Gout - natural ways to quell that big pain in the... toe

PRIME – November, 2013 By Jonathan Evans Herbal Information Specialist, the Herbarium There's no question about it, gout hurts! Its very name gives you a hint – gOUt. Gout is a very common form of arthritis caused by excessive concentrations of uric acid in the sufferer's body fluids. Uric acid is the result of the metabolism of purines found in foods. The uric acid crystallizes in joints, most commonly the big toe, but also in tendons, kidneys and other tissues. Gout is characterized by inflammation, swelling and a whole lot of pain; more pain than seems proportional for the big toe. Who would have guessed something so small could bring grown men to tears? Most people are aware of the biggest offending foods that lead to gout attacks: red meat, shellfish and beer. What many people don't know about are the other foods that can really get a gout attack going strong, foods normally considered good for you. These include such "healthy" choices as herring, mackerel, cod, poultry, dried beans, spinach, mushrooms, even oatmeal! It has to be some sort of cosmic joke – foods that are good for you are bad for you when you overindulge. Then there are the foods that just add insult to injury when it comes to gout. For example, there are members of the nightshade family, which includes tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers and eggplant, that contain an alkaloid called solanine. Solanine just intensifies the pain of gout. That's the bad news. Now for some good news about gout. Some foods are actually good at helping to get rid of gout, including black cherries or tart cherry juice. These foods help to dissolve the uric acid crystals and also act as an anti-inflammatory. It's also helpful to drink lots of water to help flush the uric acid from the system. Herbally, some of the better supplements to ease gout symptoms include celery seed, which has anti-inflammatory properties; quercetin, which is both an anti-inflammatory and helps retard crystallization; and bromelain, another anti-inflammatory that also dissolves uric acid crystals. Other herbal gout aids include dandelion, queen of the meadow, devil's claw, turmeric, and white willow bark, the source of salicylic acid, basis of the modern pain reliever, aspirin. Salicylic acid is converted by your body to acetyl salicylic acid, but without the gastro intestinal side effects. Full disclosure time. Yes, dear friends, I have suffered with the dreaded condition. My problem was made worse by the fact there is something called pseudo-gout, which I was told, is incurable. I was misdiagnosed with an infection, and then told about pseudo gout, which is a mineral deposit, as opposed to uric acid crystals. By the time I was able to use herbal teas and anti-inflammatory supplements, I was one hurtin' puppy. Unfortunately, while the herbs and supplements do help to alleviate the gout attack, there is a very good chance it will happen again. As gout attacks become more frequent, damage is done to the joint and tissue. My advice to any fellow sufferers is to pay attention to your diet. Moderation is key, and do not wait for the condition ot worsen. Nip it in the bud as soon as possible. Supplements and advertising I would like to offer some friendly advice to all my readers. Please thoroughly read the labels of products. All the information on dosage and ingredient content should be right there on the back of the bottle. Never mind what the front of the bottle says – I don't care one whit if its called "super duper multi energy plus mega dose." Please ignore the crap you heard on television or in radio ads, and for the love of Pete, do not believe the stuff written on the Internet, especially if all you see are glowing" testimonials" followed by glaringly high prices. Ask questions before you buy. If the product has an 800 number and you can only buy it by calling it, or only through the company's website, walk – no, better yet, run away! Seriously people, after all the years I've been in this business I have seen too many of you get fooled by the advertising and marketing for questionable products. Remember, these people are professionals; they know exactly what to say and how to say it. You do not stand a chance. I have watched hundreds of people spend unbelievable amounts of money on products that claimed to do everything from cure cancer to raise Lazarus. They did not work. Before you get suckered I ask one thing – call me or come to The Herbarium. Let's look at the product together. I will tell you if it sounds legitimate. Then, you decide what to do. For those of you who want to reach me by email, the Herbarium's new email address is herbarium258@gmail.com. Happy Thanksgiving! – Jonathan Please send your questions on botanical remedies to Natures Rx: Jonathan Evans via email at herbarium258@gmail.com. You can also submit questions by regular mail to: The Herbarium, 264 Exchange St., Chicopee, Mass. 01013. If requesting additional information from Evans, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.