Uric acid is formed due to cell regeneration caused by purine metabolism. Its formation is carried out in the liver due to the breakdown of nucleotides, the removal of amino groups from the molecule and the process as a result of which oxypurines are oxidized. Having entered the kidneys, uric acid undergoes filtration in the glomeruli, after which it is reabsorbed into the proximal tubules. The process of formation of this substance in the body is directly related to such a disease as gouty arthritis, since an increased level of uric acid leads precisely to this disease.
Gout develops in two cases: a) with excessive synthesis of uric acid and b) inhibition of its secretion: a decrease in its tubular secretion, caused by renal failure, taking most diuretics, small doses of aspirin.
People who consume excessive amounts of meat, seafood, legumes, spinach, peas, mushroom dishes and alcoholic beverages are usually prone to gout and the gouty form of arthritis, which occurs as a result of metabolic disorders in the body. Most often, this disease affects men, but recently women have increasingly begun to suffer from this disease.
It is very difficult to answer unequivocally the question of why this disease occurs. However, according to research, it can be argued that the occurrence of gouty arthritis is associated with an increase in the level of uric acid, which is responsible for removing excess nitrogen from the human body. From a chemical point of view, it is the final product of synthesis that occurs in the liver and is contained in the plasma as a sodium salt.
Since the kidneys are the apparatus for ridding the body of uric acid, failure of their work disrupts the process of uric acid metabolism. Because of this, sodium salts concentrate in the blood, which increases the level of uric acid and leads to various types of damage to organs and tissues. Under normal conditions, the kidneys serve as a filter for uric acid, which is then excreted in the urine. Excess uric acid in the blood is known as hyperuricemia.
Consumption of fatty, high-calorie foods also contributes to the development of this phenomenon. It would seem that fasting should not cause an excess of purine levels, but rather, on the contrary, prevent the acquisition of such a disease. But as research shows, everything happens differently. When fasting, the body is deprived of a source of energy, the lack of which the body begins to replenish from lean body mass, and thus releases purines, which enter the circulatory system. In addition to this, the body is also exhausted. Immunity drops sharply, and the likelihood of getting sick increases, since exhaustion creates a favorable environment for the development of various kinds of diseases. The only way to prevent the formation of excess urates and purine bases is a proper and balanced diet, eating a small amount of foods that contain high amounts of proteins, fats and alcohol.
Everyone knows that the body of every person includes a number of biological fluids, without which its existence is impossible. One of these liquids is uric acid. The fact is that the liver periodically metabolizes purines, as a result of which it is formed.
Normal levels of uric acid in the body are considered to be: for men – 210-420 µmol/l, and for women – 150-350 µmol/l. For children under 14 years of age, the figure varies 120-320 µmol/l.
When uric acid is excreted by the kidneys, the body is freed from excess nitrogen contained in the heart, liver, brain and other organs. In plasma it is contained as sodium urate, which increases the level of uric acid. In this case, urate crystals begin to deposit in the tissues of the body. Because of this, a solid sediment appears, which subsequently accumulates in the body. Many factors contribute to an increase in urate content, ranging from eating exclusively protein foods to diseases of the kidneys, heart, blood, cancer and allergic processes. Basically, these salts have a detrimental effect on the joints, settling on them, and as a result, lead to a pathology such as gout.
Gout is a disease that occurs when uric acid increases in the blood (hyperuricemia) and is deposited in the form of microcrystals (urates) in tissues. In this case, an acute attack of gout develops, which is characterized by very intense pain and a strong inflammatory reaction. Particularly painful is the deposition of urate in the joints. Urate can also fall out in the form of stones in the urinary tract, which leads to the development of renal colic. Accordingly, the treatment of gout consists of treating acute attacks of gout and preventing them.
If there is such a diagnosis, medications containing succinic acid are prescribed, first of all. One of these drugs is Cytoflavin, which contains inosine, riboflavin mononucleotide, nicotinamide and succinic acid. The drug should be prescribed with caution and used strictly as prescribed by the doctor. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate, otherwise it can lead to irreparable consequences. There are a number of other drugs used to treat gout. Cyclosporine, Colchicine, Purinol and other drugs are medications used to treat this disease.
To prevent the disease and treat it, you should consume foods that normalize uric acid levels.
Water, for example, not only rids the body of toxins, but also rids it of excess uric acid. Therefore, the norm is to drink 10-12 glasses a day. Cherries can reduce uric acid levels and prevent the formation of uric acid crystals in joints thanks to anthocyanin, a substance that has an anti-inflammatory effect.
As for apples, for prevention you should definitely eat one apple a day. Malic acid has neutralizing properties and is therefore an anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Strawberries and blueberries also reduce inflammation, so eating berries will definitely benefit you. Beans benefit from the fact that, due to the presence of folic acid, they effectively reduce uric acid levels.
Juices from fresh vegetables can combat the accumulation of urates in the body. It is advisable to include vegetable juices in your daily diet. Carrot, beet and cucumber juices have beneficial properties. For prevention, you need to drink at least 300-400 ml of juice daily. Most of all, skim milk and cottage cheese protect against gout, as well as foods rich in vitamin C, which helps remove uric acid from the body. Vitamin C can be obtained by eating citrus fruits, kiwi, peppers, and tomatoes. Green tea has a preventive effect.
Therefore, when treating gout, you must first consult with a nutritionist, who will definitely advise which foods the patient can eat during the treatment period and which ones to abstain from. Typically, nutritionists minimize the consumption of animal proteins, fats, and, of course, salt. Drinking alcoholic beverages during the treatment period is strictly prohibited. You are allowed to eat one egg per day.
