Natural Cures For Gout – Dietary And Herbal Advice To Give You Relief

Blueberries are rich sources of antioxidants which aid healing and phytochemicals which reduce inflammation. They are high in vitamins that soothe inflamed tissues and enhance elimination of compounds including uric acid.

Strawberries contain salicin. Salicin are a natural form of aspirin which reduce pain and swelling without the blood thinning and stomach irritating side effects that aspirin sometimes causes. Strawberries are packed with vitamin C. Vitamin C is one of the best agents available to relieve inflammation and pain. Like cherries, strawberries are an alkaline fruit. In addition, strawberries have a diuretic action. Strawberries reduce pain and inflammation, dissolve uric acid crystals, and aid in the elimination of the crystals from the body.

Herbal Remedies for Gout

Some herbs contain more concentrated amounts of salicin than strawberries. In fact, herbs were the original source of aspirin. Willow bark and meadowsweet are two herbs that contain high levels of salicin.

Alfalfa is an herb which helps to reduce uric acid levels. You can juice it or take it in a capsule or tincture form. While I usually recommend tinctures, I think the capsule form should be used for gout sufferers as tinctures contain tiny amounts of alcohol which may cause flare-ups. Take two to three thousand milligrams daily.

Bilberry is related to blueberry. Bilberries offer the same benefits as blueberries but in a much more concentrated form. As an added bonus, bilberries are excellent for eye and vascular health.

Celery seed is proclaimed to be beneficial by some of the best herbalists in the world. Take an extract or simply make a tea from the herb which may be obtained in the spice aisle of your local grocery store.

Yucca, boswellia, and devil’s claw are potent pain relievers. I have successfully used devil’s claw for several clients. Take it for one month. You will either see dramatic improvement or it will not work much. When it works, which is often, the joint becomes mobile, swelling is drastically reduced and redness is eliminated.

You may want to purchase a cream made with capsaicin. Capsaicin is extracted from hot peppers. Unlike topical agents which contain menthol, capsaicin based creams must be used consistently. They help deplete the inflamed area of “substance P”, which is responsible for pain and inflammation.

Natural Cures for Gout – The Bottom Line

Attaining a healthy weight and eliminating purine rich foods are the keys to avoiding flare-ups of gout. Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables for maximum wellness. Employ herbal therapies for concentrated healing actions. Pain and suffering will be minimized and the health of your entire body will improve.

Author

This article was written for Insights-on-Health.com in Oct 2013 by Patricia Bratianu RN PhD RH-AHG. Patricia has been a Registered Nurse for almost forty years in a wide variety of settings. As a Registered Nurse, she realized that conventional healthcare was not meeting the needs of all patients. She became an herbalist and obtained a PhD in Natural Health. Patricia is a professional member of the American Herbalist’s Guild, passing the stringent peer reviewed process to become a Registered Herbalist.

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