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Natural Treatment Options for Gout

You're in so much pain you'll try just about anything

You've followed the doctor's instructions to the letter, and still, you keep getting painful bouts of gout. You're in so much pain you'll try just about anything, including alternative medicine. It's something you've always sniffed at in the past as something whole-wheaty and ridiculous, a relic from the sixties. There's nothing wrong with trying a natural treatment, but you should discuss these options with your doctor to make sure they don't interfere with the more traditional treatment he's prescribed.

Doctors have found a correlation between coffee drinking, both caffeinated and decaf with lower uric acid levels. They don't yet know the reason for the phenomenon, so don't take up drinking coffee just for the sake of your gout, but you can rest assured that you don't have to give up your favorite cup of java. It might even help your gout.

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Doctors think that vitamin C can reduce uric acid levels, but they're not sure that huge megadoses are the way to go. See what your doctor thinks is the right amount of vitamin C supplement for you. For now, just increasing your consumption of produce high in the good vitamin, such as oranges and tomatoes, will be a help to your health.

Cherries and berries

Cherries and berries. Cherries have been shown to lower uric acid levels, though it's not yet known if their consumption has an effect on active gout and its signs and symptoms. Dark fruits, such as cherries (especially black cherries), blackberries, blueberries, purple grapes, and raspberries, added to your diet, might be a safe way to supplement the treatment your doctor has prescribed for your gout. However, it is advisable to consult with him, first. Some doctors say that consuming one half pound of cherries a day, fresh or frozen, for a period of 2 weeks lowers uric acid levels, preventing gout attacks. If you dislike cherries or find it hard to eat that amount, they are available in pill form for easier dosing.

Some alternative treatments are not dietary in nature. For example, a therapeutic massage can help relax you and relieve pain. Deep breathing and meditation are good ways to take your mind off the excruciating pain of gout.

Researchers are trying to better understand how enzymes work to break down purines, a substance found in protein foods which turns into uric acid, the build-up of which can cause gout and kidney stones. One promising study involves the use of fish oil supplements (Omega 3 oils) to prevent gout.