Speaking about gout, which entails a huge number of negative consequences, discomfort and physical ailments, it should be remembered that it is better to prevent the disease at its early stage, to carry out a number of preventive actions, than to start it. Naturally, there are a number of exceptions when symptoms do not appear immediately and it is not possible to immediately detect a problem or deviation. However, you need to carefully monitor changes in your body and consult a doctor at the first symptoms or health problems.
The consumption of various herbal infusions made from natural ingredients can additionally be used to treat gout and reduce the presence of uric acid. Treatment with traditional methods helps make drug treatment as effective as possible. But this does not mean that following a diet is not necessary. Diet is an integral part of treatment, so it must be followed throughout life. For example, you can use a decoction of nettle, string, common pine, bearberry, St. John's wort, etc.
Uric acid itself is a substance with a crystalline structure, formed during the process of protein metabolism, and contained in human urine. The reason for its increase may be kidney stones, chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, heart disease, excess weight, etc. Its amount increases due to disorders of purine metabolism, which are divided into several types: hereditary predisposition, decreased secretion of uric acid by the kidneys and delayed excretion by the kidneys.
Gout is characterized by a condition medically called hyperuricemia . Therefore, it should not be taken lightly as this condition can cause kidney stones to form, thereby blocking the normal flow of urine in the kidney tubules, ureter and bladder. pH, titratable acidity, ionic composition and osmolarity of urine directly affect the process of saturation of urine with uric acid, its salts, and crystal formation. The urine reaction is one of the most important indicators in the pathogenesis of stone formation.
Since uric acid, saturated with ions, has a high concentration, it does not tend to precipitate. When the pH of urine decreases, the main part of it takes on a form that is practically insoluble and easily precipitates as a crystalline precipitate, since it is not saturated with ions.
The best remedy for this disease is, of course, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, timely seeking help from a doctor and taking preventive actions, monitoring the level of purine in the blood and urine. As for proper nutrition, you need not only to know the list of substances that normalize uric acid levels, but also to be able to combine them correctly. Gout tends to develop in different ways. For some it occurs more intensely, for others it is almost asymptomatic. Depending on the stage of the disease, various drug treatments are prescribed, including diet. Joint damage is a very scary and unpredictable thing. No one knows where exactly the disease will manifest itself, so you need to give up salt in your diet first, otherwise you can’t expect anything good for the body.
During a gout attack, medications are used to reduce inflammation around the uric acid crystal. Such drugs include any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, except salicylates and Tolmetin. The most commonly used powerful and inexpensive substance is Indomethacin or Colchicine.
Despite the fact that modern medicine knows how to prevent hyperuricemia and gout from developing, how to minimize the likelihood of increasing uric acid levels in the human body, and what prevention methods exist to avoid the occurrence of this disease, this question remains open and continues studied by scientists around the world. After all, gout still manages to camouflage itself, and this, in turn, prevents its timely detection in the body. Making a diagnosis requires a significant amount of time and repeated testing of various types. The patient has to stock up on a lot of patience, strictly follow all the doctor’s instructions, give up his favorite treats and adhere to strict diets in order to improve his health.
The main thing is to believe in success and in your strength, striving for recovery. After all, it is a healthy spirit and self-confidence that helps to cope with any problems and illnesses.
The first literary sources and historical chronicles that mention gout are more than two thousand years old. Perhaps, Hippocrates was the first to describe the signs of gout, also establishing a relationship between excesses in food and increased seasonal attacks of the disease; He also suggested that gout is hereditary and noted that women develop it mainly after menopause. The vividness of clinical manifestations and the susceptibility of a large number of representatives of the elite of society to the disease ensured frequent mention of gout in fiction, assigning it the role of a unique embodiment of bodily suffering. Suffice it to recall Shakespeare: “The evil gout, twists the gray nobles; Let them be as honest as they are, and they are lame.”
It would seem that today's knowledge, developed diagnostic, prevention and treatment regimens, and experience accumulated over centuries should provide good control of gout. But, unfortunately, the treatment of the disease still often occurs with gross errors, and the patients themselves are not well informed about how to deal with the disease, how to change their lifestyle, when and what medications to take. Many are also prone to self-medication, resorting to the help of various “healers” and “folk” methods, which at best do no harm, but are completely useless. And in the short time that the doctor has to communicate with the patient, it is quite difficult for the latter to obtain even minimal knowledge about his illness.
What is gout, what are the reasons for its development, can we prevent its occurrence, and if the disease does develop, cope with it?
We all know that in the human body the synthesis of some and the breakdown of other chemical compounds continuously occurs; it is these complex processes that ensure our vitality. Thus, as a result of the exchange of purine bases, which are found in all living organisms and are part of many biologically important compounds, processes necessary for life occur - redox reactions, tissue metabolism, ensuring micro- and macrocirculation, thermoregulation, a positive effect on the healing of damaged fabrics. One of the end products of the breakdown of purines - uric acid, the formation of which in the body occurs continuously in all organs and tissues - no longer participates in metabolic processes and is excreted unchanged from the body. Uric acid is a white powder that is poorly soluble in water. When its concentration in the blood increases (hyperuricemia) in people predisposed to crystal formation, it begins to be deposited in the tissues and joints in the form of sodium salt (sodium monourate). This leads to the development of extremely painful attacks of arthritis (inflammation of the joints), i.e. gout itself. Not everyone with high uric acid levels will develop gout, but the higher the level, the higher the risk. For example, when the level of uric acid in the blood is more than 600 µmol/l (more than 10 mg/dl), approximately every third person develops gout. The attack occurs acutely (within 12 hours it reaches its peak); the joints of the lower extremities are most often affected, especially the joints of the big toes. In addition to severe pain, the affected joint increases in volume, becomes hot to the touch, and turns red. The slightest touch or movement increases the pain. Body temperature may rise to 39 °C or higher.
