How to Cure Gout Naturally

If you would like to better understand how to cure gout in a natural way, then you may wish to examine the impact of certain herbs and other at-home treatments that can help to control the inflammation, minimize uric acid production, and ease the pain from which all gout patients suffer.

The following methods, substances, spices and herbs can all be used at home to treat gout naturally, however, please remember to consult your doctor before trying any of these remedies:

- Epsom Salt baths - to ease discomfort of gout and reduce the inflammation, place 2 to 3 teaspoons of Epsom salts into a footbath, basin, or pan that is large enough to immerse the affected foot/joint. The water should be as hot as you can stand it without discomfort. Soak the gouty joint for approximately thirty minutes. This technique also works if you take a whole-body Epsom salt bath. If the gout occurs in a part of the body other than the foot, this will be the preferred method. In this case, you will need one to two cups of Epsom salts (follow the instructions on the package).

- Nettle Tea - nettle tea increases the excretion of uric acid from the body and many swear by it for treating gouty joints. It functions by facilitating the elimination of urates from the body. Nettle will work both as a tea or a tincture. The teas are fine for milder cases, but the tinctures are usually recommended in more severe cases of gout.

- Devil's Claw - devil's claw is a natural anti-inflammatory that also features properties for minimizing pain. It has also been known to facilitate the elimination of uric acid from the body, therefore helping to shorten gout attacks and prevent them from recurring.

- Turmeric - turmeric is not only a common spice in many forms of cooking, but it also inhibits prostaglandins (involved in pain) synthesis in the body. The way it functions is quite similar to the action of ibuprofen or aspirin, only at a weaker level. When the doses are high enough, though, turmeric will stimulate the adrenal glands so that the body will begin the production and release of natural cortisones, which will rapidly and effectively reduce pain and inflammation.

- Bromelain and Quercetin - these substances are best used together. Quercetin is an anti-inflammatory and may inhibit xantine oxidase, which causes the body to produce less uric acid. It can be found in supplements, onions, apples, pink grapefruit, watermelon, elderberries, and green leafy vegetables. It can also be found in black tea, green tea, and elderberry juice. Bromelain, the active ingredient found in pineapple, is also an anti-inflammatory and is available through dietary supplement.

- Yucca - yucca is an effective blood purifier, which helps to reduce the pain of gout and arthritis. It also helps to decrease the build-up of toxins in the body, therefore assisting in the prevention of gout. It can also break-up inorganic mineral deposits and obstructions in the joints as well as decreasing joint inflammation, two major symptoms of gout.

Of course, knowing how to cure gout isn't just a matter of what you consume, but also what you do. As important as herbs and other remedies are to treating gout in a natural way, so is exercise, when done properly. Remember to consult your doctor before taking any natural remedies for the first time.