Top 10 Natural Home Remedies for Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis that can affect different body parts like the ankles, knees, hands, wrists but mainly affects the big toe. Symptoms include acute pain, inflammation in the joints causing swelling and tenderness. Many gout sufferers have experimented with natural home remedies. What is a the true definition of a home remedy? It’s simply a medicine made with ingredients available at home.

Here are the most popular natural home remedies voted by gout sufferers:

1. Apple Cider Vinegar: ACV is considered king when it comes to a gout natural home remedy and it’s my most popular post voted by social media. ACV helps your body become more alkaline and the acidity may help relieve acute gout pain. Many gout sufferers report drinking 1-2  tablespoons of raw unfiltered and organic apple cider vinegar in a glass of at least 8 ounces of water. Some will drink this 2-3 times a day for better results. ACV can also be used as topical treatment. You you can soak your foot for about 30 minutes in a bucket full of 4 cups of hot water and 1 cup of apple cider vinegar. You can also soak a clean, dry cloth in apple cider vinegar and wrap it around the affected area for about 15 minutes.

2. Baking Soda: Another extremely popular natural home remedy for gout sufferers is baking soda. Like apple cider vinegar, it makes your body more alkaline. Many consume ½ a teaspoon in a glass of 8 oz. water.Many will repeat this throughout the day until they have consumed at least 3 teaspoons of baking soda. It may help lower uric acid providing with relief from the pain at the same time. Avoid this home remedy if suffering from high blood pressure and try to limit salt intake in your meals during the day when taking baking soda. Baking soda is very high in sodium. The maximum recommended dose is 4 teaspoons throughout the day.

3. Cherries: Whether sweet or sour, cherries have been known to be extremely effective and may help treat gout and support healthy uric acid due to their high antioxidant properties. In one study conducted with 600 people suffering from gout, it was concluded that eating half a cup serving of cherries daily (10-12 cherries) resulted in a 35% reduced risk of a successive gout attack. For those eating 2 or even 3 servings in a day, their risk dropped to 50%! But that is too much sugar as well which can cause other health ailments. Best recommendation is to use a tart cherry extract supplement and avoid the sugar intake if you can!

4. Ginger and/or Turmeric: The powerful anti-inflammatories present in ginger root and turmeric may be very helpful in easing gout pain and inflammation. I basically chop off a little piece the size of an inch and boil it for about 20 minutes and drink it as tea. You can also add ginger root and/or turmeric in cooking recipes. Some may also eat a small piece raw daily. Others use it topically to reduce swelling by making a paste of ginger root with water and then apply it to the affected area, leaving it on for about 30 minutes.

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5. Water: Very simple, we all have it and it’s usually free. Drink plenty of it since it may help flush excess uric acid out of your body. Staying hydrated is one effective way that may limit gout flares. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day but if you can, why not strive for 12?! Make sure a water bottle is with you everywhere you go, I carry a bottle with me from morning to night and keep refilling it all day long.

6. Lemon Juice: Another natural home remedy that may help alkalize your body and may support healthy uric acid in the blood, is drinking lemon juice. Many gout sufferers squeeze half a lemon in a glass of 8 oz. of water and drink it up to three times a day. Others will combine it with ½ a teaspoon of baking soda. Remember lemon juice is also high in vitamin C which may also help gout.

7. Celery Seeds: Another popular natural home remedy that may help support healthy uric acid according to many gout sufferers is celery seed extract. Celery seed simply stimulates your kidneys and may cause your kidneys to excrete more uric acid out of the body. Thus it causes you to visit the bathroom and urinate more.

8. Epsom Salt: There is no better topical treatment to treat a gout attack than epsom salt, widely used by many to relax muscles, aches and pains. The presence of magnesium which is an alkaline mineral in epsom salt also may help to treat gout. Before taking a bath, simply add 1 to 2 cups of Epsom salt in your bath and soak your entire body or affected joint, for at least 30 minutes.

9. Bromelain: Bromelain is a compound found in pineapples. The enzymes within it are frequently recommended for gout sufferers since it may help support healthy uric acid and may ease inflammation caused by gout. Again, bromelain is loaded with vitamin C as well which is also good for your gout. Bromelain is also considered a natural pain killer for many other ailments.

10. Vitamin C: A very popular vitamin with gout sufferers, let’s not forget vitamin C. Numerous studies have shown how vitamin C is effective, supporting healthy uric acid levels in your blood.

Finally, don’t forget to rest your affected joint(s) when suffering from gout as much as you can and do not overuse it so you can heal faster. Minimize the time spent on your joints.  You can also ice your joints if you like for some temporary pain relief. Apply an ice-pack to help ease pain and inflammation several times a day for about 20 to 30 minutes each time. Elevating your foot also helps ease the pain causing the blood to flow to that particular area of the body. Don’t be shy and use a cane to walk around thus avoiding unnecessary pressure onto the affected joint(s). Yes I admit it, I walked around with a cane during my first gout attack since it striked my big toe and knee at the same time. You can do it too!