Baking Soda for Gout

Numerous gout sufferers sing the praises of baking soda as being a highly successful treatment for a gout attack. These reports, although anecdotal,are too numerous to bypass. The people who have opted for the baking soda treatment have had almost immediate relief to their gout attack, and most importantly no further gout attacks.They have continued to take maintenance doses on a twice daily basis to remain gout free.

Those who take baking soda on a regular basis for their gout make the claim that their gout is cured. However, this seems to be a long way short of a cure, even though they are free from gout attacks, they are not free from the uric acid diathesis. Which means that meanwhile other problems may start to develop as a result of their inferior diet and long term use of baking soda.

These people are so confident about their baking soda cure that they make no effort to change their diet, and still retain their over consumption of foods high in purines, while at the same time taking their "cure".So what longterm effects does this have on their overall health? One undesireable effect might be an increase in the blood pressure as a result of the high sodium intake,and  increased fluid retention.

Another important point to consider is the possible interaction with other prescription drugs which the person might be taking.If you are taking the following drugs, then you need to speak to your doctor before taking baking soda.

asprin, chlorpropamide, ciprofloxacin, dextroamphetamine,
ephedrine, prednisone, cortisone, ketoconazole, lithium,
pseudoephedrine,quinidine, and tetracycline.

There is also a risk of forming calcium kidney stones, and the fluid retention as a result of the high sodium intake would pose a threat to the health of someone with heart failure or liver disease. Other factors to be aware of would be any herbs which might be taken,also food supplements would have to be considered for possible interactions.

If any of the following symptoms occur, the baking soda "cure" should be stopped :

Confusion, dizziness, muscle pain ,seizures (convulsions), swelling of the feet and legs,trembling, and unusual weakness.

While taking baking soda as an emergency measure may be OK, however, as can be seen for all of the foregoing reasons, it's not a good idea to take baking soda long term, for the consequences may be much worse than the disease for which it was taken.Read more:Wheatgrass for Gout