Ginger for Gout: Natural Remedy

Having a gout attack is excruciatingly painful. If you've had one, you'll definitely don't want another attack. A doctor can prescribe you conventional pain-relievers but if you want a natural and healthy alternative, you may want to look into this spice--ginger.



Ginger for Gout: Natural Remedy
Ginger for Gout: Natural Remedy


@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan



Gout is an inflammatory arthritis caused by the accumulation of uric acid in joints. Taking ginger root as a natural remedy benefits those suffering from gout because of it's potent anti-inflammatory components gingerol and shogaol.



Ginger helps relieve pain and improve joint mobility among those affected with gouty arthritis.


Ginger isn't just for gout. In fact, people suffering from other forms of inflammatory joint diseases like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis also benefits from taking ginger.



Ginger root is a popular alternative remedy against nausea, vomiting, flatulence, morning sickness, loss of appetite, stomachache, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, and toothache.





Ginger: How effective is it for Gout?



Ginger is said to be as effective as the anti-inflammatory prescription drug indomethacin in relieving pain and joint swelling of gout according to a study in mice published on the "Annals of Biological Research" in 2011.





What is Ginger?



Ginger is a plant which belongs to the Zingiberaceae family. It's roots (rhizome) is it's part popularly used in alternative medicine and culinary practice.





How to use ginger for gout



Ginger Tea



Ginger tea has a spicy taste and strong aroma. There are commercially available pre-packed ginger tea for your convenience if you don't have the time to make it from scratch.



If you can get fresh ginger root, that will be fantastic. You'll need half teaspoon to make one cup of ginger tea. You can use more or less depending on how strong you'd like it.



Powdered ginger root is another option.

  1. Rinse 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger root.
  2. Crush it or cut it into tiny pieces.
  3. Brew  it in a cup of hot water for 5 minutes.
  4. Enjoy one cup per day.


You can add lemon or lime juice for that zing taste, but I recommend you don't add honey or sugar since these contains fructose which is another gout offender.





Ginger paste



If you're not fond of ginger's taste, then why not make a paste out of it to be use as a topical pain reliever.

  1. Crush a desired amount of fresh ginger root.
  2. Add little amount of water to make a paste.
  3. Apply it on the affected area.
  4. Let it stay for 30 minutes before you rinse it off.




Cooking with Ginger



Ginger root is a popular spice used commonly in Asian cuisines as flavoring. Exploring ginger's culinary wonder is a delicious and exciting way to use it as a home remedy against gout.





Herbal supplement



There are available ginger root food supplement you can try, but it's best if you could speak first with your doctor especially if you have other disease like diabetes.





Things you must know about Ginger



If you'd like to use ginger as an alternative treatment for gout, here are some facts you should consider:



1. Ginger interacts with certain medications, so it's best to speak to your doctor if you'd like to consume it for your gout but you're currently taking prescription or non-prescription medication.



2. Do not take ginger with blood thinners to avoid bleeding.



3. Consuming ginger decreases the blood sugar level so it should not be taken with diabetes medications.



4. Consuming ginger decreases blood pressure so it isn't recommended to be taken with anti-hypertensive medications.



5. If you haven't tried ginger before, it will be wise to start off with just a small amount and see if you are allergic to it.



6. Although ginger is also used as a home remedy for morning sickness among pregnant women, there is no sufficient evidence as to it's safety, therefore it is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women.







Related article: Is Apple Recommended for Gout? 







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