Gout Pain Relief With Cherry Power - How To Ease Pain By Eating Fruit


We can all learn something new every day! And good doctors are constantly alert to learning from all of their patients. It takes a lot to surprise me after twenty years in medicine but - I hold my hand up - this is a new one!

I had never heard of cherry juice or fresh cherries being used to treat gout or for gout pain relief until I heard it recently from a patient (who had been told it by his pharmacist, who had heard it from a relative etc etc). Anyway - a quick search for the "treatment of gout" on google turned up one (rather ancient -1950) research paper and a whole stream of anecdotal reports about the positive effect of cherries and their juice. It seems that consuming about half a pound of fresh cherrys a day or half a litre of fresh cherry juice can significantly lessen the pain and swelling of gout.

I've never had gout and I hope you haven't either but I can tell you it's one of the most painful conditions known in medicine.

Our blood contains a salt called uric acid. It's there all the time in everyone but is normally fully dissolved in the way that sugar is fully disolved in a hot cup of tea. But ... if the tea cools down ... what happens to the sugar? It comes out of solution as little sharp edged crystals. Well, guess what - that's exactly what happens in an attack of gout pain.

A change in the blood chemistry allows the uric acid to crystalise out of solution and form little jaggy crystals (like bits of broken glass) in the joints. For some reason the first joint of the big toe is the most commonly affected - and the pain when walking is horrific. Quite literally "like walking on broken glass" as many of my patients describe it.

Anyhow - back to those cherries.

My patient swore that taking the cherry juice had made a big impact on his gout pain and had provided rapid gout pain relief. You might want to try this yourself if you have gout or you might want to recommend it to a friend or relative.I'm not clear whether tinned cherries can have the same effect.

The most commonly quoted explanation of the effect is that cherries contain flavonoid compounds that may lower uric acid and reduce inflammation. As I described above, uric acid is the body salt that triggers gout attacks.

I have found nothing published to suggest that taking regular cherry juice lessens the risk of you having an attack in the first place but if you suffer from gout regularly it may be worth a try. Cherry juice, cherry pie, ice cream with cherry sauce? Mmmm - sounds good to me!

Dr Gordon Cameron MD is based in Edinburgh, Scotland.


