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One of my favorite websites to research medical information is the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). The UMMC website offers a plethora of medical information.
Along with the general medical treatments, the UMMC website almost always features complementary and alternative therapies.
Years ago, many of our medications were made from natural substances. Over time, pharmaceutical companies developed synthetic drugs to cure what ails us. As a society, we seem to have substituted synthetic drugs for natural products.
For example, I will drink a cup of peppermint tea before I reach for an over-the-counter drug to ail my stomach pain.
In the case of gout, there are some great alternative and complementary therapies.
Recently a friend of mine told me he was suffering from gout. He said after two glasses of wine he woke up in horrendous gout pain.
The purines from the wine inflamed his gout. Once the pain set in, he drank a great deal of water to flush his system and after a couple of days the gout pain subsided.
According to the UMMC website, “Some nutritionally oriented physicians promote a low fructose diet to treat gout. Another theory states that one half pound of cherries per day (fresh or frozen) for 2 weeks lowers uric acid and prevents attacks. Cherry juice (8 - 16 oz. per day) is also helpful.”
If you are suffering from gout symptoms consider eating the following antioxidant foods:
• Blueberries
• Cherries
• Tomatoes
• Squash
• Bell peppers
The UMMC website also recommends the following herbs to treat gout:
• Bromelain (Ananus comosus) standardized extract, 40 mg 3 times daily, for pain and inflammation. Bromelain can increase the blood thinning effect of certain medications such as aspirin and Coumadin.
• Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) standardized extract, 20 mg 3 times a day, for inflammation, immune, and antibacterial/antifungal activity.
• Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) standardized extract, 300 - 400 mg daily, for kidney health. You may also take 8-16 ounces of unsweetened cranberry juice daily.
• Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), standardized extract, 750 mg 3 times daily, for pain and inflammation. Devil's claw may increase the blood thinning effect of certain medications such as aspirin and Coumadin.
• Green tea (Camelia sinensis) standardized extract, 250 - 500 mg daily, for antioxidant and immune effects. Use caffeine-free products. You may also prepare teas from the leaf of this herb.
• Turmeric (Curcuma longa) standardized extract, 300 mg 3 times a day, for inflammation. Turmeric may increase the blood thinning effect of certain medications such as aspirin and Coumadin.
Now, a few words of warning. Please contact your health care practitioner before you take any alternative supplements. Sometimes supplements can counteract the intended action of medications.
References:
Gout. University of Maryland Medical Center Home. Retrieved August 15, 2012, from
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/gout-000070.htm
Gout - Treatment: Acute Gout Attack. University of Maryland Medical Center Home. Retrieved August 15, 2012, from
http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/how_gout_diagnosed_000093_6.htm
Reviewed August 16, 2012
by MIchele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith
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