The Medicinal Herb Info site was created to help educate visitors about the often forgotten wisdom of the old ways of treating illnesses. Many of today's drugs and medicines were originally derived from natural ingredients, combinations of plants and other items found in nature.

We are not suggesting that you ignore the help of trained medical professionals, simply that you have additional options available for treating illnesses. Often the most effective treatment involves a responsible blend of both modern and traditional treatments.

We wish you peace and health!

Gout

Definition

A hereditary metabolic disease that is a form of acute arthritis and is marked by inflammation of the joints. Joints affected may be at any location but gout usually begins in the knee or foot.
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Causes

Excessive uric acid (hyperuricemia) in the blood and deposits of urates of sodium in and around the joints. Several different metabolic abnormalities this condition. Approximately 90% of gout patients are male. The peak age for onset of symptoms in men is between 40 and 50; women rarely have gout before menopause. Gout is closely related to the diet, but may be brought on by stress. Obesity and an improper diet increase the tendency for gout. Also called the “disease of kings” and “rheumatism of the rich” because of the rich diets people consume.
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Symptoms

Most cases are without symptoms. When an acute attack occurs it usually begins at night with moderate pain that increases in intensity to the point where no body position provides relief. The big toe is a frequent site.
If you think you might have gout, have your doctor do a test to diagnose and treat the condition.
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Treatment

The condition responds to Colchicine. Medications to prevent uric acid in the blood and prevent kidney stones from deposits of uric acid in the kidney. Fluids should be forced at the rate of 3 liters per day. Aspirin should be avoided.

Bedrest the first 24 hours after onset of acute attack with the affected joints elevated. Analgesics administered, cold or hot compresses applied to relieve pain. Maintain a low-purine diet (see recommendations below) that is well balanced.
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Nutrients

Vitamin B complex, 100 mg. twice daily (avoid high amounts of niacin).

Folic acid, taken as directed on the label, is an important aid in nucleoprotein metabolism.

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), 500 mg. daily in divided doses, is the antistress vitamin.

Vitamin C, 3,000-5,000 mg. daily in divided doses, lowers serum uric acid.

Germanium, 100 mg. twice daily, reduces pain and swelling.

Kelp, 6 tablets per day, contains complete protein and vital minerals to reduce serum uric acid.

Vitamin E, started with 100 IU per day and increase slowly to 600 IU per day, neutralizes free radicals and improves circulation.

Zinc, 50-60 mg. per day, is important to protein metabolism and tissue repair.

Calcium, 1,500 mg. daily.

Magnesium, 750 mg. daily. Vitamin A, 25,000-50,000 IU daily for a month, then reduce to 15,000 IU, is another potent antioxidant.
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Herbs
  • Alflafa leaf
  • Agrimony, small-flower
  • Ash tree, American white
  • Asparagus
  • Balm of Gilead
  • Betony, wood
  • Birch
  • Bitterroot
  • Blackberry
  • Boneset
  • Broom
  • Buckthorn bark
  • Burdock, great
  • Cactus, prickly-pear
  • Calico bush
  • Capsicum
  • Celery
  • Chamomile
  • Chickweed
  • Cohosh, blue
  • Comfrey
  • Couch grass
  • Eucalyptus
  • Feverfew
  • Germander, wall
  • Ginger root
  • Ginseng
  • Golden rod
  • Gravel root
  • Hyssop
  • Juniper, berries
  • Labrador tea
  • Mugwort
  • Mullein
  • Nettle
  • Oak
  • Pennyroyal
  • Plantain
  • Poke root
  • Rue
  • St. John’s wort
  • Sarsaparilla
  • Senna
  • Skullcap
  • Speedwell
  • Tacamahac
  • Tamarack
  • Thistle, blessed
  • Valerian
  • Violet, blue, leaf
  • Yarrow
  • Yellow parilla

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Recommendations

Eat only raw fruits and vegetables for two weeks. Juices are best. Also include grains, seeds, and nuts. Frozen or fresh cherry juice, cherries and strawberries neutralize uric acid, so eat lots of them. Drink celery juice diluted with distilled water. Drink only distilled water.

Eat NO meat of any kind. Meat contains extremely high amounts of uric acid. Avoid gravies and rich foods, such as cakes and pies, leave white flour and sugar products out of your diet. If you are prone to gout, limit your intake of dried beans, cauliflower, fish, lentils, oatmeal, peas, poultry, spinach, and yeast products.

Avoid purine-rich foods including: anchovies, asparagus, consommé, herring, meat gravies and broths, mushrooms, mussels, all organ meats, sardines, and sweetbreads. Never mix these foods with alcohol if you are prone to gout! Alcohol increases the production of uric acid and must be eliminated from the diet.

Avoid restricted weight loss diets. Abruptly, cutting back on foods or a fast of longer than 3 days may result in increased uric acid levels.
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Cautions

Because of the cellular destruction associated with chemotherapy in cancer treatment, uric acid is often released in extreme amounts, resulting in gouty arthritis.
See the doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
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Bibliography

Buy It! Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss; Back to Eden Publishing Co., Loma Linda, CA 92354, Original copyright 1939, revised edition 1994

Buy It! Indian Herbalogy of North America, by Alma R. Hutchens, Shambala Publications, Inc., Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 1973

Buy It! The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, Dorling Kindersley, Inc, 232 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, First American Edition, copyright 1993

Buy It! Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke., Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10000

Buy It! Planetary Herbology, by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., O.M.D., Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. WI 53181., Copyright 1988, published 1992

Buy It! A Useful Guide to Herbal Health Care, HCBL (Health Center for Better Living).,1414 Rosemary Lane, Naples, FL 34103., Special Sale Catalog, 1996

Buy It! Earl Mindell’s Herb Bible, by Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D., Simon & Schuster/Fireside, Rockefeller Center 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

Buy It! Secrets of the Chinese Herbalists, by Richard Lucas, Parker Publishing Company, Inc., West Nyack, NY, 1987.

Buy It! The Old Herb Doctor, by Joseph E. Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, copyright 1984, sixth printing 1994.

Buy It! The Herb Book, by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974.

Buy It! The Healing Plants, by Mannfried Pahlow, Barron’s Educational Series, Inc. 250 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge, NY 11788, 1992

Buy It! The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine, by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988.

Buy It! Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements, by James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C., Avery Publishing Group, Inc., Garden City Park, NY

Buy It! The Nature Doctor: A Manual of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, by Dr. H.C.A. Vogel; Keats Publishing, Inc., 27 Pine Street (Box 876) New Canaan, CT. 06840-0876. Copyright Verlag A. Vogel, Teufen (AR) Switzerland 1952, 1991

Buy It!The Magic of Herbs, by David Conway, published by Jonathan Cape, Thirty Bedford Square, London, England. (Out of print)

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