How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar To Treat Gout?

Written by Tanya Choudhary, B.Desgn, ISSA Certified Specialist In Fitness & Nutrition  • 

Do you suffer from joint pain that persists and reoccurs making your life unbearable? If you are a victim of gout, you know what I am talking about. Life can become unmanageable for those battling this condition. Gout is a kind of arthritis that can cause acute pain in any parts of your body.

At times, the pain can interfere with your daily routine. If you wished there was one magic ingredient that could take the pain away, take heart as we are about to reveal its name.

Before we get down to the solution, let’s first analyze the problem.

Gout—A Brief

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Gout is characterized by the accumulation of an excess amount of uric acid in the body joints, including the toes and knees. The joints affected by gout may become swollen and red, and victims may feel pain in movement (1).

Apart from the pain in joints, gout may also lead to the onset of other health complications in the long run, if left untreated. It is a genetically-linked ailment that gets aggravated by obesity, diet, particularly by fattening foods and alcohol. Generally, men aged between 30 and 50 years are more prone to the formation of gout.

How Gout Occurs?

When the number of sodium crystals in the bloodstream of an individual shoots past the safety levels owing to high uric acid content, gout sets in (2). While uric acid exists in the human body naturally, the production rate should not exceed the excretion rate. This is what leads to the onset of gout.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Gout?

Gout symptoms come without any warning. They attack you mostly during the night. Some of the signs and symptoms of gout you must look out for are:

Joint Discomfort—The first sign of this ailment. It can last for any duration ranging from a few days to a few months.
Hindered Motion—In this stage, you struggle to move your joints freely.
Intense Joint Pain—Gout is known to affect the big toe the most, but it can also affect joints in the knee, feet, and wrists. The most severe pain is likely to occur within the first twelve hours after it starts.
Inflammation And Redness—Then comes swelling and redness that spreads throughout the affected area.

Treatment Options For Gout

In most instances, doctors prescribe medications that reduce pain as well as those that promote uric acid removal from the body. Various types of NSAID class drugs are often prescribed.

While using these medicines can reduce the pain and reduce uric acid to an extent, they can also lead to side effects after prolonged use (3).

Gout can also be managed by making key changes to your lifestyle and diet and using natural remedies. Nowadays, apple cider vinegar is used extensively as a home remedy for gout. But then, what makes ACV so special? Let’s find out here that does apple cider vinegar help gout.

Why Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Gout?

Apple cider vinegar or ACV is no new to the world of medicine and healthcare. It’s known to treat a number of diseases, major as well as minor, including high blood pressure, diabetes, weight loss, and arthritis.

Is Apple cider vinegar good for gout?

Apple cider vinegar, used mostly for skincare purposes, is also beneficial for treating gout. Let’s know why:

  • It contains Malic acid (4), which effectively dissolves the uric acid in the bloodstream.
  • It also contains potassium that plays a role in waste elimination from the human body.
  • The amino acids in ACV can help lower toxicity.
  • While apple cider vinegar itself is acid, once it gets into the body, it gets converted into an alkaline material. It reduces the elements and conditions that pave the way for the onset of gout. Eventually, it helps in reducing the swelling and pain caused by gout.
  • The benefit may not be felt instantly, and the amount of relief may vary from one person to another.

[ Read: Effective Home Remedies For Gout ]

Ways To Treat Gout With Apple Cider Vinegar

As a matter of fact, you can use apple cider vinegar in more than one ways to treat gout and get relief from its symptoms. The top methods of using apple cider vinegar for gout are listed below:

1. Taking It Internally

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You can take apple cider vinegar internally to get relief from gout.

You Will Need
  • 1 tablespoon raw, unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
  • 250 ml warm water
What You Need To Do
  1. Add one tablespoon ACV to a glass of warm water and mix well.
  2. Drink the mixture twice a day for best results.

Note: For a few people, the taste of apple cider vinegar is rather unpalatable. They can mix it with fruit juices and gulp it down. However, use homemade fruit juices instead of ready drinks loaded with sugar. Also, do not add sugar to the mixture.

2. Applying It Topically

Along with taking apple cider vinegar internally, you may opt for topical application to get better and faster relief from gout.

You Will Need
  • 3-4 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
  • A clean cloth
What You Need To Do
  1. Dip a dry and clean cloth in pure apple cider vinegar and then wrap it around the affected body joint.
  2. Keep it on overnight. Secure it with a plastic wrap and ace bandage. It will help soothe the joint.
  3. Repeat this process every other day to get relief from gout.

Note: You can also store some ACV in a spray bottle and spray it over the affected area every hour. Freezing apple cider vinegar and using the ice cubes directly over the gouty area is also an option.

