Top 7 Home Remedies for Gout

 Where they work, natural home remedies for health problems are preferable to drug-based medications. And gout is no different.

When choosing which natural remedies to use for your gout you need to ensure that they are capable of reducing the inflammation and relieving the pain of your gout attack. That's your number one priority when suffering the agony of gout.

But, you also have to think long-term. These home remedies have to be able to lower and maintain uric acid at healthy levels to prevent recurring gout episodes.

This is especially important since frequent gout attacks can, over time, lead to permanent joint damage, kidney stones, stroke, heart disease and a higher risk of death.

With this in mind, here are my top seven home remedies for gout...

1. Drink More Water

This is a critical natural remedy for gout since it's much harder for urate crystals to form out of uric acid in a well hydrated body.

Many, if not most of us, aren't properly hydrated which raises our risk of gout and kidney stones.

So drink 2 to 3 liters of water each and every day.

2. Cherries

Cherries are an effective home remedy for gout. Studies have shown that they have natural anti-inflammatory properties and are able to lower uric acid levels too.

Some experts suggest eating thirty to forty cherries every four hours if you're having an attack, and the same amount, but just once per day, for maintenance.

The studies show that tart cherry juice is equally affective.

3. Celery Seed Infusions

First off, don't use this particular home remedy if you're pregnant or suffer from any kidney problems, since celery seeds have diuretic properties.

Celery seeds are loaded with different anti-inflammatory properties and so are an ideal remedy during a gout attack.

Place a tablespoon of the seeds into two cups of water and boil until soft. Then strain off the seeds and drink half a cup of the infusion four times a day until your gout symptoms have gone.

4. Vitamin B Complex

B-vitamins are essential for many bodily functions, one of which is to convert uric acid into harmless components. So this makes vitamin B complex an ideal home remedy for gout.

These vitamins can be found in a range of foods, but many Western diets are deficient in those. In addition, some of the processes used in their preparation and other ingredients used can destroy B vitamins.

Because of this, supplementation is a much surer way of getting the B vitamins your body needs.

5. Vitamin C

A study has shown that taking vitamin C supplements can increase uric acid excretion within a few hours and lower blood uric acid levels.

Of course you can increase your vitamin C simply by eating more vegetables and fruit such as red bell peppers, red cabbage, potatoes, mandarins, tangerines and so on.

6. Bromelain

Bromelain is an anti-inflammatory enzyme found in pineapples. You can eat more pineapples, which will help, but the enzyme is found mainly in the stem of the fruit.

Bromelain supplements are more effective because they use the enzyme extracted directly from the stems.

7. Hot / Cold Compress

This home remedy will improve blood flow through the affected area, helping to remove urate crystals and to reduce inflammation and pain.

Apply a hot compress (cloth in hot water) for three minutes followed by a cold one (use ice) for thirty seconds. Keep repeating for up to twenty minutes and finish on cold.

The key is to (1) get rid of your gout fast and (2) prevent recurring gout causing you serious health problems.