Live Without Gout

Live Without Gout

Approximately 1 million Americans are afflicted with the excruciating pain caused by gout. Without immediate attention, an attack can last days or weeks, so it’s not surprising that gout sufferers welcome any method or remedy that halts gout for good.
Gout is best controlled with correct lifestyle habits, careful eating and anti-inflammatory nutrients.

Gout is a type of arthritis caused by excessive amounts of uric acid in the blood that usually settles and crystallizes in the big toe, though other joints and organs can be affected. The characteristic redness, swelling and throbbing of gout tends to target one joint at a time, and usually begins at night. A physical exam, medical history and testing both blood and joint fluid for uric acid help physicians diagnose this condition.Men are nine times more likely to have gout than premenopausal women; females are more susceptible after menopause. One reason for this is that normal uric acid blood levels for men are almost seven times greater than those for women. While not certain why this pattern exists, researchers suspect that estrogen and other female hormones may influence uric acid metabolism.
Not all people with high uric acid, or hyperuricemia, acquire gout. One study found that only 42 out of 223 men with high uric acid developed gout after five years. It’s safe to say, however, that all individuals with gout have hyperuricemia. In fact, with time and rising uric acid levels, people have a much greater chance of developing gout.
About one-half of people who endure an acute gout attack will suffer again. As bouts increase in frequency, they also increase in severity, particularly if preventive measures or treatment are not taken. In the worst cases, uric acid crystals create chalky deposits called tophi that cause permanent damage to bones, kidneys and other organs. This is why it’s important to recognize and, when possible, control factors that contribute to elevated uric acid levels. Purine is the source of uric acid. Thus, restricting foods high in purine is one way to manage gout. High-purine foods include most protein foods: meats, organ meats, some poultry, lentils, beans, peas and certain seafood items. Avoiding coffee and replacing sugars (particularly fructose) and simple carbohydrate foods with complex carbohydrates and whole grains also improve gout symptoms.
Serum uric acid climbs with alcohol consumption, especially after binge drinking. Beer is worse than wine or spirits. Preliminary evidence suggests that even low-alcohol and alcohol-free beer contribute to gout. Instead, drinking four to eight glasses of water daily helps flush excess uric acid out of the body. Overweight individuals are more prone to gout, though severe diets or fasting can boost uric acid levels. Before embarking on a weight-loss program, consult with a medical professional.
Other factors that may initiate gout symptoms or encourage attacks include high cholesterol levels, surgery, joint injury and sudden severe illness. Gout can also run in families. Exposure to lead may cause an unusual type of gout called saturnine gout; if this is the case, ask your doctor about testing for lead toxicity. Several medications increase uric acid in the blood, for example: salicylates, diuretics, cyclosporine, pyrazinamide and ethambutol (used to treat tuberculosis) and some chemotherapeutic drugs. While certain remedies and herbs are used, the research on natural therapies for gout is sparse. In fact, gout sufferers must exercise caution when selecting supplements, as some nutrients can be harmful. The safest course is to visit a skilled natural-health practitioner to learn which natural remedies are best for you.
Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is beneficial for a number of reasons, one of which is that five of its catechins and two flavones inhibit xanthine oxidase, the liver enzyme that produces uric acid. Other research suggests that green tea’s antioxidant properties might reduce inflammation, a prominent gout symptom.
Dosage: While no dosage guidelines exist on using this herb for gout, drinking two to three cups per day is typical. To make the tea, simmer 1 teaspoon of dried root or a teabag in a cup of water for 10 to 15 minutes.
Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum pro-cumbens) has studies that attest to its pain-reducing and anti-inflammatory properties; however, none specifically address gout. Nevertheless, this plant with the tough barbed fruit—hence its name—is traditionally used for various arthritic conditions, gout included. Side effects are infrequent, though may include mild gastric upset.
Dosage: The root is used when preparing tinctures or tea. Like green tea, directions on taking devil’s claw are limited to folklore. For tincture, 1 teaspoon three times daily is usual. Simmer 1 teaspoon of dried root in a cup of water for 15 minutes to brew devil’s claw tea. Drink up to 3 cups daily. Results may take one month. Don’t take devil’s claw root if you have gastric or duodenal ulcers or gallstones.
Cherries, fresh or canned, may help improve gout, according to anecdotal reports and a handful of very old studies. One test-tube analysis found that the anthocyanins and cyanidin in sour tart cherries possess both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions. Eating other darkly colored fruits, such as blueberries and blackberries, that contain these or similar active constituents may also help.
Dosage: Drink 8 oz of cherry juice daily, or during acute attacks. Also increase your consumption of cherries.
Homeopathic remedies can help, but it’s always best to consult with a skilled practitioner first. To ease the pain of an acute attack while waiting to visit your doctor, however, consider these remedies.
Colchicum, one of the most notable gout remedies, is from the meadow saffron (Colchicum autumnale); colchicine is a prescription medicine used to treat gout. The herbal form of colchicum has been used to treat gout; however, the risk of colchicine poisoning is too great and should be avoided except by the most skilled herbalist. Instead, rely on the much safer homeopathic version. It fits the classic gout symptoms of red, hot and swollen joints that are worse in the evening. The big toe and heel are particularly affected.
Bryonia (wild hops) is another homeopathic remedy to consider when a gout attack occurs. This remedy also fits the scenario of hot, red, swollen joints. The difference is that symptoms are worse in the morning and increase with the slightest movement. The feet are usually affected, though knees can be stiff and painful as well.
Dosage: Use the 3c potency, and take every four hours. Acute remedies (pellets or liquid) should be placed under the tongue. If there’s no relief within 24 hours, see your doctor.People with gout must use discretion when choosing supplements, particularly when taking large amounts of individual nutrients. High amounts of vitamin A, for instance, can increase blood levels of uric acid. While rare, molybdenum toxicity produces a goutlike syndrome. Niacin, 50 mg and above, reduces uric acid excretion. People who have high cholesterol levels (a condition that increases gout risk) who take niacin should pay particular attention. Vitamin C may or may not adversely affect those with gout. Large quantities of ascorbic acid (around 4 gm daily) may increase uric acid levels in some gout sufferers.

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