Natural Home Remedy For Gout.

Imagine that some of the liquid in your body suddenly turned into glass-and the glass shattered.
That's similar to what happens when you have a gout attack. Some of your body's uric acid, a normal by-product of protein metabolism, changes from a liquid into tiny crystals. Those crystals, sharp spikes and all, can settle in your joints. (The joint of the big toe is their favorite.) The resulting pain, redness, heat, and swelling can be so intense that you can't even walk.

More than 2 million Americans, most of them men over 30, have gout, which is a form of arthritis. Scientists don't know why some people develop abnormally high levels of uric acid, which is what triggers the change from liquid to crystal form. Genetics is a possible cause, and diet and overweight are risk factors. Taking thiazide diuretics for high blood pressure has also been linked to the disease.
Whatever the cause, once you've had one attack (which can last for days if it's not treated), you're more likely to have another-and another. Plus, uncontrolled buildup of uric acid crystals over many years can destroy a joint and lead to the formation of stones in the kidneys and gallbladder.

"If you've had your first attack of gout, you want to prevent
ever having another," says Jay M. Holder, M.D., D.c., Ph.D., a chiropractor and addiction specialist in Miami and Miami Beach. There are plenty of alternative home remedies to do just that.

WATER: Wash Away Uric Acid
After you've had your first gout attack-in other words, after you know that you have high levels of uric acid in your system-you should

drink "tremendous amounts of water on a daily basis to flush the uric acid crystals out of your system and dilute the concentration of uric acid," says Dr. Holder. By "tremendous amounts," he means about 1 gallon (128 ounces) of water a day.
"Water is one of the most important remedies for gout," Dr. Holder says. "If you don't drink large amounts of water, no other single natural remedy will work as well."
One year after your first gout attack, you can cut back on the amount
of water, but continue drinking 2 to 3 quarts a day. Also, Dr. Holder says to drink distilled water or water filtered by a reverse osmosis process, both of which are pure. Reverse osmosis filtration systems, which are installed under your kitchen sink, are available for between $300 and $500. Other types of water, including spring water, he says, may actually contribute to circulatory disease by depositing minerals in the blood vessels, thus leading to hardening of the arteries.

CHERRIES: To Prevent-Or Even Abort-A Gout Attack
For those with gout, life is just a bowl of cherries. Substances in cherries, called anthocyanocides, are very effective at lowering uric acid levels, says Walter Crinnion, N.D., a naturopathic doctor and director of Healing Naturally in Kirkland, Washington. How many cherries should you eat? According to traditional healing lore and very preliminary research, eating anywhere from )-2 cup to 1 pound (about 70) of cherries a day may help people with gout, says Laurie Aesoph, N.D., a naturopathic doctor in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Eating a pound of cherries a day can help prevent a gout attack or abort an attack in progress, Dr. Holder says. But rather than eating all those cherries, he suggests that you pit them and blend them with distilled water to make juice. Avoid store-bought cherry juice, since pasteurization removes anthocyanin. "We use this remedy in our clinic, and it works," he says.
Wild or black cherries work best to combat gout, says Gus Prosch, M.D., a physician in Birmingham, Alabama. Because they're so hard to find, he recommends that you take wild or black cherry extract in either liquid or pill form, according to the dosage recommendations on the label. "Old country doctors would tell patients to eat black cherries to stop having gout attacks, and the remedy usually worked," he says.

HIGH - PURINE FOODS: A Must to Avoid
One way to control uric acid levels is to avoid eating too many foods rich in purine, a protein-related substance that the body turns into uric acid. "If you avoid high-purine foods, gout attacks won't be as common," says Dr. Aesoph, "and when they occur, they won't be as severe." The foods highest in purine include organ meats such as liver, kidney, and sweetbreads; fish such as sardines, mackerel, and anchovies; vegetables such as asparagus and mushrooms; and beans of any kind.

ALCOHOL: Pull the Trigger
Alcohol of all types, including beer, wine, and liquor, triggers the body to produce uric acid. To control gout, you must avoid alcohol, says Dr. Holder. The type of alcohol you drink makes no difference, he says, since they all contain ethyl alcohol, which is the culprit behind uric acid buildup.

APPLE-CIDER VINEGAR: A Tablespoon of Relief
Taking a tablespoon of apple-cider vinegar each morning is very effective in helping to prevent gout attacks, says Dr. Holder. For severe cases-frequent and very painful attacks-a tablespoon morning and evening may be necessary.

VITAMIN B6AND MAGNESIUM: For Better-Hydrated Tissues
Vitamin B6 helps distribute water in the body to keep all of its tissues maximally hydrated, which helps prevent uric acid from turning into crystals. Magnesium aids in the absorption of vitamin B6' Dr. Holder recommends 50 milligrams of B6 once a day as a preventive dose or three times a day as a therapeutic measure, along with 400 milligrams of magnesium.

Auricular Therapy: Instant Relief for Gout Attack.
Lend an ear if you want fast relief from gout. "I don't know of any noninvasive remedy that works as quickly or as well for the pain of gout as ear acupuncture, or auricular therapy:' says Jay M. Holder, M.D., D.C., Ph.D., a chiropractor and addiction specialist in Miami and Miami Beach.