The described symptoms, coupled with high levels of uric acid in the blood, suggest a diagnosis of gout. And, nevertheless, the probability of error is quite high, since similar symptoms can be the result of other diseases, and an increase in uric acid levels does not equal a diagnosis of gout. On the contrary, it is during an attack of gouty arthritis that uric acid levels may be normal. To clarify the diagnosis, the “gold standard” is used - examination of the fluid obtained from the joint (synovial fluid) in a special polarizing microscope. The crystals in it are visible to the eye, have a needle shape, glow brightly, and if they are present, you can be 100% confident in the diagnosis. And if a doctor, suspecting gout, recommends such a study, you should not refuse. The puncture itself is not particularly difficult, it takes only a few seconds and is no more painful than a regular injection.
Although a gout attack usually lasts only a few days, the pain is so severe that it is impossible to do without medication. For attacks, a short course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or colchicine, or glucocorticoids (orally or intra-articularly) is prescribed. With timely administration of treatment (in the first hours), the duration of the attack is significantly reduced, and the intensity of pain quickly decreases. Only a doctor should choose a specific drug, since it is necessary to take into account contraindications and the risks of complications if prescribed. If the drug turns out to be ineffective or for some reason cannot be prescribed, the possibility of using some genetically engineered biological drugs that have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect against gouty inflammation is considered. Physiotherapy is contraindicated, especially thermal procedures, but cryotherapy can relieve the pain a little.
In addition to joints, crystals of uric acid salts can be deposited in the area of tendons, ligaments, kidneys, and in severe cases of gout - in various organs, also leading to inflammation in them and destroying bone tissue. With gout, the risk of atherosclerosis and its fatal complications (heart attacks, strokes), diabetes mellitus, hypertension, kidney failure and other diseases increases.
Uric acid levels increase due to many reasons. We are unable to change some of them: for example, about 40 genetic variants have been identified, the result of which is poor functioning of the channels through which uric acid is removed by the kidneys. The more of these mutations one person has, the higher the risk that he will develop gout. These mutations can be inherited. In addition, the incidence of gout increases with age, and men are much more often affected, although in old age the differences between the sexes are almost leveled out.
Controllable factors that lead to increased uric acid levels and, as a result, an increased risk of developing gout include obesity, high blood pressure, consumption of foods rich in purines, alcohol and sugary drinks. Gout is more likely to develop in people with psoriasis, decreased kidney function (regardless of the cause), blood cancer, thyroid disease, and many others. Diuretics, salicylates, nicotinic acid, and cyclosporine A also increase the risk of gout.
With a proper diet, weight loss, and avoidance of alcoholic beverages, the level of uric acid decreases. In the last two decades, some postulates of diet therapy for gout and hyperuricemia have been revised. Previously, it was believed that the higher the concentration of purines in foods, the more the level of uric acid in the blood increases when they are consumed. However, as it turned out, this does not apply to all products. Indeed, meat and fish should be included in the diet in limited quantities; broths based on them should be avoided altogether, but plant products containing purines do not have such a clear effect on the level of uric acid. The fact is that the active substances they contain, bioflavonoids, activate the excretion of uric acid by the kidneys. This allows you to keep soy products in your diet (according to recent data, the consumption of soy-containing products is even associated with a reduced risk of getting gout), mushrooms, nuts, figs, various varieties of cabbage, celery, etc. However, recently the attitude towards tomatoes has changed again , which took 5th place among the factors provoking the development of attacks of arthritis in patients with gout.
There is also conflicting data about which animal meat is more capable of influencing the concentration of uric acid. Thus, the opinion that white poultry meat is less dangerous is controversial: American researchers have found that chicken, duck and turkey are in no way inferior to red meat in terms of the risk of developing gout. There is no consensus as to whether fish is less harmful for patients with gout. At least, the risk of developing an attack of arthritis is approximately the same for those people who prefer fish and for meat eaters.
Attitudes towards alcohol have also changed. Several studies have already proven that small amounts of dry wine, even if taken daily, do not affect the risk of developing gout; Strong alcoholic drinks moderately increase this risk, beer and liqueurs increase the risk to the maximum. The latter are due to the presence of sucrose and fructose in their composition. The diet of a patient with gout should include a minimum amount of sweets and sugary drinks, since the metabolism of fructose (it can also be formed from sucrose) increases the synthesis of uric acid. But black tea, contrary to popular belief, does not affect uric acid levels.
By the way, some foods can even slightly reduce uric acid levels. For example, low-fat dairy products - thanks to the casein and lactalbumin proteins contained in milk (but it should be remembered that even with normal milk fat content this effect is neutralized); coffee (the more, the better, regardless of the amount of caffeine included in its composition). There is evidence that green tea (at least green tea extract), as well as lemon juice, can have a moderate positive effect. High doses of vitamin C can also reduce uric acid levels in the blood.
The amount of fluid consumed (in the absence of contraindications, such as high blood pressure, renal, cardiac, pulmonary failure) should be increased. Cherries, cranberries, lingonberries are useful - fresh and in the form of fruit drinks, decoctions, and alkaline mineral waters. On the contrary, juices, with the exception of citrus fruits, are undesirable.
An alternative to a low-purine diet can be a low-calorie diet, which is no less effective. Compliance with this is indicated in the presence of obesity; its selection is the task of a nutritionist. If you have gout, exercise is encouraged, but exercise should not be excessive. It is also necessary to avoid hypothermia (for example, when swimming in cold water).
You should not rely on diet or lifestyle changes as the main method of treating gout. Even with the most strict low-purine diet, it is extremely rare to reduce uric acid levels to normal, and this is the main goal, because the lower the uric acid level, the lower the likelihood of arthritis attacks. Anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat an attack cannot stop the progression of the disease, since they do not affect purine metabolism.
