Part 1 – The First Two Weeks

This post will be the first of three that outline how you can greatly improve your problems with gout.  The program is in 2-week segements and we will cover the first two weeks in this post.

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are the concentrated essences of flowers, fruits, herbs, and plants, and have been proven to be extremely potent when used medicinally.

For hundreds of years, all around the world, essential oils and aromatherapy have been used successfully in the treatment of many adverse conditions, and gout pain relief is one of them.

What Oils Will We Use?

The essential oils we’ll be using during the first two weeks are Fennel, Cypress, and Juniper, and are great for treating gout.

Here is a brief explanation of what each of the oils does:

Fennel

Fennel has a long list of properties that benefit the health.  The properties that help with gout are as follows:

• Anti-inflammatory – reduces swelling and inflammation.
• Depurative – a detoxification alterative which purifies the blood. Most alteratives also promote cleaning action of the spleen, liver, kidneys, and bowels.  Alteratives typically produce a gradual, beneficial change in the body, and restore the body to normal functioning.
• Diuretic – aids in the elimination of toxins in the body by increasing urine flow. This helps flush the uric acid and monosodium urate crystals out of your system.
• Stimulant – induces temporary improvements in physial function. For example, a stimulant  can promote enhanced alertness, wakefulness, and locomotion.
• Tonic – helps to strengthen the entire body or specific organs.

Cypress

Cypress has the following properties:

• Anti-inflammatory – reduces swelling and inflammation
• Anti-rheumatic – prevents and/or relieves chronic rheumatic pain and swelling. Gout has been associated with rheumatic arthritis and is often called “gouty arthritis.”
• Diuretic – aids in the elimination of toxins in the body by increasing urine flow. This helps flush the uric acid and monosodium urate crystals out of your system.
• Tonic – helps to strengthen the entire body or specific organs.

Juniper

Juniper essential oil promotes elimination of uric acid, and helps cleanse the blood.  It’s properties are:

• Anti-inflammatory – reduces swelling and inflammation
• Anti rheumatic – prevents and/or relieves chronic rheumatic pain and swelling. Gout has been associated with rheumatic arthritis and is often called “gouty arthritis.”
• Diuretic – aids in the elimination of toxins in the body by increasing urine flow. This helps flush the uric acid and monosodium urate crystals out of your system.
• Tonic- helps to strengthen the entire body or specific organs.

These are the three essential oils we will be using during the first two weeks.

The First Two Weeks

The focus for the first two weeks is detoxifying your body and flushing out the excess uric acid and monosodium urate crystals which are responsible for your gout pain.

These are the steps:

1.  The first thing you must do is eliminate the foods from your diet that are prone to bring on an attack of gout.  These include:

• Alcohol, especially beer
• Caffein drinks
• Chocolate
• Red meat
• Pork
• Lamb
• Processed meats, such as bacon and hot dogs
• Shellfish/seafood
• Anything made with yeast, such as bread

2.  It’s always wise, if you are subject to gout attacks, to drink adequate amounts of water each day.  This helps flush the uric acid from your system and may prevent a gout attack.  So, make sure you drink a lot of water each day.  It’s really not that hard.  If you ask yourself, “Can I drink 1/2 a cup of water every hour of the day?”, the answer will be “Yes, I can do that.”

3.  Take the following vitamins, in additional to a Multi-Vitamin Supplement:

• 1,000 mg of Vitamin C
• 250 mg of Vitamin E
• B-Complex Supplement
• Beta-Carotene
• Fish Oil Capsules.

4. Make a blend of the three essential oils as follows:

• Fennel…..30 drops
• Cypress..16 drops
• Juniper…10 drops

You can usually buy a small, brown glass bottle that has a dropper, or a plug like the one in the essential oil bottle,from the pharmacist.  If you can’t find one, you should be able to find one of those empty plastic bottles that people buy to put shampoo in when they travel.  They usually have a plug in the top that would allow you to dispense the essential oil blend drop by drop.  If you do use the plastic bottle, keep it wrapped in a dark cloth or bag so it doesn’t get exposed to the sun.

