Some alternative treatments for gout may work just as well as medication. Gout is an arthritic condition that causes a sudden sharp pain in the joints. Men are most often affected by this condition. However, women are at an increased risk, after they reach menopause. In general, people who have high levels of uric acid in their bodies are most susceptible to this condition.
Certain medical conditions, if left untreated, can also cause a person to develop gout. According to Mayo Clinic, high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, high cholesterol, and diabetes, can lead to gout if a person does not get treated for any of these conditions. Medications including aspirin, thiazide diuretics, and anti-rejection drugs that are used on patients, who have undergone organ transplants, can also cause gout.
Gout causes the joints to become red, swollen and tender. It usually occurs on a person's big toe but it can also affect the wrists, knees, hands, and ankles. The pain can last for one to two weeks. Then it may go away for a while as the joint returns to its normal condition.
Gout Herbal Remedies
Some people find relief by using gout herbal remedies such as safflower. This herb is native to India. The healing properties of the plant are contained in orange and yellow flowers that are found on the herb. They are used to treat conditions affecting the pancreas, kidneys, and the digestive system.
According to The Complete Idiot's Guide to Herbal Remedies by Frankie Avalon Wolfe (September 1999 Alpha Books), safflower neutralizes uric acid. It also causes the body to eliminate this gout causing substance from the body. It is recommended that patients take this herb in the form of a pill for better absorption.
Celery seed extract is an herb that is very popular as a treatment for gout. In fact, some patients are reporting that celery seed extract has cured their condition and they no longer need to take medication. James A. Duke, the author of The Green Pharmacy by (June, 2009 Rodale Press, Inc.), writes that this herb keeps his uric acid levels low.
According to Duke, he took 2 to four celery seed extracts every day. He then noticed that his bouts with gout stopped. He remained symptom free even during one week in which he ate celery stalks instead of taking the supplements. Due to these results, duke replaced his medication with the supplements.
Diet as a Natural Gout Treatment
There is a strong interest in cherries as a natural gout treatment. Medical professionals as well as those who are involved in alternative remedies recommend eating cherries to ease the symptoms of gout. According to Mayo Clinic, cherries can be used as part of a treatment plan for gout because cherries help reduce uric acid levels.
People who have gout or who are at risk for this condition should drink plenty of water. Water will have a diluting effect on uric acid in the urine and blood. Alcohol should be avoided because it can prevent the body from eliminating uric acid. Gout patients should not eat more than 6 ounces of meat daily because it can increase uric acid levels in the blood.
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