Natural treatments for gout
Natural treatments for gout focus on managing the inflammation caused by uric acid crystal deposits in the joints, particularly the big toe. Gout attacks are characterized by intense pain, redness, swelling, and warmth. While conventional treatments typically involve anti-inflammatory medications and uric acid-lowering drugs, some individuals explore alternative options. Proposed natural remedies include various herbs and supplements such as vitamin C, folate, and devil's claw, although many lack strong scientific backing. Other popular suggestions are coffee, ginger, turmeric, cherry juice, and celery juice, often rooted in traditional practices. Lifestyle modifications, like increasing water intake, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding high-purine foods and alcohol, are also recommended to help reduce symptoms and prevent flare-ups. However, caution is advised, as some natural remedies might interact with conventional gout treatments. This overview illustrates that while there are many proposed natural treatments, their effectiveness varies, and individuals should consult healthcare professionals before making changes to their treatment regimen.
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Full Article
DEFINITION: Treatment of inflammation caused by the deposit of uric acid crystals in joints and tissues.
- PRINCIPAL PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: None
- OTHER PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: Aspartic acid, bromelain, celery juice, cherry juice, coffee, devil’s claw, fish oil, folate, ginger, olive leaf, selenium, turmeric, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, diet and lifestyle changes
Introduction
Gout is an inflammatory condition caused by the deposit of uric acid crystals in joints—primarily the big toe—and tissues. Typically, attacks consist of fierce pain, redness, swelling, and heat punctuating pain-free intervals. Conventional medical treatment consists of anti-inflammatory drugs for acute attacks and uric acid-lowering drugs for prevention.
Proposed Treatments
The following herbs and supplements are widely recommended for gout, but they have no reliable scientific support:
•Vitamin C. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 184 people without gout, vitamin C at a daily dose of 500 milligrams significantly reduced uric acid levels. This suggests, but falls far short of proving, that vitamin C might help prevent gout.
•Folate. Folate has been proposed as a preventive treatment since the late twentieth century, but scientific evidence remains inconsistent. Some researchers have suggested that observed effects may be due to contaminants such as pterin-6-aldehyde rather than folate itself. Folate is not recommended in current gout treatment guidelines.
•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. However, it has not been tested in gout.
•Other supplements. Based on reasoning but no concrete evidence of effectiveness, fish oil, olive leaf, vitamin E, selenium, bromelain, vitamin A, and aspartic acid have also been recommended for both the prevention and treatment of gout. Other recommended supplements include coffee, ginger, and turmeric.
•Folk remedies. A traditional remedy for gout—with negligible scientific evidence—calls for consuming one-half to one pound of cherries daily. Over-the-counter tablets containing concentrated cherry juice are available too. Celery juice is another folk remedy for gout widely used in Australia.
•Additional recommendations. Adequate hydration, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol intake, and reducing consumption of high-purine foods are supported by medical guidance. Ice packs, joint elevation, and stress management may help reduce discomfort during acute flares.
Herbs and Supplements to Use with Caution
Various herbs and supplements may interact adversely with drugs used to treat gout, so individuals should be cautious when considering the use of herbs and supplements.
Bibliography
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Huang, H. Y., et al. "The Effects of Vitamin C Supplementation on Serum Concentrations of Uric Acid." Arthritis and Rheumatism, vol. 52, 2005, pp. 1843-47.
Jacob, Divya. "What Is the Best Thing to Drink If You Have Gout? 8 Beverages." MedicineNet, www.medicinenet.com/what_is_the_best_thing_to_drink_if_you_have_gout/article.htm. Accessed 23 Sept. 2024.
Li, et al. “Assessing Cross-National Inequalities and Predictive Trends in Gout Burden: A Global Perspective.” Frontiers in Medicine, 2025, doi :10.3389/fmed.2025.1527716.
Nall, Rachel and Adam Hotchkiss. "10 Home Remedies for Gout." 7 Sept. 2023, Medical News Today, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324972. Accessed 23 Sept. 2024.
Parker, James N., and Philip M. Parker, editors. The 2002 Official Patient’s Sourcebook on Gout. Icon Health, 2002.
Silvestre, Samuel M., et al. "Natural Products as a Source for New Leads in Gout Treatment." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM, 2020, p. 8274975, doi:10.1155/2020/8274975.