Therefore, most gout patients are required to take medications that reduce uric acid levels. Without drug treatment, the frequency and duration of attacks increases, and the effectiveness of drugs used to relieve them decreases; more and more joints are involved in the painful process, possibly even affecting the spine. Tophi can form - large deposits of uric acid salts in organs and tissues. Subcutaneous tophi are most often found in the form of round or oval nodes of various sizes in the area of the ears, joints of the feet, elbow joints or other localization. Such formations are considered a “late” sign of gout and form on average 10 years after the first attack of arthritis, but are sometimes detected already in the first months from the onset of the disease. Kidney stones in patients with gout, the basis of which are urates and which can also be regarded as tophi, are detected in half of the cases. The first-line drug for the treatment of gout is allopurinol, which inhibits the action of the enzyme xanthine oxidase, thereby converting the formation of uric acid from its precursors at the final stages of purine metabolism. The dose is selected by the doctor individually, starting with a small dose (no more than 100 mg/day), and gradually, every few weeks, increases to the minimum effective dose, at which stable normouricemia is achieved (with repeated determinations) and which is well tolerated.
The incidence of adverse events with allopurinol is low, and patients' fears of such treatment are usually exaggerated. Therapy is prescribed for a long time, often for life. The fact is that when treatment is interrupted, uric acid levels increase over several days, which leads to new crystal formation.
If allopurinol therapy is ineffective or there are contraindications to its use, other drugs are selected - febuxostat, bezbromarone, sulfinpyrazone. The serum uric acid level at which the likelihood of an arthritis attack is minimal is defined by researchers as <360 µmol/L (<6 mg/dL). In severe tophi gout, it is desirable to achieve even lower values (<300 µmol/l, or <5 mg/dl), then the resorption of the crystals occurs much faster.
For several months after uric acid-lowering therapy is started, the frequency of arthritis attacks may increase. Therefore, taking medications (allopurinol or others) is not started during an exacerbation of arthritis (you must remember that if they are already prescribed, they are not canceled even in the event of an exacerbation!). In addition, for preventive purposes, low doses of anti-inflammatory drugs or colchicine are simultaneously prescribed for a course of up to six months. Such treatment should also be selected and monitored by the attending physician. And if the doctor did not prescribe preventive treatment without good reason, and did not inform the patient about the risk of exacerbation when starting therapy with allopurinol or other similar drugs, this should be regarded as a serious mistake.
With properly selected therapy, the frequency of arthritis attacks decreases, and existing deposits of uric acid salts resolve. According to the latest data from large studies, normalizing uric acid levels in patients with gout not only leads to a state in which there are no attacks of arthritis, but also helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. ¦
The human body consists of a huge number of different substances, one of them is uric acid. In small quantities it does not harm the body, uric acid is involved in biochemical processes, and it comes from the liver during the decomposition of protein products.
Uric acid stimulates brain function and affects hormonal levels; the substance is also an excellent anti-cancer agent. Uric acid prevents body cells from degenerating and growing into tumors. But an increased amount of uric acid can cause a serious illness that is difficult to treat.
The amount of uric acid in a particular person’s body is determined genetically. Therefore, the body must constantly maintain the same level, removing excess substances through the kidneys. In a man, the uric acid level is from 200 to 400 µmol/l, in a woman from 150 to 300, and in a child from 120 to 280.
If the level of uric acid is much higher than normal, then this condition is called hyperuricemia. The increase in uric acid levels may be temporary or permanent. In the first case, the condition is associated with lifestyle. For example, hyperuricemia is common for girls on a starvation diet and for bodybuilders. Uric acid levels may rise if a person has eaten a large amount of meat.
In such cases, the level of uric acid quickly normalizes if the cause of its increase has been eliminated. No special treatment is required. But if hyperuricemia persists for a long time and is accompanied by impaired functioning of the kidneys and joints, then we can talk about the occurrence of gout.
Uric acid levels may increase in gout for the following reasons:
It is worth noting that true gout occurs quite rarely, and just an elevated level of uric acid in the blood does not give the right to make a diagnosis. Gout can only be confirmed through a comprehensive examination of the patient.
Gout is a rare and very serious chronic disease that causes severe pain and is difficult to treat. The pathology is characterized by symptoms of gouty arthritis, such as pain, swelling and redness of the skin around the joint. The big toe is most often affected.
In gouty arthritis, uric acid salts are deposited in the joints, which create hard, painful lumps called tophi. Salt deposits negatively affect the condition of the joints, disrupting their motor activity.
Getting rid of tophi is quite difficult. Patients are usually prescribed medications and diet to maintain normal uric acid levels. Physiotherapeutic and sanatorium-resort treatment and massage are also indicated. In particularly severe cases, uric acid crystal deposits are removed surgically.
Treatment methods such as massage and physiotherapy are used mainly during the period of remission. It is impossible to rub sore joints during an attack, this will only worsen the condition and increase the pain. Methods such as magnetic therapy and laser therapy can also be used during a gout attack to quickly relieve pain.
The most important step in the treatment of gout is taking medications that remove uric acid from the body. Reducing the level of the substance in the body helps stop pathological processes in the joints and prevent the occurrence of the next attack of gout.
Drugs that remove uric acid for gout:
Drugs of the first group suppress the production of uric acid, the most often prescribed is Allopurinol. The drug inhibits enzymes that are involved in the release of uric acid, normalizing its level in the body.
Uricosuric drugs provoke the release of uric acid from the body by the kidneys in large amounts of urine. Therefore, doctors recommend drinking large amounts of clean water without gas while taking such medications.
There are also combination drugs that contain both groups of drugs. These include Allomaron, consisting of Allopurinol and Benzobromarone.
In the complex treatment of gout, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve attacks of pain. Since drugs to remove uric acid do not act immediately, the patient may still experience attacks during treatment. In this case, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help.
