Gout is an arthritic condition that causes swelling, inflammation and pain in the joints. Symptoms of gout often get worse at night and can strike almost any part of the body, including the heel of the hand and hand joints, making it difficult to carry out daily activities. If you experience gout in your hands, there are a few things you can do at home to lessen the pain and maybe even make the condition disappear completely.
Apples and Other Fruit
Apples are believed to be a major defense against gout and it is widely thought that eating an apple each day, or even three times a day after each meal, can have a positive effect on the inflammation and pain that gout produces.
Additional fruits that are known to be useful in fighting gout symptoms include bananas, strawberries, cherries, berries, lemons and limes. Bananas contain phosphorous, a mineral that helps the body eliminate uric acid buildup in the body, the cause of gout. Three to four bananas should be eaten each day for maximum effectiveness. The vitamin C in strawberries, cherries, lemons and limes also helps decrease uric acid in the body. Eat between 15 and 25 fresh strawberries or cherries or drink the juice of one-half of a lemon or lime in a glass of water three times daily.
Other dense sources of vitamin C for fighting gout include tomatoes, green peppers, leafy green vegetables and gooseberries.
Pastes and Baths
Not every method of treating gout is done internally. There are several methods of soaking a gout-affected area thought to bring relief from gout symptoms.
Charcoal baths are used as a gout remedy. To create the bath, mix one-half a cup of charcoal power with just enough water to form a paste. Place the affected hand into the mixture and add enough water to completely cover the hand. Keep your hand in the bath for 30 to 60 minutes.
You can also fight gout using a paste that contains one part ground mustard to one part whole-wheat powder. Add just enough water to form the paste. Spread it over the gout-affected hand and keep it on overnight. Place a glove on the hand to keep the paste from flaking off.
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