Today’s second short gout question is about natural uricosuric agent.
I think I’m like many other gout sufferers – a little wary of taking too many medications. But it’s funny how our reactions change to so-called natural products.
Colchicine is a common gout medication. It’s derived from autumn crocus, yet few people would regard it as a natural product.
Many so-called natural, or herbal, gout remedies are far removed from their natural sources. Most are pounded, processed and packaged to a form far removed from anything that might be regarded as natural. The truth is, for most natural gout remedies to have any noticeable effect, the gout relieving compounds need to be extracted and concentrated. These processes, though necessary, render products which are as highly processed as medications, but without the safety controls that cover drug licensing in most countries.
Leaving that aside, it still begs the question, “Are there any natural uricosuric agents?”
First, you have to understand what a uricosuric agent is. It is simply something that promotes the excretion of uric acid. There is more information about this in the Treatment Section on GoutPal.com. My research has found little evidence of natural uricosuric agents. Not surprising really, as very little proper scientific research is done in this area – no drug company sponsorship, I guess.
As far as gout treatments go, there is a separate type of treatment. Xanthine oxidase inhibition (or blocking) is a common form of medical treatment, usually administered in the form of allopurinol. I am researching natural alternatives to this, and I have found many. Whether they can be turned into effective treatments remains to be seen. I will be reporting my findings on natural xanthine oxidase inhibitors soon. Could do with a catchier title though – how about natural allopurinol?
I hope this gives you some good pointers on where to look for natural uricosuric agent information. If you need more, consult the Gout Forum.
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I suffer from gouty arthrtis and have diabetes as well as hypertention. I am taking Telmesartan-H one od for H.T. and a combination of GLIMIPRIDE-1mgm+METFORMIN-500 S.R. + PYOGLITAZONE-15 mgm. once daily. What is your advice? what vegetables should I take.
I have been thinking about uricosuric agents and thought I’d mention a couple that are likely to be of great interest to many of us…if not exactly NATURAL.
Those with high blood pressure who know that diurtics cause the retention of uric acid and should be avoided, but few know that one of the popular ARB’s (angiotensin receptor blockers) is uricosuric (acuses uric acid to be excreted. THis agent is losartan and sells under the trade name Cozaar. It’s sister is called Hyzaar and incorporates a diuretic. Either drug should be tried by hypertensive gout sufferers. The uric acid excretion isnt huge but it is significant, loereing serum uric acid on the order of -.5 mg/dL.
Most of the anticholesterol statins also lower serum uric acid with atrorvastatin (Lipitor)seeming to work the best.
As far as the NATURAL uricosurics, I too have not come across much that is credible. Most frequent claims are high vegetable diets of alkalyzing foods…but that comes with little proof. I saw a large study that compared the top quintile of meat and fish eaters with the lowest quintile and found the meat and fish eaters had a gout rate that was 1.5 and 1.4 times as high.
I guess one could consider huge doses of salicylates as somewhat “natural” but then consuming pounds of willow bark daily might be tough…although I HAVE had a meatloaf that may have been made of several pounds of tree bark.
Over the years I’ve been interested in nutrition.
One surprising characteristic of eating some fruits (most?) is that though they are initially acidic they actually burn or reduce in the body to an alkaline ash.
This makes their consumption helpful in balancing Ph in the system.
Further, lemons have an unusual enzymic capability- in that they are supposed to be extra useful for this purpose- I think one lemon a day,squeezed in water, can be useful in the prevention of gout- but it is probably one of those long term habits hard to keep going- as it is just one of many things at low level that are difficult to quantify or assess.
Anyone heard of this, or use(d) it?
I have found that a lot of my own health problems were my own doing. Poor eating habits and drinking are a big downfall for many myself included. When I lost weight and stopped drinking alcohol altogether (and stuck to it) even my blood pressure and sleep apnea improved. I think a lot of natural cures can be acheived by just following a better diet and making it part of your daily routine. As far as a natural gout relief, celery seeds lower imflammation more than most remedies out there.