Gout is a nasty, painful condition caused by a buildup of excessive uric acid in the body. An attack often occurs quickly and without warning, producing swelling, redness and pain, most commonly in the big toe. King Henry the VIII famously suffered greatly from gout attacks believed to have been worsened by his obesity and poor diet. He was known to have tried, with some success, to develop a number of his own natural remedies for gout when his physicians failed to help him.

Many people today still look for natural cures for gout. Here are just some of them:

Fruits as Natural Cures for Gout – Cherries have a reputation for being an effective natural remedy for gout. Fresh cherries or sour cherry juice seem to work best, but cherry extract in the form of a dietary supplement can be helpful as well. Apples contain malic acid which is helps neutralize uric acid and speed up gout relief. Bananas can also help.

Epsom Salt as a Natural Remedy for Gout – An old fashioned bath in Epsom Salt can bring a great deal of relief to those suffering an attack of gout. Applying a simple ice pack to the affected areas can bring quick pain relief as well.

Herbs as Natural Remedies for Gout – There are a number of herbs that have been found to be an effective weapon against gout. Some of the most effective include Flax Seed Powder, Blueberry Extract, Bromelain, Nettle Extract, and Quercetin. There are several herbal dietary supplements currently on the market that combine most of these ingredients in a single formula.

Diet as a Natural Cure for Gout – Certain foods are believed to worsen a gout attack and should be avoided by those who know themselves to be prone to suffer from bouts of the disease. These are foods that have high purine levels and include shellfish, organ meats such as liver or kidney, anchovies, and dried peas.