The Healing Power Of This Ancient Spice
Turmeric has been gaining popularity in the last few years as a home remedy for gout and is considered by many as a super-food. Turmeric is an herb that belongs in the ginger family. India has been using turmeric since 1900 BC, about 4000 years now, to treat stomach, liver ailments, as well as topically to heal sores, wounds, sprains, aches, pains etc… Ayurveda, which consists of Indian traditional medicine, has recommended turmeric in food for its potential medicinal value. In fact, India is the largest producer and user of turmeric in the world.
Turmeric is also used in other parts of the world such as China, Hawaii, Polynesia. In these countries, turmeric was used in a variety of ways such as medicine, food, or dye. That’s how versatile this spice is! Later, it would be available in Europe and they called it Indian saffron.
Turmeric is very diverse in the sense that it has can have 30 species depending on the country where it’s cultivated. In Thailand, there are around 30 to 40 species, while in India, there’s as many as 45 species! The key ingredient here is the curcumin found in turmeric.
What can turmeric treat?
A turmeric type juice may also be used to treat many skin conditions like eczema, scabies, shingles and chickenpox. Its antimicrobial property is what makes turmeric an effective home remedy. The active compound curcumin is known in the alternative health community and may have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, antitumour, antifungal and antibacterial activities which points to the huge potential for clinical medicine. It is also used in Chinese medicine, to treat a wide assortment of infections and is used as an antiseptic. Curcumin has been a centre of attraction for potential treatment of an array of diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, allergies, arthritis and other chronic illnesses.[1] Since gout is a type of arthritis, turmeric may be used to treat this condition too! Remember that symptoms of gout are said to be closely related to rheumatoid arthritis.
Where does it grow?
Turmeric grows wild in the forests of South and Southeast Asia including Africa and is a widely used spice in South Asian and Middle Eastern cooking. Many Persian dishes use turmeric as a starter ingredient and let’s not forget Indian food, chicken curry being one of my favourite dishes.
What is the evidence in regards to gout?
A study done in China and published in 2009 (Insights into the inhibition of xanthine oxidase by curcumin) states that turmeric has been shown to inhibit chronic inflammation, so it may help gout suffers because it may help reduce the activity of xanthine oxidase, the enzyme involved in the production of uric acid. The pain caused by gout may be relieved. This is the same action that allows allopurinol, Uloric (febuxostat) and similar drugs to lower uric acid. Studies examining the role of turmeric in the treatment of gout are lacking but more research has been done with turmeric and rheumatoid arthritis which is a closely associated with gout. This opens the door to more research into commercial products that hopefully will soon be available to gout sufferers.
In another study, 107 patients with osteoarthritis were given 800mg Ibuprofen or extracts of turmeric of 2 grams daily for 6 weeks. At the conclusion of the study, both groups of patients suffered from less pain when walking or climbing stairs. I’d rather choose turmeric over ibuprofen too, way better on the stomach. So curcumin is a safe and efficient way that may help to treat gout and/or tophi by easing the pain and swelling since curcumin is a powerful anti-inflammatory.
A 2006 study UA College of Medicine done on mice, found that turmeric is able to slow down rheumatoid arthritis and in another study completed by the University of Arizona, the mice were induced with rheumatoid arthritis and then given turmeric, showed that this treatment reduced swelling and inflammation of the mice’s joints. Curcumin inhibits the production of prostaglandins which are related to pain. Turmeric can also help the adrenal gland produce greater levels of cortisone and this can relieve inflammation in gout. By lowering inflammation and oxidative stress, uric acid may be controlled.
Aside from fighting inflammation, turmeric is showing some promising benefits for kidneys. This is especially important for patients who have poor functioning kidneys such as diabetics. If you have gout, you have to be paying special attention to your kidney health too since this is the organ responsible for excreting uric acid from your body. If you have poor kidney function, it’ll be harder to get rid of uric acid. More of it will accumulate in the body, putting you at higher risk for a gout attack.
How can I consume turmeric?
