Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Gout Home Remedies

Gout is characterized by an excess of uric acid (above 7 mg/dL in the body). Uric acid is produced naturally by the body when certain foods and medications (those containing purines) are broken down. Normally, uric acid is excreted as a waste, but in gout sufferers, uric acid crystals stay in the joints and cause a painful type of arthritis. While gout can be treated by a physician, certain remedies can be done at home to help cure it.


Diet and Supplements


Eat healthy, avoid alcohol and stay slim, as people who eat poorly or are obese have a higher chance of getting gout. Certain foods can help alleviate gout. Cherries or cherry juice, apples or apple cider vinegar mixed with honey, garlic, alfalfa, strawberries, bananas, citrus fruit, and the juice from french beans can cure inflammation associated with gout and help rid the body of the excess uric acid that causes gout. Safflower capsules can help your body to heal gout faster, especially when taken in conjunction with a diet aimed at eliminating gout.


Exercise


Certain exercises can be useful in the treatment of gout, and in managing the symptoms of gout. You should never keep your joints stationary for long periods; you should always be moving them at least a bit. Natural Home Remedies.org recommends putting your joints through a full exercise routine two to three times daily, which involves stretching and extending each joint to the full range of motion.


Pain Remedies


A paste made of mustard powder and whole wheat powder can be applied to joints that are affected by gout to cure or relieve the ache. The paste should be applied overnight. Feet can also be soaked in Epsom salts if the feet are affected, and a flannel cloth soaked in warm castor oil applied to sore joints may also help relieve pain.

Tags: uric acid, excess uric, excess uric acid, Home Remedies, your joints