[ Read: Uric Acid Diet – How Does It Help To Counter Gout? ]

3. Foot Bath

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To get relief from gout in legs or hands, take a hot bath in an apple cider vinegar mixture.

You Will Need
  • 1 cup ACV
  • 1 bucket water
What You Need To Do
  1. Take a bucket of hot water and mix a cup of apple cider vinegar in it.
  2. Now, soak the hand or leg in it.
  3. Let it soak for 30 minutes or so. This can be done on a daily basis.

4. Changes In Diet And Lifestyle

Along with applying apple cider vinegar topically and taking it internally, you need to make certain changes in your lifestyle and diet to get lasting relief from gout pain (5).

For example, you need to get rid of excess body fat. Cutting down on alcoholic beverages and consumption of fat laden foods is also necessary to keep gout at bay. You may actually get in touch with a doctor to learn which type of foods should be avoided for getting the best results in this regard.

Note: You also need to keep in mind that apple cider vinegar is not a miracle solution for gout. Its application will ease the pain and swelling caused by gout, but the relief will not come overnight! You need to be patient and have realistic expectations. The relief is gradual and depends on many other health factors as well.

Apple Cider Vinegar With Other Ingredients For Gout Relief

Here are a few combination treatments that are known to bring relief from gout:

1. Apple Cider Vinegar And Baking Soda For Gout

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Mixing ACV and baking soda help reduce the acidity levels of the drink, further reducing the uric acid levels in the system.

You Will Need
  • 2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • 250 ml warm water
What You Need To Do
  1. Add the ingredients to a glass and stir well.
  2. Drink this concoction twice a day to get instant relief from gout.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar And Cayenne Pepper For Gout

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Cayenne pepper, with its strong anti-inflammatory properties, is also a valuable addition to the gout remedy.

You Will Need
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder
  • 2 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
What You Need To Do

Mix the above two ingredients and apply it over the affected area once daily till the symptoms subside.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar And Honey For Gout

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Honey and ACV combo is the most favored option amongst all the gout relief remedies for obvious reasons. It not only provides a sweetness to the otherwise acidic solution but also helps soothe inflammation.

You Will Need
  • 1 tablespoon raw Apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 250 ml warm water
What You Need To Do
  1. Mix all the ingredients to form a concoction.
  2. Have this drink twice a day till the symptoms subside.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar And Cherry Juice For Gout

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Cherry juice is rich in antioxidants, a property that makes it a perfect remedy for the inflammation caused by gout.

You Will Need
  • 1 tablespoon ACV
  • 250 ml homemade cherry juice
What You Need To Do

Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of cherry juice and have it twice a day to get instant relief from gout.

Points To Remember While Using Apple Cider Vinegar For Gout

Here are a few points that you should keep in mind before treating gout with ACV:

  1. The apple cider drink should always be taken after meals.
  2. Avoid having anything highly acidic. Alkaline meals are preferred when you are on the ACV treatment.
  3. Night time is actually a good time to take up the apple cider vinegar as the chances of a painful gout attack is the highest during these hours.

Choosing The Right Type Of Apple Cider Vinegar

To reduce symptoms and pains caused by gout, it is imperative that you buy and use the right type of apple cider vinegar.

You will find two kinds of apple cider vinegar in the market these days. The clear variety found in supermarkets is what people buy for culinary purposes. However, you should opt for the unfiltered raw version. The second variant does not undergo much processing and thus retains most of the composition. So, it offers more benefits.

Apple cider vinegar is also available in capsule form. This form is best suited for those who cannot stomach the taste of regular ACV. Capsules can also be taken by people with sensitive mouth or esophagus. While choosing the suitable ACV form, look for a brand that is well known and has no added ingredients. A daily dose of 500 mg of apple cider vinegar capsule in often suggested to those suffering from gout.

[Read : Side Effects Of Apple Cider Vinegar]

A Word Of Caution

While using apple cider vinegar in various ways can be effective in treating gout, a few points should be kept in mind to avoid any health concern.

  • First of all, if you are on conventional medication for gout, do not stop those drugs just because you are using apple cider vinegar. It is also important to know if using ACV will be safe and won’t interfere with NSAID class drugs. To be on the safer side, consult a doctor before you start taking apple cider vinegar.
  • When you use apple cider vinegar for the first time, the symptoms of gout will increase slightly, but after that, it will start reducing. This happens due to the dissolving of crystals that causes inflammation.
  • Avoid overdosing on apple cider vinegar. This solution is high on acetic acid that can contribute to tooth erosion and inflamed stomach and mouth linings. Use a straw to avoid direct interaction with teeth and mouth.
  • Over-consumption of ACV can lead to low potassium levels in the system.

Have you ever used apple cider vinegar for gout relief? If yes, how has it helped you? Tell us by commenting in the box below.

Stay fit, stay healthy!

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