Baking Soda WORKS for Gout attacks

by Mike
(Canada)

I had gout for 27 years. It was treated with Idomethicin which worked great for the first few attacks but became increasingly less effective as the years went by to the point that the side effects of digestive problems and depression after only 3 or 4 days of use were quite disabling.
Allopurinol for me seemed not to work and again provided side effects - itching and dry patches on my skin.

Then I found out about Baking Soda. The next attack was in my right ankle and I could not walk - took baking soda 1/2 teaspoonful before going to bed the first night after the attack and could walk the next day - I carried on with 1/2 teaspoon morning and before bed and the pain was gone in less than a week. This at a time when My gout was affecting me for up to 6 months a year and I thought that I would never be able to hike any more for fear of having an attack whilst out in the wilderness.
I continued to take 1/2 teaspoonful each night for 3-4 months but noticed after awhile I wanted to urinate all the time - so I stopped the BS and the urination urge disappeared.

I have not had an attack now for more than 18 months. I had some discomfort in my feet for about 2 weeks, about 6 months ago (caused by gout or new shoes?) so I took the baking soda again for a few days and the pain went.

I am a vegetarian and eat hardly any processed food so my salt intake is very low so I don't see any sodium problem.

My Doctor expressed complete disbelief that it was the baking soda that had cured the gout. He thought it must be something else. However, I have had no need to obtain any more prescription drugs from him - my package of baking soda ($3.29) is still more than 3/4 full.

I would suggest that the side effects of a few 1/2 teaspoonfuls of BS occasionally are far less risky long term than large and frequent doses of prescription drugs.