Guest guest Posted March 24, 2003 Report Share Posted March 24, 2003 Thank you for the info - I'll check out the cleanse. Where does one get this cherry juice? alan cameron <wrench942002@y...> wrote: > > Suzanne if you clean your kidneys re Dr.H.'s cleanse and stop eating acid producing food as opposed to alkaline food.You can reduce the gout attacks.Also montmorency cherry juice will relieve gout I know that from experience.Look up kidney cleanse pg.591 the cure for all diseases. > Suzanne <suzanne_on_ca@y...> wrote:Just curious if any of you out there have experience with gout. It > is too much uric acid in the system and could affect the kidneys > (stones). Any relation to liver problems?? > > ~Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2004 Report Share Posted August 8, 2004 Prevention• One of the best ways to prevent gout is to drink at least 6-8 eight ounce glasses of water, fresh juices or herb tea daily, especially at the first signs of gout. This will keep your urine diluted and will help your body excrete uric acid and prevent crystals from forming.• Eat foods high in potassium, as mentioned above.• Eating generous amounts of other fruits and vegetables helps keep uric acid crystals in solution.• Take the flavonoid quercetin - see below under Folk Remedies. This should be part of your permanent gout-prevention diet.• Having sex prevents men from getting gout. It seems that increased sexual activity reduces uric acid levels in fertile men. • Lemon juice prevents gout attacks by stimulating the formation of calcium carbonate in the body. Calcium carbonate neutralizes acids in the body, including uric acid that triggers gout attacks. After each meal drink the juice of one freshly squeezed lemon in a glass of lukewarm water. To get more juice out of the lemon, bring it to room temperature, then roll it around on the counter with the palm of your hand. • Taking ½ teaspoon of baking soda with meals will prevent gout attacks. This will help alkalize the body. • Keep the leg elevated. • A high fiber diet also aids in the elimination of uric acid by absorbing bile acids formed in the liver. These bile acids can act as a precursor to uric acid. SupplementsLow-purine diets are low in vitamins B, E and other antioxidants, so supplementation will be necessary to prevent damage from free radicals that can intensify gouty problems. B complex One to three 50 mg tablets of the complete B complex daily, plus 500 mg of pantothenic acid (B5) in divided doses to assist the body's conversion of uric acid into harmless compounds. Bromelain 500 mg twice daily as an anti-inflammatory. Fish oil Take 2 grams of fish oil capsules 2x a day to reduce the chances of gouty inflammation. Magnesium citrate 400 mg three times a day - an anti-spasmodic to relieve pain. L-glutamine 500 mg four times daily on an empty stomach - is an antacid. L-glutathione 500 mg twice daily on an empty stomach - increases renal cleansing of uric acid. L-glycine 500 mg four times daily between meals - acts as an antacid. L-methionine 250 mg twice daily on an empty stomach - detoxifies purines. Tissue salts To prevent the formation of uric acid crystals, take two tablets of 6X Silicea three times a day. During a gout attack, increase the dosage to three tablets and add an equal amount of Nat. Phos. and Nat. Sulph. Vitamin C 1,000 mg per hour at the very outset of a gout attack, then reduce to 500-3,000 mg daily for maintenance. Vitamin C helps lower serum uric acid levels. Vitamin E Low-purine diets are low in vitamin E and fried foods deplete it, so supplementation will be necessary as a deficiency can contribute to the formation of excess uric acid. Begin with 100 IU of natural vitamin E, and slowly increase to 6-800 IU daily. Acupressure• Press just below the center of the nose toward the upper lip. • Press and massage between the ball of the foot and the bottom of the big toe on each foot; then on the left foot only, stimulate a point halfway between the base of the little toe and the heel pad. • Press inward and upward on the underside of the protuberance at the base of the skull. • On both hands, press and massage a point on the inside of the pad at the base of the thumb directly beneath the index finger; then on the left palm only, stimulate a point halfway between the base of the little finger and the wrist. RemediesFolkAlfalfa is a good source of minerals and other nutrients that help reduce serum uric acid.Apple cider vinegar (ACV) Add some rose hips to vinegar and boil; dab on affected area. You may need to apply this mixture several times a day for a few weeks. The vinegar changes the blood pH so that the crystals will go into solution and be excreted.• Mix two teaspoons each of apple cider vinegar and raw honey in a glass of water and drink at mealtime.• Soak the foot in a mixture of ½ cup of ACV and three cups of hot water.Bilberry is high in anthocyanosides and flavonoids, which are helpful in overcoming gout.Black cherry juice Get some natural, concentrated black cherry juice and drink several tablespoons of the concentrate daily. You should expect relief in 48 hours. See our Product.Black cohash moderates blood acidity.Blueberries are high in anti-inflammatory compounds called anthocyanins, which help ease the pain of gout.Buchu tea helps dissolve and flush out uric acid crystals.Castor oil packs Soak a piece of white flannel in warm castor oil, wring it out and place over the affected area; cover with plastic wrap and apply a heating pad. Do this for one hour twice daily.Cayenne pepper Boil one tablespoon of pepper in 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water and dab onto the painful joint.• Mix cayenne with enough wintergreen oil to make a paste and apply to the affected area.Celery seeds These seeds are quite effective in relieving gout by eliminating uric acid from the body. According to Duke, Ph.D., a medical botanist formerly with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, celery seeds contain about twenty different anti-inflammatory agents. Although there is little scientific research on celery seeds, according to Kerry Bone, a leading expert on herbal remedies in Australia, "it (sic) works brilliantly in patients." Note: This remedy is not to be used by pregnant women or those with kidney disease because of its potential diuretic effect.• Cook a tablespoon of celery seeds in two cups of water until they are soft; strain and drink 1/2 cup four times a day.Charcoal Take ½-1 teaspoon of activated charcoal daily.• Make a poultice using ½ cup of activated charcoal, 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed and warm water to draw out the toxins.Cherries If you are lucky enough to have fresh cherries, eating 6-8 cherries daily will relieve the symptoms of gout. This remedy was reported in 1950 by Dr. Ludwig W. Blau who cured his own gout. Frozen and canned cherries may also be used. When you feel an attack coming on, eat 20-30 cherries immediately. Cherries are rich in compounds that prevent the destruction of collagen, which the body uses to form connective tissue. The connective tissue is damaged by gout. Cherries also have an enzyme that neutralizes uric acid and are high in anthocyanins which have high antioxidant properties as well as anti-inflammatory action. For greatest effectiveness eat them between meals.Devil's claw reduces uric acid levels and is a natural cleansing agent for toxic impurities. Take 400 mg of the dried extract 3x a day for as long as desired.DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) is very effective in relieving pain and swelling caused by inflammation. It helps dissolve crystalline deposits. See our Product.Garlic Eat several cloves of raw garlic daily. Mince the garlic and add it to black cherry juice for a potent remedy.Ginger Put 1/3 cup of ground ginger (buy in bulk to keep the cost down) in a bathtub of water and soak for 30 minutes. This will cause you to sweat (a good thing) which will help eliminate the uric acid from your tissues. When you are finished the bath be sure to rinse off thoroughly, as the ginger can cause skin irritation if it dries on your skin.Grapes are high in alkalines which lessen the acidity of uric acid and aid in its elimination from the body.Hawthorn is high in anthocyanosides and flavonoids, which are helpful in overcoming gout.Hydrangea is an anti-inflammatory.Ice Apply an ice pack for ten minutes, then alternate with a moist hot-towel compress, to soothe and numb the pain.Mullein Soak mullein leaves in a hot vinegar/water mixture. Pack the leaves on the affected area.Nettle contains alkaloids which neutralize uric acid.Parsley acts as a natural diuretic.Quercetin The flavonoid quercetin inhibits uric acid production in a similar fashion to commonly prescribed drugs for gout. Take 1000 mg of quercetin along with 1,000-1,500 mg of the enzyme bromelain (to enhance absorption) two to three times daily between meals. Bromelain also help reduce the inflammation.Saffron neutralizes uric acid buildup.Spearmint Make a poultice of spearmint leaves and wrap the affected area. Strawberries Eating a cup of strawberries with each meal should bring quick relief. They neutralize uric acid.Yarrow Make a tea by using equal parts of yarrow and stinging nettles; strain, cool and drink several cups a day. Becky Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2004 Report Share Posted August 8, 2004 Gout Remedies - Health 911| Home | Bookstore | Ailments | Folk Remedies | | Customer Service | Feedback | Contact Us | GoutGout is a common type of arthritis that occurs when an excessive amount of uric acid in the blood, tissues and urine crystallizes in the joints. People who have gout are unable to break down and excrete uric acid, a byproduct of digesting certain foods. It usually comes on suddenly, and can last from a few hours to several days. It can cause extremely sore toes or other areas of the foot, and because it frequently manifests itself in the big toe, it is also known as "gouty big toe". Another name is "gouty arthritis". Gout can also appear in an ear, heel of the hand, small hand joints, ankles, knees, elbows, or wrists with inflammation, swelling and intense pain from the build-up of uric acid crystals. Uric acid is the end product of the metabolism of a class of chemicals known as purines. In people with gout, the body does not produce enough of the digestive enzyme uricase, and, as a result, uric acid builds up and crystallizes. Over 90% of gout sufferers are middle-aged males and 25% have family members with it. In women, gout usually appears after menopause. Left uncontrolled, excessive excretion of uric acid in the urine can lead to the development of painful kidney stones, kidney disease, and even kidney failure. Gout is associated with high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and uric acid kidney stones. Traditional TreatmentTraditional treatment is high doses of NSAIDS or indomethacin to kill the pain, anti-inflammatories, and drugs, such as allopurinol, that inhibit formation of uric acid. Allopurinol, however, has some serious side effects, such as skin eruptions, liver toxicity, inflammation of the blood vessels, and possible weakening of kidney function by forcing the kidneys to work too hard to excrete the uric acid. If you have kidney problems and use this drug, be sure to be carefully monitored. Another drug that is used is colchicine, but it, too, has serious side effects, including numbness in the hands and feet, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weakness, hair loss, and abnormal bleeding or bruising. Cortisone is used for acute attacks, but should not be used for extended periods. Your doctor can diagnose whether or not you have gout either through a blood test or by taking some fluid from an affected joint and analyzing it for urate crystals. CausesGout is caused by high blood levels of uric acid that crystallize and form painful deposits in the joints. Traditional thinking tells us that gout is the result of excessive amounts of alcohol, protein, heavy foods, coffee and soft drinks in your diet. These foods cause uric acid levels to rise. Other foods that increase uric acid are anchovies, asparagus, legumes, mushrooms, meat, organs, and shellfish. Reduction in consumption of these foods is very often successful in reducing or eliminating gout.While gout is a hereditary metabolic disorder in some people, usually something else actually causes uric acid levels to rise and trigger gout attacks. With approximately one million people suffering from gout, it is certainly a fairly common ailment. However, with understanding of its causes you can eliminate those painful attacks.Food allergies may lead to gout. When people who are sensitive to certain foods eliminate them from their diet many find that their gout goes away, too.Gout is more common in overweight people. Nearly half of the people with gout are at least 15% above their recommended weight. As mentioned below, dieting can trigger gout attacks.Some other causes:• Stress raises uric acid levels • Surgery • Injury • Candida or use of antibiotics • Vitamin deficiency, especially B5, A and E • Chemotherapy - uric acid is released in extreme amounts due to the cellular destruction. • Hypothyroidism is often involved with gout. See our Thyroid section for more information. • A drop in barometric pressure may trigger an attack. • Kidney failure may make it more difficult to rid the body of uric acid, thereby triggering gout. • Diseases such as leukemia, multiple myeloma and psoriasis are associated with gout.While traditional thinking is that certain foods cause gout, recent research, however, indicates that lead poisoning may be another possible cause. The lead poisoning makes the aldosterone system insensitive to potassium concentration and increases the potassium content of the blood. A potassium deficiency can increase urate levels in the blood. Aldosterone is a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex (part of the adrenal gland) that is important in the control of blood pressure and the regulation of sodium and potassium concentration. It would be very interesting for us to know how many people with gout have high blood pressure. If you do, let us know. To test for lead poisoning you can either have a hair analysis or a heavy metals blood test done. If the results indicate that you are high in lead (or other heavy metals) one of our heavy metals detoxification clay baths may be helpful. There are other causes for potassium loss that may trigger gout: • Fasting• Surgery• Diuretics - lead to reduced sodium and potassium. Other short-term effects may include increases in cholesterol and glucose levels and biochemical changes that affect the levels of magnesium and calcium in the body. They may also increase uric acid levels, triggering gout. This effect is especially important for people who use diuretics continually for either dieting or hypertension.To correct the lack of potassium (the recommended intake is 3,500 mg, but it is safe to take considerably more) take supplements or eat foods high in potassium, such as baked potato, with skin (844), 1 cup cooked spinach (838), ½ cup dried peaches (784), ½ medium avocado (604), 1 cup cantaloupe (494), ½ cup boiled lima beans (478), medium banana (451), 1 cup orange juice (436), 15 raw baby carrots (420), 1 cup of skim milk (406), 1 cup nonfat yogurt (390), ½ cup non-salted tomato sauce (350), 4 oz. lean hamburger (349), ½ cup canned kidney beans (329), yams, dried prunes, etc. If you eat enough of these fruits and vegetables you will not need to take a potassium supplement. Potassium makes the acid crystals go into solution so they can be eliminated.Some Possible Causes of Elevated Uric Acid LevelsMedication Diuretics used for weight loss or heart disease, insulin, some antibiotics, medication for rheumatoid arthritis, or an overdose of B vitamins can cause uric acid levels to rise. Diuretics reduce sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium (among other things) levels. If you need to use a diuretic, see our natural herbal products for ones with fewer side effects. One customer reported getting gout when he took beta-blockers for his high blood pressure. Poor kidney function When kidneys are not functioning at optimum levels, they lose their ability to excrete uric acid from the body. This situation may be due to various kidney problems or over-consumption of alcohol. When alcohol is metabolized, lactic acid is produced, which hinders uric acid excretion by the kidneys. Dieting Severe dieting or fasting can cause excess lactic acid, which hinders uric acid excretion by the kidneys. Crash and severe calorie restriction diets shock your metabolism and can trigger a gout attack. Dieting may also cause a loss of potassium, which can increase urate levels in the blood. As mentioned above, some dieters also use diuretics to speed the process, and they can rob the body of potassium and other minerals, triggering a gout attack. It seems to be a vicious circle! However, a proper diet that is done slowly is recommended because losing weight will reduce serum levels of uric acid.Diet Traditional thinking tells us that gout is the result of excessive amounts of alcohol, protein, heavy foods, coffee and soft drinks in your diet. Certain foods contain high levels of purine which can cause uric acid levels to rise. Purine is a protein substance that is transformed into uric acid during digestion. Reduction in consumption of these foods is very often successful in reducing or eliminating gout. Foods and Other Things to Avoid• Meat: organ meats, offal, meat extracts, veal, bacon, sweetbreads, meat gravies and broths, consumme/bullion • Poultry: turkey, goose• Seafood: salmon, mackerel, trout, cod, herring, sardines, anchovies, mussels, crab, shrimp• Vegetables: peas, beans, lentils, asparagus, mushrooms, cooked spinach, rhubarb, cauliflower • Yeast products: baked goods, beer• Alcohol - it increases the production of uric acid and inhibits its excretion by the kidneys• Coffee - it accelerates the breakdown of protein into uric acid• All fried foods - they cause a depletion of vitamin E, which can cause uric acid to rise• Cream and ice cream• Rich desserts• Spices• Pastries• Simple sugars, simple carbohydrates and saturated fats - they increase your body's production of uric acid and impair your kidneys' ability to get rid of it. Eliminate fructose (found in food and drinks, like sodas)• White flour• Aspirin can raise uric acid levels. If you need to use pain killers, only use ones with ibuprofen.• Oatmeal• Whole grains• Caffeine - it impairs kidney function, which is needed to get uric acid out of the body.Prevention• One of the best ways to prevent gout is to drink at least 6-8 eight ounce glasses of water, fresh juices or herb tea daily, especially at the first signs of gout. This will keep your urine diluted and will help your body excrete uric acid and prevent crystals from forming.• Eat foods high in potassium, as mentioned above.• Eating generous amounts of other fruits and vegetables helps keep uric acid crystals in solution.• Take the flavonoid quercetin - see below under Folk Remedies. This should be part of your permanent gout-prevention diet.• Having sex prevents men from getting gout. It seems that increased sexual activity reduces uric acid levels in fertile men. • Lemon juice prevents gout attacks by stimulating the formation of calcium carbonate in the body. Calcium carbonate neutralizes acids in the body, including uric acid that triggers gout attacks. After each meal drink the juice of one freshly squeezed lemon in a glass of lukewarm water. To get more juice out of the lemon, bring it to room temperature, then roll it around on the counter with the palm of your hand. • Taking ½ teaspoon of baking soda with meals will prevent gout attacks. This will help alkalize the body. • Keep the leg elevated. • A high fiber diet also aids in the elimination of uric acid by absorbing bile acids formed in the liver. These bile acids can act as a precursor to uric acid. SupplementsLow-purine diets are low in vitamins B, E and other antioxidants, so supplementation will be necessary to prevent damage from free radicals that can intensify gouty problems. B complex One to three 50 mg tablets of the complete B complex daily, plus 500 mg of pantothenic acid (B5) in divided doses to assist the body's conversion of uric acid into harmless compounds. Bromelain 500 mg twice daily as an anti-inflammatory. Fish oil Take 2 grams of fish oil capsules 2x a day to reduce the chances of gouty inflammation. Magnesium citrate 400 mg three times a day - an anti-spasmodic to relieve pain. L-glutamine 500 mg four times daily on an empty stomach - is an antacid. L-glutathione 500 mg twice daily on an empty stomach - increases renal cleansing of uric acid. L-glycine 500 mg four times daily between meals - acts as an antacid. L-methionine 250 mg twice daily on an empty stomach - detoxifies purines. Tissue salts To prevent the formation of uric acid crystals, take two tablets of 6X Silicea three times a day. During a gout attack, increase the dosage to three tablets and add an equal amount of Nat. Phos. and Nat. Sulph. Vitamin C 1,000 mg per hour at the very outset of a gout attack, then reduce to 500-3,000 mg daily for maintenance. Vitamin C helps lower serum uric acid levels. Vitamin E Low-purine diets are low in vitamin E and fried foods deplete it, so supplementation will be necessary as a deficiency can contribute to the formation of excess uric acid. Begin with 100 IU of natural vitamin E, and slowly increase to 6-800 IU daily. Acupressure• Press just below the center of the nose toward the upper lip. • Press and massage between the ball of the foot and the bottom of the big toe on each foot; then on the left foot only, stimulate a point halfway between the base of the little toe and the heel pad. • Press inward and upward on the underside of the protuberance at the base of the skull. • On both hands, press and massage a point on the inside of the pad at the base of the thumb directly beneath the index finger; then on the left palm only, stimulate a point halfway between the base of the little finger and the wrist. RemediesFolkAlfalfa is a good source of minerals and other nutrients that help reduce serum uric acid.Apple cider vinegar (ACV) Add some rose hips to vinegar and boil; dab on affected area. You may need to apply this mixture several times a day for a few weeks. The vinegar changes the blood pH so that the crystals will go into solution and be excreted.• Mix two teaspoons each of apple cider vinegar and raw honey in a glass of water and drink at mealtime.• Soak the foot in a mixture of ½ cup of ACV and three cups of hot water.Bilberry is high in anthocyanosides and flavonoids, which are helpful in overcoming gout.Black cherry juice Get some natural, concentrated black cherry juice and drink several tablespoons of the concentrate daily. You should expect relief in 48 hours. See our Product.Black cohash moderates blood acidity.Blueberries are high in anti-inflammatory compounds called anthocyanins, which help ease the pain of gout.Buchu tea helps dissolve and flush out uric acid crystals.Castor oil packs Soak a piece of white flannel in warm castor oil, wring it out and place over the affected area; cover with plastic wrap and apply a heating pad. Do this for one hour twice daily.Cayenne pepper Boil one tablespoon of pepper in 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water and dab onto the painful joint.• Mix cayenne with enough wintergreen oil to make a paste and apply to the affected area.Celery seeds These seeds are quite effective in relieving gout by eliminating uric acid from the body. According to Duke, Ph.D., a medical botanist formerly with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, celery seeds contain about twenty different anti-inflammatory agents. Although there is little scientific research on celery seeds, according to Kerry Bone, a leading expert on herbal remedies in Australia, "it (sic) works brilliantly in patients." Note: This remedy is not to be used by pregnant women or those with kidney disease because of its potential diuretic effect.• Cook a tablespoon of celery seeds in two cups of water until they are soft; strain and drink 1/2 cup four times a day.Charcoal Take ½-1 teaspoon of activated charcoal daily.• Make a poultice using ½ cup of activated charcoal, 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed and warm water to draw out the toxins.Cherries If you are lucky enough to have fresh cherries, eating 6-8 cherries daily will relieve the symptoms of gout. This remedy was reported in 1950 by Dr. Ludwig W. Blau who cured his own gout. Frozen and canned cherries may also be used. When you feel an attack coming on, eat 20-30 cherries immediately. Cherries are rich in compounds that prevent the destruction of collagen, which the body uses to form connective tissue. The connective tissue is damaged by gout. Cherries also have an enzyme that neutralizes uric acid and are high in anthocyanins which have high antioxidant properties as well as anti-inflammatory action. For greatest effectiveness eat them between meals.Devil's claw reduces uric acid levels and is a natural cleansing agent for toxic impurities. Take 400 mg of the dried extract 3x a day for as long as desired.DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) is very effective in relieving pain and swelling caused by inflammation. It helps dissolve crystalline deposits. See our Product.Garlic Eat several cloves of raw garlic daily. Mince the garlic and add it to black cherry juice for a potent remedy.Ginger Put 1/3 cup of ground ginger (buy in bulk to keep the cost down) in a bathtub of water and soak for 30 minutes. This will cause you to sweat (a good thing) which will help eliminate the uric acid from your tissues. When you are finished the bath be sure to rinse off thoroughly, as the ginger can cause skin irritation if it dries on your skin.Grapes are high in alkalines which lessen the acidity of uric acid and aid in its elimination from the body.Hawthorn is high in anthocyanosides and flavonoids, which are helpful in overcoming gout.Hydrangea is an anti-inflammatory.Ice Apply an ice pack for ten minutes, then