Gout
Musculo-skeletal System
Uric acid is one of the body’s waste products and normally passes through the kidneys and into the urine. In gout, uric acid accumulates and forms crystals that may lodge in areas of the body where blood supply is too meagre or sluggish to carry the acid away. When uric acid crystals are caught in the spaces between one of your joints, the tissue surrounding it becomes inflamed. The inflammation irritates the nerve endings in the joint. The main symptom of gout is severe pain, sometimes in the elbow or knee, but more frequently in the hand or foot, especially at the base of the big toe.
Gout can be dangerous because the crystallized uric acid can damage the kidneys, and the effects and pain can be felt all over the body.
The course of treatment for gout is very similar to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis as both conditions involve an acidic build-up around the joints.
Essential Oils
Essential Oils:
Recommended Essential Oils: basil, birch, pine, thyme
To soothe the pain of gout, take a bath with 2 drops Angelica Root and 4 drops Roman Chamomile
Self Help
Self Help:
- Cut down on rich foods, especially red meats, sardines and anchovies
- Drink less alcohol, including beer, brandy, whiskey and wine
- Drink tart cherry juice or take extracts of tart cherries
- Eliminate coffee and caffeine from the diet
Herbs
Herbs:
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) a natural diuretic and tonic, it can be used for renal congestion, inflammation of the kidney and bladder, for gravel, for stones, and urine retention. For diuretic purposes, 3 – 4 drops of oil a day, or 2 – 4 cupfuls of an infusion a day.
Sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata) to reduce the build-up of uric acid, drink 1 cup sweet cicely decoction three times daily and apply a compress of double-strength decoction to the area
- Decoction: 30 g (1 oz) dried or 60 g (2 oz) fresh sweet cicely root in 750 ml (1 ½ pints) water.
- For double strength, use double the root in the same amount of water.
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) – 1 cup of decoction up to three times daily, for as long as necessary.
- Decoction Formula: 30g (1 oz) dried or 60g (2 oz) fresh stinging nettle roots in 750 ml (1 ½ pints) of water.
Gemstone
Gemstone for Healing:
Place on affected area
Reflexology
Reflexology areas to emphasize:
Kidneys – they control uric acid
Adrenals – for inflammation
Reflex of the affected area in the body
Kidney Cleanse
Pearl Barley Water Kidney Cleanse:
Barley water is a traditionally acclaimed drink which will support and nourish the kidneys in times of stress. It is an integral part of a kidney cleansing programme, which will produce tremendous overall benefits.
Ingredients for Barley Water
1/2 cup of pearl barley
5 cups of water
1/4 of a cinnamon stick
grated ginger
freshly squeezed lemon juice
How to make:
Place the pearl barley, water, the cinnamon stick, some grated ginger into a pan and simmer for 20 minutes.
After cooling, strain the mixture and add fresh lemon juice for extra flavour.
Drink between 1 and 3 cups daily
