Drinking plenty of water is a natural home remedy for gout that is effective in relieving and preventing gout disease. However, drinking water is not the only way it can be beneficial for gout sufferers. In fact, different methods of hydrotherapy involving hot and cold water temperatures for the external treatment of gout can also be a great way to relieve pain.
internal water therapy
Drinking plenty of water is a great way to treat gout disease and prevent future attacks. Keeping the body well hydrated is important to everyone’s health, but it is especially important for those who are prone to gout or have a chronic case.
Drinking a lot of water for taste helps –
o Prevent attacks
o Lubricate seals
o Removes excess uric acid from the body
o Prevent kidney stones
o Pass small kidney stones
o Those who are overweight lose weight
Dehydration reduces kidney function, which can lead to a buildup of uric acid resulting in gout, kidney stones, kidney infection, and even kidney failure in severe cases. Dehydration can occur from high consumption of alcohol and caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, tea, and soda. So if you do consume dehydrating drinks, be sure to combat them with water.
To ensure you get enough water each day to prevent and alleviate the symptoms of gout disease, 12 8-ounce glasses a day is recommended. Other hydration drinks that you can include in your daily fluid intake are decaffeinated tea and fruit juice. However, make sure that your intake of water is higher than that of any other beverage.
external water therapy
Hydrotherapy for gout can be administered in two ways.
1. Contrast hydrotherapy: urate crystals in the joints can be dissolved during a gout attack by applying hot and cold compresses. This form of hydrotherapy also helps to relieve inflammation and reduce pain. Contrast hydrotherapy consists of applying a warm compress to the affected joint for 3 minutes, removing this compress, and immediately applying a cold compress for 30 seconds.
A warm compress can be a heating pad, hot towel, or filling a bathtub, sink, or bucket with hot water (90 to 95 degrees F). For a cold compress, use ice packs or place ice in a plastic bag. You can also fill a bucket or sink with cold water. Note: Just remember that if you use water, you’ll need to have the hot and cold water close to each other so you can quickly switch from one temperature to the other.
A contrast hydrotherapy session for gout should not last more than 20 minutes and it is best to wait at least an hour before your next treatment. Finally, remember to finish this therapy with a cold compress, never a hot one.
Contrast hydrotherapy should be used during a gout flare.
2. Standard Hydrotherapy: Standard hydrotherapy involves immersing all or part of the body in water. Water relieves stress on the joints as it provides a sensation of weightlessness creating a relaxing sensation. This is because water decreases up to 90% of body weight. Buoyancy in combination with warm water is what helps relieve pain and decrease muscle spasms.
One of the best hydrotherapy treatments for gout is to immerse your body, or the affected joint, in a hot tub of hot water (90-95 degrees F), or a tub that has jets. The heat raises body temperature and the massaging bubbles created by the jets dilate the blood vessels. This improves circulation and allows the blood to carry more nutrients and oxygen to the rest of the body. This helps in the healing of tissues that are tired or damaged.
In addition, the combination of hot water and massage causes the body to release endorphins (natural pain relievers). This helps relieve pain and ease joint pain.
Treatment should not last more than 20 minutes and can be used to treat symptoms and prevent gout.
Consult your doctor before starting a hydrotherapy treatment. Your healthcare provider can provide recommendations, answer your questions, and monitor your progress, as you may also need medications to treat your condition if hydrotherapy fails to relieve gout symptoms.