MD Cause: Unknown. This condition is caused by the buildup of of Uric Acid crystals in the joints. The consumption of foods that are high in Purines can cause this – but not everyone that eats Purine-rich foods develops gout. So… it’s probably genetic ;-)

MD Rx: Allopurinol, Colchicine and anti-inflammatory drugs to manage the situation. 

Allopurinol is prescribed to reduce the amount of uric acid in the body. It does this by inhibiting the biochemical process by which Uric acid is formed. Here are some of its side-effects:

·      fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;

·      the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild;

·      pain or bleeding when you urinate;

·      nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, weight loss, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

·      urinating less than usual or not at all;

·      joint pain, flu symptoms;

·      severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or

·      easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin.

Colchicine works by inhibiting the action of a certain type of White Blood Cell called a Neutrophil. Neutrophils are one of the First-Responders to an active site of injury anywhere in the body. Their presence kicks off a cascade of events which increases inflammation. So, when their activity is suppressed by colchicine, there is less inflammation. 

ND Cause: Unknown, but it probably has something to do with inadequate kidney function. Uric acid is a normal by-product of the digestion of proteins. Healthy kidneys remove uric acid from the blood and excrete it in the urine. Unhealthy kidneys do not remove uric acid efficiently, so it recirculates and ends up being deposited in the joints of the great toes and elbows.

Discussion: The kidneys are remarkable organs. They contain miles – literally – of microscopic blood vessels whose job it is to deliver high volumes of blood to the kidney which then filter the blood removing bad stuff from it. The bad stuff is what is found in urine. The kidneys manufacture urine. Urine is composed mostly of the bad stuff that the kidneys have filtered out of the blood. In the same way that blood vessels of the heart or the neck or anywhere in the body can become clogged blood vessels in the kidney can also become clogged. This Is referred to as Peripheral Arterial Disease. Peripheral arterial disease is very difficult to diagnose as you need an electron microscope to do so. The blood vessels which are clogged are so tiny that they can only be seen with a microscope which focuses electrons instead of light waves. Fascinating. Biopsies of the kidney should be done on living patients who are suffering with gout and or postmortem with people who have been diagnosed with gout for many years. I would suspect that a large number of people suffering from gout were also suffering from undiagnosed peripheral arterial disease of the kidneys. whether or not that is the case it is obvious that in people suffering from gout the kidneys are falling down on the job. So a logical holistic strategy then is to help the kidneys become optimally healthy. This is accomplished through the administration of the 90 essential nutrients, selenium, antioxidants, and botanical medicines. Selenium is used because it is the captain of the fire department of the human body and antioxidants to complete the metaphor are the water that the fire trucks of the body spray on inflammation. By increasing the intake of selenium and antioxidants, the Fire Department of the body is strengthened and therefore any inflammation which is happening in the kidneys will be curtailed - allowing the kidneys to function more optimally.  

Juniper oil when applied topically to gouty joints effectively dissolves the uric acid crystals which are the cause of the inflammation. This is why we recommend taking Juniper oil externally and herbal extract of Juniper internally as part of the gout eliminating protocol. The Good Herbs Kidney & Bladder Support contains the herbal extract of Juniper. You can also find Juniper oil in Youngevity’s line of Essential Oils.

My RX: In addition to the 90 EN: 

Alcohol Tincture of the botanical medicine “Urtica Urens.” Do a web-search for this and take 10 drops in water at least 3 times a day. Take more frequently if necessary. Often this is the ONLY thing necessary to eliminate Gout.

• Selenium: 1 bottle per 100 pounds per month not to exceed more than four bottles a month. Take in divided doses 2 to 3 times a day until the flare up of the gout resolves. After that switch to Imortalium by Youngevity: 1 to 2 bottles per month. 

• Good Herbs Kidney And Bladder Support: Take an acute doses outlined in: Part Two, Chapter 6 of my book Attempt A Cure.

• Juniper Berry Essential Oil: Topically apply two or three drops liberally to the joints affected by gout every 2 to 3 hours while awake.

• Cell Shield RTQ: 1 bottle per 100 pounds per month. Take in divided doses 2 to 3 times a day. Stop taking once the gouty attack as result.

Homeopathy:

• Belladonna: The affected joint is hot, red, dry, and swollen. The pains are throbbing.

• Benzoic acid: Gouty affections of the knees or big toes. Tearing and stitching pain in the affected joint, with stiffness, swelling and lameness. Also, symptoms of gout associated with highly colored and offensive urine. Symptoms are worse in the open air and from uncovering the affected parts.

• Berberis vulgaris: Sudden stitching pains in gouty joints. The pain is worse from motion. The gouty pains often radiate out from the affected part, or they migrate to a different area all together. 

• Colchicum: Gout in the big toe or heel so painful that the person cannot bear to have it touched or moved. The affected joints are red, hot and swollen. The pain is often worse at night. Pains are worse in cold, damp weather. The pains are often associated with a feeling of internal coldness in the entire body.

• Ledum palustre: The gouty pains shoot through the foot, limb and joints – especially the small joints. The foot and ankle are extremely swollen. Cold or ice-cold applications relieve the pain and swelling.