5.  Each day take a warm bath to which you’ve added one cup of Epsom Salts, and four (4) drops of your essential oil blend.

Follow this routine for the full two weeks.  The next post will have the steps for the second two weeks.

I have put together a list with the items you will need for the first two weeks from amazon.com.  I have found their prices to be better than those at a health food store.  Click Essential Oils For Weeks 1 & 2 to purchase the items.  You have the option of purchasing them individually so, if you already have some, it is not necessary to buy them again!

If you have any questions at all about this method of treating gout, please leave a message below. . . .I would love to hear from you.

Treating Gout with Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, Part 1 is a post from: Gout Cures Now

A six-week program for treating gout suffering using diet, essential oils and aromatherapy

This post will be the second of three that outline how you can greatly improve your problems with gout. The program is in 2-week segments and we will cover the second two weeks in this post.  If you missed the first two weeks, you will find them here: Treating Gout with Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Part One.

A Recap – What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are the concentrated essences of flowers, fruits, herbs, and plants, and have been proven to be extremely potent when used medicinally.
For hundreds of years, all around the world, essential oils and aromatherapy have been used successfully in the treatment of many adverse conditions, and gout pain relief is one of them.  Gout and aromatherapy have been companions for many years.

The essential oils we will be using during the second two weeks are Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Lemon Eucalyptus, and Peppermint, all of which are very helpful in treating gout.
photo credit: Juan Barrio

Here is a brief explanation of what each of these oils does:

Lavender

Lavender is my favorite essential oil.  It’s fantastic for stress relief.  Just take a sniff from the bottle and instantly relax.  It’s the only essential oil you can put undiluted directly on your skin.  Here are the properties that help with gout:

• Analgesic – helps deaden pain
• Antidepressant – reduces or prevents depression
• Anti-inflammatory – reduces swelling and inflammation
• Antirheumatic – prevents and/or relieves rheumatic pain and swelling.  Remember, gout is a form of arthritis called “gouty arthritis.”
• Antinfectious – helps detoxify the body
• Tonic – helps to strengthen the entire body or specific organs

Roman Chamomile

Roman Chamomile has the follow qualities:

• Antispasmodic – relief from spasms and cramps
• Analgesic – helps deaden pain
• Anti-inflammatory – reduces swelling and inflammation
• Tonic – helps to strengthen the entire body or specific organs

Lemon Eucalyptus

This delightful, lemon scented essential oil aids gout in the following ways:

• Antimicrobial – aids the body in strengthening resistance to infective organisms
• Antiseptic – fights germs/infections
• Anti-inflammatory – reduces swelling and inflammation
• Bactericidal – destroys bacteria

Peppermint

This essential oil is amazing for all the things it can help with in treating gout.  And, it smells just wonderful!  Put 8 drops in 2 cups of water in a sprayer and use it to refresh your home!

Here are the benefits for gout:

• Analgesic – helps deaden pain
• Anti-inflammatory – reduces swelling and inflammation
• Antiseptic – fights germs/infections
• Antispasmodic – relief from spasms and cramps
• Tonic – helps to strengthen the entire body or specific organs
• Febrifuge – reduces fever
• Immune Stimulant – stimulates the circulatory system
• Protects the Liver

We will also be using Sweet Almond Oil and Jojoba Oil as the carrier oils for massaging.

Sweet Almond Oil is made from the kernel and contains glucosides, minerals, and vitamins, and is rich in protein.  It relieves soreness and inflammation.

Jojoba Oil is really a wax and never becomes rancid.  It contains protein, minerals, and a substance that mimics collagen.  It is excellent on inflammed skins and is very penetrative, so it gets the essential oils to the joint quickly.

The Second Two Weeks, What to Do:

The first step is to continue to follow the diet outlined in Part 1.  Here is a recap:

1.  Eliminate these foodsd from your diet because they can bring on an attack of gout:

• Alcohol, especially beer because it contains YEAST
• Caffein drinks
• Chocolate
• Red Meat
• Port
• Lamb
• Processed meats, such as bacon and hot dogs
• Shellfish/seafood
• Anything made with yeast, such as bread

2.  If you are subject to gout attacks (even if you’re not!) drink adequate amounts of water each day.  This helps flush the uric acid from your system.

