Gouty arthritis (gout)

Causes and symptoms

The main cause of the pathology is the consumption of foods containing purines. These include fatty meats, fish, smoked meats, cheeses, alcohol, etc. Men suffer from gout more often, mainly over the age of 40.

The main symptom of the disease is pain in the joints of the big toes. It appears even with a light touch to the joint. Additional signs of gout:

• edema;
• local increase in body temperature;
• skin redness;

Attacks appear early in the morning or at night. Visually, “growths” – tophi – are identified on the joints.

Gout is a disease caused by a violation of purine metabolism in the body, which leads to an increase in uric acid in the blood.

Traditional medicine for gout

Gout cannot be completely cured. To achieve compensation for the disease and reduce the number of exacerbations, an integrated approach to therapy and its continuity are necessary.

Treatment of gout with folk remedies at home is carried out using methods such as:

• compresses;
• baths;
• infusions and tinctures;
• decoctions.

General recommendations. Traditional treatment, just like traditional treatment, should be permanent and include:

• lifestyle changes:
• following a strict diet;
• wearing comfortable shoes;
• reduction of heavy physical activity;
• physical therapy;
• normalization of weight.

Compresses

The most effective folk remedies for gout on the legs are the use of local treatment methods, including compresses. This method has an analgesic effect and is used at different stages of the disease. Paraffin wraps can be used at home.

An attack of gout lasts from several hours to several days, after which the pain disappears and joint function is restored

The indication for the use of compresses is the prevention of gout attacks, the need to reduce pain, and remove swelling. Compresses prevent further deposition of salts in cartilage.

Depending on the components, there are various application methods. If the components strongly irritate the skin or leave burns on it, then they should not be applied to the skin in their pure form. First, the mixture is applied to gauze, then applied to the affected area. After applying the compress, it is fixed with a bandage or polyethylene.

Examples of using compresses for gout:

1. Compress with dimexide. A 50% dimexide solution is used. It is diluted in a ratio of 1:4 with water. Moisten gauze and apply to the joint. Fix with polyethylene and wrap with a scarf or blanket. After half an hour, wash it off. The course of procedures is 10 days.
2. Compress with alcohol and camphor oil. For 500 ml of vodka add 2 tbsp. l. camphor oil, mix. Next, moisten cotton wool, cloth or gauze and apply it to the joint and fix it. Exposure time – 30 minutes. Course 7 days. Chamomile or eucalyptus oils can be used instead of camphor.

An effective combination of folk compresses using anti-inflammatory ointments and gels: Voltaren, Deep Relief, Ketonal, Finalgel.

Berry treatment

How to treat gout with folk remedies on the legs? In the early stages, eating berries helps relieve symptoms:

In the treatment of gout at home, folk remedies and drugs that prevent the formation of uric acid are used.

• currants;
• rosehip;
• strawberries;
• lingonberries;
• gooseberries.

Infusion. Pour 2 tbsp with a glass of boiling water. l. berries Leave for 5 hours. Strain and consume 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day before meals for 7 days.

Decoction. For 1 l. water add 4 tbsp. l. berries Heat in a water bath, leave to cool and filter. Use 1 tbsp. l. 2 times a day, 10 days.

Berry baths. A decoction of 2 tbsp is prepared from the leaves. l. for 1 liter of water. After preparation, add to the bath.

Phytotherapy

Taking herbs brings an effect after a week of taking them, however, they are not allowed to be taken for a long time. Herbal medicine is not used alone or to prevent exacerbations; it should be combined with other methods.

Herbs that have diuretic effects:

• horsetail;
• dandelion;
• artichoke.

They remove excess fluid from the body and together reduce the level of uricemia. Infusions are taken before meals 3 times a day, no more than 5-6 days.

Natural antioxidants – thistle. It is included in the preparations and is available in tablet form.

May lilac has an analgesic effect. It is used in the form of alcohol tinctures. To do this, pour lilac flowers into a 500 ml jar and fill them with vodka. Leave for 3 weeks in a dark place.

Gout is a very serious disease, but unlike other chronic diseases, gout responds well to treatment with folk remedies

Shilajit for oral administration

Shilajit for gouty arthritis helps restore cartilage and remove salts. This remedy has a general tonic effect on the body, stimulates the immune system, and helps accelerate recovery processes in organs and tissues.

The product is sold in the form of applications and solutions. Take half an hour before meals 1-2 times a day for 10 days.

Baking soda

Soda changes the acid-base balance of the blood. The therapeutic effect of it is achieved by alkalizing the acidic environment, reducing the level of uremia.

