Gout results from excessive levels of uric acid in your body. Uric acid is naturally produced in the liver and excess levels of which is expelled through your urine. If for some reason the uric acid is not properly expelled from the system, it settles down in the fluid that cushions your joints and forms uric acid crystals.
Uric acid crystals have very sharp edges and when it comes in contact with your joints and bones, it creates unbearable levels of pain.
Gout usually occurs in people who are over 40 years of age, this is because uric acid build up a slow process and years of build up leads to the formation or uric acid crystals.
The primary goal in treating gout is to stop further accumulation of uric acid buildup in your body. And the second goal is to bring down the levels of uric acid. Keeping these goals in mind I have listed some best natural ways through which you can effectively counter gout and cure it.
Keep in mind that gout results from years of uric acid build up in your system, just like its occurrence it takes a relatively long time to cure it completely, so you need have little patience and more focus on your goals.
1. Ice pack For Gout
Use an ice pack or wrap some ice in a clean cloth and place it over the painful joints few times a day. Chillness from the ice will numb down the pain a bit and it also reduces swelling.
2. Consume Cherries For Gout
Eat 3 to 4 or a handful of cherries everyday. Cherries contain certain chemical compounds that neutralize the uric acid acid. Additionally, it is anti-inflammatory in nature so it brings down inflammation in the joints. If you cannot source cherries everyday, you can consume cherry fruit extract pills that is easily available in most health stores. Follow the label for dosage recommendations.
3. Flaxseed Oil For Gout
Consume a tablespoon of flaxseed oil everyday. You can either have it directly or add it to your salads, milkshakes, etc… If you find the raw taste of flaxseed oil undesirable.
Flaxseed oil contains Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent so it helps to reduce swelling and inflammation in the joints.
4. Take Bromelain Pills for Gout
Take 500 milligrams of bromelain pills three times a day between your meals. Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapples. This enzyme is very effective in bringing down inflammation and pain the joints. Additionally it helps in expelling excessive uric acid from the body.
5. Celery Seed Extract For Gout
Consume tablets or pills that contain celery seed extract two to three times a day. Doctors recommend taking two to four tablets (max) daily. Many researchers believe celery seed extract helps to expel uric acid from the system.
6. Nettle Leaves Tea For Gout
Brew some tea from nettle leaves, take a clean cloth dip it in the tea, wring it and keep it over the painful joints. Do this two to three times a day. Herbalists claim that nettle helps to bring down the levels of uric acid deposition in the joints.
Though nettle leaves are great for gout, refrain from using it for more than three months. Using it for prolonged time period will have opposite impact on uric acid and make your condition more worse. Additionally, never use nettle tincture as it contains alcohol.
7. Drink lots of Water for Gout
Drink at least 8 ounce glasses of water a day. Drinking enough water will neutralize the uric acid and also helps flush uric acid from the system. Additionally, drinking enough water will prevent the occurrence of kidney stones which is quite common among people with gout issues.
8. Avoid drinking Alcohol
Regular consumption of alcohol is linked to increase in production of uric acid. Also, alcohol will inhibit excretion of uric acid from the body. Researchers claim that people who regularly consume alcohol increase their chances for developing gout at point in their life. Additionally, alcohol will make the existing gout more painful and worse.