Gout: More than an Aching Toe
- Flo Lavallie, DNM | August 07, 2014
Once called the disease of kings, gout was associated with lavish banquets and goblets of overflowing wine. Even today many people think gout is limited to rich old men who dine well and drink wine after supper.
Gout is a common type of arthritis suffered primarily by 90% of overweight males. It is caused by poor metabolism that allows an accumulation of too much uric acid in the blood, tissues and urine. Although known as a toe problem, joints, tendons, fingers and kidneys are also gout sites. The natural healing process is simple and successful. Improving gout involves food change to eliminate high purine foods and heavy alcohol that causes sediment in the blood. Cleaning the kidneys to normalize uric acid levels in the blood and tissues.
The blood gets its nutrients from the bowel, then is filtered through the kidneys.
Common symptoms are extremely painful joints, usually in the foot and big toe, rapid onset of excruciating pain, redness, swelling, sometimes chills and fever and gradual joint destruction with longer and longer attacks.
Common causes: Tiny needle like crystals of uric acid in the blood and body fluids caused by overeating, too much red meat, refined food, alcohol, sugar and caffeine that an overloaded kidney does not excrete properly, over use of drugs such as diuretics (fluid pills) causing potassium deficiency, lead toxicity, obesity, low blood sugar and hypothyroidism appear also to be factors.
Food therapy plan
- Reduce caffeine, white flour foods, fried foods and all unsaturated fats especially meat proteins. Avoid high levels of fructose (fruit sugars) in any food or drink.
- Drink 8 glasses of water daily.
- Black cherry juice to flush the uric acid and acid crystals.
- Avoid high purine foods: red meats, rich gravies, rhubarb, sardines, lobster, oysters and clams.
- Avoid alcohol during healing as it will stop the uric acid secretion from the kidneys.
- Aloe Vera juice 1oz., before meal each morning.
Interpretive therapy plan
- Take down the inflammation and pain.
- Cranberry capsules 2 with each meal.
Reduce uric acid accumulation
- Rutin 1 with each meal.
- Devil's Claw extract reduces both uric acid and cholesterol build up.
- Celery Seed 1 with each meal.
- Regulate blood sugar levels and increase circulation Chromium 200 One at lunch, one at supper.
- Vitamin B3 50mg. - one at supper to increase circulation.
Lifestyle measures
Weight reduction is a key factor to ease pressure on feet and legs. Lose weight slowly. Rapid weight loss shocks your metabolism and may trigger a gout attack.