Turmeric can be taken in powder, tea, capsules or even tablets. You can take 300 mg to 600 mg of a standardized extract of turmeric 3 times daily to reduce gout pain or inflammation. You will also find turmeric root inside my proprietary blend dietary supplement NutriGout! Turmeric is safe for most people but do consult your doctor before use making sure there are no bad interactions with any prescribed drugs that you may be using.
Turmeric can be purchased in health food stores, Wal-Mart and of course online, Amazon always has great prices! You can blend it in pineapple juice which includes bromelain which aids in absorption and also has a anti-inflammatory effect. Honestly, I simply add a teaspoon of turmeric powder in a tall glass of water and just drink it that way.
I personally don’t find it has a bitter taste; it just gets swallowed up in every gulp I take. I do drink it often, almost daily after a workout to get my joints going again. I also make sure I have turmeric spice and supplements in stock. According to plenty of studies, it seems that it has a similar benefit as over-the-counter pain medications. So if ever you have a gout attack but don’t have access to NSAIDs right away, turmeric might just save you from the excruciating pain.
Don’t forget that the powder can be used in your cooking or do what I do and simply eat at an Indian restaurant in your area from time to time. You can easily find recipes online and start incorporating turmeric into your diet.
It can be hard to utilize turmeric in the kitchen in the beginning. To really take advantage of this spice, look into Indian cuisine. It will show you the variety of ways you can use turmeric from savory dishes to sweet desserts. You can even make rice or pickle with it! Others will add turmeric to add color to certain products such as ice cream, yogurt, pop corn, sauces, and gelatin.
Another important thing to remember is that turmeric works best when consumed with pepper. Why? First, it’s important to understand how turmeric gets processed in the body. It gets filtered pretty quickly making it ineffective by itself. But with the piperine found in pepper, it can improve turmeric’s absorption by up to 2000%.
This is why in most turmeric supplements, you’ll also find that the ingredient next to it, curcumin is piperine. Make sure to check the label before you purchase turmeric in supplement. A good dosage is between 100 to 1000mg of curcumin per day.
Any risks?
It’s hard to overdose on turmeric. There has been no reported serious health risks to taking it in high amounts. You can start low if you want but you will get the most benefits from taking higher dosage. But try not to go over the recommended amount of 1000mg as you might experience a mild stomach upset.
Do not take turmeric if you have gallbladder disease or if you require surgery since turmeric has blood thinning properties and is not to be used by pregnant women or women that are breastfeeding.
Turmeric can be an option for you if you’d like to avoid the unwanted side effects of certain NSAIDs. As always, make sure to contact your doctor to make sure it’s safe for you to take since everybody’s health is different.
What has your experience been like consuming turmeric as a remedy for gout? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Credits
1. Nagpal M, Sood S (2013). “Role of curcumin in systemic and oral health: An overview”. J Nat Sci Biol Med 4 (1): 3–7.
38 replies to "Gout and Turmeric"
This article provides valuable information about the benefits of turmeric for those with gout. I was unaware of the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric and its potential to reduce gout symptoms. I will definitely be incorporating turmeric into my diet as a natural alternative to traditional medications. Thank you for this informative read.
Wow, stunning site. Thnx …
learn more here more info here discount pharmacy online
best online pharmacy tech schools click this link mexican online pharmacies
what is the best best online pharmacy without prescriptions needed see here more help
[…] goutandyou.com […]
I am wondering if my first experience of this condition was induced after taking 1600 mls of Senega and aAmmonia. Only thing different in my day. Sure makes you take an interest in remedies. Thanks. Evan
Thanks for sharing such an interesting & informative post.I found turmeric is really a magical spice, its natural anti-inflammatory property can helpful to reduce inflammation in gout. Keep posting …
I had a gout flare up in my ankle in May of this year, then whilst on holiday in Spain another, so I have found cherry tart juice, called biona, from dolphin fitness, UK the bottles are 1 ltr each and comes to me in a 6 pack box, the juice is whole fruit and comes from Turkey, I take a generous glass every day with no flare ups so far, however I am now going to add turmeric to my juice as another helping hand to health.
why not become more intelligent and understand that ailments like gout will reverse – not just be controlled if you are intelligent enough and stay natural
instead of having some sugar laden cherry tart juice, that is made with preservatives, here is what you do and you will never get a gout flareup again :
– wake up drink only one or two plain glasses of water and not more like everyone says. the kidneys need time to get into action for the day.
