Best Home Remedies For Gout

Introduction: 

Gout can make life difficult for people who want to live an active and happier life. Gout is a type of arthritis characterised by joint pain and swelling. It is due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. Gout can occur in joints, tendon sheaths (membranes surrounding tendons; tendons are tissues that connect bones and muscles), kidneys, and bursae (cushion-like sacs between bones and connected soft tissues). Many people get the first flare of gout on their big toes. Gout is a common phenomenon, especially in middle age. Men are more prone to gout than women. Women develop gout usually after menopause. Gout is a rare occurrence in the younger population. The gout pain often fares up at night and sometimes becomes painful enough to wake people up.1 Gout has no cure, but it is possible to treat and manage the symptoms with self-management strategies.2  

It is essential to relieve gout pain and swelling for people to live a comfortable life. These home remedies might help you with that. 

What Causes Gout? 

Too much uric acid or urate in the body forms crystals. These crystals get accumulated in the joints, causing symptoms like swelling, stiffness, and pain. The factors listed below may increase your chances of developing gout: 

• A family history of gout 
• Usage of alcohol 
• Increasing age- more common in older people  
• Gender- males 
• Obesity  
• Consuming beverages with high fructose content, for example, soda 
• Eating foods rich in purines. Purines are broken down into uric acid. Foods rich in purines include meats and seafood like sardines, scallops, anchovies, trout, mussels, and tuna. 
• If you have a history of:  
• High blood pressure 
• Heart failure 
• Chronic or long term kidney disease 
• Poor kidney function 
• Insulin resistance  
• Metabolic syndromes like excess body fat, high cholesterol levels, and high blood sugar levels 
• Taking certain medications like: 
• Aspirin (used for reducing fever and pain) 
• Niacin (vitamin B3), when taken excessively 
• Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant drug used for people suffering from autoimmune diseases or people who have undergone an organ transplant  
• Diuretic drugs, which help eliminate excess fluid from the body1,2 

Also Read: Natural Home Remedies for Arthritis

Symptoms of Gout: 

Gout can make life difficult for people. If you are suffering from gout, you might experience symptoms like:  

• Redness and swelling in the joints 
• Severe joint pain 
• Stiffness in the joints  
• Tenderness and heat at the joints3 

Also Read: Natural Home Remedies For Neck Pain

Suggested Home Remedies for Gout: 

Gout is a painful condition that can make life difficult. It affects several aspects of everyday life, including leisure and work activities. However, you can use these home remedies to manage gout symptoms and lead a comfortable life.  

1. Agastya 

Agastya is a plant known as West Indian pea or august flower in English. It has anti-inflammatory (reduces inflammation) and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. You can use the root and bark of the Agastya plant to make a paste. You can apply this paste externally to relieve the pain and swelling associated with gout.4 

2. Castor 

Castor leaves, or Arand is a herbal remedy effective in many health conditions. You can also use Castor leaves to relieve swelling and pain in the joints. To use castor leaves, make a paste using mature leaves. To this paste, add a little amount of crystal salt. Warm this mixture. Apply this mixture (lukewarm) over the joints. It can help reduce the pain and swelling of the joints.4  

2. Asvagandha 

Asvagandha, or Indian ginseng, is a potent herb with many health benefits. Asvagandha intake can help you increase your energy and strength. The benefits of asvagandha might help you manage gout. To use asvagandha, you can mix asvagandha powder with kapikacchu and black sesame seeds. Mix it thoroughly and take this mixture with a glass of milk to manage problems such as arthritis.4  

3. Alsi 

Alsi or linseed seeds have many medicinal benefits. Alsi seeds possess pain-relieving properties when applied topically to the skin. Soak some alsi seeds in buttermilk through the night. Use these soaked seeds to make a fine paste the following day. You can apply this paste to the affected joints when required. Applying this paste can help you relieve joint pain.4  

4. Healthy Diet 

Following a more nutritious diet plan can help you live a better life. Eating foods rich in purines may trigger a gout flare. You can avoid foods such as organ meat, red meat, and seafood. You also need to avoid alcohol intake, especially hard liquor and beer.2  

5. Physical Exercise 

To manage arthritis, it is recommended that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of physical activity every week. Every minute of physical activity is valuable. The exercises recommended are moderate to low impact, for example, walking, biking, and swimming. Doing regular physical exercise will also help you avoid the risk of other health conditions like diabetes, stroke, and heart diseases.2  

6. Maintaining Healthy Body Weight 

If you are overweight or obese, losing weight will help reduce the pressure on your joints, especially hip and knee joints. You can try maintaining a healthy body weight to improve your symptoms. Healthy body weight will relieve pain, improve overall functioning, and lower the disease progression.2 

7. Protect From Injury 

Getting joint injury while you have gout will worsen your condition. Try engaging in activities that do not put much pressure on the joints. Engaging in easier activities like cycling, walking, and swimming can help you prevent the worsening of your symptoms and prevent further damage. These activities have a low impact on your joints and lower risk.2 

Also Read: Best Home Remedies for Cracked Heel

When to Seek Medical Help? 

You can contact your healthcare provider or doctor if you experience severe kind of joint pain and your joints feel warm and swollen.3  

Conclusion: 

Gout is a type of arthritis caused by a buildup of crystals of uric acid in the joints. It is characterised by swelling and pain in joints. It can severely affect people’s day-to-day activities. Work as well as leisure activities of people get affected. Although there is a lack of specific treatment for gout, you can manage the symptoms and lead a comfortable life with some lifestyle and diet changes.  

You can also use herbs like Asvagandha, Alsi, Castor, and Agastya to relieve gout symptoms at home. Gout is a severe condition of the joints that requires proper medical diagnosis and intervention. You need to get in touch with your healthcare provider if you experience severe pain in your joints accompanied by swelling and heat.  

Also Read: Doctor-Approved Home Remedies For Vertigo

Frequently Asked Questions:  

What are the natural remedies for gout to use at home? 

You can use natural remedies like Asvagandha powder, Alsi seeds, Castor leaves, and the bark of Agastya to manage gout symptoms at home. You can use these herbs to relieve the symptoms of gout.4 You can also manage the gout symptoms at home by following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy body weight. Also, protecting the affected area from injuries is important. Getting injured when you have gout will worsen the condition and prevent the healing.2   

Can I prevent gout? 

With some lifestyle and diet changes, you can prevent gout. Lifestyle changes include drinking plenty of water and exercising regularly to maintain a healthy body weight. You can also make the following diet changes to avoid gout. You must avoid: 

• Organ meat and red meat 
• Alcohol 
• Shellfish 
• Foods and drinks with high fructose  
• Protein sourced from animal origins3  

Can obesity lead to gout? 

Yes, obesity is one of the significant risk factors for gout. Being overweight or obese puts excessive pressure on your joints.1  

How to diagnose gout? 

If you are experiencing severe joint pain, and think you might have gout, reach out to your healthcare provider immediately. Your doctor will perform a physical examination. Besides a physical examination, your doctor can also ask you to get diagnostic tests like X-rays and laboratory tests done. 

Gout is mainly diagnosed during a gout flare, during which the joint is painful, swollen, and hot to touch.2  

Can gout cause any other complications? 

Gout has other complications as well. Gout can turn into its long-term form, chronic gout, where people suffer from frequent attacks. Many people who suffer from chronic gout can also develop tiny white lumps beneath the skin surface. These bumps are called tophi, which usually appear on fingers, ears, and elbows. Gout is the result of a high amount of uric acid crystals in the blood. These crystals can get accumulated in the kidneys and lead to kidney stones.5  

Is it possible to control gout? 

Yes, you can control the symptoms with proper diet and lifestyle changes. Gout is a controllable form of arthritis.1 You also need to contact your healthcare provider and get the necessary treatment. It will help you prevent the condition from worsening.