At the onset of the disease, it is used in a dose of 1/5 tsp. soda It is dissolved in water. The dose is gradually increased to ½ tsp. Consume one hour before meals. The course is 10 days, then take a break for 10 days and repeat. Long-term therapy is prohibited, because the alkaline environment is unfavorable and contributes to the accumulation of toxins inside cells, disruption of the functioning of internal organs, and damage to the vascular wall.

Bay leaf

Folk remedies for gout based on bay leaves are used for the treatment and prevention of diseases of bones and joints. It has an antiseptic effect due to the content of essential oils in its composition.

Bay leaf is contraindicated in pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, biliary tract, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and in patients with diabetes.

The course of treatment is 3 days and is carried out once every 3 months, and after a year, once every 12 months.

These home remedies for gout help reduce uric acid levels in the blood

Recipe:

• for 300 ml of water 5 grams of crushed bay leaves;
• boil for 5 minutes. Next, leave for 3 hours;
• This amount of healing decoction is drunk slowly throughout the day.

Homemade bay leaf ointment:

• grind 10 bay leaves and 100 g of butter;
• all components are mixed and kept in a water bath for 30 minutes;
• then cool and rub into the affected joints before going to bed.

sunflower root

Cleanses blood vessels and joints, stimulates the removal of stones from the body, prevents the deposition of salts in joint tissues, and has a diuretic effect. Contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation.

Use tea or decoction internally. Duration of treatment is up to 3 weeks. During ingestion, the urine takes on an amber hue. Lightening the urine to a normal color indicates the effectiveness of the method.

How to prepare a compress:

• For 1 liter of water take a glass of crushed root. The mixture is boiled for 1 hour, after which it is cooled and filtered;
• gauze is moistened in this mixture and applied to the site of inflammation, fixed with polyethylene;
• keep the compress for 12 hours.

It is better to collect raw materials in the fall, when the air temperature drops.

Iodine and aspirin

This mixture relieves pain and prevents the deposition of salts in cartilage tissue. The solution is prepared from 10 ml of iodine and 5 aspirin tablets. The tablets are first crushed. Apply externally, before bedtime. The course is 3 days, then a 7-day break and, if necessary, the course is repeated.

We offer proven and effective tinctures that help cope with the manifestations of gout faster and more effectively.

For internal use: 10 ml of iodine and 2 tablets, add lemon juice. Before using this recipe, you should consult a specialist. Aspirin has a number of side effects, including promoting internal bleeding.

Method for preparing medicinal baths:

• dissolve 5 tbsp in 5 liters of water. l. aspirin, add 15 drops of iodine;
• immerse the gout-affected joint in the bath. The duration of the procedure is 10 minutes;
• after this, ointment is applied to the steamed joint;
• It is recommended to carry out the procedure before bedtime.

How to treat gout with folk remedies using propolis?

Propolis reduces inflammation, improves blood circulation, and saturates with vitamins and minerals.

Recipe for the medicinal mixture:

1. Propolis is poured with vodka in a ratio of 1:5.
2. Mix until completely dissolved for half an hour.
3. The mixture is placed in a dark place and infused for 14 days.
4. Use 30 drops, dissolving them in a glass of water 3 times a day, 1 hour before meals.

Ointment. Heat propolis mixed with butter in a water bath. Ratio 1:1. Rub in 2 times a day.

Potato

Has no contraindications. It is useful to eat potatoes baked in the oven, fried, boiled, or eaten with salads. Potatoes contain microelements necessary for the normal formation and functioning of bone and cartilage tissue.

Potatoes help relieve inflammation in gout

In case of an acute gouty attack, to reduce the pain, apply raw grated potatoes and wrap them with polyethylene and a warm scarf. Leave it overnight.

Potato broth. Several washed potatoes are grated together with the peel. The resulting gruel is thrown into water and boiled along with celery, dill, and cilantro. Cook over low heat for an hour. Use for several days for severe pain.