Elevated levels of uric acid are not an indication for taking medications; medications are prescribed only if gout is diagnosed. If the patient has elevated levels of the substance in the blood, and the joints and kidneys are not yet affected, then it is enough to just follow a diet with a limited amount of purines in the composition.
The diet is also indicated for gout, both during exacerbation and during remission. Proper nutrition helps speed up the removal of excess substances from the body, as well as prevent the occurrence of a gout attack.
If uric acid levels are elevated, it is recommended to exclude meat and alcohol from the diet, as well as coffee, cocoa and chocolate. Sweet, highly salty and spicy, smoked, fatty and fried foods and dishes are also excluded. Prohibits fasting; nutrition must be complete.
For gout and high uric acid, you can eat the following foods:
The menu should be varied and balanced. It is recommended to drink plenty of fluids, preferably water. Unsweetened compotes and jelly made from natural fruits and berries, green and weak black tea are also allowed.
Since gout is associated with metabolic disorders (metabolism of purines, from which uric acid salts are released) and occurs with exacerbations in the form of attacks, treatment of the disease with folk remedies is divided into two stages:
1. Reducing the level of uric acid in the blood through diet and herbal remedies - this allows you to avoid new attacks of gout and reverse the disease
2. Relieving pain during a gout attack, reducing the duration of the attack
If the disease is advanced and growths on the joints (tophi) have appeared, then there are many folk remedies that help in resolving the growths and relieving pain in the joints.
These folk remedies help reduce the level of uric acid in the blood, avoid gout attacks, and remove growths on the joints.
Traditional treatment of gout with pine nut shells
Pour the dried pine nut shells into a dark glass bottle up to the hanger, and fill it with alcohol or vodka until the cork stops. Leave for 10 days, shaking daily. Take 1 tsp. before meals 3-4 times a day, and if severe pain occurs up to 5 times. Pine nut tincture helps with gout, arthrosis, arthritis, osteochondrosis, stomach diseases, and hemorrhoids. (HLS 2012, No. 6, p. 9)
If you are worried about gout pain in your big toe, then iodine will help. Apply generously to the sore spot in 2-3 doses, preferably at night. A woman who used this folk remedy even managed to avoid surgery. In addition, you need to walk a lot, at least 3-5 km a day. (HLS 2012, No. 2, p. 41)
Folk treatment of gout with clay
You can successfully treat gout with blue clay. It is kneaded like dough, rolled into a flat cake and applied to the sore spot overnight. 6-8 procedures are enough and the joint will not be bothered. (HLS 2012, No. 2, p. 41)
How to treat gout with birch buds or leaves
Infusion: pour 10 g of birch buds with 2 glasses of water and boil for 15 minutes, wrap, leave for 1 hour. Take 1/4 cup 4 times a day 1 hour after meals.
Or 15 g of birch leaves pour 1 tbsp. boiling water, leave for 2-3 hours. Take 1/2 cup 3 times a day.
It is also useful to drink fresh birch sap 1 glass 3 times a day.
Birch bud ointment helps relieve joint pain and dissolve gouty nodes. To prepare the ointment, you need to grind 1 cup of birch buds into powder (if they are dry) or grind into pulp (if they are fresh) and grind with 0.5 kg of fresh interior fat. In a clay pot, this mixture is simmered in the oven for 3 hours every day. Only 7 days. If there is no oven, use a water bath. Rub into joints 2 times a day. This is a very wonderful ointment, it also helps with rheumatism and almost all skin diseases (dermatoses, bedsores, ulcers, lichen, eczema) (2002, No. 21, p. 23)
Home treatment for gout with burdock
An infusion of burdock root helps with metabolic disorders, gout, osteochondrosis, urolithiasis and cholelithiasis. To prepare the infusion at home, you need to take 2 tbsp. l. dry crushed burdock root and pour three glasses of water at room temperature, leave for 2-3 hours, then boil for 15 minutes. Drink 1/2 cup warm 3 times a day after meals. (HLS 2011, No. 6, p. 35)
Here is another folk remedy from burdock , which treats gout of the joints well, dissolves stones in the gall and bladder. Grind young burdock leaves in a meat grinder to make 0.5 liters. pulp, add 500 g of honey and 500 g of vodka, mix well, take 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day on an empty stomach. Store in a dark cupboard, but not in the refrigerator. (HLS 2009, No. 11, p. 32)
From the advice of the healer Ustinya . If you have gout on your leg, compresses made from burdock root decoction will help. 1 tbsp. l. dry crushed roots are boiled in 1 tbsp. water for 10 minutes, leave for 40 minutes. A cloth or gauze in several layers should be moistened in this decoction and applied to the sore joint. Wrap with cotton wool or a warm scarf overnight. After each procedure, the bandage must be washed with soap or replaced with a new one. 25-30 such procedures and the disease goes away. Burdock root infusion can also be used internally. (2001, no. 14, pp. 16-17)
Currants beat gout
At the age of 27, a woman’s fingers became swollen and deformed. There was unbearable pain, especially at night. After all the tests, the doctor said that it was gout, it was difficult to treat and I had to follow a diet and take allopurinol tablets for the rest of my life. The patient was not satisfied with this, and she began to look for folk remedies for treating gout. In the journal “Science and Life” it was written that black currant removes uric acid from the body. To do this, leaves and young twigs should be brewed and drunk instead of tea. The woman began to do this, brewed currant leaves and twigs in a thermos, sometimes added a leaf of mint or lemon balm, and drank a mug 3-4 times a day. Very soon all the gout bumps disappeared, and even earlier the pain and inflammation of the joints went away. (HLS 2011, No. 24, p. 10)
In addition to treating gout and rheumatism, an infusion of black currant leaves reduces blood pressure and tones the cardiovascular system, treats kidney and bladder diseases. (HLS 2011, No. 24, p. 15)