More Resources

Magnetic Therapy, How And Why Magnets Effect The Body
Have you ever read or have been told that "it is not known why magnets work"? Well, this is untrue. All human and animal bodies are electromagnetic in nature and this fact is closely allied to the chemical balance of the body which can be in either a healthy or an unhealthy state.
Once You Discover and Act on This 'Secret' to Health and Energy, You May be Changed for the Better
I discovered something completely, 100% amazing about 5 years ago. The first thing it did for me health- wise was get rid of my back problem to the point that I no longer needed the chiropractic treatment that I would get once or twice per month.
Natural Healing For The Body
Back-to-Nature AromatherapyBack-to-nature is a new health initiative by people living in modern society. Aromatherapy, which stems from natural plants, has also became a favourite in modern day living.
Magnetic Therapy: The Facts (and Some Myths)
Is magnet therapy regarded yet as a mainstream therapy? I consider it is not and through this series of articles I hope to raise awareness by examining a number of issues that have stood in the way of mass acceptance.There is a useful parallel to be drawn between magnetic therapy and acupuncture.
When Your Emotions Become Like Ticking Bombs & Cause Disease
So, where does disease come from? How does it get manifested in your body in the first place? Do environment and diet really play key roles in causing disease? Well, the information contained in this article will shock you to say the least. For years now health officials have told the public about how diet and environment specifically contribute to most illnesses.
The Health Care Crisis - and a Solution
We are presently facing a health care crisis that is getting more dire every day. Health care costs are increasing so rapidly that many companies who offered free health insurance to their employees are now passing a lot of the high cost on to their employees.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a pernicious little devil; it can hold us back, freeze our creativity and diminish our ability to fight our way out of trouble. Anxiety leads to a 'vicious cycle' in which anxiety feeds poor performance which increases anxiety and .
Essential Oils Are Essential For Our Time
What is "it"? Oils-Pure Essential Oils. Frankincense and Myrrh, for Christ's birth; Christ anointed with oils for healing.
The Effects of Diet on Infertiltiy
Overwhelmed by studies, research and the constantly changing diet, nutrition and food recommendations? With so many conflicting opinions and studies it's a full time job trying to keep up with the do's and don'ts.Here are? not just five, but six.
The Mechanics & Effects of Smoking
So exactly what does happen when you smoke?Every puff on your cigarette delivers, via the lungs to the brain a small dose of nicotine that actually acts more rapidly than a dose of heroin an addict may inject into his veins.Because nicotine is a quick-acting drug the levels in the bloodstream drop quickly to about half within a half an hour and a quarter within an hour of finishing a cigarette.
Cleaners And Our Health
Many people use strong cleaners or acid cleaners to make the house clean and to get hard to clean stains out, but people don't realize that many cleaners are bad for our health they contain ingredient that irritate the skin and the fumes that those cleaner produce are dangerous if we inhale them.Many people suffer from asthma and other respiratory problems and using those type of cleaners in a place not well ventilated can be harmful for the health.
Magnetic Bracelet Used in Research Study Now in United States
At the end of 2004 results from a study on arthritis patients in the UK was published in the British Medical Journal.It stated that it had found positive pain reliving results using a magnetic bracelet.
Why DO the Japanese Have the Longest Lifespan? Part 2: Live the Lifestyle
Why do the Japanese have the longest lifespan? Last month you learned to eat the things Japanese people eat, and now you will learn how to live like they live. Fast, long, and lively best describes a usual day in Japan.
Types of Hair Loss Treatment Currently Available
The hair loss treatments outlined here cannot provide definitive cures for all hair loss conditions, but they do represent regimes that many sufferers have found useful. In other words, they are examples of potential solutions that many patients have chosen after honestly assessing the causes of their hair loss together with their expectations.
Ayurveda: A Natural Health 101 Article
What It IsAyurveda is the traditional medical system of sub-continental India. With an archeological record going back 7000 years and an unbroken written history dating back to around 1500 B.
Crystal Healing - Do Crystal and Gemstone Healing Therapies Really Work?
Crystals and gemstones have been valued for centuries for their beauty and also for their healing powers. It is believed that the ancient Egyptians were advanced crystal healers.
How To Cure Your Incurable Nasal Allergy
Immunoglobulin E is an antibody, which is secreted from the white blood cell as a defense agent in our body. It helps us defending bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms, which attack our body.
Body Mass Index Is Not The Only Focus of Your Weight Loss Plan. Think About The Stress in Your Mind
The first of January will bring a new group of folks out to the local gym and the fitness equipment store. Many of us have been a part of this crowd once or twice in our lifetimes.
Naturopathy
Naturopathy is a holistic therapy that relies on natural remedies. Sunlight, air, and water are thought of as natural healers; this, along with nutritional supplements and massage therapies are all part of naturopathy.
Improve Your Eating Habits To Save Money On Prescriptions!
Do you like the arthritis pain relief you get from over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pills (like ibuprofen)? But do they "bother your stomach"? Take an honest assessment of your eating habits. Think about your diet before you declare the cheaper NSAIDs off-limits and switch to the more expensive coxibs like Celebrex® or Bextra®.

More Alternative Information:

