Symptoms, causes and treatment of Gout (Arthritis)

Gout is an acute type of inflammatory arthritis; it occurs most often in people who eat rich foods (such as meat, gravies, spices, and alcohol). Frequently, those individuals are also overweight.

Symptoms

Sudden attack, often in the middle of the night, of extreme pain and swelling of a joint in the fingers or toes (usually the big toe). But it can affect the ankles, knees, hands, elbows and wrists. Motion or pressure greatly increases the pain. After the swelling subsides, the skin tends to itch and peel.

During attacks, there often is loss of appetite. Stomach and intestinal problems, fever, and decreased urine output.

Causes

Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid in the blood. When levels rise beyond a certain point beyond which the kidneys cannot excrete it, uric acid crystals form and collect in the affected joint or joints, causing excruciating pain. They can also form in major body organs and do great damage.

The body cannot handle all the purines and other acids in the meat; and so these products settle in the body. Uric acid is the end-product of the breakdown of purines compounds.

Gout typically attacks the smaller joints of the feet and hands, especially the big toe. Uric acid salts crystallize in the joint and produce swelling, redness, and a sensation of heat and extreme pain.

Unlike most forms of arthritis, gout affects men over 30 in 90% of the cases. It generally does not begin until after 35 years of age; peak age of onset is 45. Women who have it are generally post-menopausal.

Treatment and prevention

Proper diet, herbs and nutrients to help you.

1.Dietetic changes, water drinking, and weight control are all very important. The amount of urates in blood is keyed to dietary intake and amount of the body weight.

2.Those with this disorder need to reduce to 10% - 15% below calculated normal weight. However, weight reduction must be done gradually, so as not to stir up more urates and temporarily increase the number of gout attacks.

3.Drink at least 2 quarts of water a day between gout attacks in order to rid the body of uric acid and reduce the likelihood of kidney damage and kidney stones. Those with gout tend to have kidney stones. One physician says to drink a gallon of water daily to wash out the acids. Make sure it is clean, good water.

4.Vitamin B₁₂ helps distribute water in the body to keep the tissues loaded with water, thus helping to prevent uric acid concentration into crystals. Magnesium aids in the absorption of B₁₂

5.B complex (1-3 tablets daily) and 500 mg pantothenic acid assist the body’s conversion of uric acid into harmless compounds.

6.To lower serum uric acid, take 1.000 mg of vitamin C per hour at the onset of an attack, and then gradually lower it to 500-8,000 mg daily.

7.Take 100 IU of vitamin E and gradually increase it to 600-800 IU daily, to reduce uric acid buildup.

8.A high-carbohydrate diet tends to increase uric acid excretion. In contrast, a high-fat diet decreases excretion and may bring on gout attack (even though they may be unsaturated fats). Keep your diet low in protein and fat.

9.Natural therapists have found that they can eliminate all gout with diet, by eliminating all meat, eggs and cheese.

10.Eat high-potassium foods, which include most vegetables. Put thick, white potato peelings into your pot of vegetables or soup; it is rich in potassium.

11.Eating cherries is very helpful. The uric acid level in the blood decreases and the attacks tend to stop. They can be any type of cherries, either fresh or canned ( ½ pound per day). One or two Tbsp. of cherry concentrate can be taken instead. If canned cherries are used, only use water-packed ones; most have too much to sugar and additives. Estimates as to how much to eat vary from ½ cup to 1 pound (about 70 cherries). Some pit them and blend them to make juice.

12.Celery extracts (2-4 tablets daily) help eliminate uric acid.

13.Mix cayenne with enough wintergreen oil to make a paste. Put it on the area to relieve pain and inflammation.

14.Here are useful herb teas: yarrow, peppermint, chamomile, devil’s claw, juniper and birch.

Things to avoid to get rid of gout

1.Do not fast when you have gout. Doing so greatly increases the amount of uric acids in the blood.

2.Avoid excessive food yeast.

3.Overeating tends toward gout.

4.A vegetarian diet is the best program for a person with gout. Stop eating all types of meat.

5.Here are foods which are very high in purines: liver, brains, kidneys, heart, anchovies, sardines, meat extract, herring, consommé, mussels and sweet breads.

6.Here are foods of moderate amounts: whole-grains cereals, lentils, peas, beans, asparagus, mushrooms, oatmeal, cauliflower and spinach.

7.Here are foods of lesser purines content: fowl, fish (except those listed above), other seafoods, and other meats.

.(Here are foods which have only negligible amounts of purines and do not cause gout: vegetables, fruits and cereal products.) These are cases in which drinking large amount of milk or eating lots of tomatoes produced gout.

9.Avoid rich foods such as cakes and pies. Drop white flour and sugar products from your diet.

10.Do not take any alcoholic beverage. All kinds of beverage alcohol increase uric acid production and reduces excretion of urates. It triggers the body to produce uric acid.

11.Direct injury to a joint, tending toward gout, can bring on an acute attack.