– whilst readying yourself – take a bottle full of water , mix half a lemon or a lime in it or just put the whole washed piece into it … and add not even half a teaspoon of baking soda or sodium bicarbonate into it… shake and until you finish this for another half hour , do not eat.
– once this is done, you are now free to eat anything anytime all day. of course stay away from purines for a while so your body can start reversing its course.
– have your cherry perry or whatever, but try keeping it natural.
– make a fruit salad of watermelon, pomegranate, pineapple and strawberries / black berries / blue berries and eat whenever you deem necessary at work
– whenever possible instead of coffee have a green tea no sugar
– add nuts like almonds, cashews , walnuts etc. and seeds to your diet – make sure you stay away from sesame for a while as they are high in purines.. do a bit of research .. . but make a diet plan for the day that includes protein that wont give you flareups , carbs , fats etc.. everything must be still in your diet.. else you are a fool…
cherry tart juice will only stop the flareup and over time as the kidney is failing more and more to reduce and excrete uric acid you will have issues.
start now
in two months or so if you haven’t reversed your gout significantly, you can say hello to me again 🙂
I am drinking Yerba Mate in an iced tea fashion and just started supplementing with Turmeric. The Yerba kept the gout attacks at bay for 1 year and suddenly wore off. I think the turmeric and Yerba will provide a better solution.
I am a regular beer drinker
[…] How Turmeric Can Lower your Uric Acid and Prevent a Gout … – Discover how turmeric can lower uric acid and is a powerful anti-inflammatory that can fight gout pain effectively. […]
[…] How Turmeric Can Lower your Uric Acid and Prevent a Gout … – Discover how turmeric can lower uric acid and is a powerful anti-inflammatory that can fight gout pain effectively. […]
[…] How Turmeric Can Lower your Uric Acid and Prevent a Gout … – Discover how turmeric can lower uric acid and is a powerful anti-inflammatory that can fight gout pain effectively. […]
[…] How Turmeric Can Lower your Uric Acid and Prevent a Gout … – Discover how turmeric can lower uric acid and is a powerful anti-inflammatory that can fight gout pain effectively. […]
[…] How Turmeric Can Lower your Uric Acid and Prevent a Gout … – Hi Debbie! A gout diet is key! What is a gout diet? Well read all my posts here on this site and check out my ebook if you can. Basically, your husband needs to … […]
[…] How Turmeric Can Lower your Uric Acid … – The healing power of this ancient spice. Turmeric has been gaining popularity in the last few years as a home remedy for gout and is considered by many as a super-food. […]
What a wonderful blog! So happy I found you!
Here’s my story:
I started with horrible pain in my big toe, ( which put a huge damper on wearing heals) then in the joints of my thumb about 4 years ago. When I was diagnosed with Gout, I was shocked. My whole life ( 50 plus years) I rarely got sick.. I mean.. rarely get Flu, Colds, viruses,etc..
I immediately started to read as much as I could on Gout and inflammatory issues. I always try to find ways to NOT take prescription meds if possible. So.. I eliminated red meat, reduced caffeine and alcohol and dairy. (I only drink occasionally with friends or events and once in a while on a week night. Drinking for me is average of two drinks.)
I started to create a morning healthy combination of Fresh Turmeric, pineapple or berries, Fresh Ginger, and some dark greens.. the liquid I use is Tart Cherry juice, Pineapple for sometime just water / and ice makes it all taste better .
I have done this now for over 2 yrs and I immediately ( within one week) felt relief from pain. And my joints went back to normal. ( not swollen). I was so happy I have kept this up every 2 to three days.. sometimes daily. And I am still happy..
Except…when I revert back to a couple of drinks of alcohol I will feel the swelling and joint pain the next day. ( I am typically good about saying NO to drinks – my favorite is Champagne or wine) My job and social life has not made this easy but quite a challenge instead.
