Natural Cure for Gout

Gout, or gouty arthritis, is a type of arthritis that develops when too much uric acid builds up in the body, causing pain, redness and inflammation in the joints. It can occur in any joint, but it typically starts in the big toe. Normally, the body efficiently flushes uric acid, but in some people this may begin to slow or they may begin to produce too much. For people who want to avoid medical treatments, there are several things to try at home to prevent and treat gout.

Gout diet

One good way to prevent gout is to adopt a diet that limits the intake of purines, a protein that naturally occurs in some foods and can increase the amount of uric acid in the body. High-purine foods include fish such as sardines, mackerel and herring, organ meats, game meats and sweetbreads. People prone to gout should also limit consumption of red meat, fish and seafood, which also contain purines. Alcoholic beverages, especially beer, contain purines and should be avoided as well. Gout sufferers should make it a point to drink plenty of fluids like water because it helps flush uric acid from the body.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C can be useful in treating and preventing gout, so you may want to try and eat foods rich in the vitamin or taking a supplement. Good food sources of vitamin C include fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits like oranges. If you opt to take a vitamin C supplement, speak with your doctor about the proper dose because too much can lead to an increase of uric acid in the body and may make symptoms worse.

Berries

Dark berries, especially cherries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and dark-colored grapes, have been used as a gout remedy because research has shown they can limit uric acid levels. It is not known if these fruits will help provide relief from symptoms, but eating them daily can help prevent an attack. Other fruits that are thought to help control gout include bananas and apples.

Soaking Baths

Another home treatment option for gout sufferers is a soaking bath. One thing to try is adding one-third of a cup of ground ginger to a hot bath and soaking for about 30 minutes. This will produce sweat, which helps the body remove excess uric acid. Be sure to rinse thoroughly after soaking to prevent skin irritation. Another idea would be to dissolve two cups of Epsom salts in hot water and soak until the water is no longer hot.