Available methods of treating gout with folk remedies

In folk medicine, recipes are used for both external and internal use. What you can use:

1. Compresses. This is an external method of using a remedy. Typically, the active substance is applied to gauze and applied tightly for an extended period of time. The result is an effective and long-lasting effect on the affected area. Compresses relieve tension, remove discomfort and swelling. Usually a compress is applied after intense physical stress, long walking, or when the weather changes. The simplest version of a compress without heating is cabbage leaf, plantain, burdock. You can also scald these plants in boiling water, dry them, rub them with alcohol and apply them under a gauze bandage. Leaves for compresses are also used in two ways - ground into a fine paste and mixed with a rich cream, applied to the skin. The second option is to grind the leaves until the juice comes out, mix with honey and apply to the affected area.
2. Application is a physiotherapeutic treatment procedure, the essence of which is to apply active substances to the body that accelerate tissue healing, relieve inflammation, and trigger local regeneration. Usually hot clay, ozokerite, paraffin, and medical bile are used. Many of the medicinal components have an anti-edematous effect, which is useful for gout. You cannot use the application treatment method during an exacerbation, as hot components will intensify the inflammatory process, which will lead to a general deterioration of the condition. The procedure lasts about an hour, after which the remaining product is washed off with warm water and a moisturizer is applied to the skin.
3. Alcohol infusions. Suitable for both external and oral use. Usually they take the required component, crush it and pour it with alcohol, and then leave it in a dark place to infuse for several weeks. After the specified time, the mixture is filtered, removing the remaining solid contents. Then, according to the instructions or recommendations, take the finished mixture in a small amount. In the case of gout, such methods of preparing medicinal products are usually not used, since alcoholic drinks are strictly contraindicated in the presence of this disease.
4. Decoctions and teas. It is easier to prepare a decoction than a tincture, since you do not need to spend a lot of time on the recipe. Usually they take a dry herbal mixture, pour boiling water, leave for 15 minutes and take before or after meals. This is how tea is made. The broth should be boiled for half an hour in a water bath, strained and left to infuse for about an hour.

Treatment with Allopurinol

Folk remedies for gout on the toes should be combined with the constant use of anti-gout medications. Allopurinol is a drug that interferes with the synthesis of uric acid. Take the tablets after meals with plenty of liquid. Once every 1-3 weeks, the doctor adjusts the dose.

Treatment with Allopurinol is long-term and continuous. It is not recommended to stop taking the drug without your doctor's permission. It cannot be combined with alcohol. Withdrawal of the drug leads to hyperuricemia. Before use, please read the instructions

External treatment methods

Lotions made from a mixture of cologne and valerian tincture

Mix 2 bottles of valerian alcohol tincture with 1 bottle of triple cologne, put the resulting liquid in a dark, dry place for 1-2 days.

Apply a cotton swab soaked in the mixture daily to the sore toe and leave it overnight, wrapped in film and tied with a bandage. Treat gout with these lotions for at least 2 weeks.

Valerian root infusion

Salt compress

Pour 0.5 kg of iodized salt into an enamel bowl, add a liter of clean water and boil until the liquid has completely evaporated. Add 0.2 kg of Vaseline or melted pork (or chicken) fat to the remaining salt on the bottom and mix.

Apply the resulting ointment to the damaged joint of the leg or arm in a thick layer, secure with polyethylene and a bandage.

Fresh fish compress

Prepare minced meat from any raw fish or simply cut the fish fillet into small pieces. Apply the minced meat to the sore leg, wrap it in cling film and put on a wool sock. Leave the fish compress on overnight. For convenience, chopped fish can be divided into portions and stored in the freezer, using only part of the minced meat daily.

Treat gout pain with this method for at least 10 days.

Minced fish compress

Impact of heat and cold on the joint

The effectiveness of this folk remedy for the treatment of gout was first proven by a Japanese rheumatologist.

Take two containers that are deep enough (to fit your sore leg or arm). In one, put any cereal and pour boiling water over it, in the second, after 5-7 minutes, pour cold water with ice cubes. Steamed porridge will maintain an acceptable, tolerable temperature for the skin for a long time.

Take turns lowering the sore limb into the cold and then into the heat, holding for 5–7 seconds. The duration of the procedure is up to 5 minutes. The course of treatment for gout on the legs with contrasting temperatures is 2–3 months.

Treatment of disease with contrasting temperatures

Pork lard lotions

Cut raw lard into thin slices, apply 1-2 pieces of the product to the sore leg at night, cover with film and put a wool sock on top of the lotion.

You need to treat the disease with this folk remedy for at least 2 weeks. A prerequisite is parallel adherence to the diet.

Foot baths with iodine and baking soda

Pour 6 liters of hot water into a basin, add 1 teaspoon of iodine and 3 tablespoons of soda, stir. Place the affected limb in a container of water and hold it until it cools completely.

Treatment of gout with this folk remedy will give a positive result after 7-10 procedures.

Compress made from a mixture of mustard, honey and soda

Take all ingredients in equal proportions, mix thoroughly and apply a thin layer to the sore joint, preheated in a warm bath. Wrap the limb in film and a warm towel and leave overnight.

