Acute Gout Treatment Guidelines - How to Handle an Acute Gout Attack

As soon as you see and feel the first signs of an acute gout attack you need to start treatment right away. This is important, because the quicker treatment commences, the less the attack's intensity will be and the shorter its duration.

And, just as a reminder, the symptoms of acute gout are redness, swelling, inflammation, stiffness, hot to touch, and simply awful pain. This happens mostly in the big toe joint but can be in and around any joint.

So now let's look at your acute gout treatment guidelines...

Now, normally I would not recommend this, but, you might want to first take a painkiller to help with the initial painful symptoms. But, if you feel you can do without this, then that's great because we want to handle this naturally, without drugs, if possible.

The first thing to do is to apply hot and cold compresses to the affected area. Use hot for 3 mins. then cold for 30 secs. Repeat as necessary. This will help to alleviate pain and increase circulation.

Drink at least 3 litres of water a day. This is to aid the kidneys do their job of processing and excreting uric acid from your body. But even after your gout attack symptoms have abated, you should be drinking this amount of water every day for your general health.

Do not, I repeat do not, drink any alcohol whatsoever as this is one of the most potent causes of gout. Continuing with this once it has triggered an acute attack is just plain silly.

Eat about 40 cherries every 4 hours. These have great anti-inflammatory properties and can also help to lower uric acid levels in your blood. If you can't get fresh cherries, then get cherry juice from your local health food store.

Now to your diet. If you have been eating high-purine foods such as fatty red meat, organ meat, game, poultry, seafood, etc., then you need to stop. However, do not stop suddenly and change your diet all at once, as your gout will get even more acute. So start to adjust your diet more slowly.

You need to consume more vegetables (except cauliflower, asparagus, spinach and mushrooms, which have moderately high amounts of purines), low-fat dairy produce, complex carbohydrates such as pasta and rice, high vitamin C foods (e.g. potatoes, red cabbage, red bell peppers, oranges, etc.), and essential fatty acids, e.g. flaxseed and nuts, etc.

The above guidelines can certainly be an effective acute gout treatment program, especially if begun as soon as the symptoms present themselves.

But there are many other natural gout treatment options out there. And, once the attack has abated, how do you prevent it returning time and time again and perhaps causing permanent joint damage and other serious health issues?

If you wish, you can get even more info. on acute gout treatment, by visiting http://www.thegoutsite.com.