Gout refers to a certain form of inflammation of the joints and swellings of a recurrent type. Although chronic in character, it occurs in acute attacks. This disease, also sometimes affects women after their menopause.

REMEDIES.

Vegetable juices.

Raw vegetable juices are protective against gout. Carrot juice, in combination with the juices of beet and cucumber, is especially valuable. 100ml-beet juice and a 100ml of cucumber juice should be mixed with 300ml of carrot juice to make 500ml of combined juice and taken daily.

Apple.

Apples are regarded as an excellent medicine for gout. The malic acid contained in them is believed to neutralise the uric acid and afford relief to the sufferers. The patient is advised to take one apple after a meal.

Banana.

Bananas have been found beneficial in the treatment of gout. A diet of bananas only for 3 or 4 days is advised. A patient can take 8 or 9 bananas during this period and nothing else.

Lime.

Lime is also used as a remedy in gout. Vitamin c known to prevent and cure sore joints by strengthening the connective tissues of the body. The citric acid found in lime is a solvent of the uric acid, which is the primary cause of this disease. The juice of ½ a lime, squeezed into a glass of water, should be taken twice daily.

Cherry.

The cherry, sweet or sour, is considered an effective remedy for gout. Subsequently many people with gout used this simple therapy with great success. To start with, the patient should consume about 15 to 20 cherries a day. Thereafter, about 10 cherries a day will keep the ailment under control. While fresh cherries are best, canned cherries can also be used with success.

Dietary considerations.

For an acute attack, there is no better remedy than a fast of orange juice and water. In severe cases it is advisable to undertake a series of short fasts for 3 days or so. After the acute symptoms subside, the patient may adopt an all fruit diet for another 3 or 4 days. Thereafter, he may gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet of natural foods, with emphasis on fresh fruits, raw vegetables, and sprouts. The patient should avoid all purine and uric acid-producing foods such as all meats, eggs, and fish, tea, coffee, sugar, white flour and its products, and all canned, processed, and fried foods.

•  When an attack of gout strikes, eat only raw fruits and vegetables for 2 weeks.

•  Juices are best. Drink 3 litres boiled water daily as fluid intake promotes the excretions of uric acid.

•  Avoid fried foods and roasted nuts.

•  Limit your intake of tea, coffee, cauliflower, and dried beans lentils, fish, eggs and peas.

•  Avoid all meats

•  Fasting is very beneficial in this condition.

•  Exercise and sauna is advised.

•  Apply olive or kulunji oil to the affected parts.

•  If the gout causes pain, pulverize or grind some fenugreek seeds – methi seeds and use as a poultice on the affected parts.

•  Although lime and lemon juice is sour, it has an alkaline reaction in the body. It is valuable in the treatment of gout, rheumatism, sciatica, lumbago, and pain in the hip joints that are all caused by excessive uric acid.

•  Do not expose yourself to cold and dampness.

•  Avoid constipation and wind-forming foods.

•  Avoid asparagus, nuts, fried foods and sour foods like curds and pickles.

•  Moong dhal, garlic, onions, bitter gourd – karela, tomato, papaya, pineapple and green bananas are foods that help in controlling gout. Fasting too helps a great deal.

Other measures.

A warm water enema should be used daily during the period of fasting to cleanse the bowels. Epsom salts foot baths are advised twice daily. About 250gm- 500gm of these salts may be added to tolerably hot water for this purpose. Full Epsom salts baths should also be taken 3 x a week. The baths may be reduced to 2 per week. Cold packs, applied to the affected joints at night will be beneficial. Fresh air and outdoor exercise are also essential. The patient should eliminate as much stress from his life as possible.