3.  Take the following vitamins in addition to a Multi-Vitamin Supplement:

• 1,000 mg of Vitamin C
• 250 mg of Vitamin E
• B-Complex Supplement
• Beta-Carotene
• Fish Oil Capsules

Here’s the treatment plan for this two weeks:

4.  Make a blend of the three essential oils as follows.  Put the blend in a separate bottle and keep it in a dark place:

• Lavender………………10 drops
• Lemon Eucalyptus….30 drops
• Roman Chamomile….16 drops

5.  Each day take a warm bath to which you’ve added one cup of Epsom Salts and four (4) drops of your Essential Oil Blend.

6.  Massage your whole body each morning and evening with the following Essential Oils mixed with 2 tablespoons Sweet Almond Oil and 2 teaspoons Jojoba Oil:

• Roman Chamomile…………..8 drops
• Lavender………………………10 drops
• Peppermint…………………….2 drops
• Lemon Eucalyptus…………..8 drops

Follow this plan for the next two weeks.  In the next post I will give you the steps and oils for the third, and final, two weeks, and  a Maintenance Plan.

I have put together a list with the items you will need for the second two weeks from amazon.com.  I have found that their prices are better than at a Health Food Store. Click Essential Oils for Weeks 3 & 4 to purchase these items.  As before, you have the option of purchasing them individually so, if you already have some, it is not necessary to buy them again!

As always, if you have any questions about this method of treating gout, please leave a comment below with your thoughts and how you are doing treating your gout with Essential Oils and Aromatherapy.

Treating Gout with Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, Part 2 is a post from: Gout Cures Now

When the pain of gout strikes, you need immediate relief!  This pain has been described as being like ground glass grinding in your inflammed joint, and can be debilitating.

The cause of the pain is quite simple. The uric acid level in your body has increased to more than your body can handle and, as a result, urate crystals have gathered around your painful joint and it’s connective tissue. White blood cells have been sent to the area to combat the crystals. This is what causes the inflammation and pain.

A topical pain spray, such as Stopain®, is the quickest way to get relief to the swollen, red, hot, tender joint. You don’t have to touch the painful area. Just spray on the spray. The formulation of the spray causes it to penetrate deeply and get to the problem quickly. It is also available in a cream that you can use when the pain has lessened a little and you can actually touch the inflammed area.

The next thing to do is take some acetaminophen, commonly sold as Tylenol, which is available as a tablet, capsule, liquid, effervescent tablet, or a rectal suppository. There are also other over-the-counter painkillers that can be recommended by your doctor.

The Importance of Water

It is important that you start flushing the excess uric acid from your body by drinking a lot of water. This will shorten the amount of time your  attack and pain last.

Dark, Red  Lucious Cherries and Cherry Juice Can Help

One natural pain relief technique to eliminate uric acid from your body is to drink cherry juice extract made from dark red cherries. The cherry juice flavonoids are anti-inflammatory and have been shown to lower the uric acid level in the blood. Be careful not to drink the highly sugared cherry juice for gout, because the sugar can increase the uric acid in your blood.

Burdock Root – a Native American Treatment

Burdock root is another popular, natural substance for relief from gout pain that seems to help with the reduction of uric acid levels in the blood. A study has shown that burdock root is a somewhat strong xanthine oxidase inhibitor, oxidase being the enzyme in your body that makes uric acid. Some medications prescribed to lower uric acid in the blood are based on this principal of blocking oxidase.

You can brew burdock tea with the root, or you can take burdock capsules. Whatever way you take the burdock root, start slow, and drink extra water, as burdock root is a diuretic.

Make a Plan to Prevent Future Pain

Hopefully these suggestions will get you through this  attack and you can then start following a new routine to learn how to prevent another attack and to bring you relief from this terrible pain as the search for a cure  continues.

What methods have you had success with at relieving your gout pain?

Gout Pain Relief is a post from: Gout Cures Now