When You Need Gout Relief, and Fast

My parents and I regularly traveled to the San Juan Islands. We had property on a remote island that had no electricity or phone lines, and our journeys were a long series of flights and boat rides. One year, when we were on our first leg of the trip, my father complained of mysterious foot pain. My mother said, "You have gout." When he took his shoe and sock off to investigate, the top of his foot and toes were red. "Yep, it’s gout," she said. "Don’t you remember, your father had it." 

Since we were on the first part of the vacation and not yet on a scarcely inhabited island, we stopped in a bookstore in Seattle to read about natural remedies.  Though I do not recommend this, my father had to self-diagnose in order to 1) prove my mother right and 2) have natural remedies on hand during our time on the island.

Here is what he learned from his research and later, from his doctor:

Gout is a form of arthritis and is also known as a king’s disease.  Often, kings or other affluent people suffered from gout because of diets rich in uric acid.  Excess uric acid can cause crystals, and crystals cause pain!  Besides the feet, gout attacks can target the elbows, fingers, ankles, knees or other joints.

Symptoms of Gout:

• Foot Pain or Extremity Pain

• Red Streaks or Reddening of Skin in Area of Pain

• Swelling

• Numbness

Causes:

• Build-up of Uric Acid

• Heredity

Natural Pain Relief

• Soaking Affected Area in Warm Water with Epsom Salts

• Eating Cherries

• Avoiding Organ Meats (Liver, Heart, etc) Often Found in Food like Sausage

• Avoiding Alcohol, Especially Beer

• Exercising

• Drinking Plenty of Water

Though never a heavy drinker, by eliminating beer completely from his diet, soaking his foot in epsom salts, and eating cherries, my father attained relief during our vacation.  This may not be the case for you.  Don’t hesitate to see your doctor!

For more information on gout relief, go to Gout Pal.

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