Gouty Arthritis

Dr. Gary S. Sy calls gout as “gouty arthritis,” a joint disease in which uric acid accumulates and forms crystals that may become lodged in certain areas of the body.  According to him, when uric acid crystals are caught in spaces between your joints, the tissues surrounding them becomes inflamed and irritates the nerve endings, which causes extreme pain.  Crystals also accumulate in the kidneys, which may cause kidney failure.

The main symptom of gout is severe pain, sometimes in your elbow or knee but more often in your hand or foot, frequently at the base of your big toe.  The pain usually occurs without warning.  Within a few hours your joint is swollen and tender, often accompanied by a low-grade fever, and the inflamed skin over the joint is often reddish-purple, shiny, and dry.

Gout affects males more than females after puberty.  The first attack usually involves only one joint and may last a few days.  Sometimes no more attacks occur, but there is usually a second, which may not come on for months or years.  After the second attack, the gout may occur at short intervals, or may even last longer and involving more joints.

Dr. Sy points out that gout is one of the most controllable of the metabolic disorders.  If untreated, it can cause joint deformity, death from kidney disease, or high blood pressure.  Even though your first attack will subside on its own in a few days and there will be no immediate recurrence, consulting your physician or health-care provider is advisable.

Dr. Sy further cautions us not to try overcoming pain with aspirin, which slows down the excretion of uric acid.  Instead, your physician may advise you to make changes in your eating and drinking habits.  A high daily water intake is important in controlling uric acid levels, particularly in the urine where uric acid crystals accumulate to form stones.

For treating gouty arthritis, the good doctor offers two natural remedies:

Bromelain derived from pineapple, is an effective and suitable alternative to stronger prescription anti-inflammatory agents used in gout treatments.  Bromelain can reduce inflammation and combat high uric acid levels in the blood.  It decreases inflammation which is the main reason for gout pain.  The inflammation occurs when uric acid crystallizes in the joints causing irritation and swelling.

Celery is a natural substance which may inhibit xanthine oxidase – thus inhibits the enzyme which is responsible for a major step in converting purines into uric acid in the liver, so less uric acid is produced.  Celery can lower uric acid levels by improving its excretion in urine.  Furthermore, as a diuretic, it acts to reduce blood pressure which is important for gout sufferers because high blood pressure frequently accompanies gout.