mix eight ounces of powdered activated charcoal with a few teaspoons of ground-up flax seed and add some very warm water to make a paste out of it. This paste--which stains, so be careful around fabric--should be smeared on the knee and then covered with plastic wrap to hold it in place. The site recommends changing the paste every four hours. In addition, Dr. Thrash suggested taking one teaspoon of activated charcoal orally four times a day to reduce the uric acid levels that cause gout.

    Other Helpful Tips

    • Two other at-home remedies include soaking in an Epsom salt bath to reduce the pain as well as soaking a piece of cloth in castor oil wrapping it around the knee before applying heat with a water bottle or heat pad. In addition, applying ice to the affected area and then applying heat before repeating the process can help reduce the pain. Many doctors and gout sufferers suggest taking ibuprofen, which will help reduce the inflammation caused by gout.

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