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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Can Gout Be Treated?

Hi. I recently experienced my first bout with gout. Extremely painful. I realize I need to change my habits. I am looking for home remedies such as changing my diet but I want to try some homeopathic remedies like herbal teas. What do you know about natural remedies?
Mon, 7 May 2018
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
     
Gout is a type of arthritis that can affect different body parts like the ankles, knees, hands, wrists but mainly affects the big toe. Symptoms include acute pain, inflammation in the joints causing swelling and tenderness. Many gout sufferers have experimented with natural home remedies. What is a true definition of a home remedy? It’s simply a medicine made with ingredients available at home.

Here are the most popular natural home remedies voted by gout sufferers:
1. Apple Cider Vinegar: ACV is considered king when it comes to a gout natural home remedy and it’s my most popular post voted on by social media. ACV helps your body become more alkaline and the acidity helps relieve acute gout pain. Many gout sufferers report drinking 1-2 tablespoons of raw unfiltered and organic apple cider vinegar in a glass of at least 8 ounces of water. Some will drink this 2-3 times a day for better results. ACV can also be used as topical treatment. You can soak your foot for about 30 minutes in a bucket full of 4 cups of hot water and 1 cup of apple cider vinegar. You can also soak a clean, dry cloth in apple cider vinegar and wrap it around the affected area for about 15 minutes.
2. Baking Soda: Another extremely popular natural home remedy for gout sufferers is baking soda. Like apple cider vinegar, it makes your body more alkaline. Many consume ½ a teaspoon in a glass of 8 oz. water. Many will repeat this throughout the day until they have consumed at least 3 teaspoons of baking soda. It helps lower uric acid providing with relief from the pain at the same time. Avoid this home remedy if suffering from high blood pressure and try to limit salt intake in your meals during the day when taking baking soda. Baking soda is very high in sodium. The maximum recommended dose is 4 teaspoons throughout the day.
3. Cherries: Whether sweet or sour, cherries have been known to be extremely effective in treating gout and lowering uric acid due to their high antioxidant properties. In one study conducted with 600 people suffering from gout, it was concluded that eating half a cup serving of cherries daily (10-12 cherries) resulted in a 35% reduced risk of a successive gout attack. For those eating 2 or even 3 servings in a day, their risk dropped to 50%! But that is too much sugar as well which can cause other health ailments. Best recommendation is to use a tart cherry extract supplement and avoid the sugar intake if you can!
4. Ginger and/or Turmeric: The powerful anti-inflammatories present in ginger root and turmeric can be very helpful in easing gout pain and inflammation. I basically chop off a little piece the size of an inch and boil it for about 20 minutes and drink it as tea. You can also add ginger root and/or turmeric in cooking recipes. Some may also eat a small piece raw daily. Others use it topically to reduce swelling by making a paste of ginger root with water and then apply it to the affected area, leaving it on for about 30 minutes.
5. Water: Very simple, we all have it and it’s usually free. Drink plenty of it and flush excess uric acid out of your body. Staying hydrated is one effective way of limiting gout flares. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day but if you can, why not strive for 12?! Make sure a water bottle is with you everywhere you go, I carry a bottle with me from morning to night and keep refilling it all day long.
6. Lemon Juice: Another natural home remedy that helps alkalize your body thus reducing uric acid in the blood, is drinking lemon juice. Many gout sufferers squeeze half a lemon in a glass of 8 oz. of water and drink it up to three times a day. Others will combine it with ½ a teaspoon of baking soda. Remember lemon juice is also high in vitamin C which also helps gout.
7. Celery Seeds: Another popular natural home remedy that helps lower uric acid and prevents gout according to many gout sufferers is celery seed extract. Celery seed simply stimulates your kidneys causing your kidneys to excrete more uric acid out of the body. Thus it causes you to visit the bathroom and urinate more.
8. Epsom Salt: There is no better topical treatment to treat a gout attack than Epsom salt, widely used by many to relax muscles, aches, and pains. The presence of magnesium which is an alkaline mineral in Epsom salt also helps to treat gout. Before taking a bath, simply add 1 to 2 cups of Epsom salt in your bath and soak your entire body or affected joint, for at least 30 minutes.
9. Bromelain: Bromelain is a compound found in pineapples. The enzymes within it are frequently recommended for gout sufferers since it can lower uric acid and ease inflammation caused by gout. Again, bromelain is loaded with vitamin C as well which is also good for your gout. Bromelain is also considered a natural painkiller for many other ailments.
10. Vitamin C: A very popular vitamin with gout sufferers, let’s not forget vitamin C. Numerous studies have shown how vitamin C is effective in lowering uric acid levels in your blood.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,      
Dr. Sanjay Kini
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How Can Gout Be Treated?

Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. Gout is a type of arthritis that can affect different body parts like the ankles, knees, hands, wrists but mainly affects the big toe. Symptoms include acute pain, inflammation in the joints causing swelling and tenderness. Many gout sufferers have experimented with natural home remedies. What is a true definition of a home remedy? It’s simply a medicine made with ingredients available at home. Here are the most popular natural home remedies voted by gout sufferers: 1. Apple Cider Vinegar: ACV is considered king when it comes to a gout natural home remedy and it’s my most popular post voted on by social media. ACV helps your body become more alkaline and the acidity helps relieve acute gout pain. Many gout sufferers report drinking 1-2 tablespoons of raw unfiltered and organic apple cider vinegar in a glass of at least 8 ounces of water. Some will drink this 2-3 times a day for better results. ACV can also be used as topical treatment. You can soak your foot for about 30 minutes in a bucket full of 4 cups of hot water and 1 cup of apple cider vinegar. You can also soak a clean, dry cloth in apple cider vinegar and wrap it around the affected area for about 15 minutes. 2. Baking Soda: Another extremely popular natural home remedy for gout sufferers is baking soda. Like apple cider vinegar, it makes your body more alkaline. Many consume ½ a teaspoon in a glass of 8 oz. water. Many will repeat this throughout the day until they have consumed at least 3 teaspoons of baking soda. It helps lower uric acid providing with relief from the pain at the same time. Avoid this home remedy if suffering from high blood pressure and try to limit salt intake in your meals during the day when taking baking soda. Baking soda is very high in sodium. The maximum recommended dose is 4 teaspoons throughout the day. 3. Cherries: Whether sweet or sour, cherries have been known to be extremely effective in treating gout and lowering uric acid due to their high antioxidant properties. In one study conducted with 600 people suffering from gout, it was concluded that eating half a cup serving of cherries daily (10-12 cherries) resulted in a 35% reduced risk of a successive gout attack. For those eating 2 or even 3 servings in a day, their risk dropped to 50%! But that is too much sugar as well which can cause other health ailments. Best recommendation is to use a tart cherry extract supplement and avoid the sugar intake if you can! 4. Ginger and/or Turmeric: The powerful anti-inflammatories present in ginger root and turmeric can be very helpful in easing gout pain and inflammation. I basically chop off a little piece the size of an inch and boil it for about 20 minutes and drink it as tea. You can also add ginger root and/or turmeric in cooking recipes. Some may also eat a small piece raw daily. Others use it topically to reduce swelling by making a paste of ginger root with water and then apply it to the affected area, leaving it on for about 30 minutes. 5. Water: Very simple, we all have it and it’s usually free. Drink plenty of it and flush excess uric acid out of your body. Staying hydrated is one effective way of limiting gout flares. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day but if you can, why not strive for 12?! Make sure a water bottle is with you everywhere you go, I carry a bottle with me from morning to night and keep refilling it all day long. 6. Lemon Juice: Another natural home remedy that helps alkalize your body thus reducing uric acid in the blood, is drinking lemon juice. Many gout sufferers squeeze half a lemon in a glass of 8 oz. of water and drink it up to three times a day. Others will combine it with ½ a teaspoon of baking soda. Remember lemon juice is also high in vitamin C which also helps gout. 7. Celery Seeds: Another popular natural home remedy that helps lower uric acid and prevents gout according to many gout sufferers is celery seed extract. Celery seed simply stimulates your kidneys causing your kidneys to excrete more uric acid out of the body. Thus it causes you to visit the bathroom and urinate more. 8. Epsom Salt: There is no better topical treatment to treat a gout attack than Epsom salt, widely used by many to relax muscles, aches, and pains. The presence of magnesium which is an alkaline mineral in Epsom salt also helps to treat gout. Before taking a bath, simply add 1 to 2 cups of Epsom salt in your bath and soak your entire body or affected joint, for at least 30 minutes. 9. Bromelain: Bromelain is a compound found in pineapples. The enzymes within it are frequently recommended for gout sufferers since it can lower uric acid and ease inflammation caused by gout. Again, bromelain is loaded with vitamin C as well which is also good for your gout. Bromelain is also considered a natural painkiller for many other ailments. 10. Vitamin C: A very popular vitamin with gout sufferers, let’s not forget vitamin C. Numerous studies have shown how vitamin C is effective in lowering uric acid levels in your blood. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Sanjay Kini