Gout – how to treat with apple juice
The man had gout and urolithiasis; there were often exacerbations with severe pain. Freshly squeezed green apple juice helped cure the disease. He drank it on an empty stomach, 1 glass in the morning. 30 minutes later I had breakfast. I drank apple juice every day. Six months later I felt better. Over the past three years, there has not been a single attack of gout. In addition, this treatment with apples normalized the blood pressure. (HLS 2010, No. 6, p. 31)
Traditional treatment of gout with wheatgrass
4 tbsp. l. wheatgrass root in 2 cups of boiling water, leave for 12 hours. Drink half a glass 4 times a day. This infusion dissolves kidney stones and deposits on joints (HLS 2009, No. 6, p. 17)
Compresses for gout on the leg
The woman managed to get rid of gout using the following folk recipe: 2 tbsp. l. salt, 2 tbsp. l. soda, mix a few crystals of potassium permanganate with 2-3 tbsp. l. water to make a paste. Place the mass on a bandage and tie it to the sore joint. Secure the compress with a bandage, do not change the bandage for 3 days, then make a new compress. (HLS 2009, No. 6, p. 28, 2004 No. 15, p. 25)
Treating gout with elecampane baths at home
1 tbsp. l. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over elecampane roots and leave. Add the infusion to the foot bath. Soak your feet before bed for 12 days in a row. Gout attacks will subside. (HLS 2009, No. 12 p. 30-31)
Compress and massage in home treatment of gout
If you are worried about gout on your leg, you need to brew strong Ceylon tea and make a compress from this tea at night. And in the morning, after removing the compress, tap the bones with a wooden spoon. 3-4 procedures will be required. The woman treated gout with this method - on the first day, when tapping her leg, there was severe pain, she simply reduced the force of the blow. On the second day I hit her harder - the pain was weaker. On the third day I no longer felt any pain. She did the procedure for the fourth time, and for 4 years she has not been bothered by gout attacks. (HLS 2007, No. 7 p. 30)
Fraction ASD-2 is a folk remedy for the treatment of gout.
Gout can be cured with ASD-2. This drug should be taken according to the general regimen. In addition, make compresses on the sore joint, just like for skin diseases, but also use the ASD-2 fraction (and not ASD-1 as for skin diseases). (HLS 2007, No. 9 p. 7, 2006, No. 14, p. 8, )
Ointment for resorption of growths on joints due to gout.
Pour 1 tbsp into a 100 gram jar. l.: camphor oil, ammonia, turpentine, vinegar 9%, fill the jar to the top with melted fat (pork, goose, etc.). When cooling, this mixture is divided into 2 fractions, so before use it must be heated in a water bath and shaken. Rub the resulting emulsion into the sore joint, then moisten a cloth with this mixture and make a compress on the sore joint, top with a film, cotton wool and a bandage. Within a month and a half of daily compresses, the growths on the joints dissolved (From the practice of Kyiv herbalist V. Kupchin. (Healthy Lifestyle 2007, No. 21 p. 14)
How to Cure Gout with Wrestler Root
From a conversation with academician of the RA med. Sciences, Chief Researcher of the Institute of Rheumatology V. A. Nasonova
It is necessary to treat the disease with folk remedies in three ways: take baths, drink infusions of medicinal herbs, do exercises and rubbing. Only then will the disease reverse itself.
Of all the folk remedies, the most powerful and radical is the tincture of the root of the wrestler. You need to take 100 g of roots, pour a liter of vodka or 60% alcohol. Infuse in a warm place for three days, the tincture should become the color of strong tea. The patient can use no more than 1 tsp for rubbing. tinctures. When rubbing this remedy, blood circulation sharply increases, the patient immediately feels a strong heartbeat. If gout is on the legs and arms, then only one arm or leg should be treated with this tincture at a time, the next day - the other limb, etc. Rub the tincture dry overnight, then wrap the affected joint in flannel and woolen material. In the morning, remove the bandage and 2 hours later quickly wipe your leg with a rag soaked in cold water and wrung out well.
Rub the tincture in every day for 4-5 weeks before going to bed. The patient needs to drink 2-3 liters of fluid per day. (Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle 2006, No. 22 p. 6-7)
Ointment for gout pain
The woman suffered from gouty pain for many years. She was able to get rid of them with the help of a folk remedy found in an old book. Take butter (preferably homemade) and alcohol, ratio 1:1. Heat the oil in a frying pan or saucepan until foam appears, remove from heat, pour in alcohol and set it on fire. The flame will be high, you need to be careful and protect your face. When the flame goes out, the ointment is ready. Keep refrigerated. It is necessary to rub the ointment into the sore joint in a warm place - in front of a stove, oven or heater. No need to wrap it up. After using this recipe, attacks of gout on her leg have not bothered her for 20 years. (HLS 2005, No. 2 p. 30). This same folk remedy is also recommended by Dr. Lyubimova in the “Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle” for 2005, No. 21 p. 12
Treating gout with herbs is a popular folk method.
From a conversation with Dr. Natalya Lyubimova
1. A very effective collection of herbs: take 1 tsp. chamomile flowers, mint leaves, horsetail grass, St. John's wort, elecampane root, nettle leaves, birch buds, lingonberry leaves, flax seeds. Total 9 tsp. Stir and pour 1 liter of boiling water. Leave for 2 hours, strain. Drink 1 glass 3-4 times a day. Course 3 weeks. This herbal collection is aimed at preventing gout attacks and reducing the level of uric acid in the blood.
2. Strawberry tea: Brew 50 g of wild strawberry leaves with 1 liter of water. Drink during the day instead of tea for a long time. This is a very effective treatment for gout. You can treat with strawberry infusion according to the following scheme: drink 2 tbsp of flaxseed oil 3 times a day. l., and drink strawberry tea throughout the day. The course of treatment is 7 days. Repeat the course of treatment every 2 months.
