Gout is an inflammatory condition that is caused by the deposit of uric acid crystals in joints (most famously the big toe) as well as other tissues. Typically, attacks of fierce pain, redness, swelling, and heat punctuate pain-free intervals.
Medical treatment consists of anti-inflammatory drugs for acute attacks and of uric acid-lowering drugs for prevention.
Treatment
Proposed Treatments for Gout:
The following herbs and supplements are widely recommended for gout, but they
have not yet been scientifically proven effective.
Folate
Folate has been recommended as a preventive treatment for gout for at least 20
years. Some clinicians report that it can be highly effective. However, what
little scientific evidence we have on the method is contradictory. It has been
suggested that a contaminant found in folate, pterin-6-aldehyde, may actually be
responsible for the positive effects observed by some clinicians.
For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full folate
article.
Devils Claw
The herb devils claw is sometimes recommended as a pain-relieving treatment for
gout based on evidence for its effectiveness in various forms of arthritis.
For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full devils
claw article.
Other Supplements
On the basis of interesting reasoning but no concrete evidence of effectiveness,
fish oil, vitamin E, selenium, bromelain, vitamin A, and aspartic acid have also
been recommended for both prevention and treatment of gout.
Folk Remedies
A traditional remedy for gout (with negligible scientific evidence) calls for
1/2 to 1 pound of cherries a day. You can also buy tablets containing
concentrated cherry juice.
Celery juice is another folk remedy for gout that is said to be widely used in
Australia.