Definition :– Acute inflammation of the joints (especially feet).
Symptoms:
- Excruciating joint pain
- Joint stiffness
- Inflammation
- Redness
- Warmth
- Disability (acute cases)
- Kidney failure (acute cases)
Causes:
- Excess uric acid in blood
- Deposits of uric crystal in joints
- Over-indulging in purine-rich food, carbohydrates & alcohol
- Genetic link
Treatment:
Lifestyle Recommendations
- Avoid purine-rich food (anchovies, mackerel, asparagus, shellfish, herring, meat gravies and broths, mussels, mushrooms, sardines, peanuts, baker’s and brewer’s yeast, mince meat and sweetbreads), carbohydrates & alcohol & caffeine & refined foods, which are acid-forming; do not take thyme and thyroid extracts for long periods
- Eat cherries, raw fruit and other foods rich in anti-oxidants (especially for 2 weeks after an attack), as well as rice, millet, starchy vegetables, green vegetables, corn, corn bread, cheese, eggs, nuts and milk
- Avoid meats – contain high uric acid
- Avoid alcohol – increases production of uric acid and reduces its elimination; beer and wine also contain yeast
- Avoid heated oils – rancid fats destroy vitamin E and cause release of uric acid
- Avoid refines products and amino acid glycine; limit intake of caffeine, cauliflower, dried beans, lentils, fish, eggs, oatmeal, peas, poultry, spinach and yeast products
- Drink lots of quality water daily (8 glasses) and celery, birch leaf & parsley juices
Supplement Recommendations
- Vitamin C with bioflavanoids (3 000-5 000 mg daily, in divide doses) – lowers serum uric acid levels
- Bromelain, taken without food at a dose of about 350 mg 2x daily – can help to decrease inflammation (and pain as a result of that)
- Fish oil or flax seed oil may inhibit the production of inflammatory chemicals in the body
Herbs –
- Turmeric, boswellia, and devil’s claw – may help reduce inflammation
- Quercetin – acts as a natural antihistamine and also inhibits the production of uric acid. A typical dose is about 300 milligrams 2-3 times daily (between meals)
- Guaiacum Resin, Ginger, capsicum and sarsaparilla
- Vitamin B complex
- Anti-oxidant
- Calcium & Magnesium
- Liver cleanser
- Folic acid (80 mg/day)