3. Lovage Pour 5 g of lovage root with 1 cup of boiling water, bring to a boil, boil for 10 minutes. Leave for 3 hours, strain. Take a decoction for the treatment of gout at home, 1 tbsp. l. 3-4 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 2 weeks. (HLS 2005, No. 21 p. 12)
Folk recipe for gout and bumps on the leg
A woman suffered from gouty pain in her foot for 7 years; a painful lump formed near her big toe. Friends advised her to use a folk recipe: 10 tbsp. l. “Triple” cologne, 10 tbsp. l. ammonia and 10 tbsp. l. Pour iodine into a bottle and mix. Infuse for a day. Lubricate the bump every day 2-3 times a day. She was treated with this remedy for six months. The pain went away, the lump on my leg disappeared. (Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle 2005, No. 21 p. 12, 2004, No. 1, p. 27).
Adam's root for gout on the leg is a folk remedy.
Rinse 100 g of Adam's root, grate it, pour in 200 g of vodka. Leave for 1 day and rub into the sore joint every other day. (recipe Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle 2004, No. 15 p. 16. From the recipes of the healer Golyuk).
Flax seed to reduce uric acid levels and against urolithiasis
2 tsp. seeds, pour 300 g of water and cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Leave for 10 minutes, pour into a glass bottle, close tightly and shake the broth for 5 minutes. Strain, take 1 tbsp. l. 4-5 times a day. (2004, no. 4 p. 23).
Baths for gout
Outside of attacks, baths are good: radon, hydrogen sulfide, sodium chloride. Radon baths work best because they affect the metabolism of purines and promote the removal of uric acid salts. There are radon baths in the resorts of Pyatigorsk, Essentuki, and Tskhaltubo. The course includes 12-14 baths every other day. Hydrogen sulfide baths and therapeutic mud, which are available in Sochi, Zheleznovodsk, Saki, Staraya Russa, and Sestroretsk, are also effective.
Sodium chloride baths for the treatment of gout can be prepared at home: take 1.5-2 kg of salt per bath, dissolve it in water at 37-38 degrees. Stay time – 20 minutes, course – 10-15 procedures. These baths cannot be used for cardiovascular diseases. . (2004, no. 6 pp. 8-9).
Herbs to treat gout at home
Herbal infusions and vegetable juices can successfully treat gout at home.
Alkalinize urine: pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber juice.
Increase the solubility of uric acid salts: infusions and decoctions of barberry roots, immortelle herbs, lingonberries, strawberries, bearberries
Inhibits the reabsorption of salts in the intestines: infusions of blueberries, astragalus, horsetail herbs
Inhibits the formation of uric acid crystals: infusions of corn silk and Chinese lemongrass.
Here is an effective collection of herbs for the treatment of gout, acting in several directions at once: mix strawberry leaves, birch leaves, corn silk, nettle leaves, agrimony grass. 1 tsp. collection, pour 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes. Take 1/3 cup three times a day. If you take this collection for 1.5-2 months, the disease gout will begin to recede (2004, No. 6, pp. 8-9).
Leeks and boletus are popular folk remedies for treating gout.
Leeks are good at removing salts from joints and preventing their deposition. It is often called the “anti-gout onion.” The man began to grow this onion and used it constantly. Soon I forgot about the gouty pain in the joints and the crunching in the joints. (2002, No. 17 p. 20). Boletus mushrooms have the same effect (2002, No. 19, p. 19).
Traditional treatment of gout with sorrel
Sorrel, which contains oxalic acid and dissolves uric acid salts in the joints, helps cure gout. Sorrel cannot be boiled, it must be eaten raw - chew several leaves a day, preferably more. At the very beginning of treatment, the diseased bones will itch and ache a little, and then the pain quickly passes, the salts dissolve, and the disease recedes. (2001, No. 6 p. 17).
Treatment of gout with activated carbon is a proven folk method.
Activated carbon is of plant origin and is not soluble in any media. It is completely eliminated from the body in 24-28 hours along with feces. Coal absorbs carcinogenic and toxic substances from the body. It reduces cholesterol levels and promotes weight loss. Coal consumption improves the general condition of gout , diabetes, psoriasis, atherosclerosis, and stops the formation of stones in the gall bladder and kidneys.
Take activated carbon for two weeks, 3-5 tablets 3 times a day, an hour after meals. Charcoal treatment courses are carried out 2-3 times a year. (2001, No. 19 p. 11).
Kerosene ointment for gout
The ointment is prepared from 50 g of kerosene, 50 g of sunflower oil, 30 g of laundry soap and less than a teaspoon of soda. Rub it dry on the sore spot - gout on the leg. (Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle 2001, No. 23 p. 19).
The first mentions of gout were made by ancient Greek healers. The poor development of medicine at that time led to the emergence of various methods and techniques for treating gout with folk remedies at home.
Nowadays, in addition to traditional drug treatment of gout, alternative medicine is also used to increase effectiveness. There are many recipes that can help fight this disease.
The disease occurs as a result of a protein metabolism disorder when uric acid salts begin to accumulate in the joints. The bunion becomes visible and begins to cause discomfort.
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Also, one of the reasons for the appearance of the disease may be a starvation diet , in which the body receives a minimum of microelements necessary for healthy functioning, which leads to the accumulation of uric acid.
There are several options for treating gout on the legs using traditional methods. All these methods can be combined with each other. This will help not only defeat the disease faster, but also alleviate the accompanying symptoms much faster, reducing pain.
Since the pain occurs suddenly, you need to know several measures to eliminate it: depending on the affected area, you need to immobilize the affected joint by placing your leg/arm on a bolster or pillow.
