Gout is probably the oldest disease recorded in medical literature. It has been plaguing humans for over 2000 years. Hippocrates first proclaimed gout the “disease of kings”, because it was thought to result from overindulging in rich foods and alcohol which only the wealthy could afford. This is partially correct. It is also due to errors in the metabolism of specific proteins called purines.

Purines are nitrogen-containing bases called bases because they form the framework for DNA and RNA (Genes), energy metabolism, physiological mediators, coenzymes, and as regulators of metabolism. This makes them a critical component to all life forms including plants and animals. Adenosine and guanine are the two types of purine bases.

One of the sources of purine is the diet. Specific enzymes secreted by the pancreas and intestinal mucosa digest foods rich in nucleic acids. The liver and spleen also produce enzymes for the digestion of nucleic acids that yields purine. Most purine, however, derives from nucleotides newly synthesized by the cells. When a cell completes its life cycle, adenosine deaminase and guanase deaminate the purine. This process creates xanthine. Further oxidation by a flavoprotein enzyme called xanthine oxidase eventually yields uric acid. Uric acid is the final waste product of purine metabolism and the kidneys eliminate it in the urine. If any step of this process is disturbed, uric acid levels elevate causing gout.

Excess accumulations of uric acid can occur with increased consumption of purine-rich foods, an error in purine degradation, compensating stress hormones, or from kidney disorders. When this happens, the excess uric acid forms crystals and deposit in the joints, causing inflammation, swelling, pain, and ultimately deformation. To eliminate gout involves treating all aspects of purine metabolism.

Diet restrictions, increasing pancreatic proteolytic efficiency, assisting production of intestinal enzymes, raising probiotic levels, finding the source of any stress hormone compensations, improving kidney function, and re-establishing systemic alkalinity are all necessary to treat gout in the beginning.

Since levels of uric acid excretion do fluctuate with dietary intake, it is best to remove purine rich foods from the diet. This includes beef, liver, pork, lamb, and mackerel, anchovies, shrimp, sardines, roe (fish eggs), herring, mussels, codfish, scallops, trout, and haddock. In addition, eliminate beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, and legumes. In more severe cases, avoid chard, spinach, cauliflower, and mushrooms. It also means reducing wine and beer. I would make this change last, since it might not really be a contributor and can do a lot to reduce the painful inflammation.

The second aspect of treating gout is to improve the digestion of protein. Thorough digestion of proteins enables the synthesis of quality purine along with reducing proteotoxins and systemic acidity. Use a complete proteolytic enzyme taken prior to each meal. Two PanPro and 1 WoboPlex before each meal is recommended for 1 week. After 1 week, reduce to twice a day. As the condition improves, reduce to once a day. MicroBac 3 provides the necessary enzymes and bacteria to establish healthy probiotic activity and intestinal enzyme release. In the first week, take one before meals. Reduce to one a day when improvement is noted.

Finding the source of the stress, if a contributor to the gout, involves an evaluation that is more extensive. Remember, body imbalance prevents smooth adaptation to environmental or self-induced stress. Finding the origin eliminates the stress intolerance. Most origins relate to hypoglycemic conditions. Check them first. There can also be stress hormone compensations for deficient gonadal hormones.

L-G-K-S improves the kidney’s ability to eliminate uric acid. Taking two every AM and PM is enough to increase kidney activity. After a few days, reduce to one every AM and PM.

BioCarb is essential for the acidity and is most instrumental in alleviating the inflammatory symptoms. Start with two every AM and PM until the pain has subsided and then one twice a day.

Finally, if you are inclined, prescribe specific diet additions, specific herbs and biochemicals to improve purine metabolism. The most beneficial foods include cherries, cherry juice taken as a concentrate, grapes, and blueberries. When I first began working with gout patients, all I prescribed were diet changes, concentrated cherry juice, and pancreatic enzymes taken with 1/4 tsp baking soda before meals. Every one responded very well, except for the ones with stress compensations. I didn’t know enough in the seventies to remedy this aspect of gout effectively.

There are additional products that can help alleviate the results of gout without eliminating the cause. They do however offer relief until the condition is corrected. Curcumin reduces the activity of xanthine oxidase and mildly mimics Allopurinol. Reducing the activity of xanthine oxidase oxidizes purine to some uric acid but also to the more soluble hypoxanthine and xanthine. Some studies demonstrate the effectiveness of alfalfa. I have only seen this work once, but the results were dramatic eliminating the pain and the deformity within eight weeks. Research demonstrates that folic acid in high doses will reduce xanthine oxidase. I have not verified this. I do know that folic acid will assist in pain management by calming the nerves involved.

Gout is another one of the many disorders treated effectively by natural means. What I have outlined here is a clinically proven foundation for helping patients suffering with this painfully arthritic condition.