Related Articles

Serotonin Kills Pain - And May Be Available From Your Subconscious
Serotonin is not just for depression--it's potent for pain relief as well. Here's a drug-free way you may be able to increase your supply of this natural painkiller.
Bath Time For Your Alzheimer's Patient
Caring for an Alzheimer's patient is one of the most difficult things you can do. It involves a lot of energy, time and patience.
The Healing Power of Water Gardens
If you experienced a day filled with running from one place to the next, one errand to the next, one meeting to the next, imagine a place where all your troubles can melt away. A place where the stressors of the day are nonexistent.
The Simplest Asthma Solution
During the Democratic convention the Reverend Al Sharpton quoted a shocking statistic: One third of the children in Harlem suffer from asthma. This shouldn't be completely surprising since asthma cases have been consistently increasing over the years, especially in the cities, escalating recently during the rollback of some key environmental laws, but it is a trend we must turn back.
Check Your Colon Transient Time
Many doctors and others in the health field may tell you that it is ok not to have a bowel movement everyday. This really goes against common sense.
Bling Therapy - Healing with Gemstones
From jeweled necklaces to ankle bracelets, and all the tops and bottoms in between, we suddenly see Bling on every one and every thing! You instinctively knew that something about diamonds and rubies made you feel good when you first saw them sparkle on your friends, and they made you feel even better when they were shining on you.However, did you know that many of the gemstones we have come to know and love as Bling could actually heal you both physically and emotionally? Yes, now you can justify owning gems in every color because more and more evidence is surfacing that they can actually heal you.
Alternative Treatment for Asthma
Asthma is a respiratory disorder characterized by abnormal lung condition in which accumulation of mucus in the lungs is found. Natural asthma remedies are the most preferred way of treating asthma since the conventional methods of treatment for asthma may have a lot of side effects.
Using Asian Herbal Combinations for Treating Hemorrhoids
Asian HerbsI have found Chinese herb formulations quite effective in treating hemorrhoid symptoms. It is now easy to find these herbs, since there are Chinese herb store in most cities.
Natural Pain Management!
Life in today's hectic society is going more and more in the direction of fast foods, sugar in all sorts of foods you would never think should be there, trans fatty acids, preservatives and pesticides, which we consume in large amounts every year. We even go so far as to invent foods, such as artificial sugars which your body may or may not recognize as actual food.
Tap Away Your Fears
In my workshops we use energy techniques that involve tapping with your fingers on the ends of the energy meridians on your face, upper body, and hands. I would like to tell you why we do.
Aromatherapy - Part I: Essential Oils
a) WHERE DO ESSENTIAL OILS COME FROM ? - Essential Oils - Part 1The odoriferous substances (Essential oils) themselves are formed in the chloroplasts of the leaves where they combine with glucose to form glucides and are then circulated around the plant in this form. At certain times of the day or year they are stored in particular parts of the plant.
Stage Hypnosis Vs Hypnotherapy - Understanding The Difference
We've all seen them, right? The stage hypnotist, who makes his subjects cluck like chickens. But comparing a stage hypnotist to a hypnotherapist is like comparing a karaoke singer to Celine Dion! They are just not in the same league!Most people believe that stage hypnotists "make" their subjects do things that they don't want to do.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine, over 2000 years old, is an ancient form of medicine. Consisting of acupuncture, moxibustion (moxibustion - using material made up of "moxa-wool," in a form of a cone or stick; moxibustion is used to treat and prevent disease by applying heat to pints or certain locations of the human body), herbal medicine, acupressure, cupping, therapeutic exercise and nutrition, traditional Chinese medicine is notated by its principle of internal balance and harmony, or "chi," (life force) regulation through energy channels.
Reflexology & Meridian Therapy
Reflexology & Meridian Therapy are combined healing arts that utilize stimulation of the feet, hands, ears, and meridian lines to correspond with respective body parts and organs. By using reflexology & meridian therapy sessions together aids in stress relief, muscular tension, and improves blood circulation.
Reduce the Effects of Fears and Phobias with Hypnosis
Hypnosis is very useful in the treatment of fears and phobias. Hypnosis is perfectly natural and allows you to experience deep physical and mental relaxation.
Getting Rid Of Gallstones Naturally
The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ that sits on the right side of our bodies just beneath the liver. Its primary function is to store and secrete bile.
Diet Food Stinks!
One big thing that can keep you from eating healthy is the idea of the food. People often think it sucks and doesn't taste good.
Enhanced Healing Through Music
Music has always been a very important part of our lives, from childhood to our being an adult. As a part of our experience, music can have both a physiological and psychological affect upon us as human beings.
Sick Building Syndrome and Indoor Climate Control
The problem of high levels of CO2 in ambient air appears to be a modern one. Yet, this is not one of the new fads that crop up from time to time and then disappear again, never to be mentioned again.
Herbs and Essential Oils - Powerful Medicine
We can find many beneficial uses for natural herbs and their essential oils in our lives. The essential oils contain the concentrated part of the herb.