Gout remedies: 10 natural treatments and home remedies - Medical News Today

Gout occurs when the body produces too much uric acid. This acid is a byproduct of when the body breaks down purines found in foods.

This excess uric acid forms crystals, which the body can deposit in all tissues. However, the crystals mainly build up in and around the joints, causing irritation, inflammation, and discomfort.

The crystals can also form growths around affected joints, known as tophi.

Home remedies for gout include:

1. Drinking plenty of water

When a person has gout, they can experience significant swelling and inflammation. One of the ways to reduce symptoms is by drinking more water.

Increasing fluid consumption can kick-start a person's kidneys to release excess fluid, reducing swelling in a person with gout.

Water is best. However, other clear fluids, such as broths and herbal teas, are also good choices. People should avoid alcohol and sodas, which are high in purines.

However, anyone with congestive heart failure or kidney disease should talk with their doctor before increasing their fluid intake.

Discover more benefits of drinking water here.

2. Applying ice to affected joints

Applying a cloth-covered ice pack to the joint can help reduce gout-related inflammation.

Try applying an ice pack or other cold object wrapped in a thin towel for 20–30 minutes to help relieve pain.

Discover the best ways to make a cold compress here.

3. Reducing stress

Heightened stress can worsen gout symptoms. While it is not always possible to eliminate all sources of stress, the following tips might help:

  • exercising if the pain does not limit movement
  • asking for time off from work
  • journaling or reading a favorite book
  • meditating

Getting enough rest can also help a person feel less stressed.

Discover the causes of stress and how it impacts the body here.

4. Elevating the affected joints

Gout can cause pain and swelling, especially in the feet, hands, knees, and ankles.

One way to reduce swelling is by elevating the affected joints. This encourages blood and fluid to move away from the joint and back toward the heart.

A person can also use an ice pack with elevation to reduce their gout symptoms. These two remedies form part of the rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) method.

Learn more about the RICE method here.

5. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers

While over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen sodium (Aleve), may not be "natural," they are good options for treating pain and inflammation due to gout.

People should never take more than the recommended dose and always ask a doctor whether OTC medicines might interfere with their other medications.

If OTC pain relievers do not help, a person may wish to ask a doctor about stronger prescription medications.

6. Drinking coffee

Some people believe drinking coffee may decrease the risk of experiencing gout.

A 2016 review and meta-analysis showed that those who drank more coffee were less likely to have gout. This may be because coffee can lower uric acid levels.

A further 2019 analysis reported that coffee consumption lowers gout risk, and may do this independently of lowering serum uric acid levels.

However, just because the study showed a correlation between higher coffee consumption and a lower risk of gout, this does not mean that coffee caused the lower risk.

Discover more potential health benefits of coffee here.

7. Eating a balanced diet

A balanced diet containing a variety of nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods can help lower uric acid levels and reduce a person's risk of gout flares.

Plant-based diets can be of particular benefit for people with gout. Many fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation.

Learn more about the best diet for gout here.

8. Drinking lemon water

A 2015 study found that adding the juice of two freshly squeezed lemons to 2 liters of water each day reduced uric acid in people with gout.

The researchers concluded that lemon water helps neutralize uric acid in the body, thus helping to reduce levels.

Discover the benefits of drinking lemon water.

9. Limiting alcohol intake

According to the Arthritis Foundation, drinking more than two liquor-based drinks or two beers per day increases a person's risk of gout.

Beer is high in purines, so avoiding it can benefit a person with gout.

Learn more about the link between beer and gout here.

10. Avoiding high-purine meats

Some meats contain high amounts of purines. Avoiding these might help to reduce a person's gout symptoms.

Meats and fish that are high in purines include:

  • bacon
  • turkey
  • veal
  • venison
  • organ meats, such as liver
  • anchovies
  • sardines
  • mussels
  • herring
  • cod
  • haddock
  • trout
  • scallops

Learn more about a low-purine diet here.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fibromyalgia — Latest Stories — Pain News Network

Image
lyme disease and spinal degeneration :: Article Creator What It's Like To Live With Neurologic Lyme Disease: A Patient Perspective Lyme Disease Awareness Month runs throughout the month of May. It is a month that helps increase awareness and improve efforts on how to reduce the burden of the disease for patients. Approximately 15% of patients with Lyme disease will develop Lyme neuroborreliosis, or neurologic Lyme disease,1 which is an infectious disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). It can be challenging for patients with neurologic Lyme disease to be diagnosed, especially if they do not present with typical symptoms. For Maria Arini Lopez, it took her almost 2 years to be accurately diagnosed with neurologic Lyme disease. Looking back, Lopez considers herself one of the more fortunate patients, as she recalls learning that it can take more than 2 years to receive an official Lyme disease diagnosis. Lopez, who lives in centra...
Read more

Chronic Lyme arthritis: A mystery solved?

Image
inflammatory polyarthritis :: Article Creator Psoriatic Arthritis Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a form of inflammatory arthritis. It affects about 1.5 million people in the U.S., or 30% of people who have psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes a red, scaly rash, most often on your elbows, knees, ankles, feet, and hands. Psoriatic arthritis is a form of inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects people who have psoriasis. While there's no cure, there are ways to treat and manage the condition. (Photo Credit: E+/Getty Images) PsA is an autoimmune condition. It happens when your body's immune system attacks healthy tissue by mistake. PsA most often affects your skin and your joints, which can become swollen, stiff, and painful. Over time, if you don't treat it, the inflammation can damage joints and tissues. The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include: Swollen fingers and toes Foot pain Lower back pain ...
Read more

Epstein-Barr virus and autoimmune diseases

Image
worn disc :: Article Creator What Disc Weights Are Used In Olympic Weightlifting? How much does the barbell weigh? The main apparatus of weightlifting is the barbell. It includes the area gripped by the athlete and supports the immense load of disc weights on either end. For men's competition, the bar is 2.2 meters (7.2 ft) long and weighs 20 kilograms (44 lbs). For women's competition, the bar is 2.01m long (6.6 ft) long and weighs 15 kg (33 lbs). The grip section also has a smaller diameter on the women's bar than the men's.  What disc weights are used in Olympic weightlifting? The discs used in Olympic competition are either rubber plastic (10kg-25kg) or metal (0.5kg-5kg).  Their weights and colors are as follows (pounds are approximate):  25kg (55 lbs): red  20kg (44 lbs): blue  15kg (33 lbs): yellow  10kg (22 lbs): green  5kg (11 lbs): white  2.5kg (5.5 lbs): red  2.0kg (4.4 lbs): blue  ...
Read more