Naturopathic Gout Cures

Gout is a form of arthritis that strikes a single joint and is caused by excessive levels of uric acid, which is a byproduct of purines, a type of protein. It crystallizes and deposits itself in the joints; it is most common in the big toe joint. A gout attack is acute and very painful. A naturopathic approach entails a combination of methods that can shorten the length of an attack and ease symptoms. The following suggestions are also useful for preventing gout. The University of Maryland Medical Center and alternative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil offer suggestions.

Using Nutrition to Ease Gout

• Your diet plays a very important role in treating gout. You need to avoid specific foods high in purines like red meat, shellfish, organ meats, anchovies, herring, mackerel and yeast. According to alternative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil, recent research indicates no link exists between purines in vegetable sources and the incidence of gout so it is probably safe to eat a wide range of vegetables.

  Ease inflammation by following an anti-inflammatory diet rich in fruits, vegetables, non-animal proteins like whole soy, beans and whole grains, omega-3 fatty acids found in cold-water fish (excluding anything mentioned above), flax seed and walnuts. Restrict your intake of meat, eggs ,dairy, trans-fats found in margarine, fried foods and anything listing partially-hydrogenated oil as an ingredient, white flour foods and sugar. Aim for 25 to 35 g of fiber daily; this will help move excess uric acid from the body through stool.

  The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests eating half a pound of cherries daily for two weeks to lower uric acid levels. Fresh or frozen are fine.

  Drink at least eight glasses of water daily to flush excess uric acid out of the body. Stay away from alcohol and all sources of caffeine.

Easing Pain and Inflammation

• Several natural supplements can ease inflammation and pain. They include fish oil (one or two capsules daily), MSM (3,000 mg twice a day), devil's claw (750 mg three times a day), cat's claw (20 mg three times a day), bromelain (40 mg three times a day) and turmeric (300 mg three times a day). Talk to your doctor before using fish oil if you take blood-thinning medications, including aspirin therapy. It is not necessary to take every supplement listed as they offer similar benefits; talking to a health care professional experienced in alternative medicine is a great way to design a supplement regimen. Talk to your doctor before using herbal medicine.

  The following homeopathic remedies are commonly used for gout. Homeopathy is a very individualized system of medicine and the best way to achieve maximum benefit is to consult with a professional homeopath. Take your chosen remedy as directed on the label: aconite, belladonna, byronia, berberis vulgaris, colchicum, ledum and rhus toxicodendron.