Do you have recommendations for dealing with gout? I'm interested in alternative therapies, plus nutrition and homeopathy. I have about six to eight flareups a year in my left ankle.

A.

Gout is caused by elevated uric acid levels in the blood. The excess uric acid deposits as crystals in the joints which results in inflammation and pain. The crystals can also deposit in the kidneys causing inflammation there as well. There are medications which can help to reduce the uric acid levels.

Diet is very important in controlling gout. There are foods which cause the uric acid levels in the blood to be high. They include organ meats such as liver, kidneys, heart and brains, also mussels, anchovies, sardines, herring and meat gravies and soups. These should be avoided completely. Foods that increase uric acid levels moderately are fish, seafood, red meat, poultry, yeast, lentils, whole grain cereals, beans, peas, asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms and spinach. These should be consumed in small quantities. Foods that help keep uric acid low are vegetables, fruits, milk, eggs, cheese, and refined cereals. Include lots of these in your diet. You should also avoid alcohol, vitamins made from yeast, niacin (Vitamin B3), Vitamin B12, coffee, tea and chocolate. Drinking plenty of water is very helpful as it helps the kidneys to excrete the uric acid.

Blueberries, cherries and cherry juice help promote the excretion of uric acid, some people get good relief from eating them daily. Celery seed extract is also helpful for decreasing uric acid. Weight loss helps decrease uric acid levels, but avoid rapid weight loss or fasting as this can induce an acute attack.

Some medications cause elevated uric acid. They include thiazide diuretics, penicillin, sulfa drugs, and ergotamine. Check with your doctor about discontinuing any of these if you take them.

A homeopathic remedy may be helpful. Because a number of different remedies are used for gout, I would recommend that you see a homeopathic physician for a prescription. You can get a referral by contacting The National Centers for Homeopathy at 703-548-7790.

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