Diet Cure for Gout - Home remedies, symptom, cause, treatment of Gout

What is Gout?

Gout refers to a certain form of inflammation of the joints and swellings of a recurrent type. Although chronic in character, it breaks in acute attacks. It is a disease of the wealthy and chiefly affects the middle-aged men. Women, after menopause, are also sometimes affected by this disease.

What are the symptom of Gout?

An attack of gout is usually accompanied by acute pain in the big toe, which becomes tender, hot and swollen in a few hours. Usually it is almost impossible to put any weight on the affected foot in the acute stage. It may also affect other joints such as the knees and wrists in a similar manner. Sometimes more than one joint may be affected at a time. The attack usually occurs at mid- night or in the early hours of the morning, when the patient is suddenly awakened. The acute attack generally lasts for a week or so. During this period the patient may run a slight fever, and feel disinclined to eat. His general health usually remains unaffected.

What are the causes of Gout?

The chief cause of gout is the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints, skin and kidneys. Uric acid is an end product of the body's chemical processes. Those affected by gout have a higher level of uric acid than the normal, due to either the formation of increased amounts of acid or to the reduced amounts of acid being passed out by kidneys in the urine. This uric acid usually remains dissolved in the blood. But when the blood becomes too full of it, the uric acid forms needle-shaped crystals in the joints which bring about attacks of gout.

Dietary Treatment of Gout and home remedies

For an acute attack, there is no better remedy than a fast. The patient should undertake a fast for five to seven days on orange juice and water. Sometimes, the condition may worsen in the early stages of fasting when uric acid, dissolved by juices, is thrown into the blood stream for elimination. This usually clears up if fasting is continued.

In severe cases it is advisable to undertake a series of short fasts for three days or so rather than one long fast. A warm water enema should be used daily during the period of fasting to cleanse the bowels.

The feet should be bathed in Epsom salt foot baths twice daily. Half a pound to one pound of salt may be added to a foot bath of hot water. Full Epsom salt baths should also be taken three times a week. The baths may be reduced to two per week later. Cold packs at night applied to the affected joints will be beneficial. Fresh air and outdoor exercise are also essential. The patient should eliminate as much stress from his life as possible.

If the patient is overweight, he should bring his weight down by a general dietary regime, as explained in Chapter 37 on obesity. Because of the increased risk of stones in the urinary tract, patients should maintain a good intake of non-alcoholic fluids. They should drink at least eight glasses of cold or hot water daily.