What keeps me in line 80% of the time is not wanting the horrible pain in my toe to the point I can hardly wear any shoe. And remember, once you have a flair up it takes days to settle down. And of course as soon as I start consuming the healthy morning drinks I truly do get relief and I am find for several weeks and months till I goof up again and think.. ” maybe this 1 drink will be ok”.. it hardly every is.
Does anyone know of an alcohol drink that is somewhat better to drink with mild inflammation? Maybe Prosecco? or ? Sometimes it’s nice to have one or two drinks to get happy buzzed relaxed feeling. 🙂
Hi Barbara!
Thanks for your input. If you are craving an alcoholic beverage then I recommend you limit it to no more than 2 drinks in one sitting, preferably red wine or try non-alcoholic beer.
Red wine gives me gout in about 1 hour. I stick to scotch and soda or scotch and water (heavy on the soda to make it last longer).
My real trigger though is high fructose syrup or sugars. Normal sugar is ok as long as I dont over do things, but High fructose stuff (softdrinks, icecreams etc), can effect me in as little as 3 hours. Oh… and dehydration seems to be key to how much gout inducing things I can tolerate before an attack will come on.
MIX CHERRY JUICE WITH TURMERIC OR CURCUMIN
AND DRINK DAILY
YOUR URIC ACID ..PAIN IN JOINTS AND INFLAMMATION WILL VANISH LIKE MAGIC
Monotosh
old tradition indian medicine doctor..
[…] Sources: http://www.livestrong.com http://www.goutdiet.org goutandyou.com […]
[…] Curcumin for Gout […]
Hi Spiro, my hubby suffers terrible and at the moment this attack has lasted weeks. His foot is swollen terrible and he now gets it in his ankle also. He has tried everything, the prescription drugs make him ill, so we try to look for home remedies. He has been taking tart cherry capsules for about 3 years and they seemed to have kept it at bay, he just has twinges here and there. Then out of the blue, BAM it has come back with a vengence. Any advice would be greatly appreciated or maybe he could read some of your work.
Hi Debbie!
A gout diet is key! What is a gout diet? Well read all my posts here on this site and check out my ebook if you can. Basically, your husband needs to change his diet to a more plant based diet where a minimum of 80% of his calories come from complex carbs like fruits, vegetables, beans, whole wheat breads and pastas, whole grain rices…Avoid alcohol, avoid sugary beverages like soft drinks and juices, drink plenty of water every day, some herbal tea or coffee.
Like many, I have most likely logged in thousands (no joke !) of hours researching gout . . . foods, meds, treatments, relief, doctors, shamans, help and pity online over the past 17 years of my attacks.
Like you, genetically this makes no sense ! being Serbian should have excused me from this class.
I just signed up for your newsletter, and must compliment you for being the first (in 17 years) newsletter that I have ever signed up for.
I do not know where you are located, I am in Oregon (USA), and the knowledge base here is abysmal . . . “I” am the states expert.
I quit using NASAIDS many years ago, and went to Curcumin for the anti-inflammatory part of the mix….being a writer and webmaster I have written “volumes” on gout, and if interested would allow you to peruse them. (not created for anyones use but mine and a few gout sufferers I meet), they might be interesting to you.
Anyway Bravo on the site, it is the best!
Thanks Peter! Email me any writings you’ve done on the subject of gout, looking forward to “perusing” them as you say!
[…] many more foods that will help keep your liver healthy and they include carrots, turmeric which stimulates the production of bile to help your body digest fats and acts as a natural form of […]
[…] The gout healing power of this spice… […]
[…] Ever tried turmeric spice? […]
[…] The healing power of turmeric […]
[…] The healing power of this ancient spice […]
An interesting article explains how curcumin can be used to fight cancer cells: http://www.businessinsider.com/curry-filled-nanoparticles-can-fight-cancer-2013-12
[…] Discover the healing power of this ancient spice […]
[…] The healing power of this ancient spice […]
[…] The healing power of this ancient spice […]
[…] Find out which ancient spice can help your gout […]
[…] Discover which ancient spice can aid you with the inflammation of gout […]