Anyone who has experienced a gout attack knows it can be excruciating, causing red, hot, painful, and swollen joints. Gout, a form of arthritis, typically affects the joints in the feet, ankles, or knees. Around half the time it strikes in the big toe, which can make it impossible to wear shoes. Even the light fabric of a sock can be aggravating!
Because the agony of a gout attack can be so intense, sufferers will often try anything to get relief, leading to a spike in “gout home cures.” While there are a few effective home cures for gout, prescription drugs remain the gold standard for treating gout, both during an acute attack and in the long run to prevent gout attacks. That being said, there are a few effective natural home treatments for gout attacks that can be used in addition to pharmaceuticals. Let’s take a look!
Gout Attacks Explained
Gout is caused by the crystallization of uric acid, a waste product produced when purines — naturally occurring chemicals found in foods like organ meats, asparagus, anchovies, herring, and mushrooms — are broken down.
These crystals are interpreted by the body as foreign intruders, and white blood cells fight them. As a result, the white cells generate cytokines, which are inflammatory substances that are released into the joint fluid. More white cells are attracted by the cytokines, and so on.
According to the Mayo Clinic, about 20-percent of individuals have high uric acid levels. However, almost two-thirds of patients with elevated uric acid levels have no symptoms.