Natural Health: The pain in your big toe could be gout 

Plus: natural remedies for chronic gastritis

Pic: iStock

I’m in my mid-40s and exercise six days a week between running and gym classes. About three months ago, the big toe on my right foot started to ache. I’m taking ibuprofen to ease the pain. Is there a natural remedy I could take?

What you describe sounds like gout. While it falls under the umbrella of being an arthritic-type condition, it is triggered by excessive uric acid in the bloodstream, and the symptoms can be easily managed through dietary changes.

Gout usually begins causing issues between the ages of 30 and 50 and almost always starts in the big toe. It is caused by uric acid crystals travelling to the joints, causing pain, inflammation, and heat. It is common for gout to affect one joint at a time, often in the lower extremities.

Large meals increase the amount of uric acid in the bloodstream, so eat small meals more frequently and avoid purine-rich foods.

Purine-rich foods include organ meats, herring, mackerel, trout, and meat/yeast extracts (Bovril or Marmite). These foods break down in to uric acid in the body. Two beneficial foods to note are celery and black cherries, which are thought to help prevent gout. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, since both interfere with the removal of uric acid from the body via the kidneys. Beer is particularly rich in purines, so it should avoided.

You should also note any medication you are taking since diuretics and salicylates (such as aspirin) can inhibit the excretion of uric acid. Drink plenty of pure water daily — at least two litres — to prevent the formation of kidney stones and help dilute the uric acid in the urine.

This is one condition with a strong genetic link — more than 25% of all sufferers have reported a family history of gout. As with other arthritic conditions, essential fatty acids will help to reduce inflammation, but be sure to choose supplements and foods without fish.

I’ve been diagnosed with chronic gastritis, and I’m not getting much relief from the prescribed proton pump inhibitors. I also have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Are there any homoeopathic or herbal remedies that might be of help?

The most common underlying cause of gastritis and stomach ulcers is Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Almost half of the world’s population is estimated to carry the H. pylori bacterium, which is present in 90% of individuals with stomach ulcers and gastritis.

Mastic gum (the resin of the Pistacia lentiscus tree) is one of the best natural remedies for treating gastritis and ulcers caused by H. pylori. It provides significant relief from gut inflammation and digestive troubles. H. pylori causes damage by surrounding itself with ammonia to protect itself from the acidic environment of the stomach, penetrating the mucosa, and attaching itself to the epithelial cells.

Mastika is a supplement that contains 500mg of mastic gum. It can be purchased from health food stores — 60 capsules cost €24.

For one month, you will need to take two capsules before bed with water, then reduce the dosage to one capsule a day as a maintenance dose.

SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) is often linked with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and leaky gut.

Common symptoms include diarrhoea, gas and bloating, abdominal pain or tenderness, flatulence, cramping, and a heavy feeling in the abdomen.

Body Ecology has developed Assist SI, a formula specifically to support the small intestine. It contains all the enzymes the small intestine needs and helps address bacterial overgrowth.

It is worth looking at the company website — bodyecology.com — for more information and to find a stockist.

NOTE: The information contained in this column is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor.