Overview
Gout is a painful inflammatory disease characterized by abnormal deposition of uric acid crystals, especially in tissues with limited blood flow, such as the synovial joint of the big toe. Acute attacks that are untreated may last from a couple days up to several weeks. Attacks often start at night. If untreated, attacks may recur with increasing frequency and longer duration Arthritis Foundation.
Deposits (tophi) may also appear on bones, tendons, and under the skin, especially on the extensor surface of joints and the antihelix of the ear. On rare occasions, deposits may occur in the cornea of the eye.
Uric acid kidney stones and nephrotoxicity are other potentially serious sequelae of gout.
Effective treatment protocols consisting of diet and lifestyle changes along with herbal or pharmaceutical interventions are available. However, if left untreated, irreversible kidney damage, chronic arthritis, and recurring exacerbations are likely.
95% of patients suffering from gout are men over the age of 30. Gout is often called the rich man's disease because it is exacerbated by over consumption of rich foods and alcohol [Pizzorno2006, pg 1703]
Please see conventional, complementary, and alternative medical treatments for important background information regarding the different types of medical treatments discussed on this page. Naturopathic, Complementary, and Alternative treatments that may be considered include: