Gout, a metabolic arthritis, is a crystal deposition disease hallmarked by increased levels of uric acid (hyperuricemia) in the blood and causes inflammation. The condition holds that the crystals of monosodium urate (MSU) or uric acid are deposited on the articular cartilage of joints, tendons and surrounding tissues. It is marked by transient painful attacks of acute arthritis pioneered by crystallization of urates within and about the joints. It eventually leads to chronic gouty arthritis and the deposition of masses of urates in joints and other sites, which create tophi. Gout results from a combination of prolonged increase of uric acid and overall acidity in the bloodstream. In the ancient age, gout was called "the disease of kings" and "the king of diseases"; gout was recognised as one of the leading causes of painful, disabling, chronic arthritis.

There are some reasons that precede gout. The reasons include dietary imbalance, surgery and medicinal intake for some diseases. Among all these causes, fat is a common ingredient in the foods that cause gout. High intake of purine foods and dairy products can lead to gout. Even consumption of some vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, cauliflower, peas, asparagus, lentils and beans can accelerate gout. Earlier injury, surgery, high intake of alcohol, chemotherapy, even some diseases like Chronic kidney disease, High blood pressure, Hypothyroidism, Surgery and conditions that cause an abnormal rapid turnover of cells, such as psoriasis, multiple myeloma, hemolytic anemia, or tumors can direct to gout. The symptoms of gout are generally understood when one feels sudden onset of severe pain, tenderness, warmth, redness, and swelling from inflammation of the affected joint.

An attack of gout is usually accompanied by acute pain in the big toe, which becomes tender, hot and swollen in a few hours. The affected joints also become red, hot and painful. It may also similarly affect other joints such as the knees and the wrists, and sometimes more than one joint may be affected at a time. The attack usually occurs at midnight or in the early hours of the morning, when the patient is suddenly awakened. The acute attack generally lasts for a week or so. The disease may be accompanied by feverishness, vomiting and headache and also feel disinclined to eat. One`s health, however, can also be aggravated by humid weather and errors in diet. If ignored, the disease can affect vital organs like the heart and the patient may suffer from palpitation and a sinking sensation.

The attacks are periodic and recur every few months and interval becomes shorter if the disease is not treated properly. The joint generally becomes damaged by arthritis. This is chronic gout, in which chalky lumps of uric acid crystals remain in the joint and also form under the skin. Another serious complication of gout is kidney stones containing uric acid, causing severe colic pains in the stomach in some cases the kidneys become damaged and do not function properly. This is a serious condition as the poisonous waste products, which are normally removed by the kidneys, accumulate in the blood.

In addition to that the increased level of uric acid in blood is also considered a symptom of gout. Gout usually affects a single joint and most often the big toe is affected. Gout is a disease resulting from the deposition of urate crystals caused by the overproduction or underexcretion of uric acid. Sometimes this disease is associated with elevated serum uric acid levels. Clinical manifestations include acute and chronic arthritis, tophi, interstitial renal disease and uric acid nephrolithiasis. The diagnosis is based on the identification of uric acid crystals in joints, tissues or body fluids. Detection of Hyperuricemia (high level of uric acid in the blood), Uric acid crystals in joint fluid are also taken as the symptoms of gout.

Heredity is another important factor in causing this disease and certain races are prone to gout. Other causes include regular eating of foods rich in protein and carbohydrate and lack of proper exercise. Stress is also regarded as an important cause of gout. During the alarm reaction, millions of body cells are destroyed and large quantities of uric acid freed from these cells enter the tissues after being neutralised by sodium.

There are different types of gout that include Asymptomatic hyperuricemia which is an early stage without any symptoms. Another type is Podagra which occurs in the big toe. About 75% of cases are found suffering from this type of gout. Acute gout is also named as acute gouty arthritis. Intercritical gout is another type of gout which is the symptom-free stage between attacks of acute gout. Chronic tophaceous gout is the most advanced stage of gout.

Naturopathy prescribes proper intake of foods and balanced diet. The cure of gout needs to follow simple balanced food with minimum of proteins substances and physical exercises. For an acute attack, the patient necessarily has to keep a fast for about five to seven days on orange juice and water. Sometimes the condition may worsen in the early stages of fasting when uric acid, dissolved by juices, is thrown into the bloodstream for elimination. This usually clears up if fasting is continued.

In severe cases, it is advisable to undertake a series of short fasts for three days or so rather than one long fast. A warm water enema should be used daily during the period of fasting to cleanse the bowels. After the acute symptoms of gout have subsided, the patient may adopt an all-fruit diet comprising three meals a day. The people who are suffering from acute gout or have diagnosed some symptoms of gout are advised to intake fruits such as oranges, apples, figs, apricot mangoes, whole wheat bread or `dalia` and milk or butter-milk. The patients are suggested to consume steamed vegetables such as lettuce, beets, celery water-cress, turnips, squash, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage and potatoes, `chappatis` of whole wheat flour, cottage cheese and butter-milk. Sprouts such as alfalfa and `mung` beans, a good-sized salad of raw vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, tomatoes, whole wheat bread and butter are good for the people suffering from gout.

The patient should avoid all purine and uric acid producing foods such as all meats, eggs, and fish. Glandular meats are especially harmful. Intoxicating liquors, tea, coffee, sugar, white flour and its products, and all canned and processed foods are harmful in such cases. Spices and salts should be used as little, as possible. Foods high in potassium such as potatoes, bananas, leafy green vegetables, beans and raw vegetable juices are protective against gout.

In alternative medicines, gout is treated by Water therapy. The treatment involves using some salts that should be used while bathing the affected areas. The feet should be bathed in Epsom salt foot baths twice daily. Half a pound to one pound of salt may be added to a foot bath of hot water. Full Epsom salt baths should also be taken three times a week. The baths may be reduced to two per week later. Cold packs at night, applied to the affected joints, will be beneficial. Fresh air and outdoor exercise are also essential. The patient should eliminate as much stress from his life as possible.

Magnetic therapy is another way to treat gout in alternative medicine. In this therapy, south-pole oil should be applied before the application of the magnets. Local application of the magnet should be executes either to the toes which are most frequently affected or to any other joint for 30 minutes daily in the evening. Mixed magnetized water should be taken four times daily to wash off the uric acid deposits and to rid the organism of morbid matter.

As gout had been affecting human beings since the ancient age, different treatments had been discovered by the practitioners of Ayurveda, Naturopathy and Homeopathy. In recent time, the process of treatment has been improved and various other ways are revealed to treat gout. Counting on the antiquity, the alternative medicines of treating gout are considered of great use. Even proper exercises, `pranayam`, `yoga`, following proper diet chart, healthy lifestyle. Herbs are regarded effective in the treatment for gout.