alternate with a moist hot-towel compress, to soothe and numb the pain.Mullein Soak mullein leaves in a hot vinegar/water mixture. Pack the leaves on the affected area.Nettle contains alkaloids which neutralize uric acid.Parsley acts as a natural diuretic.Quercetin The flavonoid quercetin inhibits uric acid production in a similar fashion to commonly prescribed drugs for gout. Take 1000 mg of quercetin along with 1,000-1,500 mg of the enzyme bromelain (to enhance absorption) two to three times daily between meals. Bromelain also help reduce the inflammation.Saffron neutralizes uric acid buildup.Spearmint Make a poultice of spearmint leaves and wrap the affected area. Strawberries Eating a cup of strawberries with each meal should bring quick relief. They neutralize uric acid.Yarrow Make a tea by using equal parts of yarrow and stinging nettles; strain, cool and drink several cups a day. Back to Top | Home | Bookstore | Ailments | Folk Remedies | | Customer Service | Feedback | Contact Us | ©1999-2003 Newbury Naturals, Inc. . Disclaimer Last update 2/8/03. Becky Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2004 Report Share Posted August 8, 2004 One more set of info I almost forgot about!Celery Seed LATIN NAME: Apium graveolens FAMILY NAME: Apiaceae The one medicinal plant among Duke's Dozen that I take faithfully every day is the one I was initially the most skeptical about. "The Crisis" is my name for a bout of gout, a condition I've endured for nearly two decades. I'd get attacks in my big toe so debilitatingly painful that words hardly do justice to the agony. I've suffered them enough over the years to know when they're all but certain to occur: after an injury, after a little alcohol-related overindulgence, or after I neglect to take my allopurinol, the pharmaceutical treatment of choice to prevent this condition. The drug lowers the bloodstream's concentration of uric acid. At high levels, uric acid accumulates and then crystallizes in certain joints, typically the big toe. I so dread the pain these crystals cause that I took allopurinol faithfully almost every day for nearly 18 years. Ever since I started taking celery seed, though, I've abandoned allopurinol. I simply no longer need it. Celery is a good example of phytochemical medicine in action. For me, it's just as therapeutically effective as its man-made pharmaceutical rival--maybe more so. It's also safer. And you don't need a doctor's assistance or a discount prescription card to obtain it. You can swallow the seeds in standardized supplemental form. You can guzzle the reedy stalks as a juice or tonic, chew on them raw or relish celery's crunchy, flavorful presence in soups, salads, stews, and pot roasts. Try making a Bloody with allopurinol. It won't work. And it won't taste very good, either. Going Toe-to-Toe with Gout I was 49 when "the Crisis" (my term for a gout attack) struck for the first time. That summer, I was munching on fresh asparagus from my garden like it was going out of style. Asparagus is one of the many foods high in purines, substances that the body, courtesy of an enzyme called xanthine oxidase, converts into uric acid. Too much uric acid can lead to arthritis and gout. I awoke one morning to pain in my big toe so excruciating that I couldn't even stand the weight of a bed sheet on my foot. Imagine what it was like to put on a sock and attempt to walk. My doctor diagnosed the problem immediately and prescribed colchicine, a very heavy duty chemical (derived, incidentally, from the autumn crocus) that purges the crystals as it purges you. (Laxity is one side effect.) For a while, I tried the dietary route, avoiding asparagus, organ meats, mushrooms, sardines, and other foods high in purines. All to no avail. Finally, another doctor suggested allopurinol (a pill a day for life for preventing gout) and indomethacin, a potent anti-inflammatory that stops gout attacks not prevented by allopurinol (or those that come on if you forget to take allopurinol). I didn't forget too often in the succeeding 18 years. In fact, I came to remember a few other things: that drinking a six-pack and forgetting my allopurinol (not necessarily in that order) brought on the Crisis the next day and that getting hurt also triggered an attack. So on my merry way I went, studying plants as substitutes for pharmaceuticals and taking my man-made medication like a good little pain-fearing patient. Then one day I came across an advertisement for a phytochemical supplement that purportedly prevented gout. celery seed extract, the ad claimed, was hypouricemic; it lowered uric acid. I arched an eyebrow. I scoffed. I knew about celery seed. I've heard about its reputed medicinal properties. I had recorded everything known about the plant in my herbal archives. Sure, I'd read that it possessed some anti-inflammatory properties, but nowhere had I heard that it reduced uric acid. Itching for an argument and suspecting that he was motivated more by profit than science, I wrote to the man behind the ad, asking for more information about his research. Imagine my surprise when I received copies of studies conducted in Australia and South Africa attesting to the anti-inflammatory qualities of celery seed extract. The science looked good. I was impressed. But how could I verify that it worked? I didn't have my own lab, and no other research in the world attested to the claims. And then the dangerous idea dawned on me: I could serve as my own human guinea pig. Tossing aside everything I knew and believed about the advisability of discontinuing a medication, I stopped taking allopurinol. Instead, I swallowed, optimistically but hesitantly, four capsules of standardized celery seed extract. Then I braced myself. I was sure I'd wake up the next day to the oppressive load of the bed sheet on my big toe. The next day, nothing. The day after that? Nothing still. For a week here at home in my herbal vineyard, I took celery seed extract. And my big toe was as happy as it could be. Coincidence? I didn't think so, but I couldn't be certain. I knew I'd find out soon, though. I had to leave for a week in Peru--a week of walking several miles a day through the rain forest, a week that inevitably would end with a parting ceremony filled with drink and dance. If ever there were a prescription for triggering the Crisis, this was it. And so I went, armed with an ample supply of celery seed extract--and my anti-inflammatory medication, indomethacin, just in case. I toughed it out in the jungles all week long, and the gout held off. No problems. I didn't need the anti-inflammatory indomethacin. Then on my last day there, we all convened at Tahuampa Bar, a thatch-roof refuge stilted over a tributary of the Amazon. We worked hard all week long and were ready to let our hair down. It's a familiar scenario, one that I've been a part of many times before: lots of drinking, lots of over-vigorous dancing with guides who play great rancheros and salsa music. I recall an episode from years earlier in which spirited dancing to spirited music with spirituous Amazonian rum precipitated a splenetic attack of gout. Still, I didn't care. I was in the middle of an experiment. So this 67-year-old man took his celery seed extract, drank his potent Peruvian rum, danced--barefooted!