Natural Medicine For Gout

The search for natural medicine for gout has never been stronger. As traditional medicines come under the scrutiny of scientists, it seems as if a new gout home remedy lurks in every kitchen cupboard.

Of course, reliable gout treatment may be a distant hope in some cases. Extracting reliable, consistent, active ingredients from herbal sources is always difficult. However, man has a strong history of finding gout relief in the natural world. Colchicine from the crocus springs to mind. So, is there a chance that we may find a gout remedy in Yunnan Flower Bud Tea?

Shang-Tse Ho and colleagues certainly think so. They have reviewed several traditional medicines and investigated extracts of a plant officially known as Balanophora laxiflora. This strange-looking plant has its roots in traditional Taiwanese medicine. But we’re not interested in roots at the moment… We want to see if the flower buds can help gout sufferers.

I will summarize the investigation of this plant extract soon, but I am intrigued by the recent surge in interest in medicinal plants. The study of Yunnan Flower Bud extracts includes a few references to other potential natural medicines for gout.

Yunnan Flower Bud tea is widely available. The cheapest source I found is Generation Tea where you can try a 2oz starter pack or save money with larger sizes up to one pound. Of course, the strength of a home infusion is unlikely to match the extracts prepared in the lab, but I would be interested in seeing your experiences in the gout resources forums.

Natural Medicine For Gout: Other Potential Sources

The authors refer to other studies of herbs including:

Hyptis suaveolens: Known under various names, including Chan, Bushmint, & American Mint. Various uses, but often seen as a weed when growing in cultivated land.
Cinnamomum cassia bark: Chinese cinnamon, or just plain Cassia, is widely used as a spice and as a medicinal herb.
Morus alba bark: White mulberry inner bark is roasted and ground into a meal then used as a thickener in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread. The white mulberry has a long history of medicinal use in Chinese medicine, almost all parts of the plant are used in one way or another.
Semecarpus anacardium: Related to the cashew nut, an Indian traditional medicine used for the treatment of gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory diseases.

I intend to summarize these investigations once I complete The Hypouricemic Effect of Balanophora laxiflora Extracts and Derived Phytochemicals in Hyperuricemic Mice.