A very painful condition, gout is caused by deposits of uric acid crystals around the joints. They are not just painful, but cause redness and inflammation of the joints as well.
Usually it is the big toe that gets affected first, then may come the turn of the other joints. Along with the treatment that one goes in for gout, it is recommended that one makes good use of the home remedies. All the patients of gout treat themselves with some or the other of the home remedies listed below.
List of Home Remedies For Gout
1. Epsom Soaking Bath
This is a remedy that every health practitioner recommends. For any type of arthritis, soaking baths are a great relief for the pain and inflammation. You can make a soak of Epsom salt. It is a proven home remedy for gout.
For making this soak, you can mix one cup of epsom salt in a tub or a bucket of hot water. The water should be hot, but not burning hot. Put your affected joint in epsom water for fomentation and keep it there for about 20 to 30 minutes or till the water is cool.
It is advisable to wash the soaked area with fresh water and wipe it off with a towel. Epsom salt comprises magnesium and sulphate, used to alleviate the symptoms of gout. These sulfates help not only to remove the toxins out but also aid in the protection of joints by increasing the joint proteins. Magnesium looks after the nerve functions, thus reducing pain and swelling.Warm soaks help dissolve the uric acid crystals.
2. Charcoal
Just as the epsom soak, you can make charcoal soak too. For this soak you need half a cup of finely ground charcoal and mix it with hot water and the soak is ready. Time for this soak can be even one hour, but no more than this.
3. Vitamin C
Mayo clinic recommends the use of fruits and vegetables which contain vitamin C. If you are not able to consume enough vitamin C rich fruits and foods, then you need to add some supplements.It is advisable to ask your doctor about the dose. Otherwise, the reverse will happen and the result will be the raised level of uric acid. The fruits containing vitamin C are lemon, orange, and grapefruit – basically all the citrus fruits come in this category.
4. Water Intake
You have to have good amount of water going in your body. This will help in increasing the urine output, thereby flushing out some uric acid along with it. This will reduce the build up of uric acid. This recommendation comes from The National Institute of Arthritis, Muco skeletal and Skin Diseases. It is suggested that everyday intake of water should be about 2.5 L to 3.5 L.
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5. Drink Juices
Drinking the juices of the dark colored fruits decreases the chances of flare-up by lowering uric acid levels. Mayo Clinic advises that one can drink the juice of purple grapes, cherries and blackberries.
They lower the uric acid levels, advises the Mayo Clinic. These can be taken in the fresh, frozen or canned form, though they are best if consumed fresh. Blackberry contains high amounts of potassium and anti-oxidants.
6. Hot And Cold Therapy
Most of the gout patients get immense relief from the pain when they undertake alternating treatments of hot and cold therapy. Hot and cold, both should be administered in the same session. The best time allotment is that hot compress should be for 3 minutes and cold for 30 seconds. It aids better circulation of blood.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is one of the very potent and better known folk remedies. It helps in dissolving the uric acid crystals as it makes the urine alkaline. It does not let the uric acid get deposited in the joints and stops it from forming stones in the kidneys.
8. Make Poultice
Use cayenne pepper and apple cider vinegar to make a poultice. This poultice will relieve the inflamed joints of pain. Another poultice can be made from activated charcoal. Grind the charcoal into a fine powder and mix it in some hot water. Apply it on the painful joint and leave it for 4 to 6 hours. To avoid stains cover it with an old cloth. After 4 to 6 hours, you can discard it and reapply the fresh one.
9. Baking Soda
Though alkaline, it does great help in gout by making the uric acid more soluble, thus it becomes easy to flush the uric acid out. It may have some side effects like high blood pressure, headache and vomiting.
