If you suffer with Gout, you know what it is and are looking for solutions.

It is a fact that high uric acid levels in your blood have been accumulating for many years. It is certainly not what you hate last night that is giving you problems now. It is also true that not everyone that has high uric acid levels will get a gout “flare-up”.

Purines in food can be a killer and I suggest you look them up on the Internet. Should you wish to stay “healthy” or get better, these are most definitely a no-no in your diet and must be avoided:
• Organ meats, such as liver, kidneys, sweetbreads, and brains.
• Meats, including bacon, beef, pork, and lamb.
• Game meats.
• Any other meats in large amounts.
• Anchovies, sardines, herring, mackerel, and scallops.
• Gravy.
• Beer, Port, Sherry, Red wine, Spirits

Worth remembering that different cultures eat different foods and it is worth checking “local” gastronomic foods for the amount of purines that they contain.

Someone I know suffers a lot with gout ‘attacks’ but he loves meat and game, red wine and spirits. He is happy to take Allopurinol and/or Colchicine and he is also expecting them to be the solution to his problems; this is not the case.

Another medication that will lower uric acid is Febuxostat (Adenuric); unfortunately this is mostly unknown by the majority of British GPs.

The problem with all medications is that they have side-effects and some can be serious if not lethal.

The alternative is to have a good diet (careful nutrition) and this, often, means big life changes. Please remember – the uric acid accumulated in your body has been there for several years, don’t expect that a few weeks or months of “changes” will solve the problem.

Cut down or even eliminate if you can, coffee and tea, white sugar and all the above listed foods. Start drinking Herbal Teas of Nettle, Dandelion, Ginkgo Bilboa and Green Tea (Gun Powder, not the commercial brands). A ‘cup of tea’ should be above 250ml; drink 4 to 5 cups a day. Drinks loads of water but check that the pH is above 7 and there is little or no sodium in it.

Adding a few drops of Yarrow – alternating them with Butcher’s Broom in your tea will also help to lower uric acid levels. Another good remedy to add to the diet is Lauki Juice. Also important to take is ‘Curcumin soft gels’ as these will “aid”/lower inflammation. Organic Turmeric is like Curcumin but it only has a small percentage of Curcumin in it. When you remember, sprinkle a tiny amount of Bicarbonate of Soda to your finished dishes. [Beware – bicarbonate is a chemical compound, it can have side-effects].

The kidneys are the primary “escape route” for the uric acid; look after them, keep them warm and make sure that tests (blood and urine) are carried out regularly. Ask for “albumin-to-creatinine ratio” (ACR), Creatinine (GFR) and Serum uric acid measurements. If you are on medications (aspirin) it would be worth having a Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) test done too.

Every body is different and only you know if you are eating well and behaving well with your diet and exercises. Don’t forget to walk every day for at least 20 minutes – three times a day would be perfect.

Other natural products that you might like to add to your nutrition are listed below. 

• Celery Seed
• Corn Silk
• Devil’s Claw
• Flax Seed
• Goldenrod
• Horsetail
• Juniper Berries
• Wild Carrot
• Wild Strawberry Leaf
• Wintergreen

Do your own research if these ‘supplements’ are or can be good for you. Should you get “stuck” don’t be afraid to ask for advice. My personal advice is usually to take around 30% of the recommended dosage suggested by the manufacturers. Taking high dosages of Curcumin or Yarrow or anything else for that matter, could cause more harm than benefits so the advice is to try Naturopathy first with small dosages.

Once uric acid levels are high in your system, your GP will be keen to prescribe to you medications (Allopurinol, Colchicine or Febuxostat (Adenuric). Try the alternative route first which carries no or very limited side-effects. Be sensible.

Wishing you Good Mental and Physical Health

Any medical information provided is only for general guidelines as a first aid. It is always better to see a doctor depending upon the intensity of the case. The views expressed above are entirely those of the author.

Article by A.B.M. Procaccini – Naturopathist