Examples of Herbal Remedies for Gout
Gout is an extremely painful arthritic condition that develops when uric acid builds up and crystallizes in the joints and tissues of the body. Uric acid is the byproduct of the metabolism of purine, which can be found naturally in the body and in most of the foods that we consume like meats. Some gout patients lack the ability to properly get rid of uric acid through the urine, as a normal urinary system should be able to do, so the substance accumulates in the body. For some gout patients, on the other hand, the condition is a matter of overproduction of uric acid.
There are several options to treat gout. Doctors commonly prescribe medications for the pain and to manage the disease, however, many of these medications have adverse side effects and are not safe for long-term use, particularly steroids. Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs or NSAIDs may cause skin rashes, ulcers, high-blood pressure, and etcetera. COX-2 inhibitors have also been known to affect the kidneys adversely and increase the risks of bleeding and heart attacks.
For gout patients with contraindications with gout medications, herbal remedies for gout can be very helpful. With the supervision of your doctor, you can also take herbal remedies for gout as supplement to conventional treatment. Many scientific studies have in fact studied the benefits of herbal remedies for gout and one that has been found to be of great help in treating gout is Devil's Claw. Folk medicine has long used Devil's Claw to treat gout. It relieves the pain in the gouty joint and also lowers uric acid level. Take 750 mg of Devil's Claw thrice daily.
One of the most potent herbal remedies for gout is Autumn Crocus, from which drug makers derived the gout medicine Colchicine. Fewer patients use the extract from the Autumn Crocus plant than the drug but both are highly toxic and should only be used with the supervision of your doctor. If you are taking Colchicine, you should eliminate herbal teas from your list of herbal remedies for gout because taking them both at once is ill-advised. If Colchicine is not prescribed, you can make an infusion of Gravel Root, which aids the excretion of uric acid. To make the infusion, mix 2 teaspoons of Gravel Root in a cup of water and drink this thrice every day.
Other herbal remedies for gout that have the same effect as Gravel Root are Juniper berry and Nettle root. Take at least 350 mg to 500 mg of Juniper berry capsules or drink a cup of Juniper berry tea two times a day. For Nettle root, take 250 mg thrice daily. Some anti-inflammatory herbal remedies for gout are turmeric (250-500 mg thrice daily) and extracts of grape seed and pine bark (50-100 mg thrice daily for each).
Herbs have very potent effects so make sure to consult your doctor first prior to trying out herbal remedies for gout.
