Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder

I am not a doctor. I do get gout attacks about once every month to two months, but honestly I'm not sure, because as soon as I feel anything in my foot that feels like it might be a bout coming on, I mix a half teaspoon of ALUMINUM FREE baking POWDER (not soda - I frequently read articles, blogs, etc., where baking powder and soda are mistakingly used interchangeably - they are similar, but not the same) in a glass of warm water, drink it and the twinge quickly dissappears. I don't know all of the chemical differences between baking powder and soda, but I was told by a gout sufferer that he used Rumford (brand) baking POWDER (same dosage as above when he feels a twinge and it goes away). I do know one major difference among brands of Baking POWDER - some have aluminum compounds and some do not. Rumford does not, and that is what I am told makes the difference.

That said, I am now learning that this can help some with lesser degrees of gout, but even for those folks it is not a long-term fix as baking powder has a very high percentage of sodium which can raise blood pressure and do significant damage to many critical body parts. So, bottom line - check with your doctor. When I told mine recently that I was using this baking powder solution, he said that chemically it makes sense as it will break down the uric acid crystals associated with gout and that cause the pain you feel. He said he had not heard of this remedy, but what bothers me is he didn't ask me how frequently I use it. Nor did he warn me of the high sodium content. So - quiz your doctor. If he or she is unaware or underinformed, ask them to look into it and get you some answers that incorporate your situation.