--the dances of a 30-year-old, and threw caution to the wind. All evening long at the Tahuampa, we cut the rug and shook the mahogany floor. I remember, at one point, writhing to the beat with my partner, a masseuse who's a quarter or a third my age. We jumped up and down, then sideways, then up and down again, with me leaping higher and higher. All of a sudden I felt an agonizing pain as I dropped down on my left foot. I thought I dislodged my hip from my pelvis. It hurt like hell. But, probably exceeding the legal limit for dancing, I kept on moving and finished out the song. Then, weary, hurting, and barely able to walk, I quietly absented myself and went to bed. The next day greeted me with black-and-blue marks spanning some 15 inches from my left upper hip to below my buttock. It hurt. I could barely walk. But I tried not to show my pain. After all, in store for us that day were two hours on the Amazon, a long wait at Iquitos International Airport, and an even longer journey home. I didn't want to dampen anyone's fun, and complaining certainly wouldn't have put me out of my misery, although part of me wished someone would. From the river, through Peru, and through long walks at the airports in Miami, Charlotte, and Baltimore, I was in agony all the way back--but not from gout. My big toe never let out a peep. Knowing that traumatic injuries can conjure up the Crisis just as easily as a traumatic party, I fully expected a double-duty dose of gout pain. I anticipated it as a sentry awaits an imminent attack. At my side was a bottle of indomethacin, but I didn't reach for it. Instead, I took celery seed extract. I was, as I've said, in the middle of an experiment. In case an infection simmered near the damaged hip joint, I took some echinacea. By all rights, I should have fallen over in agony somewhere between Miami and Charlotte. Certainly, I should have been causing an embarrassing scene in the aisle of the airplane somewhere over Virginia. But I didn't. I didn't feel very well, but I knew that gout wasn't part of my pain. Finally back home, I took some turmeric and boswellin (along with celery seed), then crashed, anticipating that the Crisis would awaken me the next day. It didn't. In fact, I slept through my shift back to Eastern Standard Time, got up and performed my usual back exercises, walked out into my beautiful herbal vineyard, did some back stretches later on, took two more celery seed supplements, and felt pretty good. My wife was in Michigan, visiting our daughter. I was all alone--just me, the birds, and the other animals. Well, that's not entirely true. The indomethacin was never far from ready reach. But I didn't need it--not so long as I had celery seed extract. As I walked around the garden, my limp grew less noticeable. I took it easy, but I was still using my brutally abused hip. By the end of the day, I concluded that I didn't even need to see the chiropractor or osteopath. The next morning, I took more celery seed extract, felt even better, and continued to go about my business. Still no reason to take the indomethacin. Days wore on to weeks, weeks progressed to months. Before I knew it, Thanksgiving was at hand, then Christmas and New Year's and all the excesses that each holiday mandates. Throughout it all, the Crisis stayed away. Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? I didn't forget my old acquaintance (gout) that holiday season, but I did the year after. And the year after that. With celery at my side, gout pain is just a ghost of grimaces past. Good riddance. What Celery Seed Is and What It Can Do If you ask Commission E (a German panel of experts roughly equivalent to the Federal Drug Administration), nothing about celery makes it worthy of recommendation. It's used only occasionally in folk medicine, according to the panel, mostly as a diuretic for kidney and bladder woes and as an ancillary supplement for rheumatism. The commission apparently didn't do the same homework I did and is thus a wee bit pessimistic. I think Commission E is conservative in this respect. My own experience has convinced me that celery seed is an effective preventive for gout. For me, at least, no matter how much I tempt hyperuricemia, whether with an injury or a six-pack, celery seed seems to keep the Crisis at bay. Even three years into my experiment, my success could just be coincidence. Maybe I'm just one big 220-pound anecdote. But I doubt it. I think I'm on to something here. HERB LORE AND MORE Celery's light-green stalks seem so commonplace, so mundane that you might not suspect the plant boasts a long history of numerous therapeutic uses. Folk medicine practitioners dispensed various leaf preparations for cancerous ulcers, inflammatory tumors, herpes infections on the fingers (whitlows), and corns. Seed-based remedies were said to help breast and vulvar tumors. Celery juice could purportedly treat some forms of cancer in the eye and stomach, while a tea decocted from the seeds was said to help lumbago and rheumatism. Other folk practitioners used the seeds against liver and spleen diseases, bronchitis, asthma, and flatulence. Indian medical experts believe the roots and leaves relieve colic, encourage excretion, and lessen tissue swelling from water retention. In Chinese medicine, the seeds are a standard treatment for dizziness, high blood pressure, calming the body, and regulating the menstrual cycle. How Celery Seed Can Help Apart from gout, let's look at what other applications might work, too. Arthritis and inflammation. Whether you suffer from gout or arthritis, you need to cool the fires. celery seed is just what the doctor ordered for both conditions because of its myriad anti-inflammatory properties. Phytochemicals relieve pain and reduce water retention and tissue swelling. Gas. In folk medicine, celery has a long-standing reputation as a "carminative," something