Soaking in hot water is generally not recommended during an acute gout flare-up, as heat can increase blood flow and potentially worsen inflammation, pain, and swelling. The affected joint is typically already warm and inflamed due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals.
The key hypothesis is that these urate crystals dissolve on warming. Hence, by warming the joint concerned in hot water, and moving the joint around to encourage diffusion, the urate concentration is reduced and crystals no longer form, provided the treatment is continued.
This can be done in spaced increments several times a day during the flare-up. While some may advise soaking your aching foot in hot water, we only recommend this if your inflammation is intense.
Heat therapy works by dilating blood vessels, which increases blood flow to the affected area. This increased circulation helps to relax tense muscles, alleviate stiffness, and flush out the uric acid crystals that have built up in the joint.
Breaking up gout crystals requires lowering uric acid levels through hydration, diet, and medications like allopurinol or colchicine. Home remedies like cherry juice, cold compresses, and Epsom salt soaks may offer symptom relief but won't dissolve crystals.
Some of the ways TCM can help with gout include: Herbal medicine: TCM practitioners may prescribe herbal formulas to help reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and promote the excretion of uric acid. Herbs with anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and pain-relieving properties are often used in these formulas.
Attacks of gout are usually treated with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), like ibuprofen. If the pain and swelling does not improve you may be given steroids as tablets or an injection.
While massage won't eliminate gout, certain techniques may help with circulation and stiffness—but only after an acute flare-up has subsided. To manage gout pain effectively, it's best to focus on: Proper medical treatment. Dietary and lifestyle changes.
Both ice and heat therapies can be utilized for managing pain and inflammation; however, cold therapy is likely the best choice for managing pain and inflammation during a gout flare. Gout, a form of inflammatory arthritis, can cause excruciating pain and discomfort during flare-ups.
Drink Lots of Nonalcoholic Fluids.
Staying hydrated helps flush out uric acid (the cause of your joint pain) and prevent kidney stones, another possible problem associated with high uric acid levels. Aim for eight to 16 cups of fluids a day, at least half of them water.
Foods to limit when you have gout include:
For gout relief, focus on hydration with water, lemon water, or tart cherry juice, which studies suggest help lower uric acid, plus anti-inflammatory options like ginger tea or low-fat milk; avoid sugary drinks and excess alcohol, as these can worsen symptoms. Popular DIY "detox" drinks often combine ingredients like lemon, apple cider vinegar, and turmeric, aiming to reduce uric acid and inflammation, though scientific backing varies for each ingredient.
How to Remove Gout Crystals from a Joint
The most effective essential oils for gout include eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, and ginger oils. These oils contain natural compounds that may help reduce inflammation and ease pain when properly diluted and applied.
It often takes six to 12 months after the uric acid level is suppressed below 6.0 mg/dl for symptoms of gout to stop. So it's important that you take indomethacin or colchicine once or twice daily to help minimize or eliminate your flares.
Heat may also contribute to the solubilization of uric acid crystals, potentially promoting their deposition in joints, thereby worsening symptoms during the acute phase of gout [1].
Beef, pork, lamb, and organ meats, like liver, kidneys, and sweetbreads, are very high in purines. Eating large amounts of these foods can raise uric acid levels and increase the risk of gout attacks.
Gout attacks are typically treated with an NSAID such as naproxen or the steroid prednisolone. Depending on how severe the pain is, these two types of medication can be combined.
Many people find Voltaren Gel an effective way to relieve symptoms of gout, such as pain and swelling, and it is very fast acting. However, topical preparations such as Voltaren gel may not last as long as oral anti-inflammatories, such as diclofenac or ibuprofen.
Conditions easily mistaken for gout include pseudogout, septic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, cellulitis, and even certain injuries like stress fractures, as they all cause sudden joint pain, swelling, redness, and warmth, but have different underlying causes like other crystal types, infection, or autoimmune issues, requiring proper diagnosis for correct treatment.
An acute gout attack will generally reach its peak 12-24 hours after onset, and then will slowly begin to resolve even without treatment. Full recovery from a gout attack (without treatment) takes approximately 7-14 days.
Colchicine is also used to relieve the pain of gout attacks when they occur. Colchicine is also used to treat familial Mediterranean fever (FMF; an inborn condition that causes episodes of fever, pain, and swelling of the stomach area, lungs, and joints) in adults and children 4 years of age and older.
Green Tea. Why: Contains compounds that may reduce uric acid levels and inflammation. Tip: Replace sugary drinks with green tea throughout the day.
Natural Ways to Treat Gout