Gout- Herbal Remedies

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Gout- Herbal Remedies JoAnn Guest Jul 26, 2003 18:13 PDT

Gout

 

Gout is a common type of arthritis that occurs when there is too

much uric acid in the blood, tissues, and urine. Uric acid is the end

product of the metabolism of a class of chemicals known as purines.

 

In people with gout, the body does not produce enough of the

digestive enzyme *uricase*,

which oxidizes relatively insoluble uric acid into a highly soluble

compound.

 

As a result, uric acid accumulates in the blood and tissues and,

ultimately crystallizes.

 

When it crystallizes, uric acid takes on a shape like that of a

needle and jabs its way into the joints. It seems to prefer the joint of

the big toe,

but other joints can be vulnerable as well including the mid-foot,

ankle, knee, wrists, and even the fingers.

 

 

Acute pain is usually the first symptom.

Then the affected joints become inflamed, almost infected-looking –

red,

swollen, hot and extremely sensitive to the touch.

 

Uric acid is a by product of certain foods, so gout is closely related

to diet.

 

Obesity and an improper diet increase the risk of developing gout.

Gout has been called the rich man's disease, since it is associated

with too much rich food and alcohol.

 

But in fact it affects people from all walks of life most commonly

men between the ages of forty and fifty.

 

It may be inherited or brought on by crash dieting, drinking,

certain

medications, overeating, stress, surgery, or injury to a joint.

Approximately 90 percent of the people who suffer from gout are

male.

 

Uric acid kidney stones may be a related problem.

 

The best way to get a definitive diagnosis of gout is for a

physician to

insert a needle into the affected joint,

 

remove some fluid and examine the fluid under a microscope for the

characteristic uric acid crystals.

 

Remedies:

Herbs-

 

Alfalfa is a good source of minerals and other nutrients that help

to reduce the serum uric acid.

Take 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams daily in tablet or capsule form.

 

Apply cayenne (capsicum) powder, mixed with enough wintergreen oil

to make a paste, to affected areas to relieve inflammation and pain.

This may cause a stinging sensation at first , but with repeated use,

pain

should diminish markedly, Cayenne can also be taken in capsule form.

 

Other beneficial herbs include birch, colchicum tincture, hyssop,

and juniper.

 

 

 

When an attack of gout strikes, eat only raw fruits and vegetables

for two weeks. Juices are best.

Frozen or fresh cherry juice is excellent.

 

Also drink celery juice diluted with spring water –use

spring water only, not tap water.

 

Cherries and strawberries neutralize uric acid,

so eat lots of them.

 

Also include whole grains, seeds, and nuts in your diet.

 

Maintain a diet low in purines at all times.

 

Purines are organic compounds that contribute to uric acid formation.

Purine-rich foods to avoid include anchovies, consommé, herring,

meat gravies and broths, mushrooms, mussels and sweetbreads.

 

Consume plenty of quality water.

Fluid intake promotes the " excretion " of uric acid.

 

Eat no Meat of ANY kind, including organ meats.

 

Meat contains extremely high amounts of uric acid.

 

Consume no alcohol.

 

Alcohol increases the production of uric acid and must be eliminated

from the diet.

 

Do not eat any fried foods, roasted nuts, or any other foods

containing

(or cooked with ) oil that has been subjected to heat. When heated

at high temperatures, oils become rancid.

 

Rancid fats quickly destroy vitamin E, resulting in the release of

increased amounts of uric acid.

 

Avoid rich foods such as cakes and pies. Leave white flour and sugar

products out of your diet.

 

Avoid the amino acid *glycine*.

 

Glycine can be converted into uric acid more rapidly in people who

suffer from gout.

 

Limit your intake of caffeine, peas, poultry and yeast products.

 

If you are overweight avoid crash diets.

Abruptly cutting back on foods or fasting longer than three days may

result in increased uric acid levels.

 

Supplement Deficiencies:

 

Deficiencies of certain nutrients can provoke an attack of gout.

 

A deficiency of Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) produces *excessive*

amounts of uric acid.

 

A study in animals found that a diet deficient in vitamin A can

produce gout.

 

Vitamin E deficiency causes damage to the nuclei of cells that

produce

uric acid, causing more uric acid to form.

 

People who have candida infections, or who have taken antibiotics on

and off for long periods, often have increased levels of uric acid in

their blood.

 

In rare cases, a secondary type of gout called saturnine gout can

result from

a *toxic* overload in the body.

 

Because of the cellular destruction associated with chemo in cancer

treatment, uric acid is often released in extreme amounts, resulting

in

gouty arthritis.

 

 

Supplementation:

 

Magnesium: Use Chelate forms.

 

Kelp: Contains complete protein and vital minerals to redue serum

uric acid.

 

Potassium: 99 mgs daily. Needed for proper mineral balance.

 

Zinc: Important in protein metabolism and tissue repair.

Use zinc gluconate lozenges or OptiZinc for best absorption

..

Vitamin B complex: Needed to repair tissues, aid in healing, and

restore

proper fatty acid balance. An excess of saturated fats is often

behind this disorder.

 

Essential Fatty acids: Needed to repair tissues, aid in healing and

restore proper fatty acid balance. An excess of saturated fats is

often behind this disorder.

 

Pantothenic acid: The anti-stress vitamin

 

Folic acid: An important aid in nucleoprotein metabolism.

 

Taken from:

" Prescription for Nutritional Healing "

By James F. Balch, M.D.

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/FreeRadicals.html

 

 

 

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