that alleviates flatulence and the stomach pains associated with gas. I've received anecdotal accounts that relief comes rather quickly, too. According to other informal but informed reports, it also relieves indigestion, cramping, and heartburn. Heart problems. Celery's active ingredients make it of potential value if you have arrhythmia or the chest pains of angina. With compounds that lower cholesterol and blood pressure, dilate arteries, thwart fluid retention and tissue swelling, normalize heart rhythm, and fight hardening of the arteries, I'd say it's a must-have medicinal for anyone concerned about cardiac health. Hypertension. Celery contains apigenin, just one of about a dozen active ingredients that contribute to healthy blood pressure. Science has confirmed celery's value from both clinical and experimental research. In one small study, 14 out of 16 men reduced their sphygmomanometer readings by drinking 40 milliliters of celery juice three times a day. Other lab investigations show that celery extract lowers blood pressure in dogs and rabbits; direct injections of an extract cut blood pressure significantly. FROM MY SCIENCE NOTEBOOK Celery is chock-full of substances that explain its healing properties. After I began to use myself as a guinea pig to ascertain its effect on gout, I turned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture databases for an assessment of its anti-inflammatory potential. I wasn't surprised to retrieve a list of some 25 anti-inflammatory compounds. Now we know why celery seed is an ingredient in some 60 British anti-inflammatory preparations. Celery is also a good source of apigenin, which allows blood vessels to relax and dilate. This natural compound is just one of more than a dozen active ingredients that contribute to healthy blood pressure, either directly or by encouraging the body to excrete excess fluids--something Chinese medical practitioners have known for a long time. Natural calcium-channel blockers and heart rhythm stabilizers are among celery's myriad active ingredients, making the plant of potential value if you have arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) or the chest pains of angina. Little or no scientific research validates celery's other therapeutic uses. I can't confirm its effectiveness, either, but I can tell you that at least some of its phytochemical content explains folk uses against cystitis, kidney stones, and gallstones. I ts essential oils possess some tranquilizing action, perhaps explaining its folklore use as a sedative. How to Take It and How Much Until clinical trials compare celery seed extract, whole stalks of celery, and allopurinol, we'll never really know what the average person can rely on for freedom from gout or arthritis. Nor can we really know how much to take for heart-related help. One day, I hope, someone will conduct such research. Until then, I can only make guesses and tell you what works for me. You take it from there. Supplements. At first, I took four capsules of standardized celery seed extract a day to keep the gout away. I later learned, though, that I could get by just as well on two daily capsules. The first capsules I took contained 800 milligrams of concentrated extract. Then I graduated to 500 milligram capsules, standardized to contain 450 milligrams of extract. WHAT NEW RESEARCH TELLS US We don't know if eating celery or taking it as a standardized supplement can improve blood fat profiles in people, but it appears to work for rats. In one study, scientists deliberately raised cholesterol levels in two groups of lab rodents by feeding them a high-fat diet for eight weeks. One group was then given regular supplements of a celery extract. Cholesterol profiles for the celery-swilling rats improved markedly, with triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol all dropping. In another experiment, a celery extract was given for 13 days to a group of rats genetically destined to have high cholesterol and to another group with normal blood fat profiles. The plant supplement prevented cholesterol increases among the genetically predetermined rodents, while blood fat readings among the other rats remained unchanged. Food. My success bred further experimental daring and allowed me to discover that the "food farmacy" route works just as well. For two different two-week periods at home, I stopped taking supplements and relied on eating four stalks of celery a day. Gout still didn't put a crimp in my walk, even when I challenged myself with the six-pack test. Right now, supplements remain the mainstay of my do-it-yourself gout treatment, but every once in a while the cheapskate in me emerges. If celery goes on sale at the grocery store, I'll buy bunches of bunches, juice and freeze most of it, but save some to eat. Four stalks or two to four capsules a day may be enough to keep the cardiologist away, as well. Again, that's an estimation on my part. DR. DUKE'S RECIPES de To enhance the phytochemical results in mild cases of hypertension, juice some garlic, onion, and tomato along with the celery. For more serious heart conditions and cardiovascular disease, I've concocted something I call "angelade." It's a juice made from angelica, carrots, celery, fennel, parsley, and parsnips. (Hawthorn makes a good addition for people with heart disease.) I'd like to think that angelade packs the calcium-channel-blocking punch of verapamil. I'll probably never know for sure, but I'll wager that it's safer than pharmaceutical calcium-channel blockers. It won't make your legs swell, it won't make you dizzy, and it won't give you a headache--all known possible side effects of these drugs. Seeds. How else might you take celery seed? Some research reports success with an infusion tea made by mixing one-half to one teaspoon of celery seeds in a cup of hot water. Others suggest using 3Ž4 teaspoon of crushed seeds per cup of water, taking 0.3 to 1.2 milliliters of a 1:1 liquid extract three times a day. For gas and gastric pain, chewing, but not swallowing, one teaspoon of celery seeds may help. For complete relief, you might have to chew on a second spoonful. I can't vouch for the remedy, however, because my experience in this regard is limited. I once tried it and found the seeds rather gritty. Right now, though, I'm getting hungry just thinking about sprinkling some seeds (maybe a tablespoon) on a piece or two of garlic-buttered toast. DR. DUKE'S NOTES For hypertension, traditional Chinese practitioners prescribe three daily cups of heated celery juice. A clinical study done in China