Gout is an inflammatory condition that is caused by the deposit of uric acid
crystals in joints (most famously the big toe), as well as other tissues.
Typically, attacks of fierce pain, redness, swelling, and heat punctuate
pain-free intervals.
Medical treatment consists of anti-inflammatory drugs for acute attacks and
of uric acid-lowering drugs for prevention.
Proposed Treatments for Gout
The following herbs and supplements are widely recommended for gout, but as yet they have no reliable scientific support.
Vitamin C
In a
double-blind, placebo-controlled study
of 184 people without gout, use of vitamin C at a daily dose of 500 mg significantly reduced uric acid levels.
7
This suggests, but falls far short of proving, that vitamin C might be helpful for preventing or treating gout.
For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full
Vitamin C
article.
Folate
Folate has been recommended as a preventive treatment for gout for at least 20 years. Some clinicians report that it can be highly effective. However, what little scientific evidence we have on the method is contradictory.
1,2,3
It has been suggested that a contaminant found in folate, pterin-6-aldehyde, may actually be responsible for the positive effects observed by some clinicians.
For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full
Folate
article.
Devil's Claw
The herb devil's claw is sometimes recommended as a pain-relieving treatment for gout based on evidence for its effectiveness in various forms of arthritis.
4
However, it has not been tested in gout.
For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full
Devil's Claw
article
.
Folk Remedies
A traditional remedy for gout (with negligible scientific evidence) calls for consumption of ½ to 1 pound of
cherries
a day.
6
You can also buy tablets containing concentrated cherry juice.
Celery juice is another folk remedy for gout that is said to be widely used in Australia.