You need to treat the disease with this folk remedy every day for 14 days, without skipping the procedure.

Chamomile decoction

Pour 100 g of dried medicinal chamomile flowers with ten liters of cold water and add 2 tablespoons of table salt. Stir and let sit for 1-2 hours.

Warm the resulting infusion slightly and make baths with it, dipping the sore spot in chamomile water. This recipe is perfect for the complex treatment of gout.

Activated carbon lotions

Take 1 package (10 tablets) of activated carbon, grind them into powder and add a little water to a paste. Apply the resulting mixture to the sore leg, wrap with film and bandage, and leave overnight.

This folk remedy very quickly relieves acute pain and partially relieves inflammation.

Homeopathy

Treatment of gout with folk remedies on the legs includes taking homeopathic remedies. Their use is safe, they do not have a toxic effect on the body and quickly alleviate the patient’s condition during an acute attack.

Homeopathy will help reduce the amount of uric acid salts in bones, joints, cartilage, tendons and stimulate their excretion

Homeopathic medicines are used in the treatment of gout:

1. "Utica Urens" - reduces the level of uric acid in the blood, stimulates the removal of kidney stones. This is a herbal preparation based on stinging nettle. When using the product, the urine becomes darker in color. As your condition improves, your urine will become lighter.
2. "Sarsapilla" is a preparation based on the tropical plant of the same name. The product helps remove excess fluid. It contains calcium, cobalt, zinc, manganese. Taking it first increases the symptoms of gout and then relieves them.
3. "Colchicum" is a medicine that contains an extract of autumn crocus seeds. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and improves the patient's condition within 12 hours after administration. Daily use can reduce the number of attacks.

Herbs in the treatment of gout

Treatment of gout with folk remedies began a long time ago. Therefore, a lot of recipes, especially those based on plants, have accumulated. Modern medicine has proven the effectiveness of some of them due to the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of medicinal herbs. In addition, some plants help dissolve uric acid salts and remove them from the body. Therefore, herbal medicine is the most common method of treating gout.

Most often, products based on chamomile, sage, birch buds, lingonberries, cinquefoil or other plants are used. It is best to use them as part of a complex treatment: simultaneously decoctions for oral administration and external agents.

To do this, you can alternate the most effective recipes:

• During an attack, this collection is very effective: mix 1 part of peony, calendula, cornflower, buckthorn bark, juniper fruits, 2 parts of nettle and black elderberry, 4 parts of birch leaves and horsetail grass. Brew the resulting mixture in proportions - a tablespoon per glass of boiling water. Drink hot every 2 hours.
• Another collection will help normalize metabolic processes and effectively prevent salt deposition. To do this, mix chamomile, St. John's wort, linden and elderberry in equal quantities. You need to drink a glass of the decoction 2 times a day.
• Lilac flowers are also effective for gout. They are used to prepare a tincture: 2 tablespoons of raw materials are infused in a glass of alcohol. You need to take 20-30 drops 3 times a day.
• Tinctures or decoctions of cinquefoil roots are often used. The decoction is made from 5 g of raw materials and a glass of water, and the tincture is made from 250 g of root and half a liter of vodka. You need to take this remedy three times a day, 50-100 g.
• Dry the horse sorrel roots and chop them. Make an infusion of 20 g of roots and a glass of water. Infuse the product for 3 weeks. Take 20 drops 2 times a day.
• Fill a half-liter jar with birch buds and add vodka. Leave for a month, shaking occasionally. Drink 40 drops 3 times a day.

What is not recommended to do?

Among the drugs it is not allowed to take Aspirin, Furosemide, Euphylline and Theophylline, Riboxin.

Thermal procedures in the form of foot baths can be used during remission. It is allowed to take warm baths for no more than 25 minutes. Visiting baths and saunas is contraindicated.

It is useful to visit resorts and sunbathe; ultraviolet light helps eliminate uric acid.

Strength physical activity is contraindicated. Swimming and cycling are permitted.

Recommended Diet

During an exacerbation, it is recommended to give preference to boiled and stewed dishes, vegetable broths, and cereals. During this time, it is forbidden to eat fatty meat and fish. Smoked products, beef and pork broths, tea, coffee, chocolate, and alcoholic beverages (especially beer) are removed from the diet for a long time.

For drinking, boiled water and mineral waters are used (consultation with a doctor is required), compotes and fruit drinks are allowed. Eating instant noodles is prohibited.