demonstrated that 20 milliliters of celery juice, along with 20 milliliters of honey, thrice daily, effectively lowered high blood pressure. Useful Combinations I don't need anything else to keep the Crisis away. You might. For gout, arthritis, and help for heart problems, Mother Nature has stronger possibilities to which celery should serve as a companion. I'll mention the best. For Outing Gout Here are several useful combinations for getting gout out. Cat's claw. In my pre-celery days, I once found myself caught with my pants down and my toe pain up. No pharmaceuticals on hand for help. Desperate for relief, I took a couple of pills that contained this herb, known for its ability to throw a bucket of water on inflammation. Nothing happened. So I took two more. Again, nothing. Two more pills later, still no relief. Neglecting the advice I always give others about ingesting too much of a medicinal herb, I swallowed a few more capsules. And a few more. When I had consumed a total of 12 capsules, I finally noticed some pain abatement. I'd never intentionally substitute uño de gato, as it's called, for celery in a case of the Crisis, but it could come in handy in a pinch. Cherries. Science doesn't provide any reason for why the fruit might alleviate gout, but a friend of mine swears by black cherries, as do many other people. I once tried a juice made from tame and wild cherries, but it didn't impress me nearly as much as celery does, so count me out. Maybe the remedy will work for you. If you want to try, you'll need to eat about eight ounces of the fruit, canned or fresh. Chiso. If you've given celery the chance it deserves but still double over with a painful big toe, try some chiso. This minty weed contains four different xanthine oxidase inhibitors that will help curb your body's production of uric acid. As a medication and a food, chiso is popular in the East. I like to put it in my mint teas. Licorice. Get the real thing, not twisted sticks of the candy-counter impostor. True licorice raises blood pressure and lowers potassium levels in some people, so proceed cautiously. If you're not affected, my guess is that teaming up licorice and chiso will improve your overall antigout counterattack. Turmeric. Another ingredient in Duke's Dozen, this Indian spice works via a different mechanism. The curcumin it contains deters certain pain-producing prostaglandins in the body. In high dosages, it also triggers the release of pain-easing cortisone from the adrenal glands. (See Chapter 15, turmeric, for dosage information.) Other foods. If you're caught without your celery, licorice, and cherries, other foods might get you out of that painful pinch. Eat more oats, olives, and pineapple. The first two are decent diuretics, while pineapple contains bromelain , an anti-inflammatory. Other herbs that might help harness gout pain include Devil's claw, stinging nettle , and willow. Arthritis Aids Pineapple is a smart pick if arthritis is your main complaint. Its bromelain helps the body get rid of two compounds implicated in the joint disease. stinging nettle and willow, aspirin's original herbal form, are valuable here, too, though they might share the ulcer-inducing potential of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. But you have a couple of other companions: Ginger. Some 75 percent of the people with rheumatoid arthritis in one small long-term study felt better after they took ginger, in daily dosages ranging from three to seven grams. After more than two years, the relief persisted, and nobody ever felt any untoward effects. Oregano. Oxidation apparently is part of the inflammatory process, and oregano contains some rather strong antioxidant chemicals. As research continues to affirm that antioxidants help to relieve both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, I'd redouble my efforts to include oregano in both my food and my supplement regimen. Red pepper. Maybe all of the pain perception is transferred from your joints to your tongue, but you gain a temporary respite from arthritic aches when you eat red pepper. It works topically, too. Capsaicin, the "hot" property in this plant, interferes with the transmission of pain impulses and encourages the body to release endorphins. Other foods. Fortify your arthritis defense with Brazil nuts and sunflower seeds, both good food sources of the anti-inflammatory pain-relieving nutrient S-adenosyl-methionine, and rosemary, a good antioxidant partner to oregano. A Hand for Your Heart If you're looking for the premier phytochemical fix for cardiovascular health, especially as it relates to high blood pressure and high cholesterol, dog-ear this page and go straight to the chapter on garlic. Celery is pretty good against these two risk factors for heart disease, but garlic is one of the cornerstones of a natural treatment. Then turn to chapter 9 on hawthorn and similar heart herbs. Come on back when you're ready to finish your primer on celery seed. Caution: Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects I haven't experienced any. Nor did I knowingly fall victim to any of allopurinol's well-known side effects, which include skin reactions and eruptions, drowsiness, diarrhea, and nausea, not to mention the infamous "induction period," a month-long spate of time when you first start taking the drug during which gout attacks can actually increase. But many other people have. I took allopurinol for almost 18 years, and I hope I'll be taking celery seed for the next 18 years to fairly compare its potential for side effects. In the meantime, I'll go with my instincts and predict that the natural is less likely to do harm than the unnatural. So far, 3 years have passed, and I haven't noticed any consequences. Becky Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 7, 2007 Report Share Posted October 7, 2007 Celery seed and aloe vera juice can help a LOT with gout in prevention if it turns out to be that. Not used for quickly getting rid of a current bout though... ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2007 Report Share Posted October 8, 2007 Try Kyolic garlic capsules, Caprylic acid, apple cider vinegar, a little baking soda in a glass of water, Olive leaf capsules, UGN, or Oregano oil, like North American P-73, or OregaMax capsules. Lots of choices. Amber Celery seed and aloe vera juice can help a LOT with gout in prevention if it turns out to be that. Not used for quickly getting rid of a current bout though... . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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