Gout

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

Absolutely no alcohol
Consume a low protein diet: avoid meats, yeast (baker's and brewer's), shellfish, sardines, herring, mackerel, and anchovies; and decrease intake of spinach, fish, mushrooms, dried legumes, and asparagus.
Decrease saturated fat intake
Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates
Increase water intake to 48 ounces/day
Increase consumption of anthocyanosides: blueberries, cherries, hawthorn berries, etc - during an acute attack drink bing cherry juice (8 oz/day)

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

Vitamin C: 1 gm. 3 times a day - start with 500 mg. 3 times a day for 1 week, then increase until 1 gm. 3 times a day is reached
Vitamin E: 800 I.U.
Folic Acid: 25-50 mg. 3 times a day with vitamin C

Supplements: (references)

Bromelain: 250 mg. 3 times a day away from food
Omega 3: 1.5-2.0 gm. a day in divided doses
Quercetin: 400 mg. 3 times a day away from food
*Digestive Enzymes: 2 tablets with each meal

Botanicals: (references)

Tincture - Vaccinium myrtillis: 1/4 tsp. 3 times a day

Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

Gout, general (the following remedies have not been rated):

(For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)

Other Therapies: (references)

*Coffee Enema: 3/week during attack
*Charcoal Poultice: apply to gout area 4/day for 10 days
Reduce weight if overweight
Chelate excess lead with EDTA or Vitamin C if indications of lead toxicity

Recommended Labs:

Check for gout: Gout, Uric Acid
Rule out autoimmune disorders: ANA with Reflex
Rule out degenerative joint disease: X-Ray
Rule out Epstein Barr infection: EBV Capsid IgG and IgM
Rule out HIV: ELISA, Western Blot
Rule out infectious arthritis: Joint Fluid Culture
Rule out Lyme Disease: Western Blot
Rule out occult malignancies: Antimalignant Antibody
Rule out osteoarthritis: X-Ray
Rule out pseudogout: Joint Fluid Aspiration
Rule out rheumatoid arthritis: ANA, Rheumatoid Factor
Rule out systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): CBC with Diff, Blood Chemistry, Urinalysis, CRP, ANA with Reflex, Quantitative Immunoglobulins, Tissue Biopsy

* The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.