Apply ice for a short time (no more than 15 minutes), then repeat the procedure after some time. After the acute pain subsides, it is recommended to apply heat - a cloth bag with heated salt.
Let's look at several basic folk methods for treating gout at home.
It is necessary to take the components in equal proportions and mix. Spread the resulting mixture in an even thin layer over gauze and leave on the affected area overnight.
Important: before preparing the mixture, check whether you have an allergic reaction to honey.
After mixing honey with mustard powder, add a small amount of soda to the mixture. The affected area must first be slightly warmed up by steaming it in hot water. Place the mixture on the heated joint, wrap it with gauze and then with a tight bandage. Should be applied at night. The recommended course of use is 2 weeks.
Mix chamomile and elderberry in equal proportions and add boiling water. Leave to brew. Place the resulting squeezed mixture on gauze and make compresses overnight.
To reduce the symptoms of the disease, regularly consume raw berries or grind fresh berries with sugar.
Elderberry copes well with excess uric acid in the joints, being an excellent diuretic.
It is necessary to boil one tbsp in 250 ml of water. spoon of black elderberry flowers for twenty minutes. Then let cool and squeeze. Take the resulting decoction half a glass up to 3 times a day before meals.
An excellent alternative to berries for home treatment is also the use of herbs.
It is recommended to regularly take infusions of herbs such as linden, chamomile, string, and lemon balm.
Treatment with rose hips and oats has also proven itself . There are no restrictions on the use of these infusions; they can be taken warm or cold.
During the lilac flowering season, its flowers placed in 0.5 liters will be a good remedy. jar and filled with one glass of vodka. This infusion should be placed in a dark place for a week and shaken periodically. To cure the disease, take 50 drops before meals.
Gout is often the result of poor diet.
To prevent its occurrence, it is recommended to pay attention to the following home recipes:
Grind 4 cloves of garlic in a meat grinder along with 4 lemons. Pour the mixture into two glasses of hot water and leave for 3 days.
Strain this mixture and take 50 ml of it. every day.
Pour hot water over 1 kg of lemons and leave for 5-8 minutes. Grind in a meat grinder. Mix with one kilogram of sugar. You need to take 3 times. per day, diluted with a glass of water and half a teaspoon of soda
It is recommended to take 3 tsp. juice before meals throughout the day.
Baking soda helps remove uric acid from joints and prevents the formation of salts. It has the most effective results in the first stages of the disease.
It is necessary to do a weekly course of treatment, then take a break for the same number of days.
It is recommended to start taking soda every day with 0.2 teaspoon 1 hour before meals, gradually increasing to 0.5 teaspoon.
For those who like to take a bath, you can use this recipe like this: fill the bathtub with non-hot water (the water level should be waist-deep, not reaching the level of the heart), dilute 0.4 kg of soda and the same amount of sea salt in it.
As it cools, add hot water little by little over half an hour. Repeat the procedure up to 10 times every day, then take a break for a couple of months.
It is recommended to grind aspirin (5 pieces) to a powder. Next, dissolve the resulting powder in 10 ml of iodine in a glass container. As soon as the resulting solution becomes lighter, it is ready for use. It is necessary to lubricate problem areas at night, then wrap them in warmth. In the morning, just wipe with warm water.
Important: honey can cause allergies - before preparing the solution, you need to apply a little honey to your wrist. After half an hour, see if there is an allergic reaction to the component.
For the treatment and prevention of gout, diet is an important step. You should limit yourself in consuming those foods that contribute to an increase in uric acid and the deposition of its salts (urates) in the joints.
To remove uric acid from the body as quickly as possible, herbal decoctions of oats, barley, and rose hips will help.
Rosehip is very effective in treating this disease because it contains a lot of ascorbic acid. In order to prepare a rose hip infusion, you need to crush one teaspoon of dried rose hips to a powder. Pour 1 cup of boiling water and then let the infusion cool. Take half a glass no more than 4 times a day.
The recommended diet should also be based on reducing carbohydrate intake. They are a catalyst for increasing the body's sensitivity to allergens that provoke the development of the disease.
Oats play an important role in the prevention of gout. When treating with oats, patients are recommended to take a decoction. To prepare it, you need to pour 40 grams of oats with two glasses of water and boil for 20 minutes. Once the broth is strained, it is ready for use. Take 1 glass 2 times a day.
It is worth limiting yourself in the consumption of such products as hot spices, salty foods, marinades, blood sausage, meat broths, alcoholic beverages, grapes, sorrel and beans. Drinking less coffee or tea will help reduce the level of excitability of the nervous system, suppressing the process of salt deposition.
The diet should be divided into four to five meals. Make one day a week a fasting day, eating only raw vegetables and fresh fruits.
When performing a course of massage for gout on your own, you should pay attention to the following points.
To begin with, it is better to consult with your doctor and find out whether this type of massage can be done.
Since any kneading stimulates blood circulation and actively starts the process of removing salts from the joints, it is not recommended to do it during an exacerbation of the disease.
During periods of no exacerbation, a relaxing massage is performed with light rubbing and stroking. It is not recommended to knead the affected area vigorously.
A massage session should not exceed half an hour . During this time, it is recommended to massage not only the joint part of the legs, but also, starting the procedure from the lower back, you need to grab the back of the thigh and lower leg, the knee joint, and the rest of the foot.
When performing a hand massage, you need to start the session with the shoulder joint and collar area, gradually covering the shoulder, elbow joint and moving towards the wrist and the entire hand. It is advisable to do 20 sessions every other day.
Despite their effectiveness and ease of use, folk remedies for gout of the legs are auxiliary methods of treating this disease.
You may also need to take medicine to remove uric acid. Do not ignore